John Constantine is one of DC’s darkest superheroes and could make the perfect addition to the DC game universe. After WarnerBros and Rocksteady’s lengthy absence from DC games, Gotham Knights, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and Wonder Woman are all slated to release in the coming years. However, these companies should begin investing in John Constantine as a standalone character to attract new players and fans. In addition, his character and stories could introduce new enemies and lore to the DC game universe and clear the way for a serious virtual expansion for Rocksteady Studios and WB Montreal.
Unlike Bruce Wayne in the Batman: Arkham series or Diana Prince from Wonder Woman, John Constantine isn’t a noble hero with completely selfless goals. John Constantine hails from Liverpool but mainly works in London; unlike other DC do-gooders, Constantine is an antihero warlock who lives out of the House of Mystery and confronts demons, devils, and Satan himself. His magical abilities are among the most powerful on the planet, and Constantine has survived many situations that would defeat many Justice League members or lesser supernatural beings. John Constantine primarily stars in the Hellraiser series but has experienced crossovers with Batman, Zatanna, Wonder Woman, and the Justice League Dark organization.
Many DC characters are neglected in video games, but NetherRealm Studios almost included Constantine in his first AAA title (aside from DC Universe Online). Injustice 2 nearly added a John Constantine character, but NetherRealm scrapped the idea for unknown reasons. Thankfully, the character has received significant love from Matt Ryan’s portrayal in animated and live-action projects. Constantine, Legends of Tomorrow, Flash, Constantine City of Demons, Justice League Dark, and Justice League Dark: Apokolips War are just some of the projects the character has been featured in. With such a dedicated representation for the character, a video game seems to be the next logical step.
A John Constantine Game Could Connect To Wonder Woman
DC’s upcoming Wonder Woman game promises to be a refreshing change of pace from the Batman: Arkham series, reviving Shadow of War and Shadow of Mordor‘s Nemesis system and embracing a new storyline. Wonder Woman also takes place in a new location outside of Gotham, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice explores Metropolis. However, John Constantine could explore several areas overseas and in other dimensions, including Liverpool, London, the House of Mystery, and Hell itself. DC has commonly established that magical beings exist parallel to mortals and non-magical individuals, and a John Constantine game could explore this. Wonder Woman is also a magical member of the Justice League’s team and could potentially serve as a starting point for the character.
Wonder Woman frequently works with Justice League members associated with the magical side of the universe, working to undo cosmic threats beyond the realms of logic or science. Her demigod status allows her to avoid the adverse side effects of various enemies. Additionally, her mythological roots could introduce more cosmic beings that John Constantine faces, like Grecian gods or monsters. If the warlock appears in WB Montreal’s Wonder Woman game, it could easily lead to the development of a John Constantine title, especially if he appears in a repeated supporting role that assists Diana in her conflict.
John Constantine Isn’t A Fighter Like Batman Or Wonder Woman
Since John Constantine doesn’t fight with brute strength like Batman or Wonder Woman, a Constantine game could explore combat mechanics different from Batman: Arkham‘s gameplay. Learning and using magical spells against demonic hordes introduces the possibility for new skill trees and abilities separate from physical prowess. Additionally, Constantine uses many magical artifacts to power his abilities or prevent enemies from obtaining dangerous objects. As players collect these objects around an open-world environment to rank up their warlock, Constantine could unlock new attacks, spells, and elements to control in combat. Like Batman unlocks abilities for his vehicles, suit, and arsenal, a Constantine game could feature upgrades that allow John to face more demonic beings and defeat more powerful enemies.
The Batman: Arkham games focused on verticality, with most players spending their time on rooftops and gliding around Gotham. However, a Constantine game could allow players to experience different locations on the ground. Hellraiser frequently depicts Constantine visiting occult bars, secret societies, hidden churches, and pockets between dimensions. Unlike DC’s Superman and Wonder Woman, who are viewed as gods, and Batman, who’s become an urban legend, John Constantine frequently interacts with the lowest members of mortal and magical society.
Constantine’s frequent (and casual) dealings with demons and devils introduce a new world to explore, where “evil” creatures can be used as a means to an end. Additionally, being confined to the streets in shady areas with mystical threats presents a far more suspenseful atmosphere to utilize. Exchanging developmental tools geared toward mobility and verticality with accessible buildings, NPCs, and combat sequences could be the key to creating the perfect Constantine game. While the Justice League seems perfect and untouchable, John Constantine could be the answer to a more relatable (and cursed) protagonist.
John Constantine Could Lead To A Justice League Dark Game
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League features characters like the Flash and Superman in a Batman: Arkham-styled game but places them in villainous roles under Brainiac’s control. Given the Justice League’s incredible power, it’s unsurprising that it took so long for WarnerBros to use a superpowered protagonist. Unbalanced combat and the destructive capabilities of heroes other than Batman are difficult to introduce, but magical threats provide a significant buffer between the mortal world and comic logic. With a Wonder Woman game on the way, a Constantine video game would work perfectly to introduce Justice League Dark’s storyline or explore new threats and characters. While various movies and television series mainly focus on the core Justice League members, video games could thrive with neglected characters like Zatanna, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, and more.
While fans can look forwards to many upcoming DC games like Wonder Woman, Gotham Knights, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, it’s unknown when a new character could enter the spotlight. However, there are many opportunities for John Constantine to become the headliner of his own game and bring a darker theme into the DC gaming universe. The introduction of magical combat, demons, and mature themes could attract new players and fans while also ensuring that DC games don’t stagnate. While it’s unknown if Constantine will ever receive his own game, fans can look forward to several DC games currently in development.
