Thanks pb,I was more than pleasantly surprised with it as I feared it was going to be awful.As with most fighting games,perhaps people who own PS3's may want to get that version due to it having a much better controller for beat em ups.I submitted a list for all characters special moves and finishes if anyone wants them.They should be up in the cheats section very soon.I found them very helpful as the instruction book which comes with the game doesn't list them.Hope you enjoy the game as much I have.

Just checked in Cheats section and they have not been saved in the format in which I submitted them ?.So here they are for anyone who wants them:

To unlock Darkseid beat the DC story mode then press Right button on character selection screen to use him.

To unlock Shao Kahn beat the Mortal Kombat story mode then press Right button on character selection screen to use him.

Note : When both characters have been unlocked simply click the Right button on character selection screen as mentioned above.Then use the D-Pad to switch between them.


All characters special moves and finishes:


Baraka

Special moves:

Sharp Spark: Press Down, Back, X (hold X for delay)
Scrape Kick: Press Forward(2), Y
Chop Chop Blades: Press Back(2), A
Blade Cyclone: Press Down, Forward, B

Fatalities:

Stab Slam: Press Back, Forward, Down, Forward, X when close
Chest Stab: Press Forward(2), Down(2), A when close



Jax

Special moves:

Gun Runner: Press Back(2), X
Power Fist: Press Down, Back, Y (press X or A after the punch for an extra hit)
Blinding Light: Press Down, Back, X
Rocket Blast: Press Down, Back, A
Double Rocket Blast: Press Down, Back, A, Down, Back, B
Gotcha Grab: Press Forward(2), Y (tap Y for extra hits)
Ground Pound: Press Down(2), B

Fatalities:

Head Smash: Press Back, Forward(2), Back, Y when close
Machine Gun: Press Forward(2), Back(2), A when close



Kano

Special moves:

Kano Ball: Press Back, Forward, B
Kano Up Ball: Press Down, Forward, Y
Brutal Throw: Press Down, Forward, X
Knife Toss: Press Down, Back, X
Parry: Press Down, Back, Y
Eye Laser: Press Back(2), X

Fatalities:

Knife Throw: Press Back, Down, Back, Forward, X when one step away
Flip Stomp: Press Down(2), Forward, Back, B when one step away



Kitana

Special moves:

Bladed Fans: Press Forward(2), X (also can be done in air)
Square Wave Punch: Press Down, Back, Y
Rolling Fury: Press Down, Forward, B
Mystical Teleportation: Press Down, Back, X (also can be done in air)
Fan Lift: Press Back(2), X
Razor’s Tip: Press Down, Forward, Y

Fatalities:

Fan Throw to The Head: Press Back(2), Forward, X at sweeping distance
Kiss of Death: Press Forward, Down(2), Back, A at sweeping distance



Liu Kang

Special moves:

High Dragon Fire: Press Forward(2), X (also can be done in air)
Low Dragon Fire: Press Forward(2), A
Flying Dragon Kick: Press Forward(2), Y
Bicycle Kick: Press Back(2), Forward, B
Dragon’s Tail (Cartwheel): Press Down, Back, B and also one of the following:
Spinning Backfist: Press (after Dragon’s Tail) X
Uppercut: Press (after Dragon’s Tail) Y (sets up juggle)
Zen Trip: Press (after Dragon’s Tail) A
Shaolin Spirit: Press (after Dragon’s Tail) B

Fatalities:

MK1 Arcade Drop: Press Forward, Back, Down(2), A at sweeping distance
Head Stomp: Press Down(2), Forward, Down, B when one step away



Raiden

Special moves:

Vicinity Blast: Press Down, Back, Y (hold Y for larger blast)
Lightning Bolt: Press Down, Back, X (Hold X for larger blast)
Projectile Cancel: Press Down, Forward (cancels Vicinity Blast and Lighting Bolt)
Energy Teleport: Press Down, Back, A
Lightning Shock: Press Forward(2), Y
The Superman: Press Forward(2), B (also can be done in air)

Fatalities:

Ground Slam: Press Down, Forward, Down, Up, Y when one step away
Electrocution: Press Back, Forward(2), Down, B when one step away



Scorpion

Special moves:

