(LAST UPDATE: 2/20/2010)
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Developer(s): Midway Amusement Games,
Warner Bros. Games
Publisher(s): Midway Games
Platforms: Playstation
3, Xbox 360
Release Date(s): November 16th
2008
Characters:
Scorpion,
Sub-zero,
Sonya
Blade, Shang Tsung, Liu
Kang, Kitana, Jax,
Kano,
Raiden,
Baraka,
Shao
Kahn, Batman,
Superman,
The
Flash, Wonder Woman,
Catwoman,
Shazam,
The
Joker, Green Lantern,
Deathstroke,
Lex Luthor, Darkseid,
Dark Kahn
Related Games:
Mortal
Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2, Mortal
Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat 3 Ultimate,
Mortal
Kombat 4, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon,
Mortal
Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Mortal Kombat:
Deception, Mortal Kombat
Trilogy, Justice League:
Task Force
Story: A cataclysmic
event causes the DC and MK universes to start merging... The returning
MK characters, to compete with the likes of Superman, are getting
powered up moves and fighting abilities; supposedly from this cataclysmic
event. This cataclysmic event is driven by "magic," which is Superman's
weakness; therefore the MK characters are able to take advantage of the
magic in their fighting, which apparently balances things out. (Ha. Ha. Hoo. Hee. Ha.)
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Review: The Mortal Kombat franchise has stayed to itself for 16 years now, a lone wolf among the pack of more social fighting game franchises if you will. After the disappointing MK: Armageddon, Midway needed something 'big' to re-ignite the MK franchise. Well, it really doesn't get much bigger than Superman, so when Midway got the opportunity to collaborate with DC, they took it fast. In Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe, you can play through two separate storylines in the game, one from the MK side and one from the DC side, which tells the story (as sub-par as it is) of how these two worlds collide. 11 of Mortal Kombat's biggest names meet 11 of DC's most recognizable superheroes and super villains, and overall they round out the game rather well.
Boon and the development team at Midway have opted to completely revamp the
entire fighting system
for MK's next-gen debut... Again. 
The three main features of this gameplay engine include: Klose Kombat,
Freefall Kombat, and stage interaction. Klose Kombat is a mode that a
player can initiate which pulls in the camera in close and has its own
separate fighting mechanics... It's more of a lucky guessing game than
it is as an actual fighting game mechanic. Freefall Kombat is a sequence
initiated when a player is kicked or thrown off of a stage, where both
fighters can continue fighting on the long fall downward. Although it looks
somewhat cool and is
arguably innovative to fighting games, the fighting
mechanics for freefall are also a gimmicky guessing game, and visually a bit
too cinematic for it's own good... Characters also look like they're
on a "2D track" as they're falling downwards, and it looks a bit awkward
overall.
New stage
interaction features many stages with breakable
walls; but the same old sequences get old after a while since every character
uses the same silly animation for these sequences. 
Kombo
Breakers are back once again and,
once again, are more of an annoyance
more than anything else... Much like the newly introduced "Rage" mode,
which give characters silly yellow eyes and overall is really a fail of
a gameplay element... The fact that characters can't be "stunned" during
Rage mode is just stupid, and really downgrades the strategy behind the fighting
mechanics. I think the gameplay would have been more satisfying without
Kombo Breakers and Rage Mode... Both of which seem to have been thrown
into the gameplay because it needed "something." Midway seems to
do something drastic to the gameplay with every new Mortal Kombat
game... And most of us veteran fighting game players know, a "good" fighting game
series shouldn't have to change up it's gameplay up that much to bring
fans back.
Even though
MK vs DC Universe appears to be a 3D fighting game, it's actually
closer to it's 2D roots more than anything else. You use the D-pad to move
in 2D, and holding L2 will allow you to move in 3D, or sidestep. The sidestep
isn't as effective as it could be, and overall the movement is on the slow
and clunky side. After playing games like Tekken
5: DR and Soul Calibur IV, any respectable
3D fighting game player would expect the sidestepping game to be a lot
smoother and faster, but the core of MK vs DC's gameplay seems to
be stuck on a 2D plane. 
The whole "holding down L2 to move in 3D" is incredibly awkward, and players
are more rewarded when sticking to 2D plane, which is not how most
3D fighting games are played these days... Umm, hey Boon, this isn't 1992.
