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Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe: Joker Revealed

• By Tracy Erickson
• July 31, 2008 09:56 AM PST
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Why so serious? Because MK vs. DC is shaping up to be the year's coolest fighting game.

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Hot on the heels of his resurgence in popularity thanks to the success of The Dark Knight, the Joker will be making an appearance in Midway's much-anticipated brawler. Creative Director Ed Boon revealed during Comic Con that the Joker, Green Lantern, and Captain Marvel are joining the Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe cast, although none were available in the limited demo I played. Instead, I brawled with a smaller slate of characters including series mainstays Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Sonya, and Shang Tsung. Batman, Catwoman, Flash, and Superman represented the DC side. The character selection screen still has at least 10 empty slots, so I'm certain Midway will tease the wait with regular character reveals in the ramp up to the game's release.

Comic Fatalities

For now though, we're more than happy with how things are shaping up with the 8 fighters on hand. Differences between the characters are extremely pronounced, particularly among the DC combatants. Of course, each DC character has access to their respective powers, yet the game promises to go beyond tacking on superpowers to fleshing out believable fighting styles unique to each hero and villain. Catwoman, for instance, tasks a feline approach to combat that has her clawing and leaping on her foes. Flash, on the other hand, leverages his speed to zip around opponents.

You don't have to enter any complex button combos to tap into each character's specific fighting style, although activating superpowers and fatalities takes bit of concentrated button tapping. Yes, fatalities have been retained for some of the characters in the game; however, DC combatants won't be able to pull off the dastardly moves. Boon promises a new type of finisher specific to these characters, although the name of which has yet to be determined. Naturally, these finishing moves are less violent than the gory fatalities of previous installments. After all, Superman isn't about to break character and rip off Sonya's head.

Super Stripper

He's more than eager, though, to tear off her shirt. Punches, kicks, and superpower hits wear down fighters and their clothing realistically. In one bout between Superman and Sonya, the man brutally bashed the poor woman with punch after punch. The itty-bitty white top that managed to cover Sonya's chest was reduced to threads by the end of the first round. Superman didn't remain untouched either though with tears on his costume and bruises on his face.

Much of this wear and tear comes from the new Klose Kombat fighting mechanic that zooms in on duals. Hitting the right bumper within grappling distance of an opponent causes the camera to pull in for close-quarters combat. Button prompts pop up on both sides of the screen, one apiece for the instigator and defender. When you're attacking, pressing the prompted buttons lets you pummel your enemy; however, it can be "kountered" if your opponent presses the buttons faster than you. It's an intense addition to the series that brings depth to the fighting mechanics, while remaining fairly accessible.

With approximately half of the character roster still under wraps and the majority of arenas unrevealed, there's plenty more to learn about Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. That doesn't stop us from being excited about the game--distinct fighting styles tied to the DC characters and creative new combat mechanics ensure the game will offer something fresh this fall.

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