What An Idiot / Batman: Arkham Series

Despite centering around the life of the "World's greatest detective", Batman, his allies, and even his enemies don't always seem to think things through.

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Arkham Origins

• Bruce Wayne has figuratively split his identity between a playboy caricature of himself and a terrifying, intimidating persona meant to scare criminals into either answering questions or rethinking their criminal activities, up to and including going straight.
  You'd Expect: Bruce keeps track of what he says/does in one persona and avoids doing it in the other persona so that nobody can ever make the connection.
  Instead: There are recordings of both Bruce Wayne and Batman both saying "You just ran out of time" to Vicki Vale and Bane, respectively.
  As A Result: Bane discovers Batman's identity, breaks into the Batcave, all but kills Alfred, which gives him a Heroic BSoD, and damages Bruce's hardware, which combines with the Heroic BSoD to delay Batman's arrival at Blackgate to quell the second riot there.
  Thankfully: Bruce can revive Alfred, effect enough repairs to his hardware so it can function, for the time being, manages to quell the second Blackgate riot despite his delay, and learns his lesson about how to manage his twin personas, as this never came up in Asylum or City, nor does it come up in Knight.

Arkham Origins: Blackgate

• Amanda Waller wants to recruit Bane for the Suicide Squad, but he's imprisoned at Blackgate.
  You'd Expect: Waller - with her immense political power - would simply arrange a visit with Bane. Remember she just waltzed up to Deathstroke in prison and asked him to join the squad, and he was also locked in Blackgate. Failing that, Bane is a notorious international terrorist; she could transfer him to some super-government prison where she'd have more accessibility.
  Instead: Waller finds and recruits Catwoman to infiltrate Blackgate Prison, cause a riot, and break Bane out.
  As A Result: The ridiculously complicated mission goes south immediately and leads to a lot of deaths (civilian and otherwise) and collateral damage. The riot also gains Batman's attention, who goes to the island (entirely predictable given that he broke into Blackgate to quell riots twice in one night just three months ago) and he effectively ruins Waller's plan.

Assault on Arkham

• Arkham Asylum is a prison and mental institution currently holding supervillains. Among its inmates are some of the worst criminals in Gotham City, known for having huge body counts.
  You'd Expect: Inmates to be kept away from their equipment, the passwords of the warden to be more complex, and locks of the cell doors to be on separate systems.
  Instead: Even ignoring the film's ties to the series, it's freaking Arkham Asylum, a place repeatedly shown throughout the Batman franchise to be staffed by people who are incompetent, corrupt, as mentally unhinged as the inmates, or any combination thereof. Of course, the warden's passwords are his birthday going backward, all of the cells can be unlocked by one switch, and criminals like Bane and Scarecrow are locked up with their costumes and weapons.
• Amanda Waller wants to keep certain information about her operations a secret and a person who knows about it is in prison.
  You'd Expect: Waller to just pay off a guard to kill the Riddler so that his knowledge of how to defuse the nano bombs that Waller uses to keep the Suicide Squad in line would die with him.
  Instead: Outside of Batman's search for the Joker's bomb, the entire plot happens because Amanda Waller decided to send in the Suicide Squad— the very last people who Waller would want to learn that information.
  As A Result: Killer Frost doesn't kill the Riddler like she was ordered when she learns this and outside of King Shark and Black Spider (the former's skin being too thick and the latter being impersonated by Batman after having being defeated), the Squad has the Riddler defuse the bombs through electroshock therapy.
  Even Worse: These antics alerted the staff to their presence, got the SCU called in, caused Batman to investigate, and allowed the Joker to escape, who proceeds to start a riot—which also allowed the Riddler to escape.
  You'd Also Expect: She'd update the explosives she uses, anyway, after the Riddler escaped from her the first time with the knowledge to defuse them.
  Instead: She doesn't think to do this, either.

Arkham Asylum

• As soon as Joker gets to the asylum, he's placed in a set of Hannibal Lecter-style restraints on wheels. He's taken throughout the asylum on this.
  You'd Expect: Since Joker is such a dangerous inmate that such a set of restraints are necessary, they would carry him in them until they get to his cell.
  Instead: They inexplicably remove him from these restraints before they reach his cell and attempt to walk him the rest of the way, accompanied by only two guards, whom he quickly and easily overpowers.
  As A Result: Joker gains control of Arkham Asylum.

