Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Preview
Kontroversial.
"Worlds will collide. The fate of the universe will be decided." And the Internet will explode with indignant fanboy rage. Yes, Mortal Kombat is back, and this time it's teen-rated, which means no spine-ripping fatalities. Blunting the brand's trademark happy endings is inevitably going to unseat a few spleens, but that's the price series creator Ed Boon is prepared to pay for shacking up his "billion dollar fighting franchise" with Warner Bros. to bring the two famous brands together in one star-studded beat-'em-up package.
Officially unveiled at Midway's Gamers Day in Las Vegas last week, in it a "cataclysmic force merges conquerors from two universes", meaning that MK staples such as Sub Zero and Scorpion find themselves facing off against DC superheroes, including Batman and Superman and "other iconic and powerful DC Super Heroes" yet to be confirmed (but known to be another eight from each side, featuring all the favourites). "How can either side prevail when rage blinds them to the dark threat poised to destroy them all?" Bring a coat, maybe.
There's no doubting MK co-creator Ed Boon's assertion that "The DC Universe characters are some of the most popular and enduring characters in the world." This move alone will help sell the brand to a whole new audience, and take Midway's biggest cash cow to a new level of commercial viability - but at what cost to the brand's credibility among its most vocal followers? By chasing the teen market, many fans perceive Midway's "reboot" as a risky one which could totally alienate the very audience that helped make it the "billion dollar fighting franchise" in the first place. Will it be enough to combine the DC characters with the Mortal Kombat mythology to get people excited or will it be written off as a gimmick? Will it even work as a game? With Midway electing to keep the game firmly under wraps for now, so much remained unanswered, with only fleeting glimpses of actual gameplay in the title's teaser trailer
.

The last MK game of any note, Armageddon, did okay critically.
Still, subsequent mining of all the available information has revealed this to date: comic writers Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Marvel Nights, Jonah Hex, 21 Down) and Justin Gray (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, JLA Classified, Punisher Red X-Mas, The Resistance) will be "crafting" a "completely unique storyline" from two opposing perspectives. Meanwhile, Boon and co. have come up with a Freefall Kombat system that takes advantage of the multi-tiered environments. So unlike, say, Dead or Alive, where falling vast distances is just a cosmetic effect, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe will allow you to smack each other around in mid-air as a giant skyscraper speeds past behind you. Another mode briefly touched upon was Klose Kombat, where you'll be able to grab your opponent and enter a boxing-style mode and trade blows in wince-inducing close-up - with one on the offensive and the other on the defensive.
So, switching perspectives and a frantic pace are all but assured, but what about the lack of fatalities and toned-down violence? At this stage, not even Boon seems to know exactly what Midway can get away with these days in terms of blood and gore at a teen-rated level. It seems fair to assume there will be some splatter, but certainly nothing remotely shocking, and a total abandonment of the spine-wrenching, blood-drenched fatalities that caused such a stir back in the brand's mid-'90s heyday.
Boon admits there will be spectacular finishing moves, but, no, you won't see Superman feasting on Scorpion's still-warm organs for fun. DC won't allow it, and certainly the rating bodies like the BBFC and ESRB won't let such scenes pass under the radar. That said, Boon and Midway will be pushing for as much as they can get away with, so it might not be a complete cop-out.
So why do the brand collaboration at all? Apparently Boon and co. have been keen on doing an MK crossover ever since MK4 was released in arcades over ten years ago, but for one reason or another met with resistance. With the brand's evolution into 3D dating back to 2002, the game's creators reasoned that making incremental improvements to the formula didn't warrant full-price status. Bravo to that. With the opportunity to crossover the brand with the likes of Tekken and Street Fighter off-limits, the next logical step was superheroes - something Capcom itself has proven as a viable direction with the hugely admired Marvel vs. Capcom series. Certainly, in that context it feels like a far less controversial step, providing nobody mentions Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects.
One question most people have with the brand crossover is how the hell it's going to work on a gameplay level. Like Mario vs Sonic in a race, matching Superman with Sub Zero seem like a foregone conclusion - until, that is, Midway pulls out the "aha, but we've got magic" card. Boon reminds the assembled that the MK brand has always been based on the supernatural, meaning Superman's weakness to magic can be exploited in some way. Okay, but we're sure balancing the two rosters will be a key bone of contention over the coming months, and something Midway will have to figure out if the game is to satisfy both sides of the camp.