Spear: Press Back(2), X
Fiery Teleport: Press Down, Back, A (also can be done in air)
Inner Flames: Press Down(2), Y (hold Y for longer flame)
Hell Fire: Press Down, Back, Y
Hellish Slide: Press Down, Back, B

Fatalities:

Toasty!: Press Down(3), B at sweeping distance
Lava Pool: Press Forward(2), Back, Down, A when close



Shang Tsung

Special moves:

Skull Fire: Press Back(2), Y
Sky Fire: Press Down, Back, Y
Slide Launch: Press Down, Forward, B
Soul Steal: Press Down, Back, A
Body Switch: Press Down, B, Forward, X
Hot Escape: Press Down, Back, B
Hot Skull: Press (after Hot Escape) Y
Hot Blast: Press (after Hot Escape) A
Body Switch: Press Down, Back, Forward, X

Fatalities:

Back Breaker: Press Back, Down, Forward, A when close
Morph: Press Down(2), Forward(2), Y when close



Shao Kahn

Special moves:

Shoulder Charge: Press Forward(2), B
Rising Emperor: Press Back, Forward, B
Energy Shield: Press Down, Back, A
Pulse Blast: Press Back(2), X
Choke Punch: Press Forward(2), X
Hammer Smash: Press Back, Forward, Y

No Fatalities available for this character.



Sonya

Special moves:

Ring of Doom: Press Down, Forward, X (can be done twice)
Deadly Kiss: Press Down, Back, X
Leg Grab: Press Back, Forward, B
Bicycle Kick: Press Down, Back, B (can also be done in air)
Kartwheel Flip: Press Down, Forward, A
Square Wave Punch: Press Down, Back, Y

Fatalities:

Kiss of Death: Press Down(2), Back, Forward, X at sweeping distance
Neck Breaker: Press Down, Back, Forward(2), B when one step away



Sub-Zero

Special moves:

Icy Counter: Press Down, Back, X
Ice Nugget: Press Down, Back, Y (unblockable)
Icy Freeze: Press Down, Forward, A
Tombstone Teleport: Press Down, Back, A
Cold Slide: Press Back + A + B

Fatalities:

Freeze Kick: Press Back(2), Down, Back, B when close
Freeze Slam: Press Back, Forward, Down, Forward, Y when close



Batman

Special moves:

Smoke Capsule: Press Down, Back, Y
Batarang: Press Down, Forward, X (can also be done in air)
Leaping Shadow Kick: Press Down, Forward, B
Leg Take Down: Press Down, Back, B
Sneaky Batarang: Press Down, Back, X
Dark Absorption: Press Back(2), Y (projectile absorption block)
Smoke Escape: Press Down, Back, A

Heroic Brutalities:

Bat Swarm: Press Down, Back, Forward(2), B when close
Grappling Hook: Press Down(3), Up, A at sweeping distance



Captain Marvel

Special moves:

Solomon Escape: Press Down, Back, B
Strength of Hercules: Press Back, Forward, Y
Atlas Clap: Press Down, Back, Y
Power of Zeus: Press Down, Back, X
Achilles Bolt: Press Down, Back, A
Mercury Bear Hug: Press Back, Forward, B

Heroic Brutalities:

Slam & Stomp: Press Down, Forward, Back, Forward, X when close
Ground Slam: Press Down, Back, Down, Forward, Y when one step away



Catwoman

Special moves:

Whip Sting: Press Down, Back, X (can also be done in air)
Lasso Grip: Press Back, Forward, Y
Kitty Surprise: Press Back, Forward, A
Raging Cat: Press Back, Forward, B
Somersaulting Fever: Press Down, Forward, A
Nine Lives: Press Down, Back, B (certain projectile/move dodge)

Heroic Brutalities:

Neck Breaker: Press Down, Back, Down, Forward, Y at sweeping distance
Claw Attack: Press Forward, Back, Forward, Back, B at sweeping distance



Darkseid

Special moves:

Omega Beam: Press Back(2), X
Anti-Air Omega Beam: Press Back(2), Y
Omega Tremor: Press Down(2), B
Omega Knee: Press Back, Forward, B
Omega Force: Press Down, Back, A

No Heroic Brutalities available for this character



Deathstroke

Special moves:

