In 1995 Justice League Task Force made its debut in the video game world with little fanfare and even worse reviews. Developed by Sunsoft and released by Acclaim, this typical fighting game featured Justice League staples such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, and of course, Superman. The story is fairly simple; after Darkseid attacks the military bases on Earth, the player (and whichever hero you pick) must find the other Justice League members for help and information. However, these aren't the real Justice League members -- they're android clones who are hell-bent on making sure you don't get to Darkseid.

Gameplay

You'll get to experience other heroes' worlds as you fight them -- such as Aquaman's underwater home -- and yes, you will eventually find the real members of the Justice League, and hopefully, you'll defeat Darkseid.

This side-scrolling fighting game is similar to its counterparts such as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Unfortunately, due to hit or miss controls, this game doesn't play as smoothly as its contemporaries. The graphics are squarely ok too. I wouldn't call it a rush job, but they bring nothing to the table -- which could be said about the whole game. The premise of it is really cool (android clones of the Justice League? Awesome!) but unfortunately it doesn't translate well once you're playing the game.

Worth looking for?

But what about collectability? On eBay, the Super Nintendo cartridge by itself routinely sells for around $17, while a complete game (with the box, manual, etc) will only set you back $30. The Sega Genesis counterpart is significantly cheaper, with cartridges going for under $10 routinely, while complete games (with the box, manual, etc) are going for under $20.

The vintage video game market is currently booming, but some games just aren't taking off. Justice League Task Force, while a fun collector's item for DC fans, Super Nintendo collectors, Sega Genesis collectors, or regular video game completionists, may not net you a profit for some time. For under $30 you certainly won't lose a lot of money, but if you're looking at this as a quick investment opportunity, look elsewhere. If you're buying this game to play it, now is the time!

Subsequent Justice League games have fared much better. 2013's Injustice: Gods Among Us was received very well by both players and critics alike. The game even spawned its own comic book tie-in, as well as a sequel game in 2017. The Justice League even went against their 1995 counterpart, with 2008's Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe. The game received largely mixed reviews, but as someone who still plays this game, I find it to be delightful. As far as solo character video games, well, that's a topic for another day (but overall, they've been pretty terrible).

Did you play Justice League Task Force? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below!

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