Scorpion vs. Batman. Sub-Zero vs. Superman. A new twisted fanfic? Nosiree, it’s the new Mortal Kombat! Announced yesterday at Midway Gamer’s Day in Las Vegas, NV, videogame mainstay Midway Games has teamed up with DC Comics to bring the next installment of Mortal Kombat some new, old characters. The game has already been in development for several months, and rumored as far back as September, 2007.
Fans across gaming and comics messageboards have been skeptical, to say the least. One concern is power levels, as most MK characters are slightly augmented humans (at most), while the DC characters are, well, super-powered. The other main concern is what rating the company would be seeking for their endeavor. Traditionally, Mortal Kombat games have been rated M for Mature in the U.S., which means they are recommended for players 17 and older. No word yet on whether the game will feature the fatalities and brutal moves the series is known for. Either way, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is, in fact, on the way.
There will be two different stories, one told from the side of MK, one from the side of DC, where each universe is invaded by the opposite universe’s characters. Names familiar to comic fans, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray are writing the story to help lend the proper voices to the DC Characters. These stories will be told in a new version of the traditional single player campaign.
The story will be used to balance the fights more evenly, and will do so using established mythology. For instance, the story will feature magic factors, to weaken Superman against a character like Sub-Zero.
The combination of “popularity and style of fighting” was used to choose which characters were in the game, according to series head Ed Boon. Batman, Superman, Sub-Zero, and Scorpion are the first confirmed characters, with more to come in the coming months leading up to the game’s release. Right now the release is noted as this fall, and the game will be coming out for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.
One of the new features for the game includes a new fighting mechanic, including zoom-ins and fighting while falling from one level of the stage to the next. More information about the game will be released at http://www.worldscollide.com
