Personally Storms, I think yes and no but there's more to it..
Sure, this game is turning heads for being 2D ALONE...now I'll bet you anything if this game was 3D or 2.5 D like MKDC, it probably wouldn't be getting this much attention which goes to show you that 2D gets fighting fans hard. lol Especially oldschool fighter fans. Personally, if someone is a true blue MK fan they never would have left IMO but that's me...we all have opinions, but I do give more credit to the players who stayed with the 2D MK's at least rather then the "oldschool MK fans per-se" that didn't even give the 3D games a chance MKDC included and haven't played the older games in years...then all of a sudden come out of the woodwork for MK9 like "OMG, this MK looks so awesome, MK is great series" lol to me those people are fake fans, fairweather fans....like it because the trend now is to like MK...screw that lol.
Now, with that being said I think it's attracting the casual gamer newer to MK because it's in a way a reboot some what, it's 2D so automatically more simple then 3D which has more complex methods and tactics for being 3D with Sidestepping, more emphasizing on wake up attacks etc, highs, mids, lows being different then on a 2D plane. Then there's the tag team thing that's not new to fighters but new to MK and looking good I must admit, plus storyline is interesting(for the most part always is in MK) but going back in time to the original 3 is epic. The classic line up of MK's most popular roster of characters also helps a lot, DLC, patches, tweaks, WB getting MK and the MK team having as much time as they need as oppose to Midway's business tactics...
However, on the negative side....I do think that some " oldschool fans" are just jumping on "oh shit MK looks hot bandwagon" with all the publicity, event time, revealed info etc and attention in general this MK is getting that we haven't seen since UMK3 or MK2 really....I don't believe for a second that everyone that has some interest is a TRUE MK fan, meaning the people that pretty much like "one MK game" and hate the rest or haven't followed the series in years for just being 3D...to me that's not a real fan, a real fan follows a series he/she likes and stays with it thru the ups, downs and mediocre times...not just the "up times" know what I mean? Or those people that one second will praise Boon or the MK team then next bash them...I can understand feedback and constructive criticism but bashing the people that are giving you the game "you're supposedly a fan of" is just retarded to me...
Sorry for the little rant, but just being dead honest here...there are some people out there that purposely abandoned the series for years for merely going 3D or 2D and to me that's just ridiculous. Even though, like every fighting series(there's previous games better then more recent ones) we've seen issues with the 3D Games, they were even played at NEC and have a smaller following, and sold pretty well for a fighting game. So I guess when I see "well MK series has been horrible for years" I laugh at that since that's simply not true...perhaps lost it's flavor a bit? Maybe...lacking in financial backing with patches, updates etc? Sure when Midway had them...but horrible? Fuck no...Shaolin Monks alone is solid proof that MK spawned and is capable of spawning other good games besides just "the fighting games" hell even Mythologies wasn't that bad.
One thing I will say about the 3D games that was good and even better then other fighters was the extra modes, konquest, KAK etc...definitely cool as oppose to umm DOA volleyball or Tekken Bowling? Really? lol
And as much as some may not want to admit this, MKDC was actually GOOD for MK...the fact that it sold 2 and half million isn't BAD at all for a fighting game, that's one. Second, the fact that aside from "crossover haters perspectives" the game had a HUGE attraction from both MK and DC/comic book fans alike....I know people who loved it because of seeing Flash or Superman or GL in a big fighting game period lol...
With that being said, yes I do think that MK9 is what EVERY true MK fan should be excited for and want...whether you're a fan of latest technology, gameplay mechanics, being backed by someone as big as WB, being 2D, having all the modern day options of a decent, respectable fighter with throw escapes, dashing, wake up options, meter for more hardcore players, classic roster that everyone knows, tag team modes, newer multiplayer modes, arcade modes, story mode with 3+ hours of cinema, DLC, sticks made for it....what MORE can an MK fan ask for honestly?
And please nobody tell me "well a tournament scene would be nice" because although I know this site supports them and I do to, really...it's not everything If you're an overall MK fanatic like me then you'll want MK to do well regardless whether it's the name, tournaments or sales. You know how many GREAT games are out there that I can name that DON'T have tournaments that are very well worthy of them but just don't see the light of day of a tourney because nobody cares or nobody supports the means for it? Yet that doesn't take away from it...Besides, We've seen and had MK tournaments(just not EVO) perhaps it's just me but I honestly don't care as much about that, UMK3, MK2, even the 3D MK's now this past NEC, WB etc have had and been in many tournaments prior to it as well...so it's not like MK has NEVER EVER seen a single tournament lol...Evo happens once a year, I personally am more concerned with spreading the word for MK around my local area once MK9 hits rather then "have to get it to evo" honestly....among bringing more members to this site.
If MK9 is a success and I really believe it will be, then the tournament scene will take care of itself and come naturally for it...just a gut feeling I have. Also, this is coming from just a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, OBSESSED OVERALL MK Fanatic....not just a storyline buff, not just a character buff nor just a tournament buff....I love anything to do with MK.
MKDC was a step in the right direction, MK9 I believe will be even better and honestly more then likely one of the best MK's ever made once it's out. Mark my words...I did not feel this way about MK D or MKA when they came out yet I was hyped for them too, but not THIS hyped.
P.S. Don't know who this Choi guy is, some random asian SF player or something, that's great for SF but is also irrelevent. This is the MK community, not the "must be approved by asian SF player community" what they think matters not, especially if they're JUST getting into MK now? Please...that would be like MK and Tekken players judging a new SF game. Exactly....makes no sense.