Wonder Woman has no scheduled release date or trailer beyond what appeared at The Game Awards, but could utilize several well-known comic storylines and villains in the final product. Monolith Productions is keeping information on the game to a minimum, but early hints in the announcement trailer suggest Diana could return to Themyscira, the Amazon homeland. Her mother, Hippolyta, narrates over the trailer and encourages Diana to become more than a hero and unite the forces of good and evil. There are dozens of thrilling Wonder Woman storylines and dangerous villains to utilize in-game, but some could be better adapted to a video game format than others.
As a founding Justice League member and part of DC’s Trinity, Wonder Woman maintains an influential role in DC comics. Monolith Productions’ Wonder Woman game announcement took many by surprise, as Batman is the only character to have a notable DC game series at this current moment in time. Despite the lack of gameplay and information, fans are cautiously optimistic, as Monolith’s previous projects (Shadow of War and Shadow of Mordor) provided fans with an excellent story in Tolkien’s world. If the Wonder Woman game follows a similar pattern and provides a meaningful adventure and story, DC’s Amazon title could rival the Batman: Arkham series.
Diana has appeared in other DC games, though mainly as an antagonist or NPC. Wonder Woman appeared in the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League trailer, and seems to be the only Justice League member that Brainiac doesn’t control. However, the upcoming game is the first time that Wonder Woman is headlining her own IP in recent gaming history. Compared to Batman, heroes like Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, Flash, and Green Lantern haven’t received the attention they deserve. Thankfully, every upcoming DC game in 2021 and 2022 has shifted focus from the Dark Knight and refocused on other in-game universe characters, with Gotham Knights telling a story about the Bat Family, including Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood, and Robin; and Suicide Squad: KTJL spotlighting the criminals of Task Force X. Wonder Woman’s mythologies and storylines feature many exciting and dark concepts that could turn her games into the most distinctive project in recent years.
Wonder Woman Game Could Adapt The Paradise Lost Civil War
Although there have been plenty of DC games that have been inspired by adaptations of the comics, such as the DC Animated Universe or the Christopher Nolan Batman movies, many others utilize storylines based on comics, like Gotham Knights‘ Court of Owls and Talons. In regards to Wonder Woman specifically, Paradise Lost could equip the game with a darker twist on Amazon society. The story begins with Diana and Hippolyta feuding over the former’s choice to become Wonder Woman instead of ruling the Amazons as Queen. However, their conflict is interrupted as the Themysciran Amazons begin warring with the Bana-Mighdall Amazon sisters. Paradise Island is thrown into chaos as Diana and Hippolyta struggle to find common ground and cease the in-fighting.
It’s later revealed that Magala, a Bana-Mighdall Amazon, is the Wonder Woman villain Ariadne, Theseus’ scorned wife and enemy to the Amazons. Though the civil war eventually ends, Amazon society is changed forever as Diana and Hippolyta abolish the monarchy and install a new government that provides both Amazonian cultures with equal representation. Fans received the story itself quite well, and Monolith could quickly adapt Paradise Lost into the video game medium.
If the Wonder Woman game uses the Paradise Lost storyline, Shadow of Mordor‘s Nemesis System could generate and incorporate random Amazonian leaders and warriors into the ranks. These combatants could match Diana in strength and skill, suspending players’ disbelief if they suffer difficulty against certain enemies. Additionally, the Amazonian culture is based around lethal combat, meaning any fatalities introduced during the story would make sense. Magala’s supporters could represent the enemy leaders, with Magala (or Ariadne) becoming the main antagonist. Other DC characters with Amazonian heritage, like Donna Troy, could also appear as generals for the Themysciran Civil War.
Wonder Woman Game Could Incorporate Villainous Amazons
Using comic book characters in DC games has provided each medium with common ground for casual fans and players alike. Wonder Woman can copy this strategy Batman: Arkham used and adapt The Circle storyline into the game. The Circle introduces four Amazons: Myrto, Charis, Philomela, and Alkyone, who Hippolyta chose to become her personal guards. The four warriors betrayed her and tried to kill Diana, citing that she would destroy Amazonian society and call her a dragon. However, Hippolyta asks them to repent on the same day each year, offering clemency. Diana battles against Nazis on the mainland, working to enact a dastardly plot against her homeland and people. It’s learned that the Nazis are trying to erase the Amazons from history, and they launch an attack on Themyscira. While there aren’t many Amazons in the storyline, details, and stories can be adapted to fit the gaming format better and make the comic storyline less predictable.
DC games have begun focusing on villains, with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League placing the characters in heroic roles. Wonder Woman could utilize a similar theme, as she befriends Gorilla Grodd and his soldiers earlier in the storyline and houses some of them in her apartment. Additionally, Nemesis and Sarge Steel play vital roles in the early parts of The Circle storyline. Other gods like Odin, Raijin, Bast, and Kane Milohai are also called upon to help save Themyscira, though not all answer the call. Myrto, Charis, Philomela, and Alkyone could act as phenomenal villains, leading defected legions of Amazons or foreign warriors against Diana’s armies and allies. While Monolith would have fewer opportunities for more accessible development of characters, the use of Themyscira’s named Amazons could provide an excellent alternative.
Wonder Woman Game Could Adapt The Lies To Redeem Villains
As one of Wonder Woman’s most recent and popular storylines, The Lies could determine the game’s placement in WB Games’ continuity. Batman: Arkham, Gotham Knights, and Suicide Squad: KTJL‘s unconnected universes created some confusion, similar to the various reboots the DC comic universe endures. The Lies comic series focuses on Diana discovering the truth behind her changing memories, which could connect to the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League game. As Wonder Woman searches for Themyscira, Cheetah accuses the Amazon of cursing her to become a monster. The pair works together, eventually uncovering a plot to revive an evil Plant God from the dead to turn the world into hybrids. Cheetah is soon cured of her affliction and continues assisting Diana in searching for Themyscira. Eventually, Diana is joined by Steve Trevor and rekindles her relationship with him, finally discovering that Diana’s memories about ever returning to Themyscira are completely fabricated. While this story is tragic, it encompasses several of Wonder Woman’s Rogues galleries and introduces mystical opponents to battle.
A Wonder Woman game modeled loosely after The Lies could work towards connecting the DC game universe. Compared to DC, Marvel’s video game universe is already quite expansive, with Insomniac’s in particular building its own fleshed-out world. Wonder Woman could accomplish this by referencing different quests and characters from other DC games. Introducing Cheetah, the hybrids, Uzkataga, Steve Trevor, and Etta Candy would help explore Wonder Woman’s story, and provide a meaningful cast of heroes and villains to utilize in-game.
While it’s likely Monolith Productions won’t release more information until the game has reached a more complete stage, many Wonder Woman villains from mythology and DC canon can appear in-game, from the well-known Cheetah (Barbara Minerva) to Circe, a powerful witch. However, like Shadow of War and Shadow of Mordor, Wonder Woman has the opportunity to develop dozens of unique Amazonian characters with intriguing personalities and powerful abilities. For instance, allies like Nubia could also appear in Wonder Woman, although it’s too early to tell who Monolith will introduce with its own interpretation.
