Review: Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe

Mortal Kombat Vs DC Universe is a surprisingly good game, at first glance most would be skeptical of putting Batman and Superman next to Scorpion and Sub Zero but the game handles the differences very well. There are several modes with the first being the arcade mode. You pick if you want to face DC characters, MK characters, or a mix of the two. Then you pick your player and fight through a progression just like the classic MK titles. Next is the story mode which follows a simple formula; cut-scene, fight, cut-scene, fight, etc. You can play through the game on the MK side or the DC side and both have different story lines which allow for a total game time of 4-6 hours. The story is actually convincing and well put together. Playing through it as one side and then seeing the other side of some events is a really nice feature to the game.
The replay value really comes into play in the arcade and the multiplayer. There are also “Kombo” challenges for each character. The gameplay is superb for a 3D fighter. As we all know, fighters have had a hard time moving from 2D to 3D, this game fixes many of the problems though it isn’t perfect. If you have decent reflexes you can still sidestep large attacks in the 3rd dimension with the left stick. The D-Pad is used for the special moves so that gives a genuine feel to the game, there were times when I moved with the D-Pad and felt like I was back controlling my Sega Genesis, which is a good thing because it is a familiar feel. The attacks are well-balanced and a good player can win with any character. Of course Superman, Batman, Raiden, Sub-Zero, and Scorpion seem to be the first choices in terms of ability, but you can still practice and do really well with any of the others like the Flash, Green Lantern, Sonya, or Jax. There aren’t any “Balrog’s” in this game. (If you don’t know Balrog in Street Fighter had an attack that drained about half an opponent’s life and was easily done. He picked up the opponent and head butted him repeatedly, there was no way to break this and so it was very frustrating) You can counter an opponent’s attack and this helps keep the gameplay balanced.
There are four special modes of fighting. The first is “Klose Kombat”, you press the right bumper and pull your opponent close to you, and then icons appear on your side and on their side of the screen. You have to press the one button that is not highlighted on their side and you will get a clean hit. If you hit the same button they will counter. The same goes if you are engaged and are on the defensive, you need to quickly push the same button to counter. The second mode is rage mode; two small yellow bars will fill up under your life as you fight. If you are blocked or are hit the bar fills up, but it goes down if you successfully counter an enemy. When they are both full you press the left and right triggers to go into rage mode. For a short time your attacks will deal a lot more damage and you will block attacks more easily. The third mode is the free fall mode and that is when you or your opponent does a large attack near a designated area and it sends both of you flying down. If you are on top a button will appear (like in “Klose Kombat”) and you need to hit that button quickly to fill up a red bar. When it is full you can press in the right bumper and you will do a special finishing move and slam your opponent into the ground. If you are on bottom you need to counter the opponent’s buttons and if you are successful you will flip to the top. The fourth and final special mode is “test your might” and it is when you hit an opponent near a designated wall and you pick them up and slam them through multiple walls. You need to slam all four colored buttons as fast as you can to increase the damage you inflict, if you are picked up you are trying to decrease the damage you take on.
The fatalities/brutalities are not defined in the moves list or in the manual. I consulted IGN and still couldn’t perform the ending moves which are only available in the arcade and multiplayer, not the story mode. So I have yet to do any but they seem to be pretty difficult to pull off. They have to be pretty tamed though because the game has a “Teen” rating, so not too much gore, just some blood. This was controversial but I think it was nice that they respected the integrity of the DC characters and didn’t make them what they weren’t, which are brutal killers, like the MK characters. They didn’t need to make a “Mature” rated game and they didn’t. There is still plenty of violence to satisfy fans. The characters actually seem to work well against one another because of their opposing ideologies.
Overall the game brings a lot to the table. It is one of the few 3D fighters that are worth the money. The graphics are nice and there are a variety of environments. The game has the same great replay value of traditional fighters and is a good buy for any fan of fighters or of the DC characters. I highly recommend.

Gameplay: 9
Story: 8.5
Replay Value: 10
Graphics: 8.9
Overall: 9.1

James' Holiday Gaming Guide: Games to Ask Santa For

With Christmas approaching quickly, I’ve taken the liberty of listing some of the best games for the holiday season.
For Xbox Owners:
· Gears of War 2- My review firmly stated how much I enjoyed this game and I think you will too. It has a great story mode, some improved multiplayer, and graphics that are out of this world. The game is rated MA and is good for older teens and up.
· Fable 2- This RPG has all of the elements that it needs to be a great advancement on the first Fable. With a large open world and a story that develops based on your actions, this game is a must have for RPG fans.
· Left 4 Dead- The new zombie game from Valve (creators of Half Life) delivers on the promise of great multiplayer and a true to form zombie infestation that captures the essence of zombie movies nicely.

