[360|PS3] Mortal Kombat Review

[Psykoboy2]

Mortal Kombat Review

Title: Mortal Kombat
Platform: Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Publisher: Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment
ESRB Rating: Mature
MSRP: $59.99 360, PS3
Writer: Matthew “Iron Past” McFarland
Editor: Scott "Psykoboy2" Benton

What's Hot: New standard for single-player content in fighting games, with robust local-play options. Well-realized online features.

What's Not: Not all the bells and whistles make their way online, and online performance can be spotty. Story Mode difficulty is uneven.

Uppercuts, sweeps, 2D plane, and a well deserved M rating. NetherRealm Studios set out to return Mortal Kombat to what made it fun and controversial so many years ago, and I'm happy to say that not only have they managed to fulfill that goal and tweak the nostalgia glands, they also added content that will be pointed to in response to what kind of offline entertainment can be offered in a fighting game for years to come. And there's a pretty darn good fighting game in there, too.

Lets start with what you can expect before you even think about fighting another human being. For the xenophobic fighting fan, Mortal Kombat has the typical Arcade Ladder and a 300 level Challenge Tower, but the brunt of the experience is probably in Story Mode. This is no basic arcade ladder disguising itself as a real story by giving you a couple static screens after you fight a bunch of dudes for no reason, either. No, this is a fully realized, completely voiced, multi-hour retelling of the first three Mortal Kombats through a clever McGuffin that seems a nod to how crazy and off the rails the MK “mythology” has gotten. Through numerous cut-scenes that run the gamut from cheesy to funny to cheesy to even touching (and sometimes cheesy), the story retells and retcons all that old business while giving you ridiculous reasons to beat the crap out of other people. And while there are definitely some goofy moments, the lines are delivered so well it just works, and I found myself grinning instead of groaning when Scorpion says something like, “No, to Hell with you!”

Completing the story will take a number of hours, but there are some unfortunate spikes in difficulty that may dampen the mood. At times you'll be pitted against two foes, and since bosses are unplayable, NetherRealm made them old school cheap with unblockable attacks and uninterruptable specials. Perhaps as compensation, they've also thrown in difficulty scaling, so if you lose a couple times in a row the fight gets noticeably easier; a boss will taunt far more often, letting you score an easy hit, or maybe another fighter won't be so quick to block. This doesn't take away the frustration of getting rocked out of the gate, but it does guarantee you won't be stuck anywhere for long, and is present in all single player modes. As long as you don't mind the occasional awkward character model that wasn't meant to be seen strait on, you'll be able to familiarize yourself with 16 of the game's 26 characters (27 on PS3), though at times I wondered if the story would have as much meaning or impact if you're not somewhat familiar with the characters already.

The next piece of play you'll find is the Challenge Tower, which contains 300 different specialty fights, interweaved with Test Your Might and Test Your Strike button mashing mini-games, and a gory version of Three Card Monte in Test Your Sight. The fights range from early tutorial missions to taking on multiple sub-bosses with one bar of health, but with different variables such as being poisoned and constantly losing life, dealing 200% damage, dealing 50% damage, only dealing damage in a certain area of the level, and so on. You're given the option to skip as many as you want by spending koins—earned through participating in various offline modes—and you'll almost certainly want to take advantage of that option at some point. The challenges get a bit similar sometimes, but it is still a welcome addition with unique and frequently funny written dialogue accompanying most levels.

Test Your Luck—also found in the challenge Tower—is a special fight that randomly assigns a number of variables, which can make it extremely crazy. Basically, it takes the old Kombat Kodes (also available here) and slaps a few on at one time; it completely shatters all balance, but makes for a very entertaining fight. Rounding out the basic individual offerings, you have an Arcade Ladder that gives you the typical character specific ending you're familiar with. The varying difficulty levels present good challenges, but be prepared for frustration when fighting the sub-boss and Shao Khan, at least until the scaling comes into play.

If all that seems a bit much to take in at first, there is a legitimate tutorial that will introduce you to basic game mechanics, but unfortunately there isn't any kind of individual challenge mode for each fighter. If you want to find those big combos, you're forced to do it yourself in Practice Mode. There's also the Fatality Trainer, which highlights the area of the ground you need to stand in and affords you as much time as you need to practice each fighter's Fatality, but in what seems a large oversight it only allows you to practice the fighter's starting Fatality, regardless of if you've unlocked any of the other finishing moves.

Locally, Mortal Kombat can support up to four players on one console through the Tag Team mode. This mode pits two teams of two against each other, with one player controlling one or two fighters. Test Your Luck is also available for two players locally (and can be played individually, if you prefer), adding some flavor to your matches, and you can tackle the Arcade Ladder in Tag mode as well, alone or with a friend. Disappointingly, Test Your Luck can only be played offline, and while two local players can take their team online to fight in Tag Team, you can't team up with someone online, so no four player Tag Team from four different consoles.

As for the fighting system itself, I found it to be accessible and easy to understand, with room for growth as skill increases. You get four attacks and a block, plus a tag button if you're playing in a mode that uses it. Each character gets specific combos that hover around four button presses, which can be linked through the use of specials and juggles, but it seems fairly restrictive on what is able to link together, and damage scaling kicks in early. There is also the three-part Super Meter, which fills up as you fight, eventually allowing access to a devastating X-Ray move when filled up. They all behave differently—some are grabs, some counters, others regular hits—and sufficiently visceral. The approach to character balance seems to have been to just make everyone more powerful, and as such every character hits hard. This means fights can be over fairly quickly if you find yourself outmatched, but also means you're never completely out of the running. The system buffers moves, making button mashers comfortable, but doesn't feel quite as smooth as some other fighters. Even so, the simplicity of specials and mini-combos should let most people ease into the game's quirks, and the game allows you to store different button set-ups if you have different controllers.

Online you won't find as many options. It's unfortunate that Test Your Luck and coop Tag Team or Arcade can't be had through different consoles, but you do still get access to 1v1 and Tag Team in Ranked, Player and Private matches. Also available for Private and Player matches is King of the Hill, which is Mortal Kombat's take on the winner-stays-on quarter matches. Up to eight people can join a lobby, allowing the non-combatants to spectate and chat in a theater setting using either Xbox Avatars or MK-themed facsimiles on PS3 to emote. You can, of course, view the fight in full-screen mode if you don't like the Mystery Science Theater 3K vibe. Also on offer are rooms, which function as large lobbies that anyone can start. Joining one will let you see everyone else in the room and their status, and allow you to text chat. If you don't want to deal with a virtual keyboard every time, you're allowed to store ten pre-saved phrases for chat.

You can challenge others in a room by selecting them, which is good because, as seems the norm now, searching for games can be a pain in the ass, often taking minutes at a time. With nothing similar to Street Fighter's 'fight request' feature, you're best bet of finding a match quickly is hopping into a room. Mortal Kombat doesn't have flawless online performance, either. Some people seem to experience little to no lag, while I personally occasionally get something akin to a slide show (it should be noted that I have a notoriously unreliable connection, but anecdotal evidence points to others with less-than-optimal online experiences as well). While much of this is most likely due to growing pains as the game is recently released, the netcode doesn't seem as strong as it should have been.

Online performance aside, the only things I find myself unhappy with are on the periphery of the content on offer, and with the core experience there in spades, it's difficult to complain too much; even the exclusion of Test Your Luck online is mitigated by having Kombat Kodes that bestow special effects on the fight. There's bios and viewable models of every fighter in their primary and alternate costumes, at least four finishing moves and two outfits per character, a massive Krypt to let you spend koins in—unlocking costumes, Fatality inputs, music, and concept art—and individual modes that prove you can have a compelling offline experience in a fighting game. And since it seems so important to some people, there's enough gore to earn its M rating ten times over. Regardless of what your interest or skill level in fighting games is, you would be well served by giving Mortal Kombat a few rounds.

Score: 5 out of 5 CoGs


Matthew says, “If you just aren't a fan of Mortal Kombat's way of doing things, this won't change your mind. For everyone else, there's a wealth of single-player content that will keep you busy for a very long time, plenty of offline local play options, and a well realized online component that offers at least as much as other fighting games. Mortal Kombat is a game that anyone with even a passing interest in fighting games—and a strong stomach—should check out.”

*Note - Review based upon Xbox 360 version of game

[Shjinta]

Oh yes I can attest to the Story Mode difficulty, It's a fucking roller coaster. Going from easy matches to bat shit insane hard mode. Like here's your character, and right away you get a Tag match 2v1.

Still I found the game to be all kinds of fun.

[Wolvie]

Yeah there are a few times the game stacks the deck in an unfair way. Like when you have to fight...

Shang Stung and Quan Chi. Then later Goro and Kintaro.

Both of the fights in the spoiler are a tad much. I can see fighting them both in a row, but the one on two fights just come off as a cheap way to ramp up the difficulty.

[carnage11]

Haha, yeah Wolvie, when I saw the second match in which you spoilered, I was like....."You have GOT to be kidding me...."

[MosBen]

I always really want to like fighting games. Every few years I pick one up, only to be reminded how utterly terrible I am at them and how frustrating I find them. I can master standard special moves, but I have no skill or desire to get good at combos. I guess MK is my best bet, but I'll probably skip it, despite all this good stuff being said. I just know I'll play it for a little while, get stuck on something, and quit.

Well, maybe it'll get cheap or something.

[Ultima Thulian]

Love me a good fighter. I'll definitely be playing this and ME2 on my PS3 once I get it fixed. Glad to see both Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat make excellent comebacks.

[Mashidar]

I'm looking forward to the game. I ordered it today as on Amazon it's 39.99. Toss in a $10 credit and I think I got a good deal on a good game.

[Wilkz07]

can you play with the standard controller okay?

[carnage11]

Originally Posted by MosBen

I always really want to like fighting games. Every few years I pick one up, only to be reminded how utterly terrible I am at them and how frustrating I find them. I can master standard special moves, but I have no skill or desire to get good at combos. I guess MK is my best bet, but I'll probably skip it, despite all this good stuff being said. I just know I'll play it for a little while, get stuck on something, and quit.

Well, maybe it'll get cheap or something.

Hey man, I'm exactly the same way. I love watching people play games like MvC, but I can never play it myself, it's just too fast paced and I can't get the combos and stuff down. That's exactly why I stopped playing MK after 3 came out, because they started throwing in difficult combos and the run button. I'll tell you this, there is none of that in this game. There are combos, but they are combos you basically create yourself by stringing stuff together and it's all very fluid. Think about the original MK or MK2. Remember doing Scorpion's "Get over here!" and then uppercutting the guy? That was a combo, if not a simple one, but still a combo. Or what about Sub-Zero's ice blast ->uppercut ->slide? It's the same shit in this game, and it's fun as hell. Plus, all the moves and fatalities have been dumbed down and you get a lot more time to do it and you don't have to be perfect. Also, the game seems to make itself easier the more you lose. If you get stuck on something, try it 3 times and then the guy will just sit there and let you kick his ass. lol I wouldn't skip it if I were you dude, I'd give a go and if you get tired of it, trade it.

[Lekon]

Originally Posted by Wilkz07

can you play with the standard controller okay?

Yes. The 4 button layout works just fine on 360 and ps3. Block is set to right bumper/R1 by default, which makes it a quick finger press to block.

I personally use a SF4 pad for it, but have used the regular 360 controller with no troubles.

[Iron Past]

Originally Posted by Wilkz07

can you play with the standard controller okay?

Absolutely. It feels very native to the controller, even though I feel more comfortable with a stick. I use a pad just fine when I don't want to set it up.

[Akela]

Originally Posted by Wilkz07

can you play with the standard controller okay?

To add my voice to the above: Yup.

I prefer to use the stick for games like Soul Cal and Street fighter - can't do controller with those...

But damn, is MK behaving ever nice with a standard controller. Inputs are easy. Buffering is generous - you'll be surprised.

[Wolvie]

Originally Posted by carnage11

Haha, yeah Wolvie, when I saw the second match in which you spoilered, I was like....."You have GOT to be kidding me...."

Thats the exact same reaction it got from me. I even said "fuck this noise" and went off to take a break. I needed to get my mind ready for that level of ass raping. My bung hole only stretches so far you see.

[Wolvie]

Originally Posted by MosBen

I always really want to like fighting games. Every few years I pick one up, only to be reminded how utterly terrible I am at them and how frustrating I find them. I can master standard special moves, but I have no skill or desire to get good at combos. I guess MK is my best bet, but I'll probably skip it, despite all this good stuff being said. I just know I'll play it for a little while, get stuck on something, and quit.

Well, maybe it'll get cheap or something.

Actually this is not the case. You see it has scalable difficulty. What it does is it takes things down a notch with every loss. Eventually the game kinda goes "OK sport, you've had enough, I'll take it easy on you." There are times when guys like Shao Kahn just pose and taunt as you whip up on them.

So it's highly unlikely you'd get stuck. And trust me, this is all coming from a man that feels the same way as you about fighting games.

[Exodus]

Quan Chi is easily the cheapest bastard in this game outside of shao khan.

[Karak]

Thanks for the review!

[Iron Past]

Oh, and sorry for the length; this was actually the short version. I've never been great at summarizing, and I felt like there was a lot to talk about in this game. I edited it down quite a bit, but I might have gotten too zealous in cutting stuff, so if you have questions please ask. I left some stuff out--both good and bad--by trying to hit the high notes (which is also why there is no direct comparison to past MK games).

Constructive criticism (about the writing, not my opinion) are welcome, too.

[Wilkz07]

Originally Posted by Iron Past

Absolutely. It feels very native to the controller, even though I feel more comfortable with a stick. I use a pad just fine when I don't want to set it up.

great to hear. i was skipping the game for now because i want to finish a few others first and on top of that I sold my fight stick a little while before MK came out.

[Talanvor]

I'm trying to decide if I should play this on pad or stick. The last time I really played MK was 2 in arcades. Maybe I'll just mess around with both and see how it goes.

What I'm disappointed in so far is there's no good mode to learn your character. There's a move list sure, and the training mode gives you the very basics, but nothing like the Mission mode in MvC3. That was really nice, gave a good feel of what your character could pull off. Even if they forced certain assist characters on you.

Also I'd like to point out that the guide for this game is really lacking. No frame or damage data and quite a few special moves are just outright wrong. After looking through the MvC3 guide (thanks for screwing up shipping my game Capcom! ) the MK guide is very sparse in comparison.

Edit: Oh I wanted to let you guys know that if you're waiting for it to get cheaper Toys r Us has it on sale for $40. There's also a coupon in their in-store game magazine (which is free) for $10 off, so it'd be $30. Which is crazy, game hasn't even been out 2 weeks man.

[Iron Past]

Yeah, it was dissapointing to not have character specific combo challenges, considering they even had them in MkvsDCU. You do get to spend some time with the characters throughout the Challenge Tower, but nothing like that, though the way the combo system works I didn't really feel a need for it. Would still have been nice to have. And yeah, the guide really sucks (and the MvC3 guide is awesome).