Highlights
- MultiVersus offers a fun, cartoonish take on fighting games with characters like Batman and Shaggy facing off in platform brawler action.
- In contrast to Mortal Kombat’s history of violence, MultiVersus focuses on cartoon tropes and platforming challenges for a lighter gameplay experience.
- While both games feature DC characters, MultiVersus stands out with 2v2 matches, platforming stages, and a more lighthearted approach overall.
With only a month until MultiVersus finally launches, the fighting game is set to bring some iconic characters head-to-head in a platform brawler. As Warner Bros. own version of Super Smash Bros., MultiVersus pits the likes of Batman and Shaggy against each other with some fun, cartoonish combat.
However, there is another fighting title owned by Warner Bros. that has a much longer history. The Mortal Kombat franchise was taken over by Warner Bros. back in 2009. Since then, the company has rebooted the Mortal Kombat franchise, and the most recent chapter in the series, Mortal Kombat 1, saw the games take an exciting turn with an all-new timeline. MultiVersus will be the next big fighting title from Warner Bros., and it seems to be the complete anthesis of Mortal Kombat.
Rumor: MultiVersus Teases New Classic Cartoon Network Characters
A new MultiVersus teaser hints that a trio of popular Cartoon Network characters could be coming to the game when it re-launches soon.
MultiVersus and Mortal Kombat Have Very Little in Common
When comparing the two games, the only real similarities between MultiVersus and Mortal Kombat is that they are fighting games, they are owned by Warner Bros., and they each feature DC characters. In fact, when looking at the mechanics and overall approach, MultiVersus and Mortal Kombat couldn’t really be more different.
The Most Obvious Difference
It’s hard to compare both games in general, since they are so dissimilar, but the most glaring difference of all is the amount of violence featured in the games. Since MultiVersus is centered around the many iconic cartoon characters that have graced the history of Warner Bros., the violence in the game’s fights is pulled straight from cartoon tropes. The only character featured in MultiVersus that is fitting for an R-rating is Game of Thrones‘ Arya Stark.
The Mortal Kombat franchise is vastly different. These games embrace absurd amounts of violence to the point where it’s so over-the-top that it’s funny. Fatality moves are at the heart of Mortal Kombat, and they showcase some of the most gruesome violence one can imagine. From disemboweling an enemy to crushing them with an oncoming subway train, Mortal Kombat gets incredibly creative with its violence.
Setting the Stage in Different Ways
Another major difference between the fighting titles lies in their stages. Mortal Kombat is a traditional fighting title that features a basic floor that serves solely as a battleground. MultiVersus embraces the fighting stage brought to the forefront by Super Smash Bros. by integrating platforming into its fighting. Where the stage in the Mortal Kombat franchise allows players to focus completely on their moves and technique, MultiVersus adds an extra layer of challenge with its platforming.
Opposite Approaches to Facing Off
The last difference between the two properties is more subtle, but it further illustrates just how different these two fighting games truly are. The base version of the Mortal Kombat franchise has always focused on 1v1 fights, whereas MultiVersus puts an emphasis on 2v2 matches. Both approaches have their pros and cons depending on a player’s preference, but it’s truly fascinating to see just how little these games have in common with one another.
One of the few things that connect the games is the featuring of DC characters thanks to being owned by Warner Bros. Mortal Kombat 1‘s Peacemaker skin is an incredibly popular addition to the game, and MultiVersus has its own fun lineup of DC Comics icons to look forward to. When MultiVersus releases on May 28, it will be intriguing to see what other differences become known.
MultiVersus
- Released
- May 28, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Player First Games
- Genre(s)
- Fighting