Fighting Games - Open For Discussion

John and Jesus talk fighting game mechanics and what works! Take a look at the video and think about what they said. "Don't reinvent the wheel, put rubber on it." What games inspire you? What fighting games do you like? Talk about them below!

Mortal Kombat PS Vita review

It kind of threw me off that this one wasn't numbered or didn't have a tag-line at the bottom

So this game has been out a while. I know, we're late to this party. Honestly, though, I really think there's something to this game and that people need to give it a shot. Unfortunately, my view of this game on the PlayStation 3 was tainted after a six-hour play session that resulted in my hatred of it, but coming to it now several months (actually more like a year) later, I can look at it with fresh eyes.

If you don't know anything about the "Mortal Kombat" franchise, here goes: Our world of Earthrealm must combat the realm of Outworld in a tournament called Mortal Kombat, and if Outworld wins ten straight times then our world is absorbed into theirs. Boom. That's really all you need to know.

The big question is how could they have possibly made so many games up to this point if that was the sole premise. Though that becomes a silly argument as people can just look at "Street Fighter," "Dead or Alive," or my personal favorite "Bloody Roar" (so old school, I know). What is impressive is what "Mortal Kombat" does this time around.


Now, if you've played the PS3 version of this game you really know everything I'm about to write, but for the sake of argument let's pretend that you haven't, and those of you who actually haven't don't even need to pretend.

There is a story mode to the game, regular ladder and tag team tournament fighting, a challenge tower, training and multiplayer. That's a lot in a fighting game. More than "Marvel vs. Capcom" actually.

Not one of Raiden's better days.

Story mode is something fans will get a kick out of because the plot of this "Mortal Kombat" revolves around the thunder god Raiden sending a message to himself in the past to change the events in history so that Shao Kahn (the big bad evil guy) doesn't take over Earthrealm.

You literally start from what was the first storyline in "Mortal Kombat 1" (I'm not sure if they were numbered in that fashion but for the sake of plot development we'll say they are) all the way to the current game.

For someone like me who hasn't played this franchise religiously and only seen those terrifically awful movies, this was a much better story and fun way to learn who each of the characters are and why they're a part of this universe. You very literally get to play as a majority of the cast and the game gets progressively harder as you move through the tale of the brave warriors defending Earthrealm. It's about 16 chapters and each chapter is about six or so fights long so it's a good, long campaign.

To vary up the combat, you'll fight against tag teams all by your lonesome and at one point against a host of enemies without your health regenerating at the end of each round. The game really tries to test your skills and takes you through so many different characters that it's a perfect introduction to the controller scheme and fighting styles of a majority of the characters. You'll find that through the story you can actually find a character that's right for you.

Hey look! Two Power Rangers, the bad guy from "Big Trouble in Little China" and a monster!

The challenge towers are mission-based combat situations where you'll have to perform a specific attack or win a bout with a certain handicap on you. This, coupled with the story, is probably the best way to learn how to play if you want to hone your skills before going online for some multiplayer. And I hear that multiplayer community for "MK" is tough, so watch out.

Ladder fighting is essentially the bread and butter of "Mortal Kombat." You pick a character and fight your way to Shao Kahn at the end of a traditional "Mortal Kombat." Each character has their own unique ending as well, so that'll be fun for completionists and those who are interested in the backgrounds of all the characters, all of which you can read at the Nekropolis in the extras menu.

A match made in Hell.

Speaking of extras, there's a whole slew of them to find should you collect enough Koins in game through the story and whatnot. The unlockables include art, alternate costumes, music, codes to change the gameplay up in silly or interesting ways and everyone's favorite: Fatality moves for all characters.

Oh, and let's not forget that everyone's favorite god of war, Kratos, is in the game. And to top it all off he's accompanied by the hilariously scary and somewhat out of place Freddy Krueger from "A Nightmare on Elm Street." I suppose this is Sony and Warner Bros.'s way of putting their two cents into a NetherRelam production.

Honestly, the best part of this game is the fighting, or the Kombat as it's called because anything spelled correctly with a "c" is just plain wrong in this universe. The controls don't seem to be much changed from the games that have come before it and Scorpion still shouts "GET OVER HERE" when he launches his awesome hand-thingies. Some of the moves can be super-charged after successful combos and blocks have built-up power, but the real treats are the X-ray moves and Fatalities.

Okay, Reptile just stabbed Johnny Cage in the eyes with his fingers. Ew.

X-Ray moves are unique for each character, and some are proximity sensitive while others are reactionary. The main point is these attacks deal enough damage to knock out a third of your opponent's health bar, and, boy, do they look like they hurt. How badly? Well the game x-rays the body of your opponent to show you just what you're breaking or slicing open.

In Sub Zero's case, it shows him reaching into his opponent's stomach to freeze an organ and crush it in his hand, and then he headbutts them for good measure. Ouch.

