Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Developer(s)	Midway Amusement Games, Warner Bros. Games
Publisher(s)	Midway Games
Series	Mortal Kombat
Engine	Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360[1]
Release date(s)	NA November 16, 2008 EU November 21, 2008
Genre(s)	Fighting
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	BBFC: 15+ ESRB: T PEGI: 16+
Media	Blu-ray Disc, DVD-DL[2]

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (also known as MK vs. DCU or MK vs. DC) is a crossover fighting game from Midway Games and Warner Bros. Games in the Mortal Kombat series, which was released on November 16, 2008. The game contains characters from both the Mortal Kombat franchise and the DC Universe. The game's story was written by comic writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray.

The game was developed using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 and is available for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms.

Contents 1 Gameplay 1.1 Characters 2 Plot 3 Development 4 Reception 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Gameplay

The game features a story mode, playable from two different perspectives, one from the "DC Universe" side, and one from the Mortal Kombat side. Depending on which side players choose, they will see the characters from the opposite universe as the invaders of their own. Ed Boon has confirmed that the player will have to play as all the characters at different points in the game, which is split into chapters.^[3]

Intertwined within the fights are new gameplay modes, such as "Free-fall Kombat," which is activated automatically after throwing the opponent to a lower level in the arena. The players can fight in the air during the fall in a quasi-mini-game, with a player having to hit certain buttons to be on top and deal out the damage when the fall ends. "Klose Kombat" is a mode you can enter during a fight, causing the characters to lock with each other and the perspective to change to a close-up shot of the two, to make for an interval of close-quarters fighting.^[3] A "test your might" mini-game is also worked into the gameplay. While fighting in certain areas, the player can smash the opponent through a series of walls. The player on the offense mashes buttons to increase damage, while the player on the defense mashes buttons to decrease damage taken. A mode called "Rage Mode" is also introduced, which causes the attacks of the player using it to break the opponents guard after a three hit combo. This mode also prevents the player using it from experiencing hit stun, unless the opponent uses a three hit combo. Rage mode increases the damage of an attacker's moves by 50%.

During fights, characters show permanent signs of visual damage, such as bruises, scrapes, bleeding, and broken or torn clothing. All of the characters except Darkseid, Shao Kahn, and Dark Kahn have finishing moves; the Mortal Kombat characters and the DC villains will execute fatalities, while the DC heroes will execute moves called "heroic brutalities," which function in the same manner, but stays in tone with the heroes who have an established reputation of not killing their enemies. These finishing moves are only available in arcade mode and versus mode. ^[4]

[edit] Characters

According to interviews, the characters were chosen for their popularity, and for parallels between characters from both universes.^[3] Ed Boon has said that some of the characters' abilities, especially on the DC side, have been toned down to make them balanced within the game. Boon specifically mentioned that Superman will have some vulnerabilities because of magic, otherwise the game would be sorely unbalanced.^[5]. Ed Boon later revealed via Twitter (June 23rd, 2009) that two new characters were developed for DLC, Quan Chi from Mortal Kombat and Harley Quinn from DC Universe. Boon also stated that these characters will not be released, due to issues surrounding Midway's bankruptcy. ^[6]

Playable Characters[7][8][9][10]
Mortal Kombat	Portrayer	DC Universe	Portrayer
Baraka	Dan Washington	Batman	David Gazzana
Jax	Dan Washington	Captain Marvel	Kevin Delaney
Kano	Michael McConnohie	Catwoman	P.J. Mattson
Kitana	Lorrisa Julianus	Darkseid	Perry Brown
Liu Kang	Tom Choi	Deathstroke	Patrick Seitz
Raiden	Richard Epcar	The Flash	Taliesin Jaffe
Scorpion	Patrick Seitz	Green Lantern	Josh Phillips
Shang Tsung	James Kyson Lee	The Joker	Richard Epcar
Shao Kahn	Patrick Seitz	Lex Luthor	Joe Thomas
Sonya Blade	Dana Lyn Baron	Superman	Christopher Corey Smith
Sub-Zero	Jim Miller	Wonder Woman	Tara Platt

[edit] Plot

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe does not follow chronologically with the other games in the Mortal Kombat series, and is considered an "ultimate-Elseworlds" for DC Universe continuity by story co-writer Jimmy Palmiotti.^[11]

After Shao Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm is defeated by Raiden's forces of light, Raiden destroys Kahn by blasting him through a portal. At the same time on Earth, Superman is seen stopping Darkseid's Apokoliptian invasion by blasting the Apokoliptian with his heat vision as he enters a Boom tube. These acts do not destroy either of them, but merges them into Dark Kahn, and causes the DC Universe and Mortal Kombat universes to merge.^[12]

