Mortal Kombat…Again
Date: 4/25/2011, Mortal
Kombat Review
There have already been too many Mortal Kombat jokes made
over the 20 year history of this epik fighting franchise, so I’ll keep those to
a minimum…maybe. The newest MK game, simply named Mortal Kombat, kame out this
past Tuesday (or Monday at midnight if you’re a real gamer), and this game
rocks my tiny little world. It hasn’t been upperkutted into many, if any
pitfalls that other 2D fighters have accidentally tripped, or just plain walked
into. MK has always felt like a game of substance, even though any one opponent
kan be konquered in under a minute if you’re really good; or your opponent is
just plain awful. There isn’t really a good way to explain this, but it feels
like each hit or special you skore on your opponent has konsequences. This
hasn’t been the case in many fighters as of late; Marvel Vs Capcom 3 felt like
attacks did nothing, until you built up your power for your big three person
special, Blazblue and Guilty Gear really make me feel like my eyes are bleeding
and I should be having a seizure before the fight even starts, and Street
Fighter just feels like I’m playing with toys.
This iteration has quite a few modes to allow you to let out
your pent up aggression, for a single player as well as those who prefer
playing with friends. The kampaign mode is fun and brief, offering another
tournament for the fate of earthrealm. Apparently, every jackass in every other
realm really wants to kick it on earth. All of the earthly kombatants (except Liu Kang
and Kung Lao) are kompletely wrapped up in their own stories to actually know
that they are fighting for the fate of their realm. Johnny believes he’s just
on another movie set, and kontinually hits on Sonya, who believes Jax has been
kidnapped by Kano, who is working for Shao Kahn; all the while Liu Kang is
questioning Raiden for summoning these ‘heroes’ (which should be read as tools)
to kompete in the tournament. While this plot is by no means anything new, it
really doesn’t need to be. It’s the story mode of a fighter (that has continued
to be a success over 20 years) that has had essentially the same plot since the
first one; if you want plot, go play Mass Effect 3.
As thrilled as I am with the ‘k’ thing, it’s kinda like
beating a dead opponent at this point and is now being killed.
If you’re set on playing alone; that’s fine, there are still
plenty of things for you to do. You can play through the kombat part of the
story without any pesky story, save the little text box at the end when you win
in ‘ladder mode’. You can hone your skills by completing the plethora of
challenges, which serve as practice. You can also go online by yourself to compete
against other lone wolf gamers. Doing each of these things earns you coins to
spend in the krypt, which allows you to unlock goodies. The Krypt is split up
into sections, that don’t actually do anything differently except show a
different movie of how souls are separated from their bodies. You can unlock music,
a stage or two, extra fatalities (for when one just isn’t enough), pictures or concept
shots, and maybe an extra character.
If you choose to play with friends, then you may want to
play through cooperatively. This you can also do in a multitude of ways. NetherRealms
included a two player co-op mode in addition to the two player fighting we all
know we secretly love. Two player kombat, while satisfying, can be a little
tough to get the hang of; you have to both tag out at the same time, and have
the option to input a certain button combo to launch a special move at your
unwitting opponent.
Upon trying the multiplayer, I was informed that I would
need to buy an online pass, which set me into a slight panic. Admittedly, I had
not looked at the instruction book yet, so I had no idea what was behind it.
Turns out one had come with the game; I would have been irate if I’d had to buy
a $10 pass just to play the fabled King of the Hill mode. Sorry guys, if you
rented this to play with a buddy, that $8 rental just became $20 you can’t
spend on beer or impressing someone of the opposite sex. After that little
panic attack, I got down to playing 1V1. This was MK as I remember it, just
able to be done across a series of tubes. I obliterated someone for a few
rounds with Sonya; then switched to King of the Hill. I was not shocked to see
avatars watching the carnage, yet it was still a pleasant surprise. I was able
to choose from one of four emotions to convey at the two people playing,
ranging from cheering to disgust. I was yanked up to face the defending king,
only to have him get dropped from that game, meaning I was the victor by
default. Two sweetest words in the English language indeed. Unfortunately for
me, the dude who was then chosen to play me was evidently from a land where
cheap bitches run free (and aren’t castrated on general principles), spamming
the Lord of Thunder’s version of that M. Bison move everyone and their brother
hates. After getting beaten like I owed him money, I was given the chance to
give respect points to the victorious cheap bastard. I was not amused, and as a
result, gave him no respect whatsoever. The actual playing online was a lot of
fun, but dealing with spammy bitches, however, was not.
There are certainly bad things that can be said about MK,
but they all have to do with the fact that I suck at fighting games. Parts were
too hard and I had to play cheaply, one of my buddies made me look bad in front
of my girl, and Shao Kahn was damn near impossible the first time I faced him,
etc. This game is a damn good time, plain and simple. The fatalities are fun
and satisfying, even though you only have one unlocked at the outset, but that
will keep you playing more to unlock all of them…and butcher your opponent in
fun and exciting new ways. That seems like a great payoff to me. This is a
great game to play alone, as well as with a friend or three. There are plenty
of fighters on the market currently, and this is the best of them, hands down.
If you’ve opted to get Portal 2 instead of MK this past week, we can forgive
you; as long as you go get it now. Yes, right now.
I can’t finish it without at least one. MORTAL COMBAT!!!!!
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