The first DLC character is now available for Injustice: Gods Among Us and NetherRealm Studios thought The Last Czarnian was the best option to kick things off. If you have the Season Pass, you can download him right now without spending an extra penny. But if you didn't shell out an extra $15 when you purchased the game, you're now faced with the option of spending $4.99 for the brawler. Is he a good addition to the roster or does he feel too much like the other characters? Read on to find out.
Lobo is a superb close to mid-range character. Up close and personal, the bounty hunter has some vicious combos that are sure to put a smile on any juggler's face. They're easy to remember and super effective. Plus, seeing him casually walk towards his enemy and blast them with a shotgun as part of a combo? Downright badass. His shotgun attacks are mostly close range (understandably so), but his hook allows for some sweet mid-range assaults. Not only does he have the generic slew of hook attacks (lures them in and knocks them away, grabs and rushes them), but he also has a low hook attack that's sure to catch your opponent off-guard if used properly. Sadly, he doesn't have any attacks that go across the entire screen. However, this doesn't mean you'll be easy prey to spammers. Lobo's dash is easily the most effective in the game. He essentially does an action roll, and while this won't dodge all projectile attacks, it did let my bypass quite a few of them. So if you're facing a spammer, utilize the dash, stay in their face, and mercilessly execute his handful of easy-to-use juggling combos. His power move is a blast, though I think blurring his middle finger is a bit jarring. I get having showing that risks boosting the ESRB rating, but come on, we're talking about a scene where he shoots someone in the face with a shotgun, then burns them with an engine. Hard to believe flipping someone off is worse than that, but whatever... it is what it is, right?
His Character Power is "Nuclear Shells." This gives a damage boost to his next shotgun attack (whether it's in a combo or via a special movie). For example, "pump shot" usually does 9% damage. With the Character Power activated it jumps to 13% damage. When activating the power, he quickly puts new shells into his weapon. It's relatively swift compared to a lot of other character powers, but you'll of course need to use it wisely seeing as it leaves you vulnerable for a rather short period of time.
His ending is sure to please cosmic fans, but when it comes to Lobo, you're not getting anything aside from a new character for fights. As of right now, there's nothing for Lobo in the archives. You can't rewatch his ending, check out his character model, buy an alternate costume, etc. I'm hoping we'll at least get to view his ending again and check out his character model, but as of right now, I honestly have no idea if that's something they'll pursue. In case you're wondering, he currently doesn't have any S.T.A.R. Labs missions, either.
Is Lobo worth purchasing? Absolutely. He's a fast powerhouse and his moves are incredibly fun to dish out. Sure, he can't do any damage at long range, but he's designed to quickly close the gap and totally punish characters when you're face-to-face. Oh, and the character selection screen makes it clear there's room for at least 8 DLC characters. So, hold on to hope, Martian Manhunter and Red Hood, fans!
Gregg Katzman is a freelance writer for Comic Vine and IGN Entertainment. This is the part where he shamelessly plugs his Google+ and Twitter page in hopes of getting a new follower or two.