• Frank Bowles is a notorious and unpopular guard who has been previously suspended for drinking on duty.
  You'd Expect: He would not be assigned to handle the Joker, and people would see his hip flask and dismiss him right then and there.
  Instead: He's assigned to supervise the Joker's return to Arkham, and no one calls him out for his very visible hip flask.

• Batman kitbashes three Batclaws into the Ultra Batclaw. This allows him to attack three thugs, pull grates off much faster, and even pull out walls that he can't reach with Explosive Gel. He couldn't have beaten Titan Joker without it.
  You'd Expect: He makes this standard equipment or at least something he can airdrop.
  Instead: It never shows up again.
  
• Shortly before Doctor Young dies, she tells Batman that there is a secret lab in the asylum gardens where Titan was being manufactured but she passes before she gets to tell him its location. Immediately after this, Batman goes chasing after Harley Quinn who has taken the warden hostage. The chase leads him through the cell block for the super-powered inmates, where a pained Poison Ivy begs Batman for help as she can feel the suffering of the plants in the garden.
  You'd Expect: Batman would take this information and try and use Ivy as a means of locating the lab since Ivy— crazed as she is— is usually depicted as being fairly honest when it comes to protecting "her babies".
  Instead: His reaction to this news is to tell Ivy that he doesn't have time to deal with it and warns her not to try escaping because he has enough to worry about without her running loose.
  

