Score
Gameplay:	8
Graphics:	8
Sound:	9
FunFactor:	8
PlasmaFactor:	8
Overall:	8.2

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Review
November 23, 2008 by Jereme Puik

The Mortal Kombat series has been breaking bones and tearing limbs apart since its original release in the early 90s. We’ve had the classic Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 live on through Xbox Live Arcade in its “Mature” rated goodness. We’ve heard “Toasty!” so many times throughout our years that it’s probably become second nature when beating the crap out of friends. Then, it happened; Midway partnered with the Comic Code Authority and announced Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. The resounding reaction around the internet left a collective, “Huh?”. It was Midway’s choice to make changes to the Mortal Kombat formula that landed its “Teen “rating. If you’re looking for the ultimate Mortal Kombat death match, then I suggest you look elsewhere. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe appears to have been tailored made for the causal audience.

Toasty!

To explain this seemingly unlikely match-up, you must travel through the games, in-game Story mode. With the help of comic talents Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, Midway threw together a story to bring the two universes together. A battle between Superman and Darkseid ends up triggering an inter-dimensional world collision which begins to bridge the two universes together. How could such a catastrophic event happen so quickly? Just ask Superman and his heat vision. Eventually, characters from both sides question each other’s allegiances pushing them into Mortal Kombat. On top of the matter, everyone is being affected by what is known as “Rage”, which fuels hatred and the burning desire to beat the crap out of someone at a moments notice.

You can choose between two sides, DC Universe or Mortal Kombat with eight chapters, packed with cut-scenes to help progress the plot. Some cut-scenes are either laughable, smart or just plain ugly depending on how you look at it. If you ever wanted to see a dialogue between Sub Zero and Batman then be prepared for a face-palm. But, whether the corny dialogue was intentional or not, it’s always good to go into this one with a sense of humor.  The violence is toned down and the blood and gore almost non-existent, but don’t expect those superheroes to play nice. A bit of work has gone into making them as true to their comic form as possible with a little extra step added to keep them in pace in battle.

A 22 character list fills the roster with a pretty diverse group. The DC characters obviously take the show thanks to the work of those comic talents. You can’t really mention any one highlight character from the list mostly because they’re all fairly well represented and balanced. In typical fashion the main boss is overly powered and likes to bullshit you when you least expect it, so make sure you’re on your toes. The game also sports an Arcade mode, which after picking your character pits you against everyone on the list throughout every stage. In the end, it’s not worth the trouble mostly because you are left with a screenshot of an ending, literally. It could be fun to try out those boss characters you unlock after beating the game, but that’s about as much worth as you can get out of the Arcade mode.

There are two new battle features that encompass the new fighting system for MK vs. DCU. The first new battle feature being Freefall Kombat, which allows players to pummel their opponents through the “expanded” areas of your fighting arena. If you can manage to sucker punch your opponent through the open hole, you’re in a struggle as you fight through the air until either one of you hits the ground hard causing a certain percentage of damage. Second you have Klose Kombat which allows you to view your rage of pain in cinematic view provided your opponent doesn’t counter your move. Finally, one thing to mention is among the horde of videos Midway released, you may have noticed “Test Your Might” as a new feature. It’s pretty much a button mashing contest seeing who can inflict the most percentile amount of damage blasting through walls of your arena.

So, what is there left to do in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe after completing the story mode? The answer is, not much. Besides the Arcade mode you have a Kombo challenge and 2 players online and off multiplayer, which works just as stated. In essence, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is the lightest content driven Mortal Kombat game in a long time. Sure we could’ve used a few silly modes like Kart racing, but maybe this is a new start for Midway and the Mortal Kombat series. Combat in MK vs. DCU boils down to being a stylized fighter with pre-determined combos and special moves. Add in a little bit of luck and maybe a psychic for Klose Kombat and you’ll have all you need to be a successful fighter.

Graphics

Though, MK vs. DCU has been toned down to a “Teen” rating, the spirit of the Mortal Kombat series remains in tact. The dialogue filled cut-scenes manage to merge seamlessly with the gameplay engine and get you moving in battle. The characters themselves are surprisingly well crafted with a special nod given to the DC characters. Superman, Batman and even Wonder Woman are all modeled to their comic book likeness. A nice touch given to the battle worn costumes and bodily scratches add a bit of realism to the fights. The Mortal Kombat characters don’t look too bad themselves despite the often times corny cut-scenes.

Sound

The DC characters are quite varied with their voice-overs with only Superman and Batman sounding a bit corny, dialogue wise. The script could’ve used a good third draft to give it a bit more touch to the dark side. It’s good for a laugh, so make sure you don’t look too serious when progressing through the main storyline. Punches and kicks all offer that beat where you can feel the pain through your surround sound speakers. However, the music seems to be set on one tone and doesn’t quite give you that sense of Rage or compassion in regards to caring about the characters.

Plasma Factor

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is quite the unique fighter. Klose Kombat and Freefall Kombat are the highlights as they bring Mortal Kombat into a whole new cinematic presentation. It takes a bit of special skill to take control of the Klose Kombat to pull it off effectively. The Rage feels more like a gimmick in the end of it all to get you grabbed into the story. Other than that, expect yourself to be more grabbed by Klose Kombat and Freefall Kombat more then anything else. The Arcade mode is more or less a bonus that doesn’t quite fill the need for extra content.

Conclusion

MK vs. DCU is a first start in what could be a new direction for the Mortal Kombat series. If this is just a break for Midway and Ed Boon, then expect a new Mortal Kombat title coming your way in the next year or so. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is a good enough effort to give fans of the series hours of entertainment no matter what they make think of the Teen rating. With awesome special moves and a few cinematic moments, MK vs. DCU could still offer quality multiplayer fun whether it’s online or off. Just a reminder to Ed Boon for the next Mortal Kombat, please have it be Mature and not Teen.