[360/PS3] - Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Review

[Orca]

once through story modes and a few runs with arcade your time with the game will be at an end

Unless you have friends to play against, that's every fighting game - including Street Fighter. MKvDC has a longer, and far more entertaining, story mode than any Street Fighter game to date, so I don't see how it has 'longevity' as a knock against it.

For a fighter, it's everything you expect in terms of longevity. If you have friends to play against, it has virtually limitless replay. Balance issues should really only be a concern if you and your friends are frame counter-level skilled players, the bottom line is that the game is fun to play and even button mashers can occasionally be rewarded.

[Nikjitsu]

The story mode is a pain in the ass, the ai is a fucking cheat, you can't skip cutscenes, only one costume per character, only 2 unlockable characters, and the only thing to do online is get killed by flash/superman infinite combos. Krappy

[Dave]

I just rented this and I'd have to agree with the review here. Rent first, for sure. I don't know that it's worth buying, but it was fun for a rental.

[Dark Prince]

Originally Posted by Nikjitsu

The story mode is a pain in the ass, the ai is a fucking cheat, you can't skip cutscenes, only one costume per character, only 2 unlockable characters, and the only thing to do online is get killed by flash/superman infinite combos. Krappy

^ Pretty much my view of the game here.

If the Flash/Superman weren't so godly I'd probably appreciate the game more. I mean, how many times can you really do your heat vision in one match, seriously?

I wish there was a bit more this roster then meets the eye.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by bapenguin

I don't know, fighting games are never about "length" or "depth" - if you buy this game you get exactly what you should.

In fact, I say the story mode went above and beyond anything I've seen in a fighting game yet.

I would have to agree. The story mode in this is so far above and beyond other games. I was pretty surprised as I had not read reviews before playing.

On the other hand it is UNACCEPTABLE that you do not have Kreate a character anymore.
No reason at all as this goes backwards. I would have loved to make my own generic superhero.
Mr. Pants would have ruled them all.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by Kelegacy

I agree about length, but depth? Fighting games should always be about depth. Or, great ones anyway. Virtua Fighter series is one of the deepest fighting game series, if not the deepest, but it doesn't seem to do as well in the sales department.

Agreed. Virtua Figher with just two characters would STILL be deeper than 90% of the games out there.

[Variable Gear]

Originally Posted by Kelegacy

I agree about length, but depth? Fighting games should always be about depth. Or, great ones anyway. Virtua Fighter series is one of the deepest fighting game series, if not the deepest, but it doesn't seem to do as well in the sales department.

The deeper the fighter, the more rewarding it is. But then again I SUCK at fighting games. Deep fighters make me want to cry because I'm more of a button masher. I can't seem to ever remember combos. One of the reasons I suck at other games like Ninja Gaiden as well.

The issue is that the deeper a game's fighting mechanics are the lower its potential audience is. Sure, Virtua Fighter has one of the deepest fighting engines on the market, but it's a double-edged sword. Well, at best it's a double-edged sword. I'd say that the majority of gamers are put off by the depth of games like Virtua Fighter, which is why games like Mortal Kombat are so popular. By providing a simplified fighting engine Midway is able to interest a far greater audience than Namco will be able to attract to Soulcalibur 4 or that Sega will be able to attract to Virtua Fighter 5.

Sure, there are those (like me) who are looking forward to BlazBlue, King of Fighters XII and Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom, but we make up the minority. We're a vocal minority, but we don't have enough of an impact to make a deep fighting game a sure bet for any US-based publisher. In Japan, however, the genre still has a fighting chance.

[total]

Originally Posted by MachEnergy

Hey now...I loved Shaolin Monks. Friggin awesome co-op juggles abound!

Truth...and the story mode for...Deception was it (The one where you played as the monk guy and went and learned everyone's moves and shit across the different realms) was a fantastic storyline for a fighting game. One of the best in my honest opinion.

And since when has SF had any sort of storyline? They are called Capcom endings for a fucking reason. "Ken won the tournament and got lazy. The end. Say no to drugs."

[Iron Past]

HEY! Wake up!

Is this worth grabbing for $20 while I wait for the new MK?

[DoctorFinger]

I don't think so. It plays pretty differently than the new one will, so it's a pretty jarring difference between the two.

[Iron Past]

Already did it! I didn't mean as a substitute, of course it plays differently. In fact, I have the demo of MK9 on PS3 can safely say the system in MK9 is much, much better. But it's still pretty fun as a diversion, without the unevenness of MvC3 or the crazy technicality of SSFIV. I should really practice SSFIV more, but the matchmaking... yeesh.

[carnage11]

Originally Posted by total

Truth...and the story mode for...Deception was it (The one where you played as the monk guy and went and learned everyone's moves and shit across the different realms) was a fantastic storyline for a fighting game. One of the best in my honest opinion.

And since when has SF had any sort of storyline? They are called Capcom endings for a fucking reason. "Ken won the tournament and got lazy. The end. Say no to drugs."

I think that was Deadly Alliance. I never played Deception, but DA was the one where you had to go and learn everyone's moves, and while it was a fairly shallow story, it was at least.......a story. You were basically some dude running around a small village searching for coins. I liked DA, but I never got into it because it was just too difficult for me to remember all the moves and swapping between different stances.