Arkham City

• A major plot point is that Joker has become critically ill thanks to his use of TITAN. In need of a cure, he goes to Mr. Freeze, a guy whose main schtick, besides all the ice-based weaponry, is turning his wife Nora into a Human Popsicle while he works on a cure for her terminal disease.
  You'd Expect: That at some point, Joker would request the same treatment while Freeze creates his cure, perhaps leaving behind instructions to deal with Nora if Freeze tries to double-cross him.
  Instead: It never occurs to him to do this.
• A retroactive one for Penguin: before the events of the game, he had a henchman do recon on Joker with a sniper rifle. This went on for at least two days, as Batman finds this very henchman after leaving the museum.
  You'd Expect: Penguin to just give the order to kill Joker. As far as he knew, Harley Quinn was the only leader left, and she was incompetent at the time.
  Instead: He blows the chance to take out his rival. The game, and the rest of the series, play as it does.
• Just before the start of the game, Hugo Strange informs Penguin that Mr. Freeze is working on the cure for Joker's terminal illness and kidnaps him for him, to prevent him from finishing it.
  You'd Expect: Penguin would kill Freeze immediately.
  Instead: He keeps him alive as a museum exhibit so he can gloat about capturing him.
  The Result: Batman rescues Freeze and he helps Batman take down Penguin before completing the cure. Although Joker doesn't get the cure and ends up dead, it does save Batman from the same illness when he otherwise would have died.
• Mr. Freeze has finally created the cure needed to save the dying Batman and Joker from the TITAN illness. However, he destroys one of the samples and demands Batman rescue his wife before he gives other cure to him.
  You'd Expect: Batman to explain to Freeze that he was vomiting blood less than an hour ago. He notes that if he dies, he can't find Nora, and promises that he makes Nora his top priority in exchange for the cure.
  Or that: Freeze to realize that he is talking to the goddamn Batman, and gives the cure to him knowing that he will find Nora for him because it's the right thing to do.
  Or even: For Freeze to lie to Batman about how much antidote he needs. "Half will only keep you going, to cure your disease you must bring back Nora for the rest."
  Instead: Neither even tries to negotiate. Batman gets angry and tries to steal the cure, which makes Freeze angry. The two fight and Harley Quinn steals the cure.
• Hugo Strange has a few moments where his supposed intelligence becomes an Informed Ability. His base of operations is a high tower, with only one way out. He doesn't use body doubles nor has a proper plan for the event that somebody breached his security. The only thing comparable to a safe room is a glass box, instead of a vault or something similar. Everything in the prison is controlled by Waynetech security systems, and he knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman. He finds out that Batman is climbing outside of his base of operations. Suddenly, all guards lose sight of Batman.
  You'd Expect: Strange orders the outside guards to double-check, and the inside guards to search everywhere, before leaving the tower with a group of highly trained professionals.
  Instead: He believes that Batman fell off the tower. He then enters a small room from where he can be seen from all angles, which has no escape routes and is controlled by a panel created by Batman. He leaves his guard outside the room where they are vulnerable to Batman, instead of taking them with him to guard the only entrance against the inside, and taking out Batman by sheer force if he ever happened to open the door.
  As A Result: Batman is easily able to defeat the guards and corner Strange.
• Speaking of Hugo Strange. He reveals in the first moments of the game that he knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman and that he expects Batman to allow Strange to operate without interference, lest his secret is revealed. Naturally, Batman refuses to kowtow to Strange.
  You'd expect: That Strange would remind Batman of his leverage any time Batman shows evidence of uncovering the secret about Protocol 10.
  Bear in mind, though: Protocol 10 requires certain events to transpire and for Batman to end up in a specific location, so Strange was likely playing Chessmaster up to this point. Once Protocol 10 is activated, though, there is no such need to keep Batman alive. So...
  You'd expect: That any move Batman makes towards trying to stop Strange from then on would be met with a renewed threat. There are several occasions when it is clear to Strange where Batman is and what he is attempting, so he can be said to have no idea that Batman survived Protocol 10.
  Instead: No further mention of Batman's identity is made ever again, and the only tactics Strange uses to try and stop Batman are noted above.
• Batman finds several innocent political prisoners trying to survive Arkham City. A few of them are dying from having nothing to eat or drink in days.
  You'd Expect: Batman tells Alfred to use the Batcomputer to identify them and see if they are telling the truth; If they are, he asks him to use the Batwing to drop some food inside Arkham City, before ensuring they are the only ones to get anything from the drop. If the helicopters (are about to) notice what's happening, Alfred uses the Batwing to distract them.
  Instead: Batman does absolutely nothing to help the innocent prisoners. The only interaction Batman can have with them from now on is some dialogue whenever he meets more political prisoners.
  As A Result: Many of the prisoners die from cold, thirst, and lack of food.
• At the end of the game when Joker is on the brink of death from TITAN poisoning, Batman contemplates whether he should give the cure to him.
  You'd Expect: Knowing full well that Batman never kills, he waits for him to finish his speech regarding Joker's actions before Batman gives the cure to him.
  Instead: He immediately decides to attack Bats just after giving the above speech.
  As A Result: Batman drops the cure in the attack, destroying any chance of saving Joker's life. In the end, all Joker could do is laugh as he dies.