For PS3 Owners:
· Metal Gear Solid 4- This AAA title has been the most touted for the Playstation. It offers dynamic action gameplay and great graphics that utilize the PS3’s great hardware as well as any game has.
· Resistance 2- This game is another Playstation exclusive that has drawn a lot of attention; it is a solid first person shooter that offers a traditional shooter experience.
· Killzone 2- Perhaps the most anticipates game of the year, Killzone 2 has been the focus of conversation since its trailer all the way back at E3 2005. With graphics to rival Gears 2 and a promise of great gameplay this game could be huge for the PS3.
· Little Big Planet- The original IP has drawn a significant amount of attention and it could be a great, dynamic take on the platformer if the user generated content on Home comes through for it. Only time will tell.
For Wii Owners:
· Mario Kart Wii- A continuation of the popular franchise this game uses the wii wheel to bring the authentic kart racing experience
· Super Smash Brother Wii- Another entry in the popular franchise this game will undoubtedly please fans of the series.
Multiplatform Games:
· Fallout 3- This post-apocalyptic RPG has generated a lot of praise and for good reason. With dynamic consequences for all of your actions and a new take on weaponry and attack, this game is something new that fans will enjoy.
· Grand Theft Auto 4- An extremely comprehensive game that immerses you deeply into Liberty City and the plight of Nikko Bellic. You can spend hours in this game just driving around and never work on the story mode, it is a very fun game that has so much replay value it is ridiculous.
· Call of Duty: World at War-The next installment in the COD franchise this game brings us back to WWII and into the Pacific to fight Japanese forces. With narration from Keifer Sutherland (Jack Bauer) and classic COD gameplay, the game brings a lot to the table.
· Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe- An interesting mix of characters and a highly criticized “Teen” rated gameplay (not usual MK blood and gore) this fighter is the first in a while that I am excited about. Most fighters have not made a good transition to 3-D but this game promises to be different with a good story and gameplay. The addition of so many iconic characters doesn’t hurt either. I just hope that it is as good as it looks, I’ll review it once I actually get it ;)
· The Force Unleashed- If you didn’t buy this game back in September, then now is your chance to make up for that. With incredible graphics, fun gameplay, and a story that is better than the story in “Attack of the Clones” (My least favorite SW movie, by the way) this game is a must have for any SW fan. I would also recommend the “Jedi Temple” DLC that I reviewed earlier.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, here’s to 2009 the year of Ghostbusters!

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed DLC Review

The Force Unleashed just got its first downloadable level and it is called the "Jedi Temple Level Pack." The pack is available at the Xbox Live marketplace for 800 MS points or about $10. The DLC includes a new single player level and several new characters including Mace Windu, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Darth Maul. To play the level you need to start a new game and there will be a list with the normal game and with the Jedi Temple game underneath it. You don't get to use your player from any saved games that you have however they start you with a character with almost all of the powers and abilities and you will level up several times.

The level itself is fun but a little short when you figure out what to do, it is not as long as the normal levels in the game and that was a little disappointing. The story is simple, Starkiller is going to the ruins of the Jedi Temple on Courscant to find a hologram and hopefully learn more about his father. There is a very cool boss character and the action is just as fun and challenging as the rest of TFU so if you liked the game you will like this DLC. The level is also more destructible than the majority of the other levels in the game so that is a nice element.

The level doesn't bring anything radically new but it sticks to what worked in the game and that is a good thing. I would recomend it if you liked the game, if you didn't like the game than this won't change your mind.

Overall: 8/10

Atari's First Ghostbusters Game Trailer!

After a long time in “limbo” Ghostbusters: The Video Game was finally picked up by publisher Atari and they are beginning their ad campaign now with a new trailer and a new site that will be launching any day now. The new trailer features our first looks at Peter Venkman and Walter Peck, both of which look amazing. The trailer is all cut-scenes but it has a good feel of a movie about it. I feel that the cinematic approach is best suited for Ghostbusters because of the game’s nature as, essentially, the third film.
The trailer shows off some very impressive character modeling and it is obvious that tons of effort was put into the development of the character models, which helps bring the authenticity to the game. I would prefer good character models and decent environments to the opposite because the actors were such a key part of the original movies. The emphasis on them is well placed, but that does not mean that they have forgotten the environments and the ghosts. There are some impressive visuals in the trailer as well, the ghosts are colorful and have a nice hue about them. The opening shot of the New York City skyline was so good I almost thought it was a scene from a live action movie and not a computer generated image.
The game looks very promising and I just cannot stand the wait. It will be out in June 2009, with a hinted at demo possibly coming out soon but that is completely rumor for now. Hopefully with the launch of the site we will be treated to even more GB goodness. But for now you can see the new trailer in all its HD glory at Gametrailers.com.

The New Xbox Dashboard

The updated Xbox dashboard that was promoted at E3 this year is finally out and I really like it. The new set-up has a lot of new media options, easier-to-navigate menus, and a more colorful and fun experience, although there are some things that probably should have been left out.
One of the first things that you will notice is the overall layout, all of the options appear as boxes that are staggered and you can use the analog sticks to navigate up, down, left, and right. There are all of the standard options as well as an expanded marketplace. The items you want are much easier to find, as you can browse the marketplace by title and genre. Also all of the downloads for a particular game can be viewed together, for example, if you go to Halo 3, you can see all of the downloadable map packs and videos together. There is still an abundance of game demos to try out and the interface is just plain improved.
You can also buy episodes of popular TV shows, buy music videos, and rent movies from a relatively large library of titles that will undoubtedly be expanding over the coming months. The premium themes make the dashboard itself look much better than the previous installment and the general layout is easy on the eyes. You should have no trouble finding whatever you want. The usual “Inside Xbox” feature is still there and, like everything else, it’s easy to navigate.
But there is definitely one thing that I could have done without and that is the Avatars, they are a blatant rip-off of the Mii’s and are way too “kiddy” for the Xbox 360. Seeing an avatar in front next to a big picture of Marcus Fenix just doesn’t sit right with me. The idea is to appeal to the “casual” market that the Wii targets, but I think that that is something Xbox just doesn’t need to do to be successful, the Xbox and the Playstation both appeal to the more hardcore gamers or the more mature gamers, it doesn’t need to be decked out with “kid-friendly” avatars. Not that children’s games shouldn’t be on the system, it’s just that the whole avatar system is pushing it too far. But because of the sea of new media and the easier to navigate menus I can’t complain, I think overall it is a step forward for the Xbox interface.