Well, the leak has proven right thus far, so don't be surprised if we see Zod closer to Man of Steel's release! Scorpion is our third DLC character for Injustice: Gods Among Us and if you're a season pass holder, he's currently yours to use. Everyone else has to wait, though. So, does the popular Mortal Kombat character make a great addition to the roster or is Ed Boon the only one truly excited for this fighter? Read on to find out, Viners.
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While much of Scorpion remains the same (if you're a fan of Mortal Kombat 9, that is), one change is immediately noticeable: his costume. NetherRealm Studios teamed-up with the massively talented Jim Lee to give the resurrected ass-kicker a fresh look and Lee absolutely hit it out of the park. It's a familiar yet totally different attire and I must admit, I really dig it. But the clothes don't make the man, so how does he hold up in the game? Truth be told, he's quite fun. Yes, a vast majority of his attacks are taken directly from Mortal Kombat 9, but changes are made here and there which manage to make him feel somewhat new. For example, Scorpion's spear (without using meter) no longer leaves your enemy momentarily incapacitated right in front of you. Instead, the ninja follows up with a harsh melee strike after the foe is pulled in. On the surface, it seems like such a small change, but it really does give the character new life.
Despite his combos primarily being taken from the latest Mortal Kombat, they're still a blast to use. They're pretty simplistic and easy to remember, yet still remain hugely effective. He's sporting a defensive character trait and while it does look cool, it seems underwhelming as well. Scorpion's engulfed in flames and it's supposed to damage to those foolish enough to stand next to you. Aside from an immediate dose of damage when it's executed, the harm inflicted afterwards seemed minimal to me. As expected, he's a gadget character and it's worth noting he cannot place explosives on objects. Personally, I think the biggest game changer surrounding the character is his teleport punch. Seeing as Injustice: Gods Among Us is boasting a faster pace than Mortal Kombat 9, it's only natural the character changes with the times, too. Unfortunately, this leads to Scorpion often feeling like the offspring of Nightcrawler. In a skilled player's hands, the teleport punch is a ridiculously effective move when properly utilized. But in the hands of a shameless spammer? Oh man, it's a nightmare and tough to counter. Yes, if blocked it does indeed leave Scorpion vulnerable for a few moments, but seeing as you have to hold forward to block it (since he appears behind you and forward is now backwards), it can be somewhat difficult to accomplish.
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Hanzo Hasashi's power move starts off great but ends on a lackluster note. Witnessing him take his opponent to Hell and smash them into rock is a good time, but then it ends with a totally generic smash into the ground. Why not have him throw his foe into the lava? Why not use his swords for a final impale as they come crashing down? Why not use hellfire? It leaves a lot to be desired, especially when weighed next to the plethora of super cool power moves the other characters bring to the table. Honestly, I'd say he's the only character with a victory cut scene more vicious and neat than their power move.
Look, I'll be the first to admit I'm disappointed they picked the popular undead ninja from another franchise over the dozens upon dozens of great options from the DC universe. Swamp Thing? Vixen? Martian Manhunter? Zatanna? Animal Man? Beast Boy? Black Manta? Atrocitus? All could be really fantastic additions to the roster and there's so much more potential in the universe at their disposal. With so many DC characters receiving overwhelming demand, why not just give us what we want? What's done is done and Scorpion is here to stay, though. On the plus side, he is indeed a solid character and is great fun to use (despite inevitable teleport spammers and lacking significant change from MK9, that is).
Ultimately, the deciding factor is how strongly you feel about NetherRealms Studios' decision to pick the character over someone from DC. If this is legitimately upsetting to you and you want to firmly express that opinion, then speak with your money and don't shell out $4.99 when the time comes. But if it's a decision you can tolerate or even applaud, then yes, you'll be happy to know Scorpion's totally worth the cash.
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Scorpion will be available for download June 11.