Yeah: don't get hit first.

You should be used to doing that because of MKvsDC's THE RAAAAAAAAGE!!!

I would have to see how it affects two human players to really know what I think about it. Could be all sorts of abusable but might not be that big of an advantage.

I think it adds a lot of tension to the opening, personally. It's not horribly unfair, as any ES that I've seen so far can be blocked or dodged like its normal counterpart, and I figure a lot of people will waste that first bar trying to open with an ES and end up dealing a bit of damage and breaking even on special power. At least the first hit doesn't seem to reward extra damage or anything. As someone else said, don't get hit first.