Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Good fighting game more or less lives up to the hype.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this game is rated "Teen" instead of "Mature" because Midway has decided to make the violence less graphic. It's still a fighting game and there can be blood splatter (which can be turned off) and each character can perform finishing moves called "fatalities" (or "brutalities" for some DC characters) that results in a dramatic conclusion to the fight, such as a backbreaking snap, stabbing, or slow-motion kick to the head. As with past games and comic book characters, the females are wearing revealing clothing and have exaggerated breast proportions.

  • It's a fighting game that allows finishing moves.
  • This is a fighting game, where your objective is to attack opponents with kicks, punches, body blows, and finishnig moves. Blood can be seen splattering in some cases (but can be turned off by the player).
  • Female fighters have big breasts and are wearing suggestive clothing (i.e. showing a lot of skin).

What's it about?

Consider it a battle between two billion-dollar franchises: Midway's Mortal Kombat warriors -- such as Scorpion and Sub-Zero -- face off against DC Comics' iconic superheroes including Superman and Green Lantern. Now available for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3, MORTAL KOMBAT VS. DC UNIVERSE is a fighting game that features signature attack styles and special moves, multiple solo and multiplayer game modes, and more than a dozen environments (including the Batcave). More importantly for comic book enthusiasts, perhaps, is an intertwining story line penned by the Mortal Kombat creative team in collaboration with celebrated comic book writers Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Marvel Nights) and Justin Gray (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, JLA Classified).


Is it any good?

 

We loved the concept, but how does it play? Well, for the most part. Controlling the 22 characters is fairly simple on the surface, allowing you to jump, kick, punch, and perform deadly finishing moves, but skilled players can take advantage of more advanced moves and combos for added depth. In other words, you can "button mash" and win a few rounds, but in order to really get into the game, you'll need to learn moves such as Batman's "Ducking Gut Punch" (down arrow on the d-pad and the X button on the Xbox 360 controller), the "uppercut" (down arrow on the d-pad and Y button) and "Vengeance" (X, X, Y). Players can also modify the game controls in the Options menu, if desired.

Multiple game modes will also keep players busy. Single player options include Story, Arcade, Practice, and Kombo Challenge, the latter of which allows you to tweak your skills with a favorite character by performing increasingly tough combo moves. Two-player modes are even more fun, whether you're against someone sitting next to you or over the Internet. Some new game-play additions are met with mixed success: "Free Fall Kombat," for example, has players matching an attacker's button moves displayed on screen to become the victor rather than the victim, but this minigame of sorts feels out of place from the main fighting mechanic. Overall, though, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is a decent fighting game that, while not groundbreaking, successfully blends these two worlds and delivers an intense and attractive combat experience – especially for fans of Mortal Kombat.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about whether or not this Mortal Kombat game is as fun as its predecessors despite the less graphic violence. (We think so.) Perhaps other "Mature"-rated franchises could follow suit?


This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Educator
April 16, 2011
 

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 13 years old
May 15, 2011
 
Teens and mature pre-teens
A great party game but the story is overly difficult. THe more squimish can turn off the blood but this does not stop body and clothing damage. The later can reveal female breasts

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
October 10, 2010
 
This fan of MK doesnt like it.
Being a hardcore fan of the MK series, I was extremely disappointed with how toned down they made the game. Maybe its just me, but MK just isnt MK without the hard core fatalities and arena traps.

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Kid, 13 years old
July 2, 2009
 
This is for mature kids ages 9 or up
I love the game in my opinion the game.There is not that much blood and gore that I noticed.The only time I noticed it is when you are supposed to finsh your opponent and do fatality.It might not be sutibale for some,but in my opinion it is not that bad.

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Kid, 12 years old
May 11, 2011
 
It is a bit violent but not too violent , It is only like Tekken and Soulcalibur in terms of Violence. Yes , there is blood , but it is VERY small and unrealistic you can turn it off but it will not make much of a difference since the blood is only small and very unrealistic. Age Range : 9 - 13. This is a good substitution if you cannot get Mortal Kombat. P.S : I REALLY do not understand why the website says 15+ because to be honest it can really fit in to the E 10+ rating without the blood , maybe.

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Parent of 5 year old
April 21, 2009
 

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Teen, 14 years old
June 28, 2009
 
Fun with some pretty brutal violence
This game is soooooooooooo cool! The fighting is very intense with awesome special moves. The graphics are a little cartoony, but in a good sense. Really, the concern is the violence. It is pretty brutal with some blood (that can be turned off). And to the person who wants fatalities: JUST LOOK THEM UP ON GOOGLE!!!! (or Bing or Yahoo. Doesnt matter.)

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Teen, 16 years old
March 11, 2009
 
The Best 360 game other than M games!
Two things. One, this game is awesome! Second, I have a few Ultimate Tips. If your Flash, use Around the World a lot and you will win. If your Scorpion, use your knife and drag him in, it's impossible to evade! For other characters, Warp (If possible) behind them and kill them! I just remembered, if you know the Fatalitys and the Heroic Brutalitys, please post them, OMG!

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Teen, 16 years old
March 6, 2009
 
best mortal kombat game ever
this game was the best mortal kombat game i have ever played and i played all the mortal kombat games

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Teen, 14 years old
September 28, 2009
 
perfect for tweens and older no 9 or younger
This game sucks. it is way to violent in story mode with dc unvierse i believe i guy gets his head cut off u see in a shadow dont let ur kid play this

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This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Platforms:Xbox 360, PlayStation 2
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Fighting
Developer:Midway
Release date:November 16, 2008
Price:$59.99
ESRB rating:T for Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence

This review was written by Marc Saltzman

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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