Reviewer Rodeo: NetherRealm vs. Capcom – Fate of Content

Welcome to the ZTGD Reviewer Rodeo. Each week, we’ll grab on to the hottest issue, hold on for dear life, and wrassle it to the ground.

GET OVER HERE! You may not have heard, but a new Mortal Kombat released this past week. Critics and fans alike are raving over the refined fighting mechanics, the return to 2D, tons of content, and, especially, the King of the Hill online mode. We thought it would be good to take a look at how MK stacks up against this year’s other major fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

Our review team chimed in on where they think Capcom will respond to this new challenger appearing. Complaints about MvC3 have focused on the poor online experience, overpriced DLC, and the rumors of a “Super MvC3” that could be released as an alternative to patching.

Drew “Frustrated Fury” Leachman
I think that it’s a two way street of sorts. Capcom is trying to get into the Western market, but they still try to keep Japanese purchasers happy as well. The thing about MK is that it does nothing for Japan. They couldn’t care less about it. So, Capcom can respond in one of three ways. 1 – Do nothing. “What is this Mortal Kombat game?” 2 – Decide to release more DLC or a possible “expansion” of Super MvC3 (which would be downright stupid) 3 – Decide that they really didn’t approach DLC in the right way and try to redeem themselves by first, adding a spectator mode and fixing the ranked matches, and second, by releasing relevant DLC at a more reasonable price.

Also, don’t get me wrong; MvC3 is a fantastic game that has a solid foundation that could become a HUGE competitor to MK9. Even surpass it. All they have to do is build on the game that they have, not release another “improved” game.

Justin “Killer Wolverine” Testa
Personally, I don’t think Capcom will change their ways. Even though they “nickel and dime” their faithful following, people will still pay for the DLC and the “Super” versions of their fighting franchises. Why? Well, because people love their games and will continue to pay for that stuff. The short of it is that we gamers are at fault for allowing this to continue. If we take a stand and stop purchasing the DLC and different versions of the same game with features that should have been in the original game in the first place, maybe (but highly doubtful) Capcom will change their ways all together.

John “Dubya” Whitehouse
From the experiences I have had with MvC3, it is clear that Capcom are still struggling to understand what a modern gamer wants. The game itself is fun, but it is essential that the online works, and in Mvc’s case, it doesn’t!!

Capcom should try and concentrate on fixing those issues and patching the game than making any kind of ‘Super’ version of it. And, if it turns out that they are going to release an enhanced edition (just as they did with SF4), which addresses the players current concerns, they may end up alienating all of their fans, even the die hard ones. It was clear to everyone from the start that the online was broken, and for Capcom to make you purchase a whole new game (budget price or not) is unacceptable in this day and age.

Mike “Red Pen of Doom” Futter
Oh, Capcom, how I want to love you. Our relationship needs to change. You make so many promises and you don’t keep many of them. I’ve met someone new. Sure, she’s a little rough around the edges and has gone through some hard times, but she’s cleaning herself up and is doing all the things you’ve been promising for years.

Let me level with you, Capcom. I’m feeling a little abused here. Super Street Fighter 4 had a fantastic online experience. My friends and I would jump into Endless mode, shoot the shit, and watch each other fight. When I tried to replicate the experience in MvC3, I was punished with a screen showing a couple of player licenses. Heck, in a room of 4 or more, you still only let one pairing fight at a time. Why can’t the rest of us spar while waiting for our shot at the current leader?

Then, there’s the balancing. Did you know that Netherrealms can balance the game on the back end? Yeah, we won’t even have to download a patch. It’s seamless. Oh, and you should check out this “Story” mode they have. Yeah. The game has a story! And the challenge tower? Wow.

Look, Capcom, all we’re asking is that you show MvC3 just a little bit of the love that the community did when it first released. Fix the broken things, make new character and costume DLC more reasonably priced, and drop the “we need to fix it with a new disk” mentality. We want to love MvC3, but until you fix what’s broken, you’ll find us in the Mortal Kombat King of the Hill rooms.

Ken “ZeroTolerance” McKown
Being a fighting game fan for as long as I can remember there have always been two sides to each coin. The Capcom faithful have gotten used to paying for a powered-up version of their game annually, while Mortal Kombat fans have had to wait for the next numbered version. All that has changed now with DLC and considering that MvC3 released two months ago and has only offered two characters (both of which were on the disc), I don’t think their strategy has changed. My point is that the new MK game is now the standard for what fighting games should include; plenty of online and offline content, the promise of future additions and a balancing system that should keep the game fresh for quite some time. If Capcom wants to match what NetherRealms has done here, they need to step up their game and stop worrying about the bottom line. Marvel vs. Capcom 3 had a paltry one month shelf life in my console, I can see myself playing MK the rest of the year, and that is the best example of how I can compare the two games.

That’s all for this edition of the ZTGD Reviewer Rodeo. Join us next week as we grab onto another bucking bronco of controversy and beat it into submission.

Got questions or comments? Drop ’em in the comment section below or hit us up via email. Suggestions for Reviewer Rodeo topics that you want our opinions on? Hit Mike up at michaelfutter@ztgamedomain.com.