5 Videogame Movies That Got Something Right!: #2 – Mortal Kombat

It’s no surprise that movies based off of video games tend to suck pretty hard. However, through all the convoluted and unfaithful adaptations, there were a few films that have managed to do something right. I don’t mean that the films were great by any means, but that they managed to accurately replicate an aspect of the game in one form or another pretty well. It could be anything from the costume design to the mannerisms of the characters, and we’ll be taking a look at a few films that have done a good job in visually translating its source material to the silver screen. Be sure to check in everyday as we count down to the number one movie to see who made the top of our list!

At #2 we take a look at the original “Mortal Kombat” (we shall pretend the other “MK” movie was never made). No matter how much you may hate video game movies, it’s pretty hard to deny how good “Mortal Kombat” actually turned out to be, in terms of staying true to its source. In particular, the fights scenes were some of the best ever produced. The encounter with Johnny Cage (whom I thought was better on film than in the game) and Scorpion was handled extremely well, as I though it showcased some of the character’s signature moves without being to over the top, and still showing off how skilled the fighters really are. You had Scorpions trade mark yell “Get over here…” and the addition of making Scorpion’s harpoon, an animated creature that worked better than one would have expected. They managed to also throw in a little nod to Cage’s Shadow Kick, and I know you couldn’t help but get giddy on the inside when Johnny Cage defeated Scorpion and his autographed photo fell on his remains, just like in the game. This was definitely one of the better examples of adapting a video game to the silver screen and an adaption gamers can agree that worked! [Continue Reading]

Midway Dodges Economic Fatility; Another MK on the Way

Late last year Midway released “Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe”. The company had high hopes for the game, not only because it was the latest entry in their beloved Mortal Kombat franchise, but because it quite possibly could’ve been the last MK game ever released. Midway was on the eve of bankruptcy, and many looked at “MK vs. DCU” as Midway’s last chance at economic survival.

However, earlier today Midway announced that “MK vs. DCU” may have indeed been their saving grace, as it has sold nearly 2 million units since its’ release in Nov. 2008.  Other noteworthy statistics include 3.6 million matches online on the PS3 version alone. Also, “MK vs. DCU” was the most pre-ordered game in the history of the 17-year-old franchise. [Continue Reading]

Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe Review: Bloody Fun

At first glance, “Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe” seems like it should have come out around 1998, to go head-to-head with the wildly popular “Marvel vs. Capcom” series, but, for whatever reason, it didn’t. Fast forward to today, and, through some wild twist of fate, or, possibly the will of the Elder Gods, 10 years after the game should have been released, gamers finally have the chance to kick Scorpion’s ass with Batman. On the plus side, waiting may have paid off; after a string of less-than-awesome “MK” games “MK vs. DC” may put the franchise back on track.

“Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe” isn’t the best “MK” game ever released (that honor goes to “Mortal Kombat 2”), but there are some redeeming factors that might make fans that soured on the series years ago think twice about this iteration. A good deal of the game has been revamped, since “Armageddon” was released, taking full advantage of this generation of consoles. The controls, gameplay, graphics, and characters were all treated to a much-needed upgrade, and the improvements show over the course of the game. [Continue Reading]

Hands On With Final Version Of MK vs. DC + New Footage!

Is it safe to say the Mortal Kombat franchise is back to it’s former glory? Well after hands on time with the final build of MK vs. DC i have a feeling it’s just about there. The first thing that stood out to me while playing, was how well the DC and Mk universe meshed together. Now i know there’s alot of haters out there, but guys give it a chance. I doubt you’ll agree that the whole concept is ridiculous or stupid once you’ve played the game. And speaking of play, some of you old school Mk fans will feel right at home with the familiar attacks and moves input, hell even the good old uppercuts have returned.

What’s also cool is the ease of pick up and play. Having been away from the MK games for years, I was able to get in along with a friend (who rarely plays games to begin with) and start brawling with out having to resort to using cheesy moves. Now don’t take this as the game being way to easy. Like all fighting games, Mk vs DC has moves which will require some time to master. Moves like reversals and the use of the analog stick to move on a 3d plane. And no… you didn’t hear wrong, the analog stick is used to move or “side step” your character towards the foreground or away in the background. While playing it’s easy for someone to forget they can move around like that. Having to switch from the digital to the analog control is alittle awkward and may turn off players. Thankfully the Mk gods saw it fit to support the recently released arcade sticks for the ps3 and x360. If they didn’t i think I would’ve had to raised some hell! In my opinion, arcade sticks are the only way to go for fighting games.

