Growing up, I played Mortal Kombat like it was my job. Starting with the first game in the arcades, then on the Sega Genesis and all the up until today, the series has been a staple of my gaming habits. The previous few Mortal Kombat games have left a sour taste in my mouth as the series moved to 3D and shunned the tried-and-true special moves for a more combo-based fighting system. The latest installment takes a radical change as well, bringing in the DC Universe and toning down the gore, but does a great job of bringing the series back to its roots and delivering the quality Mortal Kombat fighting experience that gamers have been missing.

Gone are the 3D woes that have bothered Mortal Kombat players for the past few years. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is largely 2D based while retailing minimal 3D elements. You can change planes to avoid projectiles by moving in or out, but everything else works on two dimensions. Using the d-pad gives you 2D only controls while the left analog stick gives 3D only controls. If you want to use the d-pad and need to move in 3-dimensional space, hold the left trigger. If you need to jump, the d-pad is your only option. I found it much easier to use the d-pad and hold the left trigger to avoid a Bat-a-rang or spear or anything else being shot at you.

Performing attacks are similar to previous Mortal Kombat games. Thankfully, the various stances have gone away. I have a request, though. Can we please just label the buttons Low Punch, High Punch, Low Kick, and High Kick like they used to be? That’s what they do, so why do they have to be setup as general Attack 1 through Attack 4? With that out of the way, you can pull up move lists for each character by pausing the game. Each combo and special move is listed so you won’t have to look up a FAQ just to figure out how to shoot a fireball with Liu Kang. For Fatalities and Heroic Brutalities, though, you’ll have to look online (here ya go, thank me later).

Because of the inclusion of the DC Universe, the game was toned down with a “T” rating. The gore has been minimalized, especially with the Fatalities. You won’t be ripping out spines or tearing off limbs anymore. Because the DC characters aren’t killers, they perform Heroic Brutalities where they just beat the opponent to a pulp. All of the finishers are fairly cool the first couple times you see them, but become a bit stale after about fourth time performed. Not a deal breaker, but in previous games I couldn’t get enough of Jax ripping someone’s arms off or Liu Kang turning into a dragon and biting someone in half.

Aside from the 2D change, Midway threw in a few new gameplay elements in MK vs. DC Universe. You can now perform Klose Kombat by pressing the right bumper or B and Y simultaneously. Free Fall Kombat allows you to knock a person from a higher portion of a level and pummel them on the way down. Test Your Might is similar to Free Fall, except on a horizontal level as you move through walls. The Klose Kombat and Free Fall Kombat utilize quicktime button presses to deal out damage, while Test Your Might has you mashing all four face buttons rapidly to increase the damage caused to your opponent. Finally, the game features Rage Mode where your player can possess the fury of Kombat Rage to absorb several attacks before being interrupted and also attack through an opponent’s block. You build up Rage by performing special moves or taking on damage. You can either activate Rage Mode by pressing both triggers or you can use one of two Kounter moves with your built up Rage. I’ve found that, depending on the opponent, most times it’s better to use the Kounter attacks.

Character selection is much smaller than previous games. Armageddon turned it up to 11 with every character from the Mortal Kombat universe, but here we only get eight characters from the MK lore and eight from the DC Universe. From the MK side, you get Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Sonya, Shang Tsung, Kitana, Jax, Liu Kang, Raiden, Kano, and Baraka. For DC, you can choose The Joker, Catwoman, The Flash, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Deathstroke, Lex Luthor, Captain Marvel, or Green Lantern. Decent choices, but some of my favorite Mortal Kombat vets didn’t make the cut, namely Kung Lao. Overall, it’s not bad. You can also fight as Darkseid and Shao Kahn after you beat the story modes.

Aside from the typical Arcade ladders (where you can choose to fight only the MK side, DC side, or a combined set of enemies), there are two Story modes, one for each faction. They run parallel and give you an idea of what goes on from each side as their realms merge. You fight various characters on your way through to defeat the final boss (either Shao Kahn or Darkseid). You won’t get a ton of playing time out the stories, but they’re fairly entertaining. There’s also a Kombo Challenge where you can try to perform increasingly difficult combos with each character (it’s tougher than you think) and your standard Practice mode.

Online play is available as Ranked or Player Matches. You can also join rooms and issue challenges to other players, if that’s your sort of thing. In all the online fights I was in, there was little to no lag, which is great for a fighting game. Most players weren’t trying to use cheap moves over and over either (there are a few), which was also pleasant.

Overall, I’m very happy with Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. The gameplay is solid, which is the most important part. My biggest issue, other than the lack of characters and toned down themes, is the loading screens, of which there are plenty. The graphics are good, not great, and the sound is in the same boat. Otherwise, it’s a good title. If you’re a fan of the fighting genre or Mortal Kombat, I’d give them one a go.

Overall: 8.25 out of 10

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