While Injustice 2 wasn’t shy about introducing characters from other properties, one of the most surprising additions had to have been the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While the Turtles had a brief comic book collaboration with Batman, they had rarely engaged with the wider DC universe at the time. However, the DLC was incredibly popular and the Turtles were one of the most mechanically interesting parts of the game.
As rumors of Injustice 3 swirl, it’s time to start looking at a potential roster. While the mainstays of the DC Universe are almost certain to return, though, that roster should include not just a return of the TMNT, but the debut of their oldest foe.
The Turtles were a surprise addition to Injustice 2‘s third DLC pack alongside The Atom and Enchantress. Most notable was that this one slot was actually all four Turtles. You chose which Turtle you played as by equipping them with the appropriate weapon on the Gear screen. This allowed more variety than was seen in other characters, as you functionally got four characters for the price of one, but that incredible variety could still be expanded upon in a sequel.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are arguably one of the most recognizable franchises in modern memory. They made their debut in comics in 1984 and have since been in cartoons, movies, toy lines and hugely successful arcade games. This popularity has allowed them to team up with numerous different franchises, such as the 2019 movie Batman vs The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The film reiterated how well the characters could work together and also showed their old foe Shredder in a new light. Shredder is shown to be a credible threat to the Dark Knight and even manages to beat Batman in their first fight. The fight between the two is conducted in a way that is reminiscent of a fighting game with both of them trading blows until Shredder unleashes his ultimate attack.
That Shredder is presented as a serious threat to characters from the DC universe is crucial. Injustice has always found ways to level the playing field, be it Injustice: Gods Among Us using super pills or Injustice 2 weakening powerful heroes through plot devices such as Kryptonite-laced armor. However, that threat still needs to be believable to keep fans engaged. The Turtles have shown they can stand up to some of DC’s heaviest hitters, and the fearsome Shredder is easily in their league. Shredder has showcased several skills over the years that would make him a credible threat to most characters in the DC universe, even Batman. His knowledge of martial arts and mastery of weapons are on par with some of DC’s greatest heroes. Fighting games often rely on spectacle to keep casual players entertained. Shredder and the Turtles can provide that in a way that fits with the style of the Injustice games. Fans have already seen them tangle with each other, and the chance of seeing Shredder take on Superman shouldn’t be missed.
Because the Injustice storyline has already introduced cross-dimensional travel and the existence of other universes they can include any character they feel like. There is no reason that the Turtles could not be included in the main plot of the game and make a return. Considering what an incredible addition they were to the original, Injustice 3 needs to embrace turtle power if only to give the fans a more robust run with the Turtles.
About The Author