The control scheme overall is an awkward mix of 2D and 3D, and really doesn't
do justice to either gameplay style. At least running has returned (as
funny as it looks), but it doesn't save this stiff and slow gameplay system.
And finishers...
Do I really need to talk about them? To get a "T for teen" rating, MK's
usual bloody and gory fatalities have been toned down significantly, which
didn't have to be a bad thing. Unfortunately, most finishers
aren't very creative
or entertaining; and are laughable at best...
They also get old rather fast. Every character starts off the finisher
the exact same way, throwing up their arms and yelling "Uuuaarrrrrrggh."
Then they do something silly to beat up their helpless opponent and after
the beating, they just stand there... Like they're waiting for applause
or something. And I don't hear any clapping... Just crickets. 
Mmmhm.
Comparatively to the top 3D (and 2D) fighting games, MK vs DC simply falls short (very short) in terms of gameplay on a technical level and in my opinion, a fun level. More effort was obviously put into the presentation and story of the game, which isn't terrible; but also makes you laugh at times (most of the time when it's not intended). Once again, the character choices were good ones; and it's fun to see what each one can do this time around. Most character models are decently put together, and entertaining to watch during a story sequence, but overall are inferior to other next-gen fighting game models we've seen. Worth mentioning, some of the girls in this game simply look terribly... Sonya has developed fish lips for some apparent reason, and Kitana's head is oddly shaped. The stage designs aren't bad, but some of them are lacking in polish for a next-gen fighter, and many of them definitely look rushed.
Animation-wise,
nearly all characters look stiff when they're attacking and
when they are being hit, which has become an unfortunate trademark of the
series... Non martial artists might not catch on the stiffness, but to those of
us that know what "good technique" is, MK & DC's characters really
look like they need to take a few karate lessons. 
When a fighting game has average or bad animation, the "ouch factor" and overall
awe of the game is compromised. There are of course a few cool looking
moves and specials here or there, but overall, characters simply look old
and out of shape! That's really funny, because a lot of the characters
in this game are old... But who wants to play as a bunch of old
wash-ups who've been slacking on their martial arts practice...
Well, at least characters have stiff animations to go with the stiff gameplay,
so it kinda goes.
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Closing Comment:
You'd be better off calling MK
vs DC Universe "entertainment" rather than a fighting game, more serious
fighting game players might look at you funny (or even laugh at you) if you call it the later.
It's true, most of us have been spoiled with better fighting games,
both 2D and 3D... It's not being biased, it's just knowing what a
good fighting game engine is. It's also true that most people (casual
gamers) don't know the difference, and will simply look at the graphics
& well known characters and clap their hands like little fat children
when they see an ice cream truck.
"YAY...ONE BATMAN FUDGE BAR PLEASE...*Snort*..."
MK vs DC seems like it can't really make up it's mind whether it wants
to be 2D or 3D... Either way, it's not very good. While most serious fighting game
players will avoid this game like the plague, this is a decent package
for the casual fighting game player. I only hope casual
fighting game players realize there are far superior, far
more mentally stimulating fighting games out there that they could be playing. MK
vs DC actually gives "3D fighting games" a bad rap since it has a 3D
appearance, and may even mislead some "beginner/casual" fighting
game players to thinking that all 3D fighting games still play this
clunky and as if
they're 2D (I sure hope they aren't that naive). 
...Then those same beginner/casual players try the latest Soul Calibur or Tekken, thinking they can just
do random "tap tap" combinations, not sidestep, and win...
which of course won't work against seasoned players in a real 3D fighting game.
MK and
DC fans, your favorite characters are most likely here, so this game was
made for you (and to pull Midway out of it's financial slump). So as a
fan-service, this game delivers... It does something right at least. At the end
of the day, it's not a terrible game, but it is a terrible fighting game... The
stiff animation might pass for a 3D action game, but fighting games in the last
couple of years have really raised the bar. It's actually hard for me to even
watch this game after enjoying fighting games with superior animation and flow
(like Tekken 6, Soul Calibur 4, & Street Fighter 4)... Yeah, I had to
say it. Sooo sorry Mortal Kombat, you were so much better in the 90's... And DC
characters, you were so much better in the.... Just kidding, Juuust kidding!!! 
~F.Yagami,
Webmaster
of TFG
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