Summary
- Wonder Woman’s upcoming video game by Monolith Productions promises a cinematic experience blending Greek and DC Comics mythology.
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey offers a similar experience, with parallels to Wonder Woman’s story and gameplay mechanics.
- Kassandra, the protagonist of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, serves as a close stand-in for Wonder Woman, further enhancing the game’s appeal to fans.
Wonder Woman is such a significant character in DC Comics‘ storied history. The Amazonian warrior is heavily linked to Greek mythology, is a vital member of the Justice League and part of DC’s iconic trilogy. From big-screen blockbusters to major comic arcs, Diana Prince has seen and done it all. In the video game space, she’s perhaps most associated with impressive runs in franchises such as LEGO and Injustice. However, the character has also been confirmed to be receiving her own solo video game, which appears to be completely separate from any plans that are coming into place for the wider DCU. Wonder Woman is a complex and nuanced hero who would absolutely thrive in this interactive space.
Interestingly, there has yet to be a perfect Wonder Woman video game, which is perhaps why so much work is going into the title designed by the same team behind the Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War series. Wonder Woman is a pioneer and innovator both in the context of her fictional universe and in the comic book industry. It only makes sense that her video game world thus pushes new boundaries. Yet, if the developers are looking for inspiration, then they should look at a title that isn’t part of the DC Comics franchise at all. It may well be that the best Wonder Woman game ever developed is actually an Assassin’s Creed experience.
Wonder Woman Is Receiving An Exciting New Video Game Title
The Mythological Warrior Is Treading New Ground
- Monolith Productions is developing a Wonder Woman game, which was announced in 2021.
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Before diving into the alternative, it’s vital to look at what makes Wonder Woman’s upcoming title so exciting. Monolith Productions is working hard to put together a cinematic experience, that will touch on both Greek and DC Comics’ mythology. There have been so many interpretations of Wonder Woman on screen and on the page, with the likes of Zack Snyder sharing their vision of the hero, while fans share their own interpretations of who Diana Prince should really be. At her core, those Amazonian roots and ties to Themyscira are of the utmost importance, as are Wonder Woman’s grounded connections to the Justice League, her love interests, and the human conflicts she has so often found herself involved in.
Creating a video game that balances so many of these elements, and captures Diana’s powerful set of abilities, is incredibly difficult, which is perhaps why so few have attempted to create a perfect Wonder Woman title. The character has thrived in fighting titles and those that require more button-mashing than any conventional action-adventure style play, but the nuance that’s expected from this latest outing should reflect the hero that audiences will want to embody. One with elite training, a wise and measured approach to problems, and that charm that has seen her negotiate so many difficult scenarios.
So much about the new Wonder Woman title has been left unknown, especially concerning what the gameplay mechanics might look like and how the narrative might unfold. This secretive development process has likely been created to stop rampant speculation until the title is finally done, as there is a lot riding on this specific interpretation. But DC Comics and Monolith Productions can pull inspiration from a wide variety of sources. What fans do know is that it will likely be a third-person action adventure akin to the Middle-earth saga and calls upon one of that franchise’s most popular mechanics.
Relying on the Nemesis System, it seems that Wonder Woman’s enemies may be involved in some hierarchy that evolves as the player progresses. So, from DC Universe Online to Justice League Heroes, Wonder Woman and her unique part of the DC Universe has not been given a chance to thrive by itself. But this reliance on the character, her enemies, and her wider landscape indicates that the upcoming game will change all of that. Fans await the new title just as much as they anticipate the casting news for Wonder Woman in the DCU. But there’s an experience out there right now that delivers on the gameplay mechanics and character work that should satisfy fans of Diana for the time being.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Tracks The Peloponnesian War
It Taps Into Some Of The Same Mythology As DC Comics
- Ubisoft Quebec was the studio responsible for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
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If players want to dip their toe into the realm of mythology of Ancient Greece, framed by a war that has raged between two peoples, and complete with the lore of a franchise that they are already familiar with, then Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is absolutely the experience they should be looking to. The long and varied line of Assassin’s Creed video games has moved between a range of different time periods. Taking inspiration from Norse, Egyptian, and even Pirate mythology, Assassin’s Creed has managed to find ways to weave its own storytelling beats into the lore of countless cultures and civilizations.