The first kiss is always awkward.
In terms of tech, as with all Midway games currently in development, the game will utilise a customised version of Unreal Engine 3. As you'd expect for the first next-generation iteration of Mortal Kombat, characters benefit from a greater level of detail than before, and much is expected in terms of animation improvements and physics. With acclaimed artist Alex Ross reportedly involved in design direction, DC purists should be kept happy with the overall look of the game. In terms of the environments, we're told to expect a mixture of styles from both brands, with a more lavish attention to detail than has been possible in an MK game to date.
For all the carping going on in the far corners of the Internet, it's a brave move by Boon and Midway to attempt a comprehensive rethink of the Mortal Kombat brand. Eight iterations and 16 years down the line, how boring would it be if Midway simply wheeled out a graphical makeover of the same old gameplay? Some of the hardcore would have been happy, but Midway isn't content to stand still with it, and has spied an opportunity to broaden its appeal - even if the total reinvention of the combat system and the unapologetic removal of the iconic violence puts a lot of noses out of joint in the process.
Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe is due out in the autumn on PS3 and 360.
You may also like...
-
Why Can't Games Do Sex?
-
Dear Esther Review
-
UFC Undisputed 3 Review
-
Girl Vader stars in Kinect Star Wars trailer
-
Assassin's Creed 3, Splinter Cell: Retribution coming this year?
-
Metal Gear Online to be switched off in June
-
Mojang won't sue FortressCraft dev, "bored" by Minecraft clones
-
Eurogamer.net Podcast #100: Ellie returns! And we filmed it!
-
Remedy discusses Alan Wake 2
-
Will there be a PS3 version of The Witcher 2?
-
Darksiders 2 release date announced
-
If I Were in a Sealed Room With a Girl, I'd Probably XXX trailer
-
Total War: Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai gameplay
-
Mass Effect 3 teaser trailer invades Earth
-
Motorola Xoom 2 Tablet Reviews
-
App of the Day: Candy Train
-
Only Modern Warfare 3 made more money than Skyrim in 2011
-
PlayStation Vita trailer launches new Sony campaign
-
Happy Action Theater Review
-
Dead Island dev's Haste becomes Mad Riders
-
Why Devs Owe You Nothing
-
Resistance: Burning Skies PS Vita release date
-
Wii RPG Pandora's Tower release date
-
Skullgirls trailer features Nurse Valentine
-
Project Draco's final name is Crimson Dragon









Comments (55) Latest comment 4 years ago
Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Why oh why.
Marvel Vs Capcom cannot be beaten by MK Vs DC!
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
YOUR NOT GOING TO SEND ME TO THA COOLA
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Smash Bros Vs Sonic Vs Metal Gear
Soul Calibur Vs Star Wars
Mortal Kombat Vs DC...Yes...very original...
Next-up:
Tekken Vs Crash Bandicoot
I haven't been a fan of the MK games for a while, I liked some of the earlier 2D games, but this is going to drive the hardcore away like crazy...
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Is this just so I can fight as Batman? no thanks! as someone else said.....
......Krap!!!
Edit: Now if finishing moves and blood were in, imagine being Johnny Cage and punching Batmans head off!!! Now that would of been beyond awesome!
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
You can experience custom soundtracks in a tree-six-tee near you, now only 159.99.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
One reason or another? You mean, nobody wanted their franchise to be contaminated by grasping the other end of a turd?
EDIT: speelink
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Pat Butcher's spinning bird kick - cert 18.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Ken vs Boris
George Dubya vs Putin
Darling vs Osborne
Obama vs Clinton
WITH SPINE RIPPING!
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Your down one MK fan right here, and many others elsewhere.
Just so little kids can play as superman and fight against people they've never heard of?
Sounds like shit to me, now if you could still do fatalities I'd play it, but not if it's some pussy version of MK.
MK was never pussy, why start now?
