When it was revealed last week that the big secret Ed Boon and the boys were clutching so close was the announcement of a Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe game, the reception here at Destructoid seemed lukewarm at best. Actually, scratch that... most of you pretty much panned it as a joke.
Considering that MK was single-handedly responsible for birthing the ESRB in the first place, that stance was somewhat understandable. Fatalities and blood are very much a staple of Mortal Kombat games. To learn that they may not be a part of the next installment in the series is a major disappointment. However, I just can't see how that alone is going to change the overall enjoyment of the game. All things considered, there's no reason why MK vs. DCU can't melt your face off -- even if you are a gore-whore.
Get your pitchforks ready (my saber is already drawn), and hit the jump:
First and foremost, let's take a closer look at Boon's choice of combatants. Ever taken the time to pick up a DC comic and read it through? Chances are that you'd soon realize that the DC universe isn't exactly all rainbows and ponies. In fact, things can get downright gritty at times. Believe it or not, people die, make tough choices, and even suffer from the same recognizable personality flaws that exist in real life. On top of that, DC characters range from the intellectually and athletically gifted, to flat out awe-inspiring powerful. Best of all, most of them have stood the test of time, and have tons of backstory for writers to pull from. Speaking of writers...
The whole Marvel thing has already been done (and was successful), and there's no reason why Batman and his friends can't offer up a quality experience on their own. Familiar 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) are on hand to make that the game is true to the characters. Brace yourselves, as it gets better. Ever heard of Alex Ross? He's in charge of the design direction of the game. Still doubting the DC tie-in? You shouldn't.
The other thing that has caused many a MK fan to get their panties in a wad is the teen rating the game is shooting for, and how that is going to effect the final game. Yes, it appears that fatalities and blood are going be absent from the game, as DC seems to be firmly against having their characters subjected to it. So in what direction is Ed Boon trying to go with this? Well it appears that he may be toying with the idea of rebooting the series. Comic aficionados should be all too familiar with that scenario, as it has happened many times throughout comic history. But enough about the comic side. What are gamers (and the MK faithful) going to get out of this?
According to Ed Boon, the chance to play through some impressive match-ups between epic characters. There will still be spectacular finishing moves (however toned-down they may be), and the new Freefall Kombat system is MK's way of further evolving the brand. You won't be ripping out spines, but it's nice to know that you can battle your way through multi-tiered environments, even while in mid-air. The Klose Kombat mode -- which like the name implies -- will zoom in on both combatants, as they trade blows (both defensively and offensively) and test their pugilism skills Mortal Kombat style. None of this sounds even remotely fun to you?
Some things may be different, but all things considered, it's still going to be a Mortal Kombat game. Knowing the track record of the previous ones, I'm expecting nothing less than another good time, and I applaud the decision to make this title a reality. Excessive gore or not, this game has the potential to rock as much as any other fighting game has -- and even surpass a few. All involved just need to listen to each other's needs, and remember that the finished product has to be nothing more than fun to play and worth the money. As for the naysayers out there who are hating on the game without even playing -- What's up with that? Hell, I might even pre-order this one. Thanks Ed!
Contest:
1:39 PM on 04.24.2008
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*laughs* I'd say you have!
Then again, what do I know? I think all those cross-over characters in the SoulCalibur series are silly too.
The more recent ones I mean.
For one last, shameless plug, my open letter to DC concerning this game.
You make a valid point, but the difference is that this version of MK would have played to their strong suit if they could. Their hands were tied.
The MK universe still has plenty of interesting characters, and there's no reason why they can't make a great fighting game, regardless of this handicap.
Well that's the thing isn't it? Haven't all the recent Mortal Kombats been mediocre at best?
Now it seems in order to revamp the series they think just making a MK vs DC game will cut it.
Can't DC pony up some cash to make a decent fighter, rather than latch onto an over-the-hill fighting franchise?
Weird how a lot of people are pysched about SF4, but virtually no-one cares about MK vs DC. Shame on DC.
I don't know if I'd go as far as to call it "back in the day," but I still like to play Deadly Alliance every so often. I thought it was pretty damn good.
Marvel Vs. Capcom seemed to gel because all the characters were larger then life - ninjas robots and super heroes etc. Put any MK character next to Superman and the combo looks dumb.
Marvel characters are also generally not the power houses that DC has. Cable Versus Megaman does not have an obvious winner, but Superman, Green Lantern or the Flash versus and MK character has me giving it to the DC heroes in about every instance.
