History YMMV / MortalKombatVsDCUniverse

Whether this game is [[CrazyAwesome ridiculously awesome]] or just plain ridiculous is [[BrokenBase up for debate]].

** Dark Kahn: For some, he was [[EnsembleDarkhorse well received]] either for his [[LargeHam Hammy speeches]] and/or his unique design. Detractors consider him the embodiment [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks of all that is wrong with MKvsDC]].

* HilariousInHindsight: After returning from their assigned missions, Shang Tsung mocks Kano for his defeat saying "A [[SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker clown]]? You were defeated by a CLOWN?". In the next game, Shang Tsung would turn into clown while recreating the Joker's Fatality from this game.

** [[Comicbook/{{Shazam}} CaptainMarvel]] and Comicbook/{{Deathstroke}} to some extent have also gained praise for this being the first time either character debuted in a videogame. The latter especially so who, as a mercenary who kills for hire and also a [[McNinja Ninjaesque]] character, would not be out of place in a main Mortal Kombat title.

** The Liu Kang vs Raiden fight late in the MK-side story mode now comes off a little bit darker in light of MortalKombat9 in which Raiden [[spoiler: unwittingly fatally wounded Liu Kang and was cursed by him with his dying breath]].
** Likewise, Lex Luthor calling out Superman in Supes' chapter, in lieu of the events of ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs''.

* CriticalDissonance: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat_vs._DC_Universe#Reception This game was well received by the critics earning scores in 70s on Metacritic and Gamerankings]]. Players, and especially devoted Mortal Kombat fans, were not as pleased.

* OlderThanTheyThink: Way back in ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombat3 Mortal Kombat Trilogy]]'', there was the Aggressor Meter, which, like the Rage meter, involved filling it and being so angry that you get more powerful. However, the Rage meter is filled by taking hits and allows you to use a section of the meter to do a ComboBreaker, while the Aggressor Meter was filled by dishing out damage and simply turned you into a Lightning Bruiser for a few seconds once you filled it.

* HarsherInHindsight: The Liu Kang vs Raiden fight late in the MK-side story mode now comes off a little bit darker in light of MortalKombat9 in which Raiden [[spoiler: unwittingly fatally wounded Liu Kang and was cursed by him with his dying breath]].

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: A major complaint about the game is that it changed from a violent, gore-fest filled series to a T-Rated crossover with mediocre finishing moves. Thankfully, [[VideoGame/MortalKombat9 it didn't stay that way for long.]]

* EnsembleDarkhorse: The Joker. He got [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHRuRYx6vfU a huge ovation when he was announced]], and his Fatality is one of the only ones people think didn't suck (so much so, that Shang Tsung borrows it in MortalKombat9.)

* IdiotPlot: More than a half of the fights are triggered by the Rage. They never come up with a way to resist it other than in the last two minutes.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: A major complaint about the game is that it changed from a violent, gore-fest filled series to a T-Rated crossover with mediocre finishing moves. Thankfully, [[MortalKombat9 it didn't stay that way for long.]]

* AndTheFandomRejoiced: The inclusions of CaptainMarvel and (especially) Deathstroke as playable characters in ''Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe'' [[TheUnexpected stunned a lot of people]].

* BetterThanItSounds: The story mode's plot is much better than what someone would expect from two franchises that really have no business being in the same crossover.

* OlderThanTheyThink: Way back in ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombat3 Mortal Kombat Trilogy]]'', there was the Aggressor Meter, which, like the Rage meter, involved filling it and being so angry that you get more powerful. However, the Rage meter is filled by taking hits and allows you to use a section of the meter to do a ComboBreaker, while the Aggressor Meter was filled by dishing out damage and simply turned you into a Lightning Bruiser for a few seconds once you filled it.

* BaseBreaker: Jax

* OlderThanTheyThink: Way back in ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombat3 Mortal Kombat Trilogy]]'', there was the Aggressor Meter, which, like the Rage meter, involved filling it and being so angry that you get more powerful. However, the Rage meter is filled by taking hits and allows you to use a section of the meter to do a [[ComboBreaker C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!]], while the Aggressor Meter was filled by dishing out damage and simply turned you into a Lightning Bruiser for a few seconds once you filled it.

* OlderThanTheyThink: Way back in MortalKombatTrilogy, there was the Aggressor Meter, which, like the Rage meter, involved filling it and being so angry that you get more powerful. However, the Rage meter is filled by taking hits and allows you to use a section of the meter to do a [[ComboBreaker C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!]], while the Aggressor Meter was filled by dishing out damage and simply turned you into a Lightning Bruiser for a few seconds once you filled it.

