MK vs DC Gets a Teen Rating

To put things in perspective, I want to share a quick story:
In 1994, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) started rating video games in the same way that the MPAA had been rating movies for years. The same year also saw the console release of Mortal Kombat II, the hyper-violent sequel to the original arcade classic. The ESRB was quick to slap an "M" rating (the equivalent to an R rated film) on MKII, and Midway was happy to accept that as a badge of honor. At the time, as an 8 year old, I had scrapped up months of allowance, and begged my then 17 year old brother to score me MKII for Super Nintendo.

Fast forward almost 15 years and an infinite number of sequels, and we are just over a month away from seeing "Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe" on consoles. We are also just over a month away from seeing the first Mortal Kombat to be given below an "M" rating. Yes, I'm talking about the same franchise that was practically singlehandedly responsible for the creation of the ratings system. Imagine Battle Royale minus the blood or a Troma film without boobs. Unfathomable right? I sort of understood the premise behind removing fatalities from the DC heroes to preserve their righteousness, but I'm not sure the game had to suffer. Besides, I really just think I'm bitter that the "new direction" the MK series is going in doesn't involve something more like the homebrew slasher fighting game that we talked about some weeks ago.

As the Angry FFXIII Nerd would say; "I don't admire this game anymore!" I will likely begrudgingly purchase or at least rent this game, but I won't pretend like a little part of my childhood, for better or for worse, just died a little bit.

For those of you who will take this hit as hard as me, here's 8 minutes of fatalities to whet your appetite. Pour one out for my homies...