The idea of superheroes fighting video game legends is brilliant, something that Capcom pulled off brilliantly a few years back. Marvel vs Capcom had all the ingredients of a random brain-fart between two passionate geeks or an exaggerated argument between Sheldon and Leonard (TBBT). This time around, the team behind Mortal Kombat has come up with a unique blend of fighters, a combination of classic Mortal Kombat warriors versus iconic superheroes from DC comics, in a game simply titled MK vs DC. The game at its core is a Mortal Kombat game, and true to tradition the team has come up with some unique concepts.
Summary
The Mortal Kombat series has been popular for ages, this is a series that redefined the fighting genre with intense gore and advanced visuals. The series was surrounded in controversy due to its gory gameplay and execution moves a.k.a "Fatality". The fact is that MK's gameplay and fighting system was so different from the competition that it quickly gained fame, and rightly so. Although it enjoyed years of supremacy, MK as a series has turned rather low-key for gamers, the team has produced some decent titles but lost its dominance on the charts. MK vs DC is a decent title after a long while, it has its flaws but as a whole it's a much better game than the last few in the series.
The MK vs DC roster is really impressive with MK legends like Liu Kang, Raiden, Scorpion, Kitana and Sub-Zero. What makes the game unique is the addition of Superman, Batman, Flash and Wonder Woman (although they also included Lex Luthor, which is odd). This unique / weird list of fighters meet each other in the most unusual circumstances in the single player campaign.
Let me start by saying that the single player campaign is really dull, do not start the game with the single player campaign; it may ruin the entire experience for you. In the campaign, Shao Kahn is defeated by Raiden and at the same time on Earth Superman defeats Darkseid, as both villains try to escape using a portal, they are attacked and in a really absurd turn of events they get fused to create Dark Kahn. As you now know, the plot has more holes than Swiss cheese. Anyways the inter-dimensional trouble leads to the fusion of both worlds as well, so we have characters from both sides meeting each other, and blah blah blah, jump to the multiplayer.
Let me break the game down to the basics for those who are new to the series. Mortal Kombat is a one-on-one fighting game, and unlike Street Fighter, it isn't really fast paced. MK is more like Tekken, where the focus is more on combos and counters, and the game's pace is slightly slower. Normally a new MK game would introduce a few new characters and some combat improvements; this time around there is a twist in gameplay due to the inclusion of superheroes. The DC superheroes are all true to their character and their combat moves have been defined similarly. Superman retains his heat vision, Flash is highly agile and Batman is, well, he is Batman. The roster also includes villains like the Joker, Lex Luthor and Dark Kahn, so choose your side and go jaw breaking. The fusion of both worlds has lead to a balance in power, so basically the Joker is just as strong, if not stronger than Superman. The strange balance in power may take some time to sink in, especially if you are a die-hard comic book fan, but it's something you must overcome.
Combat System
The combat system is pretty balanced and deep. There are plenty of moves per character, and mastering all will take some time. There are a bunch of new moves and improvements but there is a heavy reliance on quick-time events, which for me was a major drawback. Let me explain quick-time events to those new to the concept in fighting games. In MK vs DC you have the normal "Throw" move, which flings your opponent a short distance, dealing some damage, but there is also a new mode called Klose Kombat. Once you get hold of an opponent in Klose Kombat, you have to follow on-screen instructions and match a combination of buttons on the controller as shown on screen. Doing so completes a Klose Kombat combo and deals substantial damage to the opponent, but do remember the opponent can also counter the move and deal heavy damage to you. I wasn't really pleased with the quick-time events system, it just doesn't fit the profile of a Mortal Kombat game and breaks the rhythm of a good fight.
The MK characters like Sub-Zero and Liu Kang are formidable as always, with a combination of old and new moves, so no surprises there. After the initial rush of playing with each superhero dies off, you will really enjoy playing with the classic MK warriors. Every fighter gets his own special fatality, which range from gory to funny (The Joker), this should keep the veterans happy. The counter system has been improved; a perfectly timed counter leaves the opponent open for attacks, giving you the advantage. There is a new Rage Mode that gives you a boost, you attack stronger and faster, the Rage meter builds up as you damage your opponent. I can see a lot of inspiration from the last few Naruto games here, may be its just me, you decide. The Game is built on the Unreal 3 engine but looks really dull. Some of the characters look really bad; they need a lot of improvement, especially Sonya, who looks more like Ivan Drago.
There are a bunch of issues with the game, which hamper the total experience. The DC roster is decent but they missed out on some really good heroes. The level design is dull and the same goes for overall presentation and graphics. It's still a good game with some really enjoyable moments in multiplayer.
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Deep combat system, DC characters well developed, Good multiplayer.
Dull graphics and presentation, Boring single player plot, Quick-time events do not fit the MK profile.
اللعبة حلوة
by kareem, cairo, on Feb 14, 2009 08:00 PM, Report abuse Reply