DC Meets Hanna-Barbera

DC Meets Hanna-Barbera is a fighting video game developed and published by Mad Man Ninja Studios based on characters from the Warner Media line. It is the first collaboration between this shared universe in a video-game series.

The game was released in April 2022 in Americas and May 2022 in the rest of the world for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Samsung Zeo and Microsoft Windows.

Gameplay
The gameplay is set in a 2.5D environment where the characters are rendered in three-dimensional graphics, but their movements are restricted to a two dimensional plane; they may only move left and right, and upward through the air.

Each character has unique "universal techniques"—special attacks that are more powerful than normal moves—that require complex control inputs. Similar inputs are used to perform even stronger versions of special moves called Hyper Combos. These deal damage relative to the size of the player's Hyper Combo gauge, which increases when the character inflicts or receives damage.

Certain universal techniques are usable by all characters; for example, each character possesses one that launches opponents upward, rendering them vulnerable to an "air combo". Other common universal techniques include the "Baroque Combo", which sacrifices the regenerable portion of a character's life gauge, but allows players to extend combos and deal more damage; and the "Mega Crash", which creates a temporary barrier around the character to knock back opponents, but partially drains their Hyper Combo and life gauges.

Game Modes
DC Meets Hanna-Barbera has an Arcade game mode: the player fights against artificial intelligence (AI)-controlled opponents to reach the final boss character.

Time attack and Survival modes are also available, and require the player to defeat every character in the game. While Survival limits health regeneration, Time attack challenges players to win in the shortest time possible.

Other modes include Vs. Mode, in which two players engage in combat, and Original Games, which sees up to four players competing in character-specific minigames. Using money obtained throughout the game, the player may purchase unlockable characters, alternate character costumes, minigames, character profiles, movies, illustrations, and background music. Once purchased, the latter four are viewable in a gallery.

Stages

 * Inter-National Security Headquartes: a top-secret government agency, home of Birdman and his eagle sidekick Avenger. Besides them, we see Maxwell Lord playing chess with Birdboy.
 * Amzot Plains: the primitive planet home of a small army of exotic beasts known as the Herculoids. Mr. Terrific and Metamorpho appear in the background after coming out of a damaged and smoked time-travelling machine.
 * The Banana Splits and Friends Studio: a television studio that hosts the Banana Splits show; The hosts are Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky, a dog, a gorilla, a lion and an elephant. If Bingo is selected in this stage, Buddy Baker, the Animal Man, takes his place with the other hosts.
 * Void of Space: the empty and calming universe veil, which the Space Ghost flies; his sidekicks Jen, Jace and Blip fly around with the Blue and Green Lantern Corps.
 * Gotham Streets: the sidewalks in downtown, while Stephanie Brown and Huntress check the fighters brawl.
 * Daily Planet: the best and most trustworthy newspaper in the Warner Bros multiverse! The headlines show the Impossibles in action.
 * Hall of Justice: an iconic building that serves as a headquarters for the Justice League. The statues of Superman, Space Ghosts and Wonder Twins can be seen.
 * New Genesis Garden: the gardens of one of two home planets of the New Gods, ruled by the wise Highfather.
 * Atlantis Royal Room: the ballroom of Arthur Curry's palace in Atlantis. Jabberjaw and The Neptunes are seen playing the theme song.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Cory Wong et al, with punctual collaborators. In a recent interview, Wong stated that he "... wanted to capture that classic old-school funky smiley feel with all this extra guitar stuff. The original albums were instrumental and were less song-oriented, so I wanted to explore more of that 'party feeling'. I wrote some stuff with Woody [Goss, keyboards] over email and I started making new recordings to showcase guitars in a way that’s not always done on regular Vulfpeck albums.".

Multi-instrumentalist Big Wild – aka Jackson Stell – is also on the lineup, which is completed by electro-funk duo Chromeo, banjoist Béla Fleck, bluegrass player Billy Strings, pop singer-songwriter Lindsay Ell, vocalist and mandolinist Sierra Hull and session drummer heavyweight Nate Smith. Wong’s frequent Vulfpeck bandmate Joey Dosik is also credited.

Trivia

 * DC Meets Hanna-Barbera is the first game that showcase the classic Hanna-Barbera heroes as playable characters in a fighting game.
 * This is the first playable appearance in a fighting game for 52% of the DC Heroes roster.
 * The game was purposely concevied as a amicable meeting between two beloved universes, and the atmosphere was designed to be similar as a party or as a friendly competition between the heroes. It is the reason that no villain makes the roster list of the playable characters.
 * The heroes of Hanna-Barbera and DC Universe have already clashed and worked together in the comics. As the cover art of the first edition claims, "DC's iconic superheroes meet some of Hanna-Barbera's best-loved characters in the most unexpected stories of the year, collected here in DC MEETS HANNA-BARBERA.".
 * Cory Wong wasn't the first option of the develop team to compose the soundtrack. The original pitch was to work with cinematic artist Hans Zimmer, but the deal didn't progress due to conflicted agendas and a tight job schedule of Mr. Zimmer.

Nominations and Awards

 * Game Ideas Wiki Awards 2022: Best Game Art Box/Game Title (awarded).