Summary
MultiVersusis set to be Warner Bros. answer to the character brawler genre that was made so popular by Nintendo’sSuper Smash Bros. After closing its open beta,MultiVersusis now ready to launch in its complete state on May 28, and although it will be exciting to fight so many iconic Warner Bros. characters, like Bugs Bunny and Superman, one specific developer owned by the company should be taking notes.
NetherRealm has made itself well known in the fighting genre since it was founded in 2010 by Ed Boon. From there, the studio has produced the popularInjusticeseries and continued theMortal Kombatfranchise that Boon helped start. Although these are two great franchises for the studio to have under its belt, NetherRealm may actually want to look into creating its own version ofwhatMultiVersusis attempting.
NetherRealm Creating Its Own MultiVersus
The studio has two powerful fighting franchises under its wings, but jumping into character brawler territory would not onlydiversify NetherRealm’s portfolio, but it also wouldn’t be that crazy of a leap. NetherRealm is already dabbling in this withMortal Kombat 1, and the studio should finally take the leap to create a brand-new IP with the concept.
Mortal Kombat 1’s DLC Characters
One of the biggest features that has beenincluded inMortal Kombat 1is the special DLC characters that have been periodically added throughout the game. Although some of these DLC characters have been longtime staples in theMortal Kombatfranchise, like Quan Chi and Ermac,Mortal Kombat 1has taken some liberties with these extra characters by bringing in popular faces from outside IP.
The first major crossover character to be included inMortal Kombat 1was Omni-Man fromInvincible. Clearly, this character has no attachment to theMortal Kombatseries, but his inclusion has stretched the boundaries of whoMortal Kombat 1can include in the game. Since then, DC’s Peacemaker has made his way into the roster, andHomelander fromThe Boysis the next anticipated superhero to find his place in the game.
NetherRealm making its own character brawler would present the opportunity to use characters from Warner Bros. properties that may be deemed too mature forMultiVersusand its overall tone, like Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker or Tony Soprano.
Giving DLC Characters Their Own Game
These DLC characters from various comic book properties are fun and all, but they can also be distracting for those who truly love the lore and story ofMortal Kombat. As funny and great asPeacemaker is in the game, it’s also jarring to see him going head-to-head with Liu Kang or Mileena. The inclusion of too many DLC characters from other pop culture moments could quickly causeMortal Kombat 1to lose focus on what it originally started out as, and it limits the amount of classicMortal Kombatcharacters that can return post-launch.
This presents the perfect chance for NetherRealm to take what it has learned from the likes of Homelander, Omni-Man, and Peacemaker and create a bloody, gore-fest version ofMultiVersus. By taking thebest parts ofMultiVeruswith its diverse character roster and blending it with the over-the-top violence ofMortal KombatandInjustice’s superhero focus, NetherRealm could build one of the next big character brawlers. This would not only give NetherRealm the chance to branch out and build a more impressive lineup of games, but it would also help keep games likeMortal KombatandInjusticefrom getting overstuffed with guest fighters while still getting to watch characters like Omni-Man and Homelander beat each other to a pulp.
