Mortal Kombat Review/Thoughts Thread

[ITurnGirlsGay]

I know we had a preview thread, but I thought I'd open this one for people who wish to give their thoughts on the game and allowing those who haven't played it the option of opening this thread knowing there may be spoilers.



Got this game and played the crap out of it. I have to say, I'm less than thrilled. The story mode was completely subpar, I cannot believe I waited this long to play the same damn three games just from a different lens. It all got so repetitive and boring after a while. I really just went through the motions to get to the end. Shao Kahn wasn't even just aggravating, he was down right pissing me off. I had to finally invent a "trick" to beat the guy. I'll leave that for you guys to figure out on your own.

Playing through the game as just normal Mortal Kombat was cool, but many of the fatalities blended together and all seemed like slight improvements of shit I've already seen before or stuff other characters basically did in this game as well.

I do not understand why Babalities were needed, they're pointless, stupid, and serve ZERO purpose. Given the dark tone of the game, I half expected my character to stomp on their child after performing one, but no....nothing of the sort. See, that would have been fucking cool.

Aside from the shoddier combo system and the frustrating control responses (XFail 360) There were many points in the game where I found myself just rather frustrated than challenged. I fancy myself a pretty savvy Mortal Kombat player since I've owned every inception since the launch of the game and have beaten it with every character, so I know it wasn't user error. I really feel like there are points where the controlling mechanisms are not responding properly to what the user is commanding it to do.

An example of this is when you're trying to do leaping kicks. Sometimes your player connects, other times they come up short landing you smack in the middle of a combo or X-Ray when you jumped from the same distance.

I will say that the challenge tower is a pretty nifty feature on the game, but some of those challenges are downright ridiculously impossible. Be it the controller response or whatever, I spent hours on a couple challenges and finally skipped it because I did not see myself coming close to beating it.

Some people may disagree with me, but considering the hype that surrounded this game, I'm not at all overwhelmed by its content. You basically unlock everything worth unlocking in the story mode. I have no idea what happens if you beat the challenge tower, but I'd love to hear it from someone who's capable of doing it. Apparently it is supposed to be super badass.

This game is fun for playing against people, but the story mode, to me, is complete garbage. There's a couple of interesting things along the way such as

Spoiler

a Cyber Sub Zero plotline, how Jax lost his arms (Ermac makes them fucking explode, that was cool), and them revealing that Kabal was on the force with Stryker. They also "explain" how Kabal came to wear his mask and such; Kintaro burned the shit out of him.

But, aside from small things like that which, by the way, are few and far in-between, the entire story mode is old fucking hat. Minus Motaro (Who I thought was WAY tougher than Goro or Kintaro) you play all the same people over and over and over and over again.

The dialogue, at times, sounds like it was written by the same asshole that writes David Caruso's opening lines at the beginning of a CSI: Miami episode. For something that people thought may end up being a candidate for game of the year, I have a distinct feeling that this game will end up disappointing more MK fanatics, based on hype, than it will be blowing them away.

I'm not writing this to discourage anyone from trying the game or from buying it. This is just one really disappointed gamer's opinion. I'll continue to play the game, but honestly, I'll seriously recommend renting this game to my close friends before I recommend they drop the cash on it.

 

[Chicago1989]

Since I'm the one who came up with the 2 Mortal Kombat threads in the Games Section, I find it appropriate that I get to respond first.

But anyways, I went to the midnight release event at my local GameSpot last Monday to pick up Mortal Kombat and I've been playing it ever since. Hell, I'm still playing it. As far as the Story Mode goes, I need to say that what you think about the Story Mode is your opinion. I personally find it intriguing and fun. Sure, I think the pacing of the story could've been better, but I feel like I'm watching an MK movie. You have the plots from Mortal Kombat I, II, and 3. What movie or game gives you a plot that involves a whole trilogy?

The game is worth the money to me. There's just SO MUCH content and so much to do. You can't tell me that this game doesn't give you a nostalgic feel either ITurnGirlsGay. I think you focused too much on the Story Mode instead of the whole game, which also includes Ladder Mode, Tag Team Mode, The Krypt, and Online Play. I say there's more positives than negatives in Mortal Kombat.

