Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 DC Comics Games

Welcome back to another exciting installment of Top 5 Fridays. As we all know this is a comic blog, so most of you might not know that Gamescom was this week. Gamescom is one of the biggest gaming at conventions in Europe. While watching many trailers coming out of the event, including injustice 2's newest character reveal, it made me think back to the DC games I've played over the years. While most were terrible, there are a few diamonds in the rough, and that's what we'll be going over today. As always this is an opinion based list, so if you don't see something you like, I apologize. Enough talk! Let's dive on in...

5: Fables: The Wolf Among Us

Technically I'm cheating as this is a Vertigo property, but since Vertigo is owned by DC, I say it slides. To those who don't know what Fables are, it was a series that revolved around storybook characters (such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves) that were chased out of their homeland by a powerful adversary and now live among us in secret. The game takes place before the actual series and follows the Fables' sheriff, Bigby Wolf(The Big Bad Wolf) as he investigates a grisly series of murders of fellow fables. This was my first experience with the Fables Universe and I almost IMMEDIATELY fell in love with it. Despite the whole Storybook aspect, this game is not afraid to go down some dark roads. The characters are extremely fleshed out and relatable, showing that not everything is sunshine and rainbows for the life they live. It's a fantastic story told by Telltale with a compelling mystery and memorable scenes of horror and action. Oh, and just as a reminder parents: this is not a kids game. Don't get mad at me if you let them play, and they learn some new colorful words from Mr. Toad.

4: DC Universe Online

After the success of World of Warcraft, many studios tried to copy that success. One of those that failed to live up to the success was this game right here. By all accounts, it should have been successful. It has you creating your own character in one of the greatest universes in fiction. You can fight alongside the Justice League as a hero, or cause chaos as a villain with the Legion of Doom. I flew alongside the man of steel as we tried to find the rampaging Bizarro as Cryostorm, the brawling ice elemental. How can people turn down a deal like that? Well at $15 a month, the excitement can get killed. But here's the thing... Change a business model enough, a game can live again. It became free to play and soon it began to thrive more than ever. As of right now, it has several episode packs you can purchase, as well as expansions that give you access to new powers and weapons. I still go back from time to time, because it's still as fun as the day I first played.

3: Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

Lego games are fun. Good, mindless, family-friendly fun. You can take nearly any IP and make it into a fun game in the world of brick. Star Wars has had many games, and the marvel roster made Lego Marvel Superheroes a memorable experience on epic cinematic proportion... But there's one Lego Game that can be funny, action-packed, and can help show kids the huge universe of DC. Lego Batman: Beyond Gotham shows the threat of Brainiac, the several lantern corps, and contains one of, if not THE biggest rosters put in a Lego Game. The storyline is actually very clever and has quite a bit of humor in it.  The levels are what make the game memorable, as we go everywhere from Earth to the JLA satellite, to every Lantern Planet. My favorite level, though... The Batman '66 level. Try playing the entire level without smiling once. It's impossible, you will smile, just like you will with the rest of this game.

2: Injustice: Gods Among Us

I hate fighting games. I have never been good at them, especially against other players. Whenever I mention that I play games like Mortal Kombat and shooters just for the story mode, people simply ask why. That being said, the fantastic story and solid gameplay are what made this game land so close to the top. The story is so memorable, it is practically cinematic. I remember the shock on my face when I saw Superman burst through the wall to the GCPD and grab Joker with intent to kill. I remember the terrifying actions of the Regime, even killing their own. I remember how I was cheering on Superman as he took on his evil doppelganger. Gameplay wise, it feels like the epic battles we see in comics come to life and I love every moment of it. It feels so satisfying to beat down the enemy, using the scenery against them, and finishing them off with a patented superman stratosphere beat down.... God, I can't wait for the sequel.

1: Batman: Arkham Quadrilogy

Like no one expected this at the top! But probably to the shock of a LOT of people, I do consider Origins as part of the main bundle. Why? Because I find it just as good as the trilogy. Each game has their pluses and minuses. And while Arkham origins may have been riding the coattails of Arkham city, it has some of the best boss battles in the entire series (except for the bull crap Deathstroke boss fight at the beginning). Arkham asylum how do you trapped on Arkham island, where you're basically playing a giant game of cat and mouse, but help set the tone that Batman is in deep and can't call out for help, making it almost like a survival horror game. While I thought Arkham City may have stretched its story out in ways that don't make sense sometimes, it came around full circle and gave us a shocking ending we still talk about to this day. Finally, while I absolutely HATED the forced use of the Batmobile, Arkham Knight made me truly feel like the Batman as you rode through the city taking down crimes at every turn. All four games thread together one of the greatest Batman stories ever told, full of twists, turns, and epic memorable moments. However since this is a Top 5 list, you probably want to know the order of the games I like...

4: Arkham Asylum

3: Arkham Origins

2: Arkham Knight

1: Arkham City

That's it for this week's Top 5 Fridays! What's your favorite DC Comics Game? Leave a comment and I'll see you next time!