To be frank, I haven't cared about Mortal Kombat in a long time. The last game in the series I had in heavy rotation was the very underrated Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, and Mortal Kombat Trilogy before that. There was a certain je ne sais quoi missing from most of the sequels that followed the original trilogy, which ultimately led to a decline of interest. So why does the latest entry in the series, titled simply Mortal Kombat, inspire more thoughts of combos and fatalities than the past 4 or 5 installments combined? Could be because not only does this title kick ass, it rips your head off and splits your torso into five easy pieces.
Overview
Like many of the recent MK games, there are tons of ways to play Mortal Kombat. The robust story mode begins after the events of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, and takes you back in time to relive the past Mortal Kombat tournaments, all while weaving a surprisingly above-average tale of fighting, fatalities, soul-sucking, and the transdimensional battle for superiority. You experience the story from the point of view of all of Earthrealm's heroes, switching between kombatants every 4 or so fights.
Gameplay
It's Mortal Kombat, what else do you want? You have your usual button mapping of two punches, two kicks, and block. Providing you choose two-on-two you'll also have a button dedicated for tagging out and tag attacks. Each character has a selection of combos which range from simple low damage strings to slightly more complex sequences that can leave your opponent open for a bevy of connecting chains, juggles, special attacks, and X-Rays. Uppercuts and sweeps for the newbs, though the dial-a-kombo system rewards those who are willing to delve a little deeper. Button mashers, this is not a game for you.
Players have a three-tiered 'super' bar which offers you different attacks. One tier is required to perform a powered up version of any of your characters moves. This can be performed up to three times if you're hoarding a full bar. Two tiers will afford you the immediate opportunity to counter out of any attack or combo your opponent has you locked in. Very helpful if you get locked into a high damage combo after whiffing an uppercut. The final tier is used to perform the powerful X-Ray, which is a flashy way of brutalizing anyone unlucky enough to be on the other end of your fury. Each character has one unique X-Ray attack that will wow you the first few times you see it, and never gets old.
There are various modes of play, including story, traditional arcade tower, and single and tag versus modes, both online and off. Though my favorite may be the challenge tower, where you're given a random character or two and are thrown into an equally random situation. Johnny Cage and his director versus Stryker, who is interfering on set of the latest blockbuster film? Test You Sight, a gory game of Three-cup Monte? I'm all over these minigames, which are not only an amusing go at it, but also do well to hone your skills and help you memorize special attacks.
Art Design
Fans of Mortal Kombat will be pleased. Many old favorites return with great choices on their updated look. Except Reptile, what the hell is that boy wearing? As the characters proceed to beat the life out of each other, their models dynamically reflect the sustained damage. An exposed rib or brain, torn off eyelids and a black eye, tattered clothing. All nice touches that, while not needed, add a real sense of what these warriors are doing to each other. Characters are smoothly animated and a joy to watch in motion, you know, when you're not busy trying to remember a fatality moments before delivering the staggering blow.
The stages are well crafted, and much like the rest of the game, pays tribute to klassic MK in different ways, both subtle and pronounced. Fatalities are jarring and pleasing for the most part, though a few are a bit underwhelming. My major complaint with the finishers is the lack Brutalities, which haven't been very good in the past, but could have been AMAZING this time around with the addition of X-Ray attacks. Since each character has one X-Ray, Brutalities would have been a nice way of throwing in an extra X-Ray or two for each character, which can only be done to end a match.
Sound Design
In battle, some voices or sounds appear a little more detached than others. Certain voices clearly sound as if they originate from the studio as opposed to the battlefield. And though pre and post fight banter is spoken in English (with acceptable voice acting for the most part) kiai and attacks are shouted in Japanese, and English where applicable, as well a whatever language Quan Chi is babbling.
The music exists, it's there. It's not as memorable as it has been in the past, but it serves its purpose. Then again it could just be my favorable bias toward MK Trilogy's chapel theme.
Conclusion
Mortal Kombat has done its duty; it's injected a shot of adrenaline into a well respected yet fading franchise. I can say, without shame, I spent all of last weekend playing Mortal Kombat with friends, and while the desire to play something else appeared, each time it was quelled, and we returned to the mostly competitive and always fun versus matches. Mortal Kombat has something for everyone, be you a fan of the originals, a fighting game puritan, a gore monger, or just a casual who wants some action and laughs.
Buy it if: You're a fighting game enthusiast, a fan of classic Mortal Kombat
Don't buy it if: You don't plan to play head to head with friends or online, you button mash
The Score: 8 outta 10 Blasters!
