Having rebooted the long running franchise for the previous gen consoles with the acclaimed Mortal Kombat (2011) NetherRealm Studios here build on that game by harnessing the power of the current gen consoles to deliver a fighting game which not only continues to redeem the Mortal Kombat legacy but also delivers one of the most polished and fun fighting games of recent years.
Mortal Kombat much like Street Fighter is a franchise which holds a certain nostalgia for gamers, especially with its first three games which managed to prove the ire of the censorship groups as much as they delighted the kids who grew up with them. However as the franchise attempted to move with the evolving technology there was something which was lost along the way, while attempts to expand the universe outside of the fighting genre only provided further missteps. Needless to say when the 2011 reboot of the series wiped the slate clean and returned the game back to what it did best…side on fighting action combined with bone crunching action and a healthy dose of blood and gore.
Chapter 1: Johnny Cage (Play Through)
Thankfully NetherRealm are not attempting to reinvent the wheel here as they instead build upon the previous game continuing the story which now moves 25 years into the future as we are introduced to the next generation of fighters which includes Cassie Cage (daughter of Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage), Jax’s daughter Jacqui and Kung Lao’s cousin Kung Jin. The game also introduces several brand new characters such as the gunslinger Erron Black and insect queen D’Vorah. For the horror fans though the game really delivers a hefty dose of fan service with the inclusion of Jason, Leatherface, The Xenomorph from Alien and the Predator. Sadly Freddy Kruger doesn’t return from the previous game squashing the hopes of players wanting to play out their own version of Freddy Vs. Jason.
With most fighting games getting increasingly more complex with each instalment it’s actually quite a refreshing experience to see how stripped down the move sets are for this game, meaning that it’s now easier than ever to pull off special moves instead of button mashing and hoping for the best. This is only further added to by the training mode which even allow for practice of fatalities including highlights for positions to stand though there is always the option to just purchase easy fatality tokens.
The fighting action itself is as fast paced and fluid as ever with all the usual gore and violence present and accounted for while bone crunching x-ray moves will leave you wincing as bones snap and explode under the force of blows being inflicted. However, despite the most horrific damage being inflicted, it never seems to cause any kind of long-term damage that might change the course of a fight, unlike the interactive backgrounds which can provide weapons to pull a sneak attack with such as mason jars, clubs and even the odd bystander. These background interactions also allow you to jump out of the corner should your opponent try and pin you down, which like the other interactions really help keep the momentum of fights high.
Thanks to the power of the current gen systems this is easily one of the most stunning entries in the series with all of the characters being shown in fantastic detail with additional costumes adding a nice aesthetic as well as a few hidden opening lines on the character selection screen if the right costume choices are selected such as Johnny Cage and Jaxx re-enacting the power handshake performed in Predator. Add to this the level of detail in the character design and you really get a sense of the amount of love that the developers clearly have for this title.
Unusually for a fighting game the campaign / story mode is well worth checking out, especially if you’re getting started, as it switches between different characters as it picks up were the previous game left off, though if you missed it, it’s not too hard to pick up what’s happening as you battle the evil sorcerer Shinnok in a tale which has more than its share of twists and turns, while at the same time giving each of the roster plenty of time to be developed and hopefully find the ones which suit your play style.
Regardless if this is your first Mortal Kombat or are a longtime fan, there is plenty to enjoy here from the engrossing campaign and challenge modes through to just battling friends and foes alike, this is the Mortal Kombat game you’ve been waiting for.