Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

Boon admits there will be spectacular finishing moves, but, no, you won't see Superman feasting on Scorpion's still-warm organs for fun. DC won't allow it, and certainly the rating bodies like the BBFC and ESRB won't let such scenes pass under the radar. That said, Boon and Midway will be pushing for as much as they can get away with, so it might not be a complete cop-out.

So why do the brand collaboration at all? Apparently Boon and co. have been keen on doing an MK crossover ever since MK4 was released in arcades over ten years ago, but for one reason or another met with resistance. With the brand's evolution into 3D dating back to 2002, the game's creators reasoned that making incremental improvements to the formula didn't warrant full-price status. Bravo to that. With the opportunity to crossover the brand with the likes of Tekken and Street Fighter off-limits, the next logical step was superheroes - something Capcom itself has proven as a viable direction with the hugely admired Marvel vs. Capcom series. Certainly, in that context it feels like a far less controversial step, providing nobody mentions Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects.

One question most people have with the brand crossover is how the hell it's going to work on a gameplay level. Like Mario vs Sonic in a race, matching Superman with Sub Zero seem like a foregone conclusion - until, that is, Midway pulls out the "aha, but we've got magic" card. Boon reminds the assembled that the MK brand has always been based on the supernatural, meaning Superman's weakness to magic can be exploited in some way. Okay, but we're sure balancing the two rosters will be a key bone of contention over the coming months, and something Midway will have to figure out if the game is to satisfy both sides of the camp.

In terms of tech, as with all Midway games currently in development, the game will utilise a customised version of Unreal Engine 3. As you'd expect for the first next-generation iteration of Mortal Kombat, characters benefit from a greater level of detail than before, and much is expected in terms of animation improvements and physics. With acclaimed artist Alex Ross reportedly involved in design direction, DC purists should be kept happy with the overall look of the game. In terms of the environments, we're told to expect a mixture of styles from both brands, with a more lavish attention to detail than has been possible in an MK game to date.

For all the carping going on in the far corners of the Internet, it's a brave move by Boon and Midway to attempt a comprehensive rethink of the Mortal Kombat brand. Eight iterations and 16 years down the line, how boring would it be if Midway simply wheeled out a graphical makeover of the same old gameplay? Some of the hardcore would have been happy, but Midway isn't content to stand still with it, and has spied an opportunity to broaden its appeal - even if the total reinvention of the combat system and the unapologetic removal of the iconic violence puts a lot of noses out of joint in the process.