I'll buy it and that's for the DCU side.
Still as in my blog, I'd rather have a DCU only fighting game that's better than Task Force and has a bajillion characters from the comics.
I'll wait till I get to play it as Mortal Kombat was never, EVER fun because of the sweet fighting moves and styles.
I think people forget there are tons of great fighting franchises (the majority, actually) that have no blood whatsoever. If all you played Mortal Kombat for was the blood and guts then I'd argue you didn't play it for the right reasons anyway. I'm personally more of a Soul Calibur fan myself, so that means I'm not gonna be upset by this game just because there isn't any gore at all. I'll enjoy it for what it is and so should other people.
I'll buy it and that's for the DCU side.
Still as in my blog, I'd rather have a DCU only fighting game that's better than Task Force and has a bajillion characters from the comics.
Soul Calibur is sweet, Virtua fighter is sweet, DOA is pretty neat. Those all have some sort of fightning mechanics with reversals, counter attacks and all that. MK was never that deep in my mind I played it for a fast beat 'em paced style.
Actually, that's the great thing about the first 2 MK games in my opinion. You also don't have to learn any long a** combo's either.
Honestly? No.
Though I think it's ridiculous that blood and gore are being removed from the game simply because of DC characters' appearances. I realize that has no effect on gameplay, and though fatalities might have been one of the most popular elements of the MK series, it didn't define how the game was played. It's ridiculous that this obviously non-canon game is having to conform to other canon's rules/guidelines --- no matter how possible this game's story could be in the Multiverse/Infinite Crisis DC series, it's not part of any story outside of the game's.
But to address the points you brought up, I'm definitely not interested in those for a fighting game.
*Finishing moves don't define a game, just like fatalities didn't define the gameplay of the MK games. I think I said that already. What matters most to me is what happens during the fight.
*Freefall Kombat could have the potential to be a new type of fighting, especially if it took actual forces of gravity and exaggerated attacks into account. What isn't interesting is a semi-controllable state of quasi-fighting while watching scenery shift behind you. That doesn't excite me, especially after seeing that corny clip of Batman and Sub-Zero punching/rolling mid-air.
(And damn, I think that first sentence just hyped myself up for a combat system that just doesn't exist.)
*Klose Kombat has proven itself fun.... in boxing games.
Though I haven't seen any footage of this feature yet (unless it was that closeup scene shown briefly in the trailer), the thought of a "mystical" fighting game with potential for plenty of aerial/magical combat and combos degenerating into a close-up face punching fest isn't exciting to me. Also, if that closeup scene from the trailer WAS this mode, then I'm definitely sure I'm not excited. Bleh.
I really don't want this game to suck.
I just think it will...
...but maybe they'll pull it off.
That would be kickass.
This is essentially no less ridiculous than that fateful day that "X-Men Vs. Street Fighter" for CPS2 arcade hardware was announced. Though I believe the comparison will hardly be 'apples to apples,' I believe the formula for some real fun is there.
Look past the gore folks . . . and look forward to something that should only play extremely well, but also provide afew genuinely impresive movments, and hopefully even afew laughs.
After all . . . who among us can honestly say they haven't dreamed of hitting Sindel in the cans with a batterang, or uppercutting Hawkgirl?
Everybody around here knows DAMN WELL I'm the number 1 MK fan around here, and I am fine with the idea of no fatalities.
Fuck the haters.
Though, it IS Mortal Kombat, just like I say it IS Sonic, and it IS EA. Licenses are hard to come by, yes - if you have money. And money comes cheap to those who lack standards in this business, as long as people keep eating it up.
Games are now where movies were in the 50's. Schlock begets schlock when the consumers are too occupied with their new fangled color tvs and special effects.
Just a thought. Carry on!
Another reason I think people might have liked playing it when it was first released was that it was controversial, i.e. parents hating it. Playing a game your parents didn't approve of was just another way to rebel in your teenage years.
Finally, to quote Quagmire from Family Guy...."If you take the venom out of a cobra what have you got?...You've got a...belt."
Ahh yeah a low learning curve, which is awesome as you can pick up and play. I suck big time at Soul Calibur...lol
To be honest, not really. The draw of MK has never been the combat system, really. The game is mediocre at best when it comes to fighting; the fun was the crazy ways you could humiliate whomever you killed.
Also, I am terrified of having Superman losing in a punching competition with, well, anyone.