Arkham Knight

• By the time the events of Batman: Arkham Origins ended, Batman learns a lesson regarding cooperation and teamwork.
  You'd Expect: That when he is stuck in a situation where he cannot do it alone or if he is too preoccupied with stopping the villain at large and wants to help catch the other villains, he asks for help from either Gordon, Robin or even Catwoman to aid the job for him. Or if they want to eagerly help Batman, he gives them any task to make them useful.
  Instead: He keeps brushing off every offer of help from everyone but Alfred and Oracle. This ultimately causes his downfall as when he confines Robin out of fear, Scarecrow takes advantage of the situation and is forced to unmask himself to the world to save them.
  As A Result: Batman is forced to initiate the "Knightfall Protocol" and gets exactly what he wanted, being cut off from allies and friends forever.
• A subplot of the game involves Robin looking for a cure for people infected with the Joker's blood, a plot point in the previous chronological game Batman: Arkham City.
  What You'd Expect: Given the presence of five cells, yet only four only have prisoners and his involvement in the plot of City, Robin would know right off the bat (no pun intended) that the fifth cell was for Batman himself, whom the Joker also infected during City.
  Instead: It takes the betrayal of Henry Adams (who wasn't as immune as they thought and Evil All Along) to comment on Batman's condition for Robin to realize who the fifth cell was for. Granted, Batman did cure himself and showed no symptoms, but Robin never even considered the possibility.
  The Result: Tim's unprepared when Bruce's stubbornness caused Bruce to lock him in the cell instead.
• Also, a flashback shows that Gordon is aware of the infected as well. The building they're in isn't far from GCPD.
  You'd Expect: Gordon would have a squad of cops ready to provide backup at some point, or at least offer to do so.
  Instead: Gordon does nothing, never even considering the idea.
  To Make It Worse: If the Waynetech Track DLC is canon, then Bruce has a facility ten miles outside of Gotham City.
  What You'd Expect Then: For Bruce to consider moving the infected there the moment the Scarecrow threatened the city to keep them safe.
  Instead: Bruce doesn't do this either, leaving them in the middle of a city now overrun with criminals.
  The Result: Harley can get her hands on them.
• The Arkham Knight has a full military force prepared to take on Batman, infantry, tanks, missile launchers, drones, etc.
  You'd Expect: Since it's common knowledge that Batman won't kill, (and the Arkham Knight being Jason Todd, the former second Robin would know this) the Knight would have soldiers inside operating the tanks, making it much harder for Batman to destroy them without killing the people inside. That said, since Scarecrow's plan involves flooding Gotham with a cloud of Fear Toxin, using a combination of manned and unmanned tanks could meet both goals.
  Instead: All of the tanks are unmanned and controlled remotely.
  As a result: Batman can use his Batmobile's cannons to destroy them instantly without worrying about any fatalities.
• Scarecrow and the Arkham Knight have covered the streets of Gotham with a huge cloud of fear toxin, and the city's only hope is for Batman to destroy a powerful tank belonging to the Arkham Knight. Unfortunately, the toxin has disabled the Batmobile, and Batman learns that he must fit a Nimbus cell to it to reactivate it. However, the Batmobile is currently on the streets of Gotham, deep in the clouds of toxin.
  You'd Expect: Batman to fit the Nimbus cell to the Batwing, use it to move the Batmobile out of the toxin clouds, and then transfer the Nimbus cell from the Batwing to the Batmobile. Alternatively, he could bring in the spare Batmobile and put the cell in that.
  Instead: Batman decides to dive right into the streets covered in the fear toxin (which can be absorbed into the body through clothes, rendering gas masks and holding one's breath useless) and try and put the cell into the Batmobile right there. Unsurprisingly, he nearly dies.
• When Batman locks Robin up in the movie studios after the deaths of the Joker-Infected, he disables Robin's comm unit. Alfred chimes in saying he lost contact with Robin, which Batman blames on faulty equipment.
  You'd Expect: One of them to realize that the studio has its communication system since Henry used it to call Batman earlier. It's rather important because if Alfred remembered, that would've ruined Batman's plan, and could've prevented Robin's capture.
  Instead: Neither one does.
  • Also, Batman learned from Ivy very early that Harley was a part of Scarecrow's alliance.
    You'd Expect: Batman would realize that if Harley knew about the infected, Scarecrow might know as well, and immediately write the studio off and take Robin to GCPD. From there, he'd just lie to the cops that Robin was suffering from Fear Toxin to keep him out of the way.
    Instead: He assumes the studio's still safe.
    To Makes It Worse: Also, Gordon still has access to the studio via his voiceprint. It's how Scarecrow was able to kidnap Robin. Gordon has been missing for some time by this point.
    You'd Also Expect: Batman to delete Gordon's voiceprint right there, if not sooner.
    Instead: He forgets until Gordon is in Scarecrow's clutches.
    As A Result: Scarecrow uses Gordon to get into the movie studios and kidnaps Robin, setting Batman's unmasking in motion.
  • Furthermore, after Batman rescues Oracle, Batman can return to the movie studios and inform Robin. The primary concern, that Robin would do something reckless out of grief, is now null and void, and depending on the player's progress on the side missions, most of the villains have been rounded up.
