You could be forgiven for looking at DC Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe’s title and wondering whether a combination of two well-loved franchises is a good idea, or whether both may suffer from the ‘marriage’.
Thankfully, the case is the former rather than the latter. Both universes – that of Mortal Kombat’s and DC Universe’s – are successfully brought to life on current next generation consoles.

Well known character’s from each world, and their variety of settings, are beautifully realized, as teams from each try uncover what is behind the collision of their universes.

This game’s got characters

From the DC Universe, expect to step into the outlandish shoes of characters such as Superman and Batman [of course] as well as The Flash, Catwoman, Wonderwoman, Captain Marvel, Lex Luther, Green Lantern and Deathstroke.

From the Mortal Kombat point of view, Scorpion, Sonja, Sub Zero, Shang Tsun, Kitana, Jax, Liu Kang, Raiden, Kano and Baraka are similarly playable. You don’t have to be familiar with all or any of the above, the game provides brief biographies and background for each.

The biggest allure of playing each character is that each have their own comprehensive list of attacks, ranging from the conventional to the spectacular.

This makes for varied, entertaining and occasionally campy fights, each demanding their own strategies to win. The fights themselves are relatively brief but satisfying, which means that you can enjoy Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe for brief spurts, without necessarily devoting large chunks of time. Arcade and multiplayer modes, as well as a practice area are available, although bouts in the arcade mode are noticeably easier than in story mode.

In this mode, fights between opposing forces are fought over three rounds, with best of three required to move the story forward.

Storyline

The story, in brief, is that the two worlds of Metropolis and Armageddon are merging, with each side believing that the others are invaders. This merge is further causing characters to be randomly possessed by rage, compelling them to turn on each other (and thus providing a convenient excuse to pit even the ‘good guys’ from both sides against each other).

The game follows the characters as they try locate the source of the corruption, before both worlds merge completely, resulting in their mutual annihilation.

The story is told from the perspective of multiple characters, across a series of chapters. However, the whole story really only comes together once you play both sides and see how they the characters’ journeys intersect with each other.  

Fighting frenzy

Story aside, the main draw of the game is still the fighting. Owing to the sheer variety of attacks on offer for each character, the fights are consistently entertaining and engaging.

The animations are fluid, with attacks being mapped as you would expect, with button presses resulting in kicks, punches and blocks and combos allowing for more elaborate and special attacks. Beyond this, the player can also initiate “Klose Kombat”, enabling them to grab their opponent and string together a variety of blows to deal more damage.

Adding additional spectacle to the combat, (in case a lot isn’t enough for you!) is the ability to initiate Freefall Kombat, where you have to pummel your opponent with well timed button presses as you both freefall to a lower level. If you’re successful, you end up crushing your opponent into the ground and similarly inflicting more damage than conventional attacks. The one strange thing about the combat, particularly given the brutal moves you can execute, is the noticeable lack of excessive blood and gore.   

Conclusion     

Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe is ultimately a successful union that remains largely true to the source material. It offers high production values, a well executed (pun intended) controls system and an endless variety of ways to knock your opponent’s block off. 

It is recommended for fans of both franchises, providing you’re more interested in entertaining fun than nitpicking, as well as for those who enjoy a good, straightforward dose of superhero action.

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