Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Nintendo DS version of Justice League Heroes delivers a streamlined, top-down action experience that’s easy to pick up yet offers enough variety to keep players engaged. Each mission places you in control of two heroes chosen from Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Flash, each boasting their own set of melee attacks, ranged attacks, and unique super-power moves. Switching between your active pair is as simple as tapping an on-screen icon with the stylus, and you can even call in one of six AI-controlled heroes—Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Green Arrow, or Huntress—for brief but valuable backup.

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Combat revolves around chaining regular and strong attacks, managing cooldowns, and positioning yourself to avoid enemy hordes. Objective markers on the upper touchscreen guide you through tasks like flipping switches, collecting key items, or protecting allied NPCs. The stylus-driven controls on the lower screen keep your thumbs free for precise timing, and the ability icons let you trigger special moves on the fly. While the fundamentals remain straightforward brawler mechanics, the addition of varied objectives and occasional mini-boss encounters help break the monotony of clearing rooms full of enemies.

Missions are divided into roughly forty sections across a dozen unique stages, ensuring a decent runtime for portable play sessions. Each level introduces new enemy types—ranging from robotic drones to alien invaders—alongside environmental hazards that force you to adapt your tactics. The DS’s dual-screen layout shines here: the top display shows a live map of enemy positions and your next checkpoint, while the bottom handles the action. Combined with the option to unlock a third minigame by inserting Justice League Heroes: The Flash into the GBA slot, there’s more than enough variety to make repeated playthroughs worthwhile.

Graphics

Visually, Justice League Heroes on DS embraces a crisp, colorful sprite art style that honors the comic book roots of its characters. The top-down perspective keeps the camera at a distance, which allows for well-detailed backgrounds—city streets, alien fortresses, and underwater ruins—all rendered with surprising clarity given the hardware constraints. Character sprites are large enough to convey distinct silhouettes and animations for each hero, while enemy designs remain varied and easily identifiable during hectic battles.

Special effects for super-powers—like Superman’s heat vision or The Flash’s speed trails—pop against the environments without obscuring critical gameplay elements. Animations remain smooth for the most part, though on occasion the DS hardware struggles when too many effects trigger simultaneously. That said, the frame rate dips are minor and rarely disrupt the flow of combat. The dual-screen layout is put to good use: the top screen remains uncluttered for tracking objectives, and the bottom screen’s HUD icons are neatly integrated around the action window.

Cutscenes and story interludes use static character portraits and dialogue boxes, but they effectively convey the Justice League’s personalities and maintain narrative momentum between missions. While you won’t find cinematic sequences on par with home console versions, the art style remains faithful to the source material. For a portable title of its era, the DS graphics hit a sweet spot between fidelity and performance, delivering a visually appealing package that complements the fast-paced gameplay.

Story

Unlike its console counterparts, the DS edition of Justice League Heroes forges its own narrative path. The overarching premise remains familiar: the world is under siege by malevolent forces, and the Justice League must team up to restore order. As you progress, small story beats explain why two heroes are dispatched to each hotspot, providing context for the mission structure rather than weaving an epic saga.

Dialogue exchanges appear between stages, delivered through text boxes paired with character portraits. This approach keeps the story moving without bogging down the pace—perfect for quick play sessions on the go. Villains like Lex Luthor, Sinestro, and Brainiac pop up at strategic intervals, offering boss battles that punctuate the more routine objective-based levels. Though the plot doesn’t delve deeply into character development, it captures enough of the heroics and camaraderie fans expect from a Justice League title.

For those seeking extra narrative flair, the inclusion of the two built-in minigames adds side stories that broaden the game’s scope. And if you own Justice League Heroes: The Flash on Game Boy Advance, sliding it into the DS slot unlocks an additional mini-adventure, tying the handheld titles together. While the story might not rival that of the console editions, it provides a satisfying context for the action and keeps players invested in seeing the next villain reveal.

Overall Experience

Justice League Heroes for the DS delivers a commendable portable action-RPG that balances accessibility with enough depth to satisfy DC aficionados. The dual-screen interface is utilized effectively, giving you both an engaging top-down combat view and a real-time map to navigate sprawling levels. Switching between heroes and calling in AI allies adds strategic layers, encouraging players to experiment with different team compositions and power combinations.

Minor drawbacks include occasional repetition in mission objectives and the lack of in-depth story development compared to console versions. However, the variety of stages, the roster of ten playable heroes, and the ability to unlock extra content by linking with the GBA title all contribute to solid replay value. The game runs smoothly for the most part, and the stylus controls feel intuitive once you’ve adapted to the DS’s touchscreen limitations.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a portable Justice League experience that captures the spirit of these iconic characters and offers bite-sized action on the go, this DS iteration hits the mark. It’s an engaging pick-up-and-play adventure that showcases the Justice League’s powers in a compact format, making it a worthwhile addition to any DS owner’s library—especially fans of superhero beat ’em ups.

Retro Replay Score

5/10