 

[ITurnGirlsGay]

But anyways, I went to the midnight release event at my local GameSpot last Monday to pick up Mortal Kombat and I've been playing it ever since. Hell, I'm still playing it. As far as the Story Mode goes, I need to say that what you think about the Story Mode is your opinion.

Oh, I know it's my opinion, that's why I said this is one man's opinion. Clearly you expected something different from this game than I did. That's totally fine.

I personally find it intriguing and fun. Sure, I think the pacing of the story could've been better, but I feel like I'm watching an MK movie. You have the plots from Mortal Kombat I, II, and 3. What movie or game gives you a plot that involves a whole trilogy?

This is exactly my point, why the hell am I playing 1, 2, & 3 AGAIN. Like I said, there's some interesting fillers in there with storyline developments, but if you've played every game in the series, most of these were already known. It's a rehash of stuff I've already played. I'm sorry, I don't get excited about that. On top of which, battling the same people OVER and OVER again just gets tedious and repetitive.

Here's my problem, that had some really golden opportunities to focus on the storylines of some totally new characters. Ermac is a BLIP on the radar. I'm sorry, I'm so fed up with Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, and Sonya that it's not even funny. We've had two movies and three games dedicated to these characters and you mean to tell me that the best they could come up with this BRAND new installment was another fucking storyline based around Liu Kang? Sure, they give you small snippets of other characters, but after you beat the game (if you haven't already), you'll see what I mean.

The game is worth the money to me. There's just SO MUCH content and so much to do. You can't tell me that this game doesn't give you a nostalgic feel either ITurnGirlsGay. I think you focused too much on the Story Mode instead of the whole game, which also includes Ladder Mode, Tag Team Mode, The Krypt, and Online Play. I say there's more positives than negatives in Mortal Kombat.

The Krypt, to me, isn't worth much because I never use those codes in the first place and I generally feel like costume alternatives are a cheap easter egg.

Ladder mode and tag matches are cool, but this isn't anything that hasn't been done before.

As far as it giving me a nostalgic feel, yeah, that's my problem with it. All they did for this game was completely give you 1, 2, & 3 in a story mode with the exact same information you already knew plus a couple new things. When I say a couple, I literally mean, a couple.

I focused on the story mode because that's where they expended all their energy. I knew about the other features. Those are Mortal Kombat staples. They put the majority of their effort and publicity in the story mode and it's a complete letdown. You cannot even perform one fatality in the entire 4-6 or so hours (depending on your skill level and difficulty setting) that you play the story mode.

This is what Ed Boon said about the game before launch:

...Raiden is about to be killed by Shao Kahn, and just before he delivers the last blow, he [Raiden] sends a mental message to his earlier self, and the camera rewinds back to Mortal Kombat 1. The Raiden from Mortal Kombat 1 then gets the message and experiences a premonition. The game then spans Mortal Kombat 1, 2, and 3, retelling the story with an enlightened Raiden, who has changed the course of events. Eventually, everything you've seen happen before – Liu Kang winning, the guys turning into cybernetic ninjas, has been altered. You might see a cybernetic character who wasn't before, and a different version [of events].

One cybernetic character and

Spoiler

Liu Kang getting killed by Raiden

That's their "altered version" of events. Other than that, basically everything plays out just as it did in the storylines from the original three games.

I guess my point is this, this is all my opinion and I encourage other people to form their own, but for me, I thought this game was going to have DRASTIC event changes. A whole new story based on the original. Instead, it was the same old crap with a couple different things here and there to make it JUST different enough. They didn't go out of their way to make this a brand new game, they went out of their way to make this the same game with a couple different twists.

 

[Chicago1989]

This is exactly my point, why the hell am I playing 1, 2, & 3 AGAIN. Like I said, there's some interesting fillers in there with storyline developments, but if you've played every game in the series, most of these were already known. It's a rehash of stuff I've already played. I'm sorry, I don't get excited about that. On top of which, battling the same people OVER and OVER again just gets tedious and repetitive.

The Story Mode may be known by hardcore Mortal Kombat fans who've played I, II, and 3, but maybe there are some who don't know about the events of the Mortal Kombat trilogy. It's for both old and new MK players, which is great. The Story Mode makes me look at these events at a different way. A way that wasn't around in the original games, in cinema form of course. You don't have to read texts anymore. You ACTUