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Sadly, studio closures and mass layoffs have become commonplace in the games industry, hardly ever coming as a surprise. But even so, the recent shuttering of Wonder Woman developer Monolith is something of a shock, on par with the sudden shutdowns of Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks last year. Monolith was a storied developer responsible for inventive games like F.E.A.R., Condemned: Criminal Origins, and the Shadow of Mordor series.
Audiences were therefore considerably excited to see how the company would apply its rich pedigree, talent pool, and ingenuity to Wonder Woman, a character that has been mostly absent from modern gaming, at least as a lead. Monolith’s industry-leading enemy AI design, experience with melee combat systems, and willingness to embrace bold ideas could have made for the definitive Wonder Woman gaming experience, and while it’s tragic that the developer won’t get the chance to complete this project, it shouldn’t mean the character being locked away forever.
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Wonder Woman Has a Lot of Potential as a Video Game Lead
When Monolith was helming Wonder Woman, there was a lot of speculation regarding how it would apply its signature penchant for experimentation and creative game design. But even without features as innovative as Shadow of Mordor‘s Nemesis system, a game starring Wonder Woman could be extremely rewarding, with a lot of promise for unique mechanics and broader gameplay systems. Wonder Woman abilities that could lead to interesting gameplay include:
Super speed and strength
Weapon proficiency
Arm cuff deflection
It’s not difficult to imagine a robust melee combat system built around Wonder Woman’s various powers and martial skills: perhaps parry mechanics could mingle with unique fighting styles and weapon types for a strong action-RPG framework. But Wonder Woman boasts brains as much as brawn, and her intelligence and diplomatic skills could form the backbone for investigatory or social-sim-esque gameplay, injecting her adventure with a healthy dose of variety. Her broad arsenal of unique gear, including the iconic Lasso of Truth, could easily support such design ventures.
Even Without Monolith, Warner Bros. Should Push Ahead with Wonder Woman Before Too Long
Again, it’s immensely unfortunate that Monolith’s Wonder Woman will never see the light of day, but that doesn’t mean that nothing can rise from its ashes. Many have speculated that Warner Bros. is looking to play things safe following the disastrous one-two punch of Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League—two games that failed to meet expectations, to put it lightly. This speculation is seemingly supported by an internal email from JB Perette, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, wherein he explicitly defines the company’s goals as being centered on fleshing out existing franchises.
But even if Warner Bros. is becoming increasingly risk-averse in the aftermath of games like Suicide Squad, stepping out with something like a standalone Wonder Woman game wouldn’t actually be as bold as some would assume. In reality, being too safe can be dangerous in the entertainment industry, as even the most beloved and successful IP can see diminishing returns if they don’t change enough over time. Batman: Arkham, for instance, could make a comeback in the next few years, but if WB starts to rely on it too heavily, not branching out with new, creative ideas, fans will eventually lose interest.
Gaming audiences have already been primed for a Wonder Woman game, so it would make sense to keep the momentum going in some way. Plus, the character is more prominent in the mainstream than ever thanks to the DC films, hit-and-miss though they may be. With gaming becoming more and more of a competitor to blockbuster films, it would only make sense to capitalize on a character as recognizable and brimming with potential as Wonder Woman.
“}]] With the closure of Monolith, Wonder Woman’s standalone game has been canceled, but it shouldn’t be curtains for the character in gaming. Read More