Next Week: Grand Theft Auto 4 without stealing cars.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
But they are the qualities you look for in an MK game. If I wanted to play a deep fighter I'd pop Virtua Fighter in or something. MK's biggest draw is the blood and insane ultra-violence. Why bother making an MK without that? As I said earlier, if they just made it a DC game it'd make more sense and probably be a lot better.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Why does DC care if we brutalise their characters? Such a shame
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Oh yeah, that's right, because they're the only other franchise in the world with characters of equal or excessive shittiness...
Comment below viewing threshold Show
This
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Hah.
Hell I would/will play this. But then I am heading towards early dementia.
Out of the way scallywags!
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Agreed, the franchise does need a revival, but this is just taking the piss ! The very features which made this game an icon are being ditched for some good-2-shoes freak who wears his underwear inside out... ridiculous
This could work, bring back the fatalities, tighten up the game mechanics and remove DC !! Having said that, i would be cool if Scorpion would grab superman out of the air with the spear... "Get over here!!!!!!!", and toastie his arse.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Drive around the city in a Warthog, killing hookers with plasma bombs...
This actualy sounds good..!
Hands off my idea...
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Anyway, for the sake of continuity, shouldn't it be "Mortal Kombat Vs DK Universe"?
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Beyond that, the thing that I really dislike about this, is how Batman doesn't even look like it belongs in that scene its in. (How SHOULD a DC character appear in a Mortal Kombat world, and vice versa, is more the thing I'm focusing on, here.)
The characters should react to the brawling, be affected by, and affect the environment (not just with a sequence where someone, for instance is put through a wall), there ought to be facial expression of some kind - even for the ones in masks. The characters ought to believably, within the realm of comic fiction, inhabit the locations in which they fight.
What's shown looked plastic, especially offset against detailed animated backdrops..
@bdgr: Already covered. It's a long-established part of the Superman tale, that the hero also doesn't get on too well with magic, which MK characters absolutely revel in.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
I'm sorry, I just couldn't concentrate after reading this. What franchise was he talking about? Street Fighter? Tekken?
Anyway, apart from the fact that whatever mechanic they crowbar in to make the game balanced is going to be lame as hell (what, all the MK characters have kryptonite pendants, or something?!), I honestly can't think of eight really famous DC characters who will probably be appearing. You've got Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, erm... I'm really struggling here...
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Taking my geek hat off for a second, I agree this does sound daft - a lot dafter, for some reason, than Marvel vs. Capcom - but that was quite an interesting article, well written and trying to see the argument from both points of view. I'm hoping it'll end up daft but fun.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
also:
SUPERMAN HAS A WEAKNESS TO KRYPTONITE _AND_ M A G I C.
(Just to spell it out for those who keep bringing it up, despite the millions of others who keep mentioning it, not to mention that that fact is already mentioned in the article.)
Finally "wtf is Batman facing off with Sub Zero" etc.: My retort - wtf was with Ryu facing off with Wolverine. Doesn't matter, it's a game not an epic piece of literature.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Whereas this is going for the cliched "dark, broody and gritty" feel. Being dark n gritty makes the game serious, which is just hard to fathom. Batman fighting in mi-air, flying through walls against subzero? Don't give us this crap about "the fate of the universe lies in thier hands" and "they fight against an unknown dark force", just bring them together and fight. Nobody cares about the story or setting (PS: Was there even a story to MvC?)
I would like to see a raiden vs superman battle though.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
I just want to opposing sets of arguably popular characters to fuck each other up. No story needed.
Plus, you also get the bonus of having Batman face off with Superman.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Oh god, it's stuck in my head again! No!
Comment below viewing threshold Show
I will be interested to see how they take away Superman's invincibility. It will be interesting to pit him up against Batman.
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
Comment below viewing threshold Show
"Bring back Panzer kick boxing from the amiga!!! Random i know, but what a game!!"
So glad someone else thought that, what an underated gem. Rather than memorise 150+ moves per character, select the moves you want and have them mapped to the same keys, great idea.
Where's the remake of Uchi Mata though!?
Now with added <a href=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=46ct5xZFiP4>YouTube</a> of an Uchi Mata in action
Comment below viewing threshold Show