Xbox 360
Crossovers have been used across all forms of media, characters from two separate fictional universes coming together for some reason or another. Comic books do it all the time, with heroes from one publisher's roster battling or aiding the characters of another, and video games have also dabbled in the practice, with Soul Calibur featuring characters such as Link, Heihachi, Darth Vader and Yoda over its various incarnations.
But what if a well-loved comic book universe was mashed together with one of the most popular fighting game franchises of all time?
When it was first announced, the idea of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe seemed like a gimmick; the mash-up of two disparate universes seemed to be the developers resorting to a drastic measure in order to try and inject life into a tired series. Fans of both series were seemingly up in arms, adamant in stopping what would inevitably be the slaughtering of both universes’ credibility.
The exact opposite, however, is true: MKvDC is an exceptionally fun fighter, with the DC characters giving a greater amount of depth to the bouts than the Mortal Kombat IP alone ever could.
It's obvious that Midway has taken a massive amount of care in their use of the DC licence, taking the time to mould each character with their own personality and presence to fit them in the universe, whilst keeping a balance between every fighter included. The heroes and villains match the MK brawlers in power, strength, substance and brutality, making bouts between Wonder Woman & Sonya Blade and Sub-Zero & Superman feel as natural as Batman vs. The Joker.
The story, written by two leading comic book writers, does an exceptionally good job of justifying why these two universes are at war with each other. While the actual reason for everyone's fighting each other (interuniversal rage caused by spatial friction, or something) is slightly hokey, and the voice acting is good at best, the premise is handled well, with bits of humour – albeit occasionally unintentional - sprinkled throughout the plot. The fact that mostly everyone you come across ends up becoming an opponent means you can't help but crack a smile as you see the start of a fighting simmering, no matter how friendly either party is to the other.
Each combatant has their own special moves, and whilst it's nice to see Sub-Zero's ice moves and Liu Kang's martial arts spectacles make a return, it's really the DC characters that steal the show: Superman using his ice breath and heat vision to pummel competitors; The Flash pulverising opponents with speed-of-light flurries; Wonder Woman dishing out the pain with her Lasso of Truth. The fact that these moves are easily pulled off and can be combined effectively with a whole range of other attacks means that this instalment appeals in equal measure to both long-term fans and newcomers alike.
It seems like the MK roster has been reduced somewhat to accommodate the small number of DC characters on offer, which, admittedly, everyone isn't guaranteed to have heard of (Deathstroke, anyone?). But, with mostly everything unlocked from the outset, and the promise of future DLC including characters such as Kung Lao, this isn't that bad a compromise.
What may seem too much of a compromise though, especially to long terms fans of the series, will be the reduced gore and violence - a feature that possibly gave Mortal Kombat the popularity it has today. Gone are the over-the-top Fatalities, instead replaced with much less violent ones and Heroic Brutalities. Whilst the latter are understandable, heroic figures usually choosing not to kill, it's a shame that you're unable to rip out Superman's spine, or throw a spear through Batman's head, before ripping it clean off. Whilst the bruising and wounding effects, where characters sustain visible marks through the course of a fight, are nice touches, the reduced overall gore and violence usually synonymous with the series, means taking away the aesthetic quality that defines it. Whether this is due to DC not wanting to see their characters ripped to shreds, Midway wanting to take the series in a new, teen-friendly direction, or some other reason, you can't help but feel a little part of the MK aesthetic has been lost.
Still, what you do get is a fun, fast and brutal beat 'em up, with solid fighting mechanics that will have anyone beating the crap out of anyone in no time at all.
Whilst the usual epic violence has been omitted, some technically sound new in-match features such as Klose Kombat, Freefall Kombat and Test Your Might make up for the title’s lack of violence shortcoming. You'll lap this up whether you're a fan of Mortal Kombat, DC, both or neither, and those wondering who would win in a fight between Scorpion and Lex Luthor will now finally get their answer, even if it is a bit of a strange thing to ponder.
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