Mortal Kombat

UPC: 883929158324

Platform: Xbox 360

Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Developer: NetherRealm Studios

Category: Fighting

Style(s): 2D Fighting

Synopsis: The definitively violent Mortal Kombat fighting game series is re-invented on high-definition consoles in its ninth full production, a plainly titled release that both moves the supernatural combat action forward and returns it to its roots. Rendered in full 3D, the hand-to-hand battles play out strictly on a 2D plane, as in the original Mortal Kombat games for 16-bit consoles, emphasizing keenly timed blocks, counter-moves, and ranged attacks. More so than in any recent Mortal Kombat game, the fighting action is designed for true hardcore players, with each character presenting a deep system of special attacks to master and relative weaknesses to overcome. Each character can also execute a full-fledged fatality move, in classic MK form. Leaving aside the inter-dimensional diversions of the most recent Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, the game's unusually involving single-player story begins after the events of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, but then returns to the events of the first three games to revisit the series' original lore. Gaining a trans-temporal awareness, the enigmatic thunder-god Raiden is central to the plot, but gamers take the roles of several different combatants as they progress through the campaign. In all, over two-dozen characters are playable in this edition of Mortal Kombat, each uniquely modeled and individually animated. Multiplayer fighting is thoroughly supported, in both same-console and online options, with a selection of competitive and cooperative modes. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Package Contents: Mortal Kombat Katalog

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

If you thought Mortal Kombat was starting to lose its eviscerating edge with its previous appearance on Xbox 360, the Teen-rated crossover Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, you'll be happy to hear that the franchise is back to its spine-ripping roots. While the average human being holds ten pints of blood, the average Mortal Kombat fighter probably holds at least 20, judging from the copious crimson-colored geysers that spurt, spray, and splash across the screen. It's violent, but in such a ridiculously over-the-top way that you can't help but smile when the evil-sounding announcer yells out "Finish him!" There's no subtitle for this installment, which is fitting since the action returns to the 2D horizontal plane of the original quarter-muncher, with characters even sporting some of the same special move commands as in the early arcade games. There are no weapons this time around, and you can't choose from multiple fighting styles. So if you enjoyed the 3D versions of the latter Mortal Kombats, you might be disappointed with this entry. It's more a reboot than a revamp. You'll choose from 25 fighters from the start, with each animated character model significantly enhanced over previous games (Kurtis Stryker looks semi-cool instead of being a complete dork). Play modes don't quite offer the same "everything but the kitchen sink" mentality as in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, where you could race karts of all things, but fans will appreciate the special attention the developers have spent on each character's background. While the main ladder-based tournament setting is nothing new, there's a surprisingly rich story for all the characters that will play in cut-scenes between bouts. You'll also play as multiple fighters, allowing you a chance to test out new "kombos" in kombatants you might have otherwise overlooked. Perhaps the most interesting addition to the game is the Soul Calibur-like Challenge Tower mode, which introduces objectives to complete while battling opponents. You might have to win a round without taking damage, for example, or shoot down zombies in strange mini-games. Other options include tag teams with a friend, online versus play, and hidden codes that change the parameters of each subsequent fight. The action is fast and furious, with each button corresponding to an individual arm and leg. A new horizontal super meter positioned at the bottom of the screen will increase as you take and receive damage, allowing you to initiate more powerful moves, such as an attack that shows bones breaking or organs puncturing as if you were looking through an X-ray machine. Mortal Kombat is not a fighting game that demands the level of technique or finesse found in Capcom's Street Fighter series, but it never has been. It's an extremely accessible and visceral fighter that makes players feel powerful, dangerous, and wicked. Not for the squeamish (or the serious), Mortal Kombat is an impressive new start for a franchise whose future was once in serious doubt. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.