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Merging video game tough nuts against comic book super heroes is a tried and tested formula. Firstly there was X-Men vs Street Fighter, which would later branch out with Marvel VS Capcom. Who could argue with a game that let Jill Valentine show Spiderman what for and had Ryu learning a thing or two about fighting from Hulk? It's been a while since the two formats clashed fists and super powers in video game form, so when gore-fest beat-em-up Mortal Kombat declared war on DCs comic book super heroes and villains, it proved to be a welcome announcement.
Whether you're a Mortal Kombat fan or love the heroes of DC, there's a game here for enthusiasts of both. The two story modes play out like a fanboy's wet dream, with each fight linked together with action packed FMVs, connecting both universes in a laughable over-the-top style. The word laughable is exactly what you want from a story that not only brings together a host of poplar DC heroes and villains, but also adds in to the equation the good guys and bad guys of MK to bring further complications to their already-troubled worlds. Naturally, to see the full story you need to play both campaigns, so expect plenty of silly moments, familiar locations and epic face-offs against infamous rivals along the way.
Beat-em-ups don't hold a special place in my game collection. The last one I gave my time to was Dead or Alive 4, simply because repeating Kazumi's hand-stand kick made me an invincible fighting chick (hey, what you get up to in your own time... - Ed), not to mention that particular move produced a sight enough to make a grown man blush. Perfecting these games takes skill, as pulling of a string of complex combos under pressure is no easy task. Of course, many pros will dispute such a claim and can run circles around the simple punch and kick.
Although not a football match, you have the option of 11 characters from each universe to choose from, that's 22 in total in case you didn't work it out. It goes without saying that you'll have your favourites; neutrals will no doubt go straight for Superman or Batman, whereas novices may be disappointed with the many absent favourites. Each character has their own set of special moves to suit their abilities; the Joker may punch like a girl, but you should never underestimate the combat capabilities of girls, as he is extremely crafty, constantly throwing tricks at you. Superman can thump the ground and use heat vision, but unfortunately it takes a lot less than kryptonite to down the man of steel.
Most special moves are available from the outset by pressing start, but attempting to learn them in the heat of battle will result in a severe kicking of the butt. Fortunately there's a Training option allowing you to pull them off with no pressure from unforgiving foes. This is all well and good, but taking this training into the main game still requires a lot of crafty finger work and patience to master. For instance, in the early part of the DC story mode you take control of The Flash, at which point you can punch and kick your way to easy victories, maybe even learning the simple Teleport Punch combo to add variety. However, it's not until you are actually up against The Flash that you see what he's truly made of, as he moves like lightning and punches from every direction before you even have the chance to press the kick button.
Fear not though, because if you do find yourself struggling to defeat an opponent and the 'Continue' option doesn't seem so appealing, the auto adjusting skill setting makes the fight easier each time you fail to kick ass. The simplicity factor may annoy the experienced fighters who thrive on the challenge, but to everyone else it keeps the game flowing and enables a certain amount of technique-mastering before taking on a tougher challenge online.