For the first time, you see two completely different worlds collide in this highly anticipated video game. Ever wonder what it would be like to fight Sub-Zero and Batman? Well now you can! Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe was released for the Playstation 3 on November 15, 2008 and it couldn’t have come any sooner. With the holidays here, it is safe to assume many people will be adding this to their “list”. The Rosters were chosen by popularity so more than likely your favorite character will be in this game.

Mortal Kombat Characters:
Baraka
Jax
Kano
Kitana
Liu Kang
Raiden
Scorpion
Shang Tsung
Shao Kahn
Sonya Blade
Sub-Zero

DC Comics Characters:

Batman
Captain Marvel
Catwoman
Darkseid
Deathstroke
The Flash
Green Lantern
The Joker
Lex Luthor
Superman
Wonder Woman

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe does not follow chronologically with the other games in the Mortal Kombat series, and was considered an “ultimate-Elseworlds” for DC Comics continuity by story co-writer Jimmy Palmiotti.

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 an Apokoliptian invasion led by Darkseid by blasting the Apokoliptian god as he enters a Boom tube. These acts do not destroy either of them, but merges them into Dark Kahn, and causes the DC and Mortal Kombat universes to merge.

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 face eternal imprisonment in the others universe. Darkseid being restrained in the Netherrealm, while Shao Kahn is trapped in the Phantom Zone.

It is rumored that there will be downloadable content later on. Supposedly, the content though not confirmed may include alternate clothing and more chapters for “story mode”.

Discuss this game at http://www.ps3multiplayer.com

http://www.ps3news.eu

I certainly don’t think COD: WAW has anything on COD4! Well I’ll start with the campaign, there’s nothing wrong here, a decent length with a similar style to COD4, I particularly like the story-telling cutscenes. The campaign can also be played online competitively or just as a team, another great addition. The campaign is somewhat too linear, with little choice of ‘thinking tactically outside the box’ and your AI team-mates could be a little sharper. A major problem (in my opinion!) is the array of weapons you get given to use, maybe I’m just used to COD4 guns, but it seems to me that Treyarch have tried to over-balance the guns, making some obsolete (semi-auto rifles.) in online play, and some downright ueseless online or offline (iron sighted bolt-actions).

In online play, again I can only criticise the maps some being too large, some too small with a minority being decent maps. I also find that the maps lack ’sides’ as you will no doubt remember, in COD4 every map seemed to have two very distinct sides, the WAW maps are a lot more randomly organised which leads me on to my next major criticism… One word. Spawning. I have no idea what Treyarch were hoping to achieve with this system, you get spawned infront of a camping enemy five times where, not suprisngly you get killed five times, next three enemies spawn far behind friendly lines, getting you all knifed in the back, it certainly gets 10/10 for yelling-at-your-telly factor.

I do like a few of the added perks, another great thing is the fact that Stopping Power is no longer a necessity and you can play just as well without it, some of the weapon addons are also insightful, although having to unlock a sniper scope on your would-be sniper rifle is pretty aggravating. The extra levels added in (55-65) also give you more play time, although perhaps it makes reaching the next prestige a bit too tedious, and the incentive to enter prestige (although small) is quite encouraging too (gaining extra customisation slots as you progress.) I also think that many of the best, most anticipated weapons/perks are only given to the player at a relatively high level, making it harder to rank up when you’re only a lower level.

Although, I can’t write all negative, as the game retains the same play style as the amazing COD4, which hardly needs comment, as all readers will undoubtedly know and love this system. In short, I think you either need to be a rather talented gamer, or a pretty persistent one at least. Players who are moving to WAW from COD4 will definitely either love it or hate it!

Right now you can buy Call of Duty: World at War from gameplay.com for only £39.14, I would definitely reccomend giving it a go, if not buying, at least renting it. WAW is a totally different game, yet fundamentally the same as COD4 (if that makes any sense!)

10/20 for the simple fact that this game can instantly change from being phenomenal to plain annoying, and therefore could be an 18/20 or a 6/20, so I give it a middle rating.