Video Game Review: Injustice: Gods Among Us

Since its release early this week, I've been relentlessly playing "Injustice: Gods Among Us" - Warner Bros. Games and NetherRealm Studios' latest effort in bringing characters from DC Comics into the fighting game realm. Developed by the makers of Mortal Kombat and featuring popular heroes and villains from the DC Universe, I didn't expect much from the brawler save for nods to established comic book characters and a lot of fan service where your favorites duke it out with style and punishment. I'm happy to say that the game is certainly MORE than just that, and it's easily a candidate for "Game Of The Year" when the time comes to decide your picks come end of 2013.

Word to the wise for those jumping in to this review - The game contains a lot of references and nods to certain storylines longtime DC readers know and love well, so consider this your SPOILER ALERT before continuing on with my review of this fantastic game featuring the world's greatest superhumans. I'm also going to weigh down things based on personal preference and fandom alone, so the opinions here may not necessarily reflect what is being said by others and elsewhere.

And with that disclaimer aside, here are my thoughts on INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US.

Video Game Music Month Song #29: Mortal Kombat Theme Song

Mortal Kombat. Like Capcom's Street Fighter II, it contributed to the fighting game boom back in the early 90's. Developed by Midway Studios and created by the duo of Ed Boon and John Tobias, the brawler differentiated itself from the competition by allowing players to "Finish off" their opponents and perform a gruesome "Fatality" once the contest was over. This proved to be a controversial gaming mechanic that partly led to the creation of the ESRB, and the overwhelming popularity it received from fans spawned several sequels in the years to come. MK had its ripe beginnings in arcades, but eventually also made the transition to consoles, where its influence would spread further for years to come. Following their last and somewhat disappointing title Mortal Kombat Vs DC Universe, Midway Games eventually filed for bankruptcy, and all seemed lost for the MK series. Fortunately, a glorifying rebirth would follow when Warner Bros. picked up the rights to the series, and with the formation of NetherWorld Studios, a new Mortal Kombat was released this year, signaling the beginning of a new era for the series. It proved to be immensely popular after its release this year, and it proves without a shadow of a doubt the MK still lives and prevails in the continually evolving world of fighting games.

Technically this shouldn't even be in the list, but given the fact that I loved the series and the first movie in 1995 is arguably the best video game movie adaptation to this day, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to include this song. The song may have been created for the film, but it represents the game's legacy as a whole. Perfect for the nostalgia.



Mortal Kombat - Mortal Kombat Theme Song