Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Preview

What is the point is that MK vs. DCU is at the very least an attempt to breathe new life into the series. As Ed has said in the past, and confirms to us in Vegas, it wipes the slate clean. "I really feel that fighting games need to release every several years because at some point people are going to feel that they've played the game already and it's just a slight improvement over the last one and some people might not think that warrants paying $60 for a game. It's going to be accessible but it's certainly going to be very very new."

Imagine knocking Batman off a skyscraper - as you're both falling you get to fight in the air. You hit the ground and start fighting in the street. You pull Batman towards you and start brawling boxing style with a new perspective and new controls. Then Batman smacks you out of it and blasts you through the ground floor of the building to the other side. You'll be moving in and out of these different game modes and perspectives at a frantic pace. This is a new era for Mortal Kombat. This is Mortal Kombat like we've never seen it before. As Ed describes it: "It's crazy!"

Right now only Batman and Superman, along with Scorpion and Sub Zero are confirmed playable characters. But Ed tells us that he's aiming for about 20 characters, with an equal 10 MK vs. 10 DC split down the middle. He also confirmed to us that there won't be any new MK universe characters introduced, which means we can expect another eight characters from MK games gone by to supplement the core Sub Zero and Scorpion. We expect Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Raiden and Sonya Blade to make an appearance. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess.

On the DC side, we expect to see Batman and Superman's arch enemies turn up. We're talking Joker, Two Face, Bane, Green Lantern, The Penguin, Riddler, Scarecrow, Lex Luthor and the like. A quick glance at DC Comics' heroes and villains roster over at the official site shows that there's plenty to work with, although some are a little dubious. Hell, there might even be room for Super Woman. But please, Ed, no Robin.

Of course, the burning question here is not an intellectual one. It is not a hard hitting probe into the mindset of an artist at work. It is one born out of pure fanboy logic. How can anyone beat Superman in a beat-em-up? He's invulnerable!

So Ed, how? "A million people have asked me that! The reality is Mortal Kombat is based on magic. There's supernatural, there's sorcerers, there's the nether realm and all that stuff. Superman's two weaknesses are kryptonite and magic. So when you merge the two realms he kind of gets a little weaker, the other characters get stronger and it becomes more of an even balance."

That, for now, is enough to satisfy our MK vs. DCU curiosity. More information is set to pour forth from E3 in July. As gamers and MK fans come to terms this weekend with what some are already describing as the ruination of one of the most iconic video game series in the history of the medium, perhaps it's wise to take a step back and think of the bigger picture. If Ed manages to make a MK game that plays better than any of its predecessors, the lack of fatalities and obscene gore will be an easier pill to swallow. That, my MK loving friends, as well as the prospect of upper cutting Batman off the top of a skyscraper, is all we can ask for.

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is scheduled for release on Xbox 360 and PS3 in Fall 2008.