* FridgeLogic:
** When you perform a fatality on Green Lantern, in ''[[MortalKombatVsDCUniverse Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe]]'', how come his ring doesn't fly off in search of a new host?
** Green Lantern's other [[strike:Fatality]] [[ThouShaltNotKill Heroic Brutality]], "Orb Squeeze", involves him encasing his enemy in an orb, then levitating it, and crushing his enemy by shrinking the orb, a la Sonya Blade in ''MortalKombat3''. Where's the problem? It's NOT supposed to be lethal, however, during most other Heroic Brutalities, the loser wiggles around on the ground alot to prove they're not dead. But after this one the loser is eerily still...
** In general, the separation of a Heroic Brutality from a Fatality is little more than what's said at the end of the fight. For example look at Superman and Sub-Zero's finishing moves. In Sub-Zero's case, he is nothing more than a man with ice powers yet his fatality is to deep freeze his enemy then shatter their body with a simple kick. In Superman's case, he freezes them with his cryo-breath, flies up the frozen opponent, drops them to the ground from very high up, then drops on them with the full weight of his body. Now not only does their body not shatter when they hit the ground, but they're somehow still alive after Superman drills himself into their chest. All this is ignoring the fact that the Rage that's infecting the superheroes should be causing them to go against their better judgment anyway (Flash is willing to kill when the Rage overcomes him in the story). The only reason it's a "Heroic Brutality" is because DC just can't tolerate their heroes crossing the line.

** In general, the separation of a Heroic Brutality from a Fatality is little more than what's said at the end of the fight. For example look at Superman and Sub-Zero's finishing moves. In Sub-Zero's case, he is nothing more than a man with ice powers yet his fatality is to deep freeze his enemy then shatter their body with a simple kick. In Superman's case, he freezes them with his cryo-breath, flies up the frozen opponent, drops them to the ground from very high up, then drops on them with the full weight of his body. Now not only does their body not shatter when they hit the ground, but they're somehow still alive after Superman drills himself into their chest. All this is ignoring the fact that the Rage that's infecting the superheroes should be causing them to go against their better judgment anyway (Flash is willing to kill when the Rage overcomes him in the story). The only reason it's a "Heroic Brutality" is because DC just can't tolerate their heroes crossing the line.
* MissedMomentOfAwesome: There were a lot of characters from the DC Universe that could've been a perfect fit for this game. Lobo was one of the most requested characters by the fans, but there are others such as the characters from {{Watchmen}}, [[VForVendetta V]], Doomsday and so on. None of them made it.
** In a more literal case, Harley Quinn and Quan Chi, each of their respective universe's EnsembleDarkhorse characters, actually ''were'' planned as DLC, but Midway's bankruptcy buried it for good.
** Also, many thought that with the dark turn that DC Comics was taking with its latest ventures (such as the Watchmen and V For Vendetta movies, as well as story arcs featuring heroes snapping the necks of villains), that it'd blend with Mortal Kombat's similarly dark tone. Boy, [[LighterAndSofter were we wrong.]]
** [[MortalKombat9 Tag Team Mode is an awesome idea]]. Too bad it came out one game too late.

** Also, many thought that with the dark turn that DC Comics was taking with its latest ventures (such as the Watchmen and V For Vendetta movies, as well as story arcs featuring heroes snapping the necks of villains), that it'd blend with Mortal Kombat's similarly dark tone. Boy, [[LighterAndSofter were we wrong.]]

** In a more literal case, {{Batman Harley Quinn}} and Quan Chi, each of their respective universe's EnsembleDarkhorse characters, actually ''were'' planned as DLC, but Midway's bankruptcy buried it for good.

•MissedMomentOfAwesome: HarleyQuinn and Quan Chi were originally going to be playable, but were left out due to the deadline.

** In general, the separation of a Heroic Brutality from a Fatality is little more than what's said at the end of the fight. For example look at Superman and Sub-Zero's finishing moves. In Sub-Zero's case, he is nothing more than a man with ice powers yet his fatality is to deep freeze his enemy then shatter their body with a simple kick. In Superman's case, he freezes them with his cryo-breath, flies up the frozen opponent, drops them to the ground from very high up, then drops on them with the full weight of his body. Now not only does their body not shatter when they hit the ground, but they're somehow still alive after Superman drills himself into their chest. All this is ignoring the fact that the Rage that's infecting the superheroes should be causing them to go against their better judgment anyway (Flash is willing to kill when the Rage overcomes him in the story). The only reason it's a "Heroic Brutality" is because DC just can't tolerate their heroes crossing the line.

** In general, the separation of a Heroic Brutality from a Fatality is little more than what's said at the end of the fight. The best case example This Troper has is looking at Superman and Sub-Zero's finishing moves. In Sub-Zero's case, he is nothing more than a man with ice powers yet his fatality is to deep freeze his enemy then shatter their body with a simple kick. In Superman's case, he freezes them with his cryo-breath, flies up the frozen opponent, drops them to the ground from very high up, then drops on them with the full weight of his body. Now not only does their body not shatter when they hit the ground, but they're somehow still alive after Superman drills himself into their chest. All this is ignoring the fact that the Rage that's infecting the superheroes should be causing them to go against their better judgment anyway (Flash is willing to kill when the Rage overcomes him in the story). The only reason it's a "Heroic Brutality" is because DC just can't tolerate their heroes crossing the line.

The game derailed many details of the established canon, some important, some less so. Of course, whether or not that matters at all, is [[YourMileageMayVary a matter of varying mileage]].