Another cool feature worth mentioning is the chat rooms they’ll have setup for players. As quoted to “bring back that arcade feel” of the crowds that would gather round the arcade cabinets watching the fights. The chatrooms will allow players to talk or brag to each other about thier skills before the next match or during a match in session. This is a nice little addition that should be a standard for all fighting games going forward.  All in all Mk vs DC looks to bring the franchise back out of the darkness from which it lurked. Stripping away all the silly bloated content…ahem kombat karts anyone?…ahem and taking players back to it’s bare bones roots of good ‘ol mk fun albiet with a splash of superheroes in the mix. Dare i say it?…ahhh screw it..MOOOOORTAL KOOOOOOMBAT! Damn now i gotta go and listen to that movie soundtrack….

Still won’t take my word for it? check out 2.0’s impressions plus footage explaining what’s new to the series.

Get Over Here! Over 8mins Of New Mk Vs. Dc Footage

Still think the upcoming MK vs. DC fighting game from Midway is gonna suck? Check out this video with over 8 mins of new footage showcasing some cool ass moves, destructible environments/clothing, brutalities,fatalities, and new combo system. Plus an explanation of just how much control you have over your character even while being grabbed or thrown! Midway has stated time and time again about how they’re going back to their roots with this latest iteration of Mk and it’s apparent from this video. Check it out below and peep the scene were old Bats gets burned by fan favorite Scorpion…GET OVER HERE!!!

2.o spent some time with the game at the event as well, check out his impressions.

Preview Impressions: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

Do you remember when “Mortal Kombat” used to be awesome? The last few games have been fun, for the most part, but thing back to a time when it was the most amazing game your parents wouldn’t buy for you? Ever reminisce about the first time you ripped someone’s head off with Sub-Zero, or their heart out with Kano? Remember the first time you saw Reptile, heard about Ermac, or convinced your friends that there was a code to play as Sonya naked? Yeah, it’s been a while since “Mortal Kombat” was at the top of a lot of people’s must play list, but all that’s about to change with “Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.”

Midway knows how you feel about “MK” – how you liked it better back before the days of cyborgs, Mokap, and online play. They are throwing (almost) everything you know about the franchise out the window for their first-ever crossover title. They are going back to their roots for the upcoming game staring 10 classic “Mortal Kombat” mainstays duking it out 10 beloved comic titans from the DC archives.

In order to make the game more accessible, and make it feel more like the older titles in the series, Midway has made a few changes. The match-ups have been simplified back to what is essentially a 2D battle in a 3D environment. The controls are back to the D-pad, and off the analog stick (take that as you will 360 owners). The combos are easier. The weapons are gone, unless they belong to a superhero (Baterangs are in). Multiple fighting styles are gone. “Mortal Kombat” is going back to the way you remember things best – and they’re doing it with Superman.

I recently had the opportunity to take a few of the new characters out for a test run, and I was quite surprised at how things went. First on my list was Batman. I immediately noticed that the dev team had taken the characters into consideration when working on their mechanics. In other words, Batman felt slow, and kind of heavy. It was surprising because thinking back to most of the other “Mortal Kombat” games, all the characters, pretty much felt the same. An uppercut as Liu Kang felt the same as an uppercut as Shao Khan, but within the first few seconds, you could tell that Batman’s speed and controls had been specifically tailored to him. Comparing Batman to Catwoman, the old man’s age showed – Catwoman felt much faster and more nimble. I was more than a bit interested to see how someone like the Joker handles, but I was told everyone would have to wait until Leipzig to find out.

Midway has also put some thought into changing the actual pacing of matches. They have added in mid-match opportunities to beat the snot out of your opponent to fill in the “dead” spaces. For example, as you are flying from level of the arena to another, you get to beat up your competitor instead of just animated falling. At the same time, they have the opportunity to counter, and turn around all the accumulated damage on you.