    You'd Expect: Batman would let Robin out of his cell. He knows that the security of the movie studios was compromised once tonight and he knows for certain that Scarecrow has Gordon. Furthermore, all of his hideouts' biometric security has been compromised by villains who can easily get past it, and it would be best for Robin to be outside of the cell so he can fight back.
    Instead: Batman just leaves Tim in the cell.
    As A Result: When Scarecrow comes with Gordon to the movie studio, Batman is forced to surrender because he has no other option, resulting in his unmasking and the activation of the Knightfall Protocol.
• Throughout the entire game, Batman has seen how easily his biometric security can be easily faked or gotten around twice, (and three times if the player does the Hush side mission), and how vulnerable it leaves his allies.
  You'd Expect: Given that Batman is the biggest example of Crazy-Prepared, he would immediately activate a security feature (given that his belt and cowl electrocuted thugs who tried to remove them in Harley Quinn's Revenge) that would clearly show just who is trying to break in. Given how wealthy Batman is, he could easily afford it or quickly implement it.
  Instead: He does nothing, and all of his hideouts get invaded with ease repeatedly throughout the night.
• At the end of the game, Batman is captured and brought to Arkham Asylum, where Scarecrow plans to unmask him on live TV. Although he was jamming communications earlier, the fact that he's broadcasting means he's stopped.
  You'd Expect: Alfred to remotely pilot the Batwing over there to stop the transmission somehow.
  Instead: He does nothing and Batman is unmasked, forcing him and Alfred to seemingly kill themselves in one final act to protect Gotham and their loved ones.
  • For that matter, in the end, Scarecrow has Commissioner Gordon and Robin hostage and awaits Batman.
    You'd Expect: Since Scarecrow is the only criminal on Arkham Island, and Gordon isn't tied up, he could have easily moved Robin to safety and set up a trap while Crane was outside getting Batman.
    Instead: Much like Alfred, he does nothing, leaving both himself and Robin as Scarecrow's hostages. For crying out loud, Robin still has his utility belt.
• Kirk Langstrom is trying to cure his deafness and thinks Bat DNA could help.
  What You'd Expect: To use any of the hundreds of bats species that don't consume blood.
  Instead: He uses a freaking vampire bat! Even Batman picks up on how stupid that was.
• You see several posters throughout the city establishing that both Superman and the Flash exist in the Arkham Verse. Scarecrow takes his dear sweet time unmasking Batman on live TV.
  You'd Expect: Either Flash or Superman- both of whom can circumnavigate the world in seconds- rush to Batman's aid. Even if they don't know Scarecrow's location, it'd take either of them seconds to sweep the city.
  Bear in Mind, Though: The Arkham Knight specifically planted bombs to prevent this eventuality, but this is a minimum of 27 hours after Scarecrow broadcasted his message, leaving plenty of time to call for help.
  Instead: Neither hero appears in the game and Batman ends up compromised.
• In Arkham Knight we find out that rather than get beaten to death by a crowbar, Jason Todd was tortured by Joker for a year and a half. During this time we learn that A. Tim Drake replaced him six months after he was kidnapped, and B. that Joker sent a film of him shooting Jason, supposedly killing him, but surviving and getting tortured more before escaping and starting the game's events.
  You'd Expect: Batman to not replace and give up on Jason so easily, or at least put Tim Drake as doing something else, that would keep him out of danger, like Oracle. This would keep him safe, and also show that he was not immediately replacing Jason, as Joker could use this, like he did.
  You'd Also Expect: That when he gets the murder film, he realize that he only has the words of what essentially is a deranged psychopath who lives for messing with him and is an extreme liar shooting a person who albeit having gone through extreme torture, was wearing BODY ARMOR, and realize that he could still try to find Jason, who hates him now, but still.
  Instead: He at some point of time around or after nine months gives up looking for Jason for SOME reason, and immediately accepts the word of, as stated above, a lunatic who loves to screw with him shooting his son. To be fair, Jason was shot directly in the chest and grief probably did make him somewhat irrational, but he had given up on Jason beforehand.
  As A Result: Jason gets royally pissed at Batman and teams up with Scarecrow to try to best him, putting the city at risk.
• Batman sees Barbara committing suicide.
  You'd Expect: Between the villain being Scarecrow, dealing with Crane's toxin before (including hallucinating a dying Gordon during the events of Asylum) and his various battles with the shape-shifting Clayface (including standing in for the Joker in City) that he'd double-check and make sure it's Barbara — or at the very least, given that several of the Mooks are noted to be truly despicable, take the body so they won't have access to it.
  Instead: He just leaves upon realizing Ivy could help fight Crane and what it truly was—another Scarecrow hallucination and Barbara is alive and well—never crosses his mind until after he sees Barbara alive.
  The Result: By the time he finds out the truth, he's already driven Gordon and Robin away from him, both of whom are used against Batman later.
• As stated above, Scarecrow created the strongest, deadliest, and highest potent form of his fear toxin known to man.
  You'd Expect: Crane to build up an immunity to the said toxin.
  Instead: When Batman injects him with his product, he's affected just like everyone else.
  As A Result: He's reduced to nothing more than a quivering, whimpering mess, permanently.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League