Close Flash Bomb: Press Down(2), A
Far Flash Bomb: Press Down(2), B
Pistol Shot: Press Back, Forward, X
Lunging Stab: Press Back, Forward, Y
Stomach Stab: Press Down, Forward, X

Heroic Brutalities:

Gunshot: Press Forward(2), Down, Forward, Y when close
Neck Breaker: Press Forward, Down, Back, Forward, A when close



The Flash

Special moves:

Fast Escape: Press Down, Back, A
Super Uppercut: Press Down, Back, Y
Teleport Uppercut: Press Down, Back, B
Around The World: Press Back, Forward, B
Flurry Punch: Press Back, Forward, Y
Teleport Flurry: Press Down, Back, X

Heroic Brutalities:

Flashy Beatdown: Press Back(2), Forward(2), B at sweeping distance
Whirlwind Slam: Press Down, Forward, Down, Back, Down, Forward, A when close



Green Lantern

Special moves:

Summoned Hand Grip: Press Down, Back, X
Justice Grip: Press Down, Forward, A
Strength of Will: Press Down, Back, Y
Judgment Hammer: Press Back(2), A
Wall Barrier: Press Back, Forward, B

Heroic Brutalities:

Orb Squeeze: Press Forward, Back, Down, Back, A at sweeping distance
Hammer Smash: Press Back, Forward, Down(2), B at sweeping distance



The Joker

Special moves:

Laughing Fist: Press Down, Back, A
Joker’s Wild: Press Down, Back, Y
Bombs Away: Press Forward(2), B
Bombs Away Close: Press Forward(2), Y
Bombs Away Medium: Press Forward(2), A
Bombs Away Far: Press Forward(2), B
Put It There Pal: Press Down, Back, X
Sinister Heels: Press Back, Forward, B
Funnyman: Press Back, Down, Forward, A
Magic Trick: Press Down, Back, B and also one of the following:
Surprise Pistol Whip: Press (after Magic Trick) X
Surprise Bomb: Press (after Magic Trick) Y
Surprise Stomp: Press (after Magic Trick) A
Surprise Slide: Press (after Magic Trick) B

Heroic Brutalities:

Gunshot: Press Forward, Back, Forward, X when close
Playing Cards: Press Back, Down, Back, Forward, Y when close



Lex Luthor

Special moves:

Target Practice: Press Down, Back, X
Powered Palms: Press Down, Forward, Y
LexCorp Rocket: Press Down, Back, A (can also be done in air)
Hot Flames: Press Back, Forward, A
Evasive Maneuver: Press Down, Back, B
Rocket Boots: Press Back, Forward, B

Heroic Brutalities:

Body Twist: Press Down, Forward, Down, Back, Y when close
Missile Attack: Press Up(3), X when one step away



Superman

Special moves:

Heat Vision: Press Back(2), X (can also be done in air; also can be repeated)
Inhale Capture: Press Down, Back, Y
Soaring Knockout: Press Down, Forward, Y
Ice Breath: Press Down, Forward, A
Ground Tremor: Press Down, Down, B
Shoulder Charge: Press Forward, Forward, B
Up, Up and Away (Hover): Press Down, Back, A and also one of the following:
Hover Heat Vision Close: Press (after Up, Up and Back) X
Hover Heat Vision Far: Press (after Up, Up and Back) Y
Ground Tremor: Press (after Up, Up and Back) A or B

Heroic Brutalities:

Ground Pound: Press Down(2), Forward(2), X when close
Freeze Slam: Press Forward(2), Down, Back, B when close



Wonder Woman

Special moves:

Wondrous Spin: Press Down, Back, B (can also be done in air)
Divine Princess: Press Down, Forward, Y (can also be done in air)
Splits Grab: Press Down, Forward, A
Gotcha Girl: Press Forward, Forward, B
Handstand Burst: Press Down, Back, A
Lasso Grab: Press Back, Forward, X

Heroic Brutalities:

Lasso Slam: Press Up, Back, Down, Forward, X at sweeping distance
Lasso Spin: Press Forward, Back(2), Forward, B at sweeping distance

