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Mortal Kombat 1 is a toasty new take on a bloody klassic series

4K View2023-09-21

Mortal Kombat has been a beloved franchise in the gaming world for nearly three decades, known for its visceral combat, iconic characters, and of course, its signature fatalities. Mortal Kombat 1 promises a fresh new take on the classic formula while staying true to its roots. As a lapsed fan who hasn’t played any of the most recent batch of Mortal Kombat games, this soft reboot made me feel as giddy as I did when I first encountered the gory series as a child. Mortal Kombat 1 not only lives up to the hype, but it’s almost a flawless victory.

A MODERNIZED KLASSIC

Mortal Kombat 1 leverages the strength of next-generation hardware to create breathtaking character models and environments. Whether I was skulking through the hidden depths of Shang Tsung’s Flesh Pits or hanging out in Outworld’s beautiful capital city of Sun Do, each stage has its own unique feel and beautiful design. The attention to detail in the environments made me interested in learning more about the lore of this strange world.

It’s not just the locales that have this level of visual polish either. Each character in Mortal Kombat 1 is meticulously brought to life in a way never seen before in the series. The blood and gore that have always been hallmarks of Mortal Kombat are more realistic than ever, but the presentation in general just feels above and beyond anything developer NetherRealm Studios has delivered before.

I knew I was playing something special when my girlfriend, who finds fighting games boring and repetitive, stopped and asked what I was playing. She even hung around to watch me finish the “kampaign.”

THE CHARACTERS AND CUSTOMIZATION OF MORTAL KOMBAT 1

That story mode sees the return of plenty of familiar faces, such as Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, and Johnny Cage, along with some newcomers. But what really impressed me is how Mortal Kombat 1 worked underutilized characters from previous games into the story. I loved playing as a more sympathetic take on Baraka and learning more about Princess Mileena’s, shall we say...condition. Heck, I even enjoyed chapters where I had to play characters that I usually don’t use, like Li Mei. The depth and breadth of the “kampaign” mode here helped me appreciate each member of Mortal Kombat 1’s diverse roster.

Being pushed into testing out different characters also helped me recognize each fighter’s satisfyingly distinct playstyle. Mortal Kombat 1 also introduces a new “Kameo” system that allowed me to call in partners for brief assists during fights, which added some light strategy to the game. For example, when I played as a more agile character like Li Mei, I was rewarded for pairing them with a bulkier character like Sub-Zero to complement their combat style. That duo ended up being a personal favorite of mine; having Sub-Zero swap in to shield Li Mei in ice armor proved extremely effective.

I also appreciated the various customizations options available in Mortal Kombat 1. I collected different skins, like the Jean-Claude Van Damme skin for Johnny Cage, and was also able to upgrade my characters with new brutalities and fatalities. This added a layer of strategy to the game, as I could tailor my character to suit my playstyle. Whether using projectiles, grappling, or sheer strength to overpower opponents, there’s a fighter that almost every player will be happy with.

LORE, GORE, AND FATALITIES

Mortal Kombat 1’s compelling story delves into the deep mythology of the series. It’s not just a reboot of the franchise but a retelling of the series that combines the timelines and narratives of previous games, mixing new backstories and lore to make something familiar yet refreshing.

At the start of Mortal Kombat 1, Liu Kang has become the new protector of Earthrealm, and the Mortal Kombat tournament is more of an Olympics-style peacekeeping competition than an all-out war between realms. Liu Kang has used a timeline-altering artifact called the Hourglass to reshape the destinies of our favorite fights, but the plot thickens when someone seeks to undo all that work. This setup culminates in a truly cinematic experience that took me on a high-stakes journey through the Mortal Kombat universe.

If that all sounds a little too serious, don’t worry. This may be a tale of multiple timelines in peril and severed heads everywhere, but Mortal Kombat 1 still manages to keep things lighthearted. I especially enjoyed Johnny Cage’s barrage of pop culture references.

It’s not all sunshine in the story department, unfortunately. Some of the writing comes across a little wonky, but even worse some of the voice actors sound like they’re just phoning it in. Case in point: Megan Fox voices Nitara, a vampire who sounds completely dead (not in a cool vampire way) and uninterested in almost every line she says. It’s a major credit to the story’s overall quality that I was able to stay invested despite this comically bad acting.

Let’s face facts, though: Most people aren’t buying a Mortal Kombat game for the story. They’re here for the blood and guts, and Mortal Kombat 1’s brutal fatalities absolutely deliver.

The latest batch of fatalities are gruesome, over-the-top, and undeniably satisfying to execute. And it should go without saying that these finishers are not for the faint of heart. Thanks to a new accessibility feature, they can even be narrated like a gruesome bedtime story. Characters also unlock new fatalities as they progress through the game’s leveling system, which incentivized spending time with the fighters I loved the most so I could see their goriest moves.

KONCLUSION

Mortal Kombat 1 isn’t perfect. I’m still trying to master the board game-style Invasion mode, which adds in RPG mechanics. It’s a mode that has a lot of potential but may need to work harder to make it clear to players how it functions. It’s much harder to forgive the game’s microtransactions, though. For a game that already costs $70 (or $110 if you buy the premium edition), there’s no reason to lock cool gear and skins behind a further paywall, even if they’re all cosmetic.

Despite those problems, Mortal Kombat 1 is a game that I see myself returning to regularly, even after finishing the story mode. This reboot triumphantly balances nostalgia with innovation, delivering a visually stunning and brutally satisfying fighting experience. The diverse character roster, engaging story mode, and new gameplay mechanics make it a must-play for Mortal Kombat veterans and newcomers alike.

There’s plenty of fighting game competition right now, with the recent launch of Street Fighter 6 and the upcoming Tekken 8 arriving next year. Mortal Kombat 1 manages to hold its own, though. It honors the past but still feels like a fresh start for the franchise, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next.

SCORE: 4 STARS OUT OF 5

PLAY IF YOU LIKE:

• Mortal Kombat. This should go without saying, but fans of this franchise are gonna want to jump in. Even if you haven’t played a Mortal Kombat game in years, you’ll want to see how this entry seamlessly combines new ideas with the elements that have always made the series special. Mortal Kombat 1 is the perfect place to start or return to your Mortal Kombat journey.

• Multiplayer experiences. Mortal Kombat 1 offers online and local multiplayer experiences that are great for grabbing a buddy and beating the hell out of them in a friendly fight to the death.

• Breaking bones and severing heads. Did I mention this is a bloody game? Because if you happen to be the squeamish type, then this one may not be for you. Still, for any true fan of the series, plenty of great animations will make you jump off your couch in an adrenaline-filled frenzy, screaming, “In your face!”

• The minigames. I absolutely loved button mashing like crazy in new addition “Test Your Might.” A minigame that asks you to rapidly hit the face buttons on the PS controller within a time limit to build up enough power to strike. If you’re into cool additions like this in games which add to the story you’re in for a treat.

[Review written by TapTap editor StaggerLee.]

💬 Are you joining the latest battle for Outworld? And who is your favorite Mortal Kombat character? Let us know in the comments!