• Before the events of the game, Brainiac approaches Earth and contacts the Justice League, claiming to be a peaceful alien and inviting them aboard his ship for first contact.
  You'd Expect: The League would realise that someone who looks like Brainiac does and travels around in something called the Skull Ship (no prizes for guessing what it looks like) just might not have good intentions and prepare some form of backup plan in case the meeting goes sideways (like calling in the rest of the Batfamily, any other existing Superheroes like Captain Marvel, Martian Manhunter, other Flashes, or only sending a couple of them while the others, preferably one of the higher powered ones, stay behind) or simply refuse the meeting altogether.
  Even Worse: Batman and Wonder Woman both raise issues with Brainiac's intents, telling Superman and Green Lantern (the ones who want to negotiate) that this is a bad idea and likely a trap.
  Instead: Superman talks the doubters down and all the League go to meet Brainiac.
  As A Result: The entire League sans Flash (initially) and Wonder Woman are captured and mind-controlled by Brainiac.
• Early on, the Squad are captured and imprisoned by Green Lantern.
  You'd Expect: He would take them for processing and assimilation into Brainiac's army right away. Failing that, he'd at least use his constructs to maim them by creating hammers or presses to break their arms and legs, ensuring that they can't escape even if something unexpected happens.
  Instead: He takes them on a leisurely sightseeing tour of the city and gives an explanation about what Brainiac's doing, making no attempt to permanently maim them or ensure they're helpless no matter what.
  As A Result: The Flash shows up and attacks him to bail the team out.
• While trying to transport a wounded Flash to ARGUS, the Suicide Squad are attacked and taken out by Batman, who decides they're no threat but to execute them anyway as an example for any other resistance, only to have his execution attempt of Harley foiled by The Flash's last-ditch Diving Save, whom Batman then brutally beats unconscious.
  You'd Expect: Batman would just try again. The Flash is already down for the count and he has the Squad helpless right where he wants them. As he said earlier, it'd serve as an excellent example to any other resistance to Brainiac.
  Instead: He stops and prioritises warping himself and Flash back to the Skull Ship to assimilate him, leaving the Squad where they are.
  As A Result: The Squad are left alive to continue hindering Brainiac and the mind-controlled League's efforts.
• The Squad manages to bait The Flash into coming to them with a public video recording that he interrupts, kicking off his boss fight where Flash swears he'll kill them all.
  You'd Expect: Flash would just pull his old enemy Eobard Thawne's trick and pull the team's hearts out with phasing right then and there, especially since he's evil now and has no reason to restrain himself other than sadism, which itself should end once he sees they all have copies of Lex Luthor's anti-Speed Force device so they CAN actually threaten him.
  Instead: He zooms around the arena, throws lightning, spins up tornadoes and even manifests speed echoes, all of which the Squad can dodge far more easily than him pulling out their hearts in an instant, especially since their Speed Force protection device cannot defend them constantly.
  Even Worse: He did decide to pull the trick with Lex Luthor earlier in the game, first pulling him out of his powered battlesuit and then phasing his heart out before anyone knew what was happening...while still not doing it to the people right in front of Luthor at the same time.
  As A Result: He's killed by the Squad after a tough-but-manageable fight.
• Later down the line, the Suicide Squad challenges Green Lantern, now equipped with miniaturized Yellow Lantern-esque power batteries in their guns that will allow them to damage GL's constructs and render him vulnerable by destroying enough of them.
  You'd Expect: Lantern would just bind them all in constructs like he did earlier in the game, then execute them at his leisure while they're helpless.
