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MORTAL KOMBAT VS. DC UNIVERSE XBOX 360 REVIEW |
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The
long-awaited installment of the next Mortal
Kombat game, entitled Mortal Kombat vs. DC
Universe, has made its way to the Xbox 360. The
highly anticipated sequel has created quite an
impression in its next generation debut. Players
are greeted with a number of notable features
that pit their skills against heroes and
villains from the DC Universe. Among the added
attractions are Freefall Kombat and Klose Kombat.
While the fighting mechanics may have changed a
bit in terms of mustering up a combo or a
ferocious finisher, rest assured that the
signature moves for your beloved MK characters
still remain the same; from Lui Kang’s bicycle
kicks to Raiden’s lightning fireballs, these
classic trademarks are all accounted for.
Those who have waited long for this title should
be pleased that the gameplay has lived up to its
expectation. But some may feel disgruntled as
the level of violence in this game has become
somewhat reserved. But for what it’s worth, it’s
still a great Mortal Kombat experience overall.
In Midway’s latest MK offering, the game offers
the best of both worlds – being able to play as
your favorite Mortal Kombat warriors or as the
popular DC Comics characters. The main roster
includes 22 high-profile combatants, 11 fighters
on each side serving their respected realm.
Scorpion, Subzero, Raiden, Lui Kang, Shang Tsung,
Kitana, and Jax are just some of the familiar
names you can take command in the Mortal Kombat
lineup.
In the DC squad , you can choose from a regiment
of prominent characters that also have
comparable strength in brute combat. These
include Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Death
Stroke, Captain Marvel, and Flash among others.
It’s a dream come true to watch comic book
legends perform or battle against the “coin-op”
classics in typical MK setting. Superman taking
on Subzero in a no-holds bar contest? That's
unheard of in the hey days but now that’s no
longer a fantasy. Witnessing these characters
unleash a barrage of special powers on each
other is an amazing spectacle but having to
execute their fatalities is an entirely
different gripping experience! The action may
not be as fast as the previous Mortal Kombat
games but the gameplay is still at full-throttle
in punctuating those little moves into
devastating attacks. When it comes to fight
scenes, Midway has a sharp edge on producing the
most dramatic battles, complete with thrilling
visual effects that capture the gritty dark tone
of each combat.
With a better grip on signature strikes, the
match has a more compelling fighting chemistry!
And thanks to the responsive control, players
will have more fun experimenting on the most
effective combos. One of the highlights of this
year’s Mortal Kombat experience is the
progressive damage. As players continuously
inflict damage between bouts, the characters
themselves incur some visible disfiguration such
as physical bruises, torn clothing and more!
What’s also interesting about Mortal Kombat vs.
DC Universe is the dynamic multi-tiered
environments. The mayhem can spill over onto
another stage given the right angle from a heavy
blow or a savvy throw. At certain levels,
players even have the ability to bulldoze their
enemies through several layers of concrete walls
while pounding the face buttons to deliver the
maximum damage! |
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PRODUCT
OVERALL RATING: 8.5 OUT OF 10 |
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The
“Freefall Kombat” applies the same bulldozing
principle. Instead of tackling your enemies and
ramming them through a series of building
foundations, this technique allows you to hammer
them through boulders or stone barriers so that
they topple over the ledge. As you plummet
hundreds of feet in the air, you can bash your
opponent with different combinations of attacks.
To add insult to injury, you can perform a
special move as soon as your bash meter fills up
past its half-way mark. This will send your
opponent hurling like a large asteroid crashing
cataclysmically into the ground! The magnitude
of such forceful impact is so great that it
leaves a massive crater at the epicenter of
where your opponent is situated. Now that’s one
brutally satisfying monster slam! Another
intriguing feature is the Klose Kombat. Besides
being able to throw your opponents like ragdolls,
you have a unique grappling ability that'll put
them in a temporary trance.
The camera zooms in on the action and you only
have a few seconds to unload a barrage of cheap
shots. Be careful – if the opponent pushes the
same button as you, you’ll suffer an enormous
counter damage. Speaking of counters, the game
gives you the opportunity to break up an endless
stream of attacks. This levels off the
aggression on the gameplay in desperate
situation as it moderates the advantage of
skilled players, especially against those
newcomers who can easily become punching bags.
This counter measure provides a good breather
from cheap shots, and as long as you have one
“lightning” gauge, you should be able to reverse
everything except when your opponent is in rage
mode. Activating rage mode requires two
lightning gauges. It is triggered using the
shoulder buttons in which your character lights
up in fiery color. What’s great about this rage
mode is that it allows you to be immune from
basic attacks including some projectiles. But
the best part is that most of your hits will be
unblockable.
In terms of violence, most players will feel
somewhat disappointed with how the fatalities
are less gruesome. Many of the fatalities have
been replaced with "safer" animation to ensure
decency. Graphically, the game looks
spectacular. Midway did a good job turning both
the Mortal Kombat Universe and DC Universe into
a dynamic fighting adventure. The backgrounds
showcase a lot of iconic arenas from Batman’s
Gotham City to Superman’s Metropolis. The
animation is incredibly smooth and the little
particles effects – such as walls blasting into
rubbles and ice bursting into smaller chunks
after a heavy uppercut – only reinforce the
action further. You’ll be pleased with how the
background remains damaged throughout the match.
Thanks to the excellent sound system, every
punch and kick connects with an overpowering
blow! The special effects on heavy projectiles
and running your opponent through walls deliver
an agonizing onslaught. It just feels like every
move surges with a lot of punishment!
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is just a great
fighting game overall. Midway has done an
exceptional job crafting some of the powerful
matchups between two of the famous franchises in
the entertainment business. Who wouldn’t want to
watch Wonder Woman trade punches with Sonya
Blade? Or see Superman school Subzero on
freezing? Well, whatever rivalry it may be, the
action is always dramatic. It’s amazing to see
how certain dynamic elements accentuate the
damage towards the surrounding arena, while the
multi-tiered environments set the stage for
grueling combat. What's more is that the new
fighting mechanics, such as Klose Kombat and
Freefall Kombat, provide a fresh new take on
adding insult to injury. The only major gripe to
the game is that fatalities are less sinister.
Though the new Mortal Kombat may have shined
away from its bloody tradition, it's still one
of the greatest franchise crossovers in recent
history! |
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