Fatalities are just as gruesome as ever, but you only start out with one for each character and you have to unlock the others with the Koins. Who could resist scavenging Koins after watching Johnny Cage pull someone's head off or Kung Lao slice a man in half with his hat?

Now, the game itself is a solid 8 or 9. It's not perfect but it's pretty dang good if you're looking for a game on the PlayStation Vita. The graphics in the fights definitely took a beating compared to the PS3 and you can totally see the marked difference, which is a shame as the graphics in "Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom" seem to be hardly changed.

I'm just really impressed at the amount of game that there is here. I mean, story mode, regular fights, challenges, training, unlockables, multiplayer...It's a full game. If more fighting games were like this I'd probably be more inclined to buy them and check them out.

"Mortal Kombat" shows what a lot of work can do for a game that's just about hitting people and pulling their spines out. A story that is fun and longer than some first-person shooter campaigns coupled with competitive fighting gameplay and unique controls for each character promote a level of skill with intricacy and attention to detail.

Developers should takes notes from NetherRealm and the work that they do. Think about how popular this franchise is and how many "Mortal Kombat" games there have been over the years. Obviously, they're doing something right.

And if you don't play this game, NetherRealm will send Raiden to your house to do this to your head.

Eyes on Injustice: Gods Among Us

We've all had the conversations with our friends about who would win in a fight between Superman and Batman. How about Harley Quinn and Nightwing? What about Flash and Cyborg?" Well, if you're a fan of the DC Universe you've probably had these conversations.

"Injustice: Gods Among Us" saves you the trouble of having to imagine what these fights would be like by allowing you to decimate cities and barren wastelands with some of the iconic characters of the DC comic world. At least the DC characters that Warner Brothers Games and NetherRealm Studios feel are iconic.

As of right now, the characters that have been revealed for the line-up are as follows: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Cyborg, Nightwing, Flash and Solomon Grundy.

While the trailer looks mighty fine, the graphics seem a little less than that. It looks to be on par with the newest "Mortal Kombat" game, which was just passable.

If the trailer is any indication, this game is basically "Super Smash Bros." with some edgy looking DC characters. Other than that there doesn't seem to be a story or anything else. Granted, NetherRealm always seems to put a plot into their fighting games regardless of advertising it.

There's nothing wrong with a good rock'em-sock'em fighting game, but this has been done before. What am I talking about? Well, I'm talking about this game:

Oh yeah, that was a thing about 4 years ago or something. Now, the idea behind that was different. The DC Universe somehow bled into the Mortal Kombat one and there were more characters and more things going on and yadda yadda. But in all honesty, was this game so successful that they had to give the DC characters their own game? If so, what made it so good? As I recall, the "Mortal Kombat" games are good, some would say great even. They're not revolutionary, however, and they're certainly just re-hashings of the classic game.

While there's nothing wrong with remaking a game with better graphics (or is there? The debate still rages on about that), some would say that a spin-off of a mash-up game based off of a remake is...risky. Risky in that it seems to be an unimaginative filler game when the fans might want another "Mortal Kombat." Or they could just do a sequel game to "Mortal Kombat vs DC."

I'm not sure the Lasso of Truth is going to help much against a zombie.

Regardless, the game itself seems to be fully formed and full of fun. One of the biggest topics that everyone is talking about is the detail but into the world around the fighters. Whether it's the Batcave or what appears to be downtown Metropolis, there's always something to look at behind the fight. As the trailer shows, the player can even send their opponent flying up into space with Superman's strength, or toss them around like a sack of potatoes with Batman's vicious pummelings.

Of course the fights have to be balanced because half of the roster would honestly murder the other just through sheer power. I'm not saying she wouldn't put up a good fight, but Harley has no chance against an Amazon warrior or a man who can run so fast he can travel between dimensions (yes Wally West can do that because he's the most powerful Flash, and no, I will not get into an argument about it). Not to mention that Solomon Grundy is an undead monster reminiscent of the Hulk. If you played "Batman: Arkham City" you might remember him as one of Penguin's many minions.

There's still a lot going on with this game as the roster continues to to grow. Nightwing and Cyborg being added recently means they seem to be going with a pattern of super powered and non-super powered individuals to try and even the characters out.

As a DC comics fan, I'm not sure how to feel about this game, and I feel like other fans don't either. There seems to be some excitement because who doesn't love seeing their world come to life for playability and the chance to beat the snot out of your friends with Batman? But this also just seems to follow in the vein of games that might just end up being a disappointment in the arena of super-powered "mehs."

After having the successes of "Batman: Arkham Asylum" and "Arkham City," DC fans are now used to having games of excellent quality. That could be anything from using one of the most iconic characters in the DC universe, to making a game that works with gadgets and stealth like so many others before it.

It seems that if fans want to immerse themselves in the DC Universe with more than just a slugfest, they'll have to go for one of the game ins the "Arkham" series, or perhaps "DC Universe Online." However, if they want a knock-down drag-out showdown, "Injustice: Gods Among Us" might be the game for them.

There just isn't a good "Fast and the Furious" joke for this picture.