  Instead: He battles the Squad with large numbers of rifle, turret and mine constructs, all of which make for a very tough Bullet Hell fight, but still far more manageable than him just immobilising them right away.
  As A Result: The Squad kill Green Lantern, whose ring is temporarily claimed by King Shark and used to shatter the shield around Brainiac's ship.
• In the prelude to his boss fight, Batman manages to trick the Suicide Squad into activating a venting system that he had laced with Fear Toxin, almost incapacitating all of them before Harley turns out to have sabotaged the system with her own brand of toxin, allowing the team to fight back while still hallucinating a demonic-looking Batman with strange powers.
  You'd Expect: With his Plan A for an easy capture having failed, Batman would stick to his usual tactics (IE: staying mobile with grappling around, using his gadgetry like various Batarangs, Explosive Gel, Freeze Grenades and the like) to deal with the Squad. Even if they've gotten stronger and more skilled, he's still beat them all before and with all of them using guns he needs to stay mobile more than ever.
  Instead: He just stands there and let them keep unloading on him while he throws out various Fear Toxin-warped attacks like Eye Beams and energy waves with hand swipes.
  As A Result: The Squad defeat and capture Batman, allowing an Alternate Universe Lex Luthor to experiment on him, find out what Brainiac did to the League's DNA and engineer Gold Kryptonite to render Superman vulnerable.
• In the immediate cutscene before his boss fight, Superman catches Captain Boomerang's thrown boomerang and expresses surprise when it makes him bleed. He inspects it and sees it causing Tainted Veins on his hand.
  You'd Expect: Superman would realise that, since the Squad seem to have found a way to hurt him, the best method to deal with them is simply flying high into the sky until they can't even see him anymore, turning on the Heat Vision and blasting in the Squad's direction until all of them are dead, or combine his Super-Speed and Super-Strength to turn them into Ludicrous Gibs just by flying into them as fast as he can. The team have already found ways to kill all of his fellow Leaguers by this point (barring Wonder Woman, who he killed) so he can't take any chances.
  Instead: Superman flies around unleashing Heat Vision and strafing attacks while still remaining within weapons range, allowing the Squad to periodically hit him with his Kryptonite Factor and wear him down.
  As A Result: The Squad kill Superman, leaving Brainiac without any Leaguers.
• Despite having the 12th Level Intellect of a Coluan, Brainiac himself makes a few silly mistakes through the game.
  • The Squad finally face off against him for the Final Battle.
    You'd Expect: Brainiac would face them as himself. While they're experienced enough with his tech via battling his drones and mooks through the game, they have no experience with Brainiac personally and he can potentially No-Sell all of their anti-Justice League tech.
    Instead: He chooses to use Voluntary Shapeshifting to become The Flash, who the Suicide Squad already have beaten by this point and still have the anti-Speed Force tech on them.
    As A Result: Brainiac-As-Flash is fought and crippled by the Squad, then finished off by Waller.
  • Brainiac's mind-controlled Justice Leaguers are among his greatest enforcers in Metropolis, and thus top priority targets for ARGUS and the other human resistance to take out before going for him.
    You'd Expect: Brainiac would send other Leaguers for support whenever the Suicide Squad attacks one of them. Since they acquire the gadgetry they need to defeat each Leaguer sequentially, sending another will give them a FAR tougher, if not flat-out impossible, time with the one they can't counter yet backing the one they can.
    Instead: Brainiac simply ignores the situation in Metropolis even as it slips through his fingers, his armies are beaten and his controlled Justice League is killed off one by one. Despite his Skull Ship seeming to look directly at the action at points, he just never interferes.
    As A Result: ARGUS and the Squad successfully kill the Justice League and then Brainiac, ending the invasion and saving the world.

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