In many ways, there are clear parallels to be drawn between what Ubisoft has been able to achieve with this shared universe of characters, significant historical events, and major plot points that intertwine across games, and the way in which DC Comics itself tells stories. Wonder Woman would feel right at home in the landscape that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey crafts, with key locations like Athens and Sparta becoming such vital spaces within the context of the game.
The open-world RPG follows many of the same tropes that fans have come to expect from this series, making it a uniquely franchise-focused game. But newcomers won’t have had to play any previous installments to get a Wonder Woman-esque experience from this title. In fact, removing the DC Comics implications for the moment, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey stands on its own as a gorgeously detailed title, with an incredible map, detailed NPCs, and fast-paced action.
The player character takes on the sinister Cult of Kosmos throughout the narrative while fighting on both sides of the terrifying conflict and searching for a connection with their family again. These are all intriguing beats to work with, but what’s more, they also carry clear connections to Diana Prince, her fight against godly evil, involvement in major human wars, and desire to form a bond with both blood and friend alike. With DLC like Legacy of the First Blade and The Fate of Atlantis indicating just how much widespread narrative potential this particular area of the saga has, players were inspired by this fictitious take on some real-world events, sprinkled with the legends of Greek mythos.
The sense of mystery, exploration, and weaving of the real and the imagined makes for an experience unlike any in the series so far. The fact that players go from facing the Cyclops to conversing with Sokrates is pure genius. Although fans will still anticipate the soon-to-be-released Assassin’s Creed Shadows which may rival what Odyssey achieved, there’s one character in particular that has helped to frame Odyssey as a must-play entry and has created further ties to DC Comics’ Amazonian icon.
Kassandra Is The Perfect Diana Stand-In
The Assassin Is The Closest Player Can Come To Playing As Wonder Woman
- Kassandra returns in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla DLC.
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As part of the gameplay, players get a choice of who they wish to control throughout the experience. They may select Alexios, a mighty male warrior, or they could select Kassandra, a talented female assassin. Both go on similar journeys and their opposite takes on the alternative role. However, it seems that Ubisoft has always intended for Kassandra to be the hero of the piece, the legendary assassin who would go on to take on the mantle of the Eagle Bearer, a title not dissimilar to Wonder Woman. Alexios, her brother, meanwhile, was always supposed to become Deimos, an enforcer in the nefarious Cult of Kosmos.
This complex family dynamic is the least of Kassandra’s troubles, as she fights on either side of the conflict, while players have to make massive choices about how her journey progresses. As the story develops and Kassandra’s role grows, audiences may just see further similarities between the fighter and Diana Prince, as she seeks to make a major difference in the run of human history. Players may upgrade Kassandra’s horse, weapons, or skill set, but irrespective of this, the gameplay mechanics are the one thing that really brings the Themysciran parallels to fruition.
Firstly, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey uses some elements in its build that aren’t that dissimilar from the Nemesis System. Mercenaries would hunt the player based on their choices and actions, showing that there are genuine consequences to the gameplay decisions that are made. Secondly, the range of skills at Kassandra’s disposal would certainly make her a fine addition to Wonder Woman’s elite band of Themysciran allies. Her sword fighting skills, blade ability, dexterity with a spear, and even the use of armor all make the player feel as if they are controlling Wonder Woman herself.
Every Assassin’s Creed game brings something different to the table, and arguably any of the line’s protagonists could be compared to superheroes in some capacity. But Kassandra plays just like Wonder Woman, albeit without some of the unique character weapons. And with the backdrop of Ancient Greece, and those narrative and thematic elements all woven together, fans should be leaping into this title far before an official Wonder Woman game is released. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a great Wonder Woman game, even if it doesn’t have the DC crest of approval.
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