As the worlds merge, the characters' abilities fluctuate, causing violent "rage" outbreaks that are actually the feelings of Dark Kahn being fused into the characters from afar. Because of this, certain characters either gain strength or vulnerability (allowing a character like Superman the possibility of being defeated due to his vulnerability to magic, and a character like the Joker the ability to fight Raiden). With each world thinking that the other is responsible for the merger (or a potential invasion), they fight each other in Mortal Kombat until only two remain: Raiden and Superman. In the final battle, Raiden and Superman fight while Dark Kahn feeds on their rage. Both realizing that the other isn't working with Dark Kahn, they overcome their rage for each other and defeat their fused enemy, restoring the two worlds to their normal separation. While everyone else has been sent to their original universe, Darkseid and Shao Kahn have been switched and are both rendered powerless. In the end they both face eternal imprisonment in the other's universe; Darkseid is restrained in the Netherrealm, while Shao Kahn is trapped in the Phantom Zone.^[13]

[edit] Development

In February 2007 they revealed they were planning a new game in the franchise, inspired by having seen a showcase of Gears of War. This eighth Mortal Kombat game was supposed to be "dark, gritty, serious" and a "back to basics reboot" to the series.^[14]

Eventually, at some time during planning, a deal with DC Comics was settled and this project was dropped, thus leading to the development of the game we know today.^[15] In April 2008, an announcement was made, finally confirming the game as a crossover, and a trailer was released.^[16] From the original project, the only notorious aspect that prevailed was the use of the Unreal Engine 3, the one used in Gears of War.

The use of a DC Comics license in the game implied some restrictions be made to the characteristic violence in Mortal Kombat games. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe thus got restricted to a "Teen" rating. In order to keep that rating, two of the game's Fatalities were heavily censored in North America. Both the Joker and Deathstroke's first Fatality feature both of them finishing their opponent with a gunshot to the head. The UK version of the game is shown uncut with each respective shot shown from a distance. However, the North American version has the camera quickly pan toward the victor before the shot is fired, thereby cutting the victim out of the shot completely.

It is revealed by Ed Boon that Mortal Kombat 9 (working title) , will continue with an M rating and most likely will be a sequel to Mortal Kombat :Armageddon .

[edit] Reception

Reception
Review scores Publication Score Game Informer 8.5/10[17] GamePro [18] GameTrailers 7.4/10[19] Official Xbox Magazine 8.5/10[20] Giant Bomb [21] X-Play [22]

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe was released on November 16, 2008 in North America with two editions on both platforms. The standard edition featured only the game and an instruction manual. The Kollector's Edition featured an extra DVD detailing the making-of process, such as the motion capture actors and actresses performing as well as the characters, backgrounds, and voice portions of the game being created. The Kollector's Edition also featured a 16-page comic book entitled Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe: Beginnings, which detailed the immediate back story for the game. The comic was written by John Vogel and illustrated by original Mortal Kombat co-creator John Tobias. The most prominent feature of the Kollector's Edition is the painted cover by comics superstar artist Alex Ross.

The game was released to generally positive reviews from critics. The majority of its ratings range from 7.5/10 to 8.5/10. Most reviewers agreed that the game is entertaining and makes good use of its DCU license; however, a lack of unlockable features as opposed to past installments and toned down finishers garnered some criticism.

Adam Sessler of X-Play gave the game a 3 out of 5, in which he said: "Whether it’s a decade-late answer to the Marvel/Capcom team up games or an off-the-cuff boardroom joke gone wildly too far, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is destined to make just about anyone's shortlist of bizarre video game team-ups. Still, sometimes two disparate things can merge to create a unique synergy that makes the melding work, however unlikely it may have seemed at the outset."^[22]

Downloadable content has been confirmed in an Xbox 360 podcast interview with Major Nelson.^[23] Creator Ed Boon has stated that they will be updating the game periodically with new content all the way up to the release of the next installment of the Mortal Kombat series. Although unclear of what specifics would be included, Boon has stated that there will be downloadable content. Other hinted ideas through interviews have suggested alternate costumes, and added chapters to story mode. Ed Boon stated "I'd like to have [DLC] as soon as possible. I think that might be a great Christmas gift to reinvigorate the game".^[24] He also hinted at Kung Lao and Doomsday being downloadable characters.^[25] Despite Boon's comments, no downloadable content has been released thus far.

As for sales, Midway Games announced that as of January 26, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe had shipped 1.8 million copies since its release in mid November 2008.^[26] These numbers do not include the Kollector's Edition of the game. The Kollector's Edition seems to have done well though, as noted by the COO of GameStop where he stated that the Kollector's Edition of the game made up 55% of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe total sales at GameStop locations in its first week.^[27]

In their 10-K filing, Midway Games revealed the title had sold over 1.9 million units, making it one of the companies most successful titles since 2002. ^[28]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe at Gametrailers.com
• Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe at the Internet Movie Database

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