Seriously, WTF, a million watered, down run of the mill sequels and no new Killer Instinct!!! That I'd like to see.
A Mortal Kombat game without this www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofPXYfKSjCs is not a Mortal Kmobat game. And It's Mortal Kombat V's DC Universe so DC are coming into Mortal Kombat's yard and not the other way around.
I'll rent MK V's DC but what is Mortal Kombat without blood or gore ? Nothing.
By the way I can guarentee Midway still have not included Global Servers and have not stopped Cheaters which means their Online offering will suck as always
Bring back " Killer Instinct " so Midway can ruin Mortal Kombat all they want
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@ShinAmano
Great. Next you're going to tell me that ClayFighter sucked too...and we all know how much that game rocked!
Dtoid is inhabited by finicky fighter folks with fine tuned tastes. Am I the only one who loves both DC and MK? Somebody capture me and put me in a cage. I'm the last of my kind!
And as far as the DC characters look, it seems like they almost couldn't come up with anyone new and just put DC skins over MK characters that don't exist; Allowed them to take their testicles and put them in a jar for all to see to boot.
And the DC universe has gritty "moments", but compared to the Marvel universe as a whole, it's still rainbows and butterflies. I picked up an issue of Batman last year out of curiosity, trying to give DC yet another chance. And there's commissioner Gordon telling a group of crooks holed up in a warehouse to "come out with their hands up". Batman shows up in the tights and, well, I'll leave it up to your BIFF POW imagination what BANG SWISH happened. Point is, it'll be a long while before I begin to care about DC, if ever.
But, I have to agree with Necros up top, who says that the MK side of the equation is weak. He's right. Who in their right mind would ever want to fight Batman with Scorpion? Besides the fact that these characters aren't that interesting, doesn't Batman always win?
But still, I will reserve judgement until I actually play the game. It's only fair to the developers.
Also, Baracka.
Also, Barack Obama.
Cannot vote for that guy. Just realized how close their names are.
I think removing the fatalities is a positive step in the right direction, as it shocked once. Now it just seems childish. Remember, other beat em ups don't need such crap to succeed.
The main problem I have with this game is that, just plain and simple, Midway, you guys need to scrap Mortal Kombat and start again. That's right, ditch all the characters, MK world and all. Why? Because they are mostly lame and no one cares about them, but Midway (IMO. Its had its day.
Mr Boon, the problem here is that you guys seem to have learned little or nothing, from all these years of chasing/competing in the same market genre as Capcom etc. Capcom are kings of beat em ups, because they offer totally new characters and worlds, in totally new games of that genre. That's why their games are kept fresh and keep selling. Midway on the other hand, keep doing what seems like bad cut and paste CPR on the MK name, instead of creating something totally new. Now, how do you guys ever expect to be taken seriously in this genre and increase sales?
In short, MIDWAY, PLEASE, PLEASE, LEAVE MORTAL KOMBAT UNIVERSE ALONE AND FUCKIN CREATE SOMETHING TOTALLY NEW.
What I still find amazing is that you guys flog MK all the time, when you could even be spending you time, expanding on Ready To Rumble series (even on Wii, EA have now beaten you to the punch with Face Breaker, what a missed chance by Midway) which is easily more deserving of attention. Why is this so hard for you guys to understand? This is exactly why I never buy your games (last one I actually purchased was Ready To Rumble 2 on DC), and I won't until you sort this mess out.
Midway, take a look around you. You are kinda like Marty in the De Lorean, the beat em up market is moving and progressing and you guys are still pushing only MK. What the hell are you thinking? Reality check, Midway. Earth to Midway, MK isn't as cool as you think it is (or was.
A DC VS Marvel, or DC vs Image fighting game I would check out, but with MK, I'm sorry but I've had enough of MK. My last play was of MK Armageddon, and while it was okay, I don't care about the MK universe or any of it characters, the way I do or like with other beat em ups. That might hurt you but its true. MK is like a bad drunk at a party.
Perhaps you guys place too much importance clinging to the MK ip. But still, put a torch to the lot, start again and stop living on MKs past glories, as only successes like SF series have that luxury. Come out of being shit scared and try something else.
So, get with the program, Midway, because you guys are being left behind in the beat em up grave yard, by the competition. You can pitch you tent there, amongst the bones of Rise of the Robots, or move on, up and forward, creating a totally new beat em up.
Ball is in your court, Mr Boon and Midway. I won't buy until you are ready to play seriously.