As I watched and played the game demo, there were a few interesting tidbits that I picked up:

• Although Shang Tsung was playable, they are still working out whether or not he will be able to change into DC characters yet. It was suggested that he might be able to do a “move steal” as opposed to a complete transformation.
• Downloadable content is being considered, but there was nothing to confirm.
• Fatalities (the most important part of the “MK” experience) will be able to be performed by all the “MK” characters, and DC villains. DC heroes will only be able to perform brutalities – brutal beatings that don’t kill their opponents.
• The game will be rated “T”
• You’ll be able to play as either side (”MK” or DC) in the story mode. More on that at Leipzig.

It was one of the biggest surprises in gaming this past year; the head-on collision of the “Mortal Kombat” and DC universes. We are, only a few months away from, what are shaping up to be, epic battles between Scorpion and Superman, Sonya and Catwoman, and even Sub-Zero and The Joker. While there is a lot of potential here, and it is pretty great, in theory, a little bit of the “Wow” factor has been taken away by the fact that Capcom did do this more than a few years ago. “Marvel vs. Capcom 2″ currently reins supreme in my book as the best fighting game ever made, and, as good as it looks, it is doubtful that “MK vs. DC” is going to knock it out of the top spot. However, I’m always open to a new number 2.

15 Years Later I Finally Get To Play The Sega CD

Last night was a pretty big night for me. After 15 long years of waiting I finally got a chance to actually play the first CD based console ever released, the Sega CD. I missed it the first time around, mostly because I was a Super Nintendo kid, however, even if I had a Genesis, I’m certain my parents wouldn’t have bought me the optional add-on that, in all honesty, didn’t really do much except give me a reason to want more games. Last week I decided it was time, and I went all in. Not only did I pick up a Sega CD, but I bought a Sega CDX, the hard-to-find, compact, re-released version of the Sega CD that had a Genesis squished into it, and, it’s basically all I could ever hope for.

I only managed to squeeze in about 15 minutes of “Sonic CD,” last night but they were glorious. While it wasn’t a huge improvement over the Genesis Sonics, I’ve never really had the chance to play Sonic CD, and it felt like an entirely new game to me. And wouldn’t we all like a good, new 2D Sonic right about now?

Since my initial eBay purchase, I’ve managed to pick up a small handful of other games in the last few week or so in preparation for the new addition to the console collection, and I’ve compiled a shortlist of some of the most interesting/important games on the platform. Take a look and let me know if there are any other Sega CD games that I absolutely have to play:

What I’ve Got So Far:
Sonic CD
Mortal Kombat
Ecco the Dolphin
Sega Classics Collection
Heart of the Alien: Out of this World Parts 1 and 2
Flashback
Night Trap
Time Gal
Sewer Shark
Pitfall
Surgical Strike
RDF: Global Conflict
Kids on Site

I’m well aware I’m missing Snatcher, but I’ll need to take a loan out to pick that one up.

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe…mmmm

Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe will feature a story mode, playable from two different perspectives, one from the DC side, and one from the Mortal Kombat side.  Depending on which side players choose, they will see the characters from the opposite universe as the invaders of their own.

Gameplay-wise, the game promises to add several new things, as well as remove some old mechanics. For instance, it has been stated that there will be no mini-games as there were in the last two installments of Mortal Kombat (such as the Puzzle Kombat and Chess Kombat games in Mortal Kombat: Deception).

Intertwined with the fights, there will be new gameplay modes featuring totally different game dynamics to the usual fight. These modes are “Free-fall Kombat”, which is activated automatically after throwing the opponent to a lower level in the arena. The player can fight in the air during the fall, after which the winner will land on his opponent, which will probably affect the course of the fight; and “Klose Kombat”, which is a mode you can enter during a fight, causing the characters to lock into combat with each other.  This changes the camera perspective to a close-up of the two, making for an interval of close-quarters fighting (much like in boxing games).

During fights, characters will show permanent signs of damage, such as bruises, blood marks, and broken or torn clothing pieces. Online play has been announced as a feature, but no further details have been given.