Mortal Kombat Vs DC Universe is the latest game in the long running Mortal Kombat series and it is the first to become available for current consoles.This game is slightly different to its predecessors due to the obvious tie in with characters from DC comics (Batman,Superman etc.).This is a far from original idea as it was done nearly a decade ago with Marvel Vs Capcom.Where things have hopefully played a little into Midways hands with this title is that despite the Xbox 360 being three years old,there is not a huge amount of fighting games available for it.Xbox 360 launch title Dead Or Alive 4 was merely average and Virtua Fighter 5 was technically very good but had a learning curve so steep most casual gamers couldn’t be bothered with it.In fact,there is only really the superb Soul Calibur IV and Xbox live arcade title Super Streetfighter II Turbo HD Remix which are worthy of most beat em up fans attention at the moment.With the much anticipated release of Streetfighter IV only a couple of months away,some fighting games fans may ignore this release and in my opinion that would be a great shame.

Graphically this game is merely average for a current Xbox 360 title.The characters are well defined and animated and the backgrounds look reasonable enough,but any new fighting game is bound to be compared to Soul Calibur IV and that is a much prettier game than this.Saying that there are no slowdown issues regardless of how much action there is on screen.

The control system takes a bit of getting used to,2D movement is controlled by the D-Pad,3D movement is controlled by the left hand analogue stick.Blocking is done using the right hand trigger,While the left hand trigger holds your opponent,The left hand bumper button is used for close combat and the right hand one for grabbing or throwing an opponent.The coloured A,B,X,Y buttons are used for punch and kick attacks like in most fighting games.It took me around an hour before I started to get the hang of this very different control system,but after that I found this game a lot of fun to play.Saying that though the Xbox 360’s useless D-Pad proves to be just as terrible for fighting games as it always has been.

Unlike previous Mortal Kombat games the blood and violence has been greatly toned down here.I presume this has been done due to DC’s requirements ?.I suppose Lui Kang ripping out Batman’s spine would have hit some copyright problems ?.The famous ‘Fatality’ finishes are also much milder than we have become used to and the DC characters have there own ‘Heroic Brutality’ finishes in their place.They are however just as difficult to perform as they have ever been but also just as satisfying when you actually manage to pull one off.Soul Calibur IV’s single button ‘Critical Finish’ was a much better idea in my opinion as anyone could do them.

There are only two bonus characters (one Mortal Kombat,one DC) to unlock in the game.To get them simply beat both the Mortal Kombat and DC story modes.Pretty much everything else is available right from the start.I got the impression Midway have really tried to do something a little bit special here and while some idea's they have tried in this game work great others don’t.The story modes have long FMV sequences which you cannot skip,which is annoying.But there appears to have been a real effort made here to make the two stories,again one for Mortal Kombat,one for DC.They each discover that the only way to save the fate of the universe is to beat the living crap out of each other !.Close combat is fun,when characters are right next to each other you can hit the right button.The camera zooms right up to the fighters and everything turns slow motion.Whoever instigated it attacks but you can counter and reverse these attacks.You can also kick or smash your opponent out of the fighting area and you continue fighting in freefall.Whoever wins smashes his opponent into the ground of the next fighting arena,taking 30% of his energy away as he does so.Again these attacks can be reversed and you simply flip your freefalling opponent over and smash him into the floor instead.You can also smash through other walls in ‘Test Your Might’ mode,this does not work as well.You simply bash all the buttons in no order whatsoever in a tug of war style battle.I find this a very hit and miss affair as there is no skill required at all.Add to this the 'Rage' meter which when full you simply pull both triggers together and then you can unleash very powerful attacks until the timed gauge expires.Multiplayer modes all work as expected and can be played online as well.Arcade mode is also pretty much the same as all other beat em ups and is nothing out of the ordinary to be honest.

Overall,I can understand hardcore Mortal Kombat fans probably hate this game with a passion due to its toned down violence and ‘sell out’ collaboration with DC comics,but that is there loss in my opinion.As I have already mentioned this game is not as polished as Soul Calibur IV and it isn't that easy to pick up an play due to its unique control system.But there is no denying that it is a lot of fun.From electrocuting opponents with The Jokers handshake to hurling your Battarang into the heart of your enemy there is a lot of thought and effort gone into putting this game together and it would be a real shame if hardly anyone bothers to buy it.

Well worth considering for beat em up fans in my opinion.

7.5/10.