Next Mortal Kombat Features DC Comics Characters

Confirming reports from earlier Friday, Midway has announced Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe for releaes on Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 this fall.

Executive Producer Ed Boon revealed the introduction of Batman and Superman to the Mortal Kombat fold, along with two new fighting mechanics--Freefall Kombat and Klose Kombat.

Freefall Kombat has characters duking it out as they hurtle toward the ground in an unrestricted free fall. While you can certainly beat the snot out of your opponent for a win, no word on how long these bouts last. Free fall fights could come to an abrupt end if both fighters end up slamming into the ground before finishing each other off.

The second new mode, Klose Kombat, zooms in on the action with close-quarters fighting. More than basic punches and kicks, Klose Kombat enables you to tear at your opponent's clothing and execute sophisticated grabs.

These additions to the multi-million unit selling franchise come at the loss of another: fatalities. Boon confirmed that due to the inclusion of DC Comic characters, the beloved and bloody staple of Mortal Kombat fighting has been dropped for this installment.

"The DC Universe characters are some of the most popular and enduring characters in the world," Boon remarks. "By combining them with the Mortal Kombat mythology, all new gameplay modes and features, plus a completely unique storyline crafted by top comic writers, players will now be able to answer the question: what would happen if Batman fought Sub Zero?"

The answer is one intriguing fighting game and may be found in a few months.