Poison Ivy Injustice 2 Battle Simulator

Media type: Video Game
Title: Injustice 2 (Legendary Edition)
Released: May 11, 2017
Format: PS4
Played before?: Yes

Hey peeps and welcome to a written playthrough of Injustice 2, specifically the Battle Simulator. Maybe I can charm someone to actually read this entire playthrough. At least through a fight.

This advanced battle simulator focuses on Poison Ivy. She started at a level 3 with a difficulty of very easy.

Poison Ivy is not a character I would have pegged for being in a fighting game. She’s much more focused on plants than humans and honestly, doesn’t even seem to care about the conflict in the main story. They made her a decent fighting character but I feel like they used her because she’s one of the few known female villains instead of finding a character in DC’s vast arsenal that fit a little better. These issues are mine, though. Some of it stems from the fact that I don’t fully understand Poison Ivy’s origins and powers. I haven’t done a deep dive into this character, so it steers me away from her.

Fight 1: Aquaman

How fun! The Brother Eye level of the Bat Cave. So new. So original.

I feel like Ivy has better attacks than the ones I found in the simulator. Granted, this is my own failing for not practicing with the character before going into the simulator. That can be said about every character that I complain about. It’s user error, not developer error. From the times I’ve fought the AI in the past, it seemed like Ivy had all of these special plant attacks. Instead, I kept blowing dust in the wind between her basic punches and kicks. I did manage to grow the thorn patch a few times, which was actually beneficial to me. Usually, those status patches fail me because the opponent is never in the correct section. But the thorn patch did a decent amount of damage.

I was able to use a super move to end the match.

Fight 2: Firestorm

This fight started in the Containment Center before moving to the Power Core at Red Sun Prison.

I was still struggling with the moves in this match. I actually regressed because I wasn’t able to use the thorn patch during the match. She just kept blowing dust into the wind. It sounds so poetic, if she weren’t in the middle of a fighting game. I’m thankful that her basics did a decent amount of damage while I pushed buttons and hoped for the best. I mean, that’s how I play all video games. Strategy is a lost art for me that I should really learn.

There was no super move to end the fight. Poison Ivy leveled up to level 4.

Fight 3: Harley Quinn

The fight started at the Front Gates before going to the Cell Block of Arkham Asylum.

I know these two have a history. How it fits into the Injustice story is a mystery to me. In the first Injustice, Harley’s still broken up about the Joker’s death and is actively fighting in his name. She latches on to the main universe Joker after one fight. In this game, she’s fighting alongside Batman and the other Insurgents. When did she and Ivy hook up? It had to be before Joker’s death, unless Harley was swayed by her between the two Injustice games. I shouldn’t be so hung up on this, since the game isn’t interested in that question. It’s just one of the overthinking things I tend to do during the simulator.

All of this because the fight wasn’t interesting. I still could not figure out Ivy’s move pool and I don’t think I honestly ever figured it out. I’d be more worried about my abysmal moves if I were fighting against real people and not the AI. If that were the case, I’d be in that practice mode for a while.

No super move to end the fight.

Fight 4: Black Adam

This fight took place at the Empire Theatre in Gotham.

I really like Ivy’s character power. That green plant monster does a good amount of damage, way more that I thought it would. I’ve seen the AI bring the plant monster out but I don’t recall it continuously spitting acid at me for a good five seconds. Yet, that’s what this little monster does. It’s nice to find some sort of hidden gem to use during the fights. It gets really repetitive to attempt the same few moves with no results. Again, totally my fault.

There was no super move to end the fight.

Fight 5: Poison Ivy

The fight began in the Ace o’ Clubs before moving to Memorial Station in Metropolis.

There was a challenge attached to the fight to use ten ducking attacks. I eked out completing this challenge at the very last hit. I get too cocky and don’t stay in a block stance enough.

As much as I hate fighting myself in these simulators, I was looking forward to this fight. The only reason was to see if the AI could show me any of Ivy’s moves. The AI did not do that. I was very disappointed because all I wanted was proof that Ivy had more attacks than the thorn patch and her throw. Yet, the AI showed me nothing. I should’ve had lower expectations, considering I play on very easy. I just live in a state of constant disappointment.

No super move to end the fight. Poison Ivy leveled up to level 5.

Fight 6: Enchantress

This fight took place in Slaughter Swamp.

I’m not terrible at fighting with Ivy. I feel like I say that for every character in these reviews though. I also always state that these characters must have better attacks than the ones I’m using. As I stated earlier, it’s user error at fault here. I don’t put in the time to actually learn these characters. I don’t play matches beyond the simulator. So, I know that when I criticize not being able to use moves, I’m criticizing myself for not doing better. It’s absolutely my fault that I can’t find better moves for the characters or adapt better to the fighting. I’ll own it.

Once again, no super move to end the fight.

Fight 7: Cyborg

The fight took place in the Fortress of Solitude.

There was a challenge attached to this fight to use two super moves. Considering I’m lucky to even build up a bar for one super move, I did not complete this challenge.

Cyborg ended up hitting me with his super move in the fight. It was in combination with getting blown up from his mother boxes. I’m sad I never really utilized that character power to its fullest extent. Looking back, I don’t even think I used the power that much. But, I did utilize Poison Ivy’s character power. I really like hers. Honestly, I just like the straightforward character powers over the status powers.

I did use one super move to end the match.

Fight 8: Brainiac

Fighting him never gets easier. I dread seeing his picture pop up at the end of the simulator. Obviously, he’s not supposed to be easy. You would just think I wouldn’t be surprised when he brings out the lasers or the tentacles. Yet, I cringe every time I get hit with something. Luckily, I was able to block his super move this fight. I’m always proud of myself when that happens because I mess that up more often than not. Ivy did decent fighting against him. I don’t even think I got knocked down to one health bar. He’s really just a luck of the draw fight.

The Ending

So, how did Ivy seduce Brainiac? The intro to their fight states that Brainiac feels no carnal desires. What happened between the beginning of the fight and the end of the fight? Why state that Brainiac views Ivy’s tactics as beneath him if they actually do affect him? I guess it goes with the idea that Brainiac underestimates whoever he goes against in the fight. Also, Ivy said that all of the heroes were defeated once she defeated Brainiac. Where did Bruce, Harley, and Swamp Thing come from? I thought that she implied they died fighting, not that they were just incapacitated. Again, I have too many questions that really should not need answers.

Overall Score: 886,889

Damn girl. She did not score well. I don’t fully know why. I’ve hit less super moves and less transitions and still have gotten a higher score. I’m, like, thirty characters into the simulator and I still don’t really get the scoring system.

Top Five Ranking of Characters:

1. Catwoman (1,063,054)
2. Green Arrow (1,057,829)
3. Black Canary (1,047,908)
4. Doctor Fate (1,040,263)
5. Cyborg (1,030,601)

Until the next battle, where maybe I can use some charm to win people over? Maybe? Please?