From the Vault — originally published May 2, 2011. Some links, videos or prices may be out of date.
Mortal Kombat takes me back to a golden age of gaming. A time when arcade cabinets ruled and neighbor fought neighbor over which system reigned supreme Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis. I can fondly remember my first encounter with MK.
It was after school and I was 8 years old (don’t tell Joe Lieberman). My grandmother sent me around the corner with $1.25 to buy a slice of pizza. In the pizzeria there were a bunch of kids huddled around the latest arcade machine. Low and behold there it was, Mortal Kombat. Scorpion was going at it with Sonya Blade. I can remember her doing that lame leg grab she’s known for. I also remember Scorpion yelling the command “get over here!” followed by a sharp spear and his crippling uppercut. I was shocked. I had never seen characters look so real. The crowd gasped
as the words “Finish Her” flashed across the screen in blood red letters. The player controlling Scorpion scrambled to input a chain of commands, as Sonya Blade stood there motionless. Suddenly the screen went dark and the black and yellow ninja pulled his mask off revealing he was more than just a warrior with an attitude. He was a dead man with a flame! As that bone headed ninja spat fire all over that poor woman I dug into my jeans pockets for my pizza money and got in line to play. I went back to my grandmother’s apartment that evening hungrier than I left it yet
filled with the satisfaction of my discovery. Mortal Kombat, thanks for the memories.
Fast-forward 19 years and once again Mortal Kombat has sparked the interest of gamers worldwide. This next-gen version of a classic stays true to the franchises roots while simultaneously offering a fresh experience for modern gamers in search of something new.
Visually the game is stunning. The characters are beautifully modeled using the Unreal engine and move with a certain weight that feels unique to the Mortal Kombat franchise. Fighters accumulate scratches and scars as each round progresses adding a sense of visual urgency to the game when you’re really getting your ass kicked. The backgrounds are full of detailed elements that reveal the story of the Mortal Kombat world. On one stage made famous for its spiked pit, as you look off in the distance you see other brawls going on simultaneous to yours revealing the tournament storyline to the gamer.
The game offers a plethora of single and multiplayer options including classic arcade mode, story mode, and a real time tag team mode a la Marvel vs. Capcom. In true Mortal Kombat fashion they’ve added a tower mode named for their iconic pre-match visual you scale that reveals your next opponent. The versus modes in the game are customized for any party size ranging from one to four players making this fighting game an online players dream. In fact there are so many modes in this game that it’s overwhelming. I doubt I will ever play even half of them.
One aspect of this game not to be overlooked is the audio. The sound effects are down right amazing. You can hear the detailed sound of every bone break and sword slice. The voice acting is cheesy in a good way, giving you that over-the-top feel you want from Mortal Kombat. For the ultimate auditory experience I recommend using surround sound headphones or speakers.
The moves list is very dynamic offering two tabs. There’s a “Style Moves List” featuring basic attacks along with combos and postures specific to certain characters along with a “Super Moves List” featuring specials, enhanced attacks (specials with a little something extra added), finishing moves, and x-ray attacks a new feature in the game that will get you the “ooohs” and “ahhhs” gamers dream of when playing with friends. The move list has a balance in its depth and complexity offering high replay value for hardcore gamers striving to perfect their characters
while leaving room for casual gamers to pick up the sticks and have a blast mashing buttons.
My first impression of Mortal Kombat is a good one. Seeing all of these characters I know and love/hate looking brand new feels like a high school reunion. “Hey Liu Kang long time no see.” “Oh here comes that douche bag robot Sektor. I always hated his cheesy teleport uppercut.” Give Mortal Kombat a try if you were a fan of the franchise back in the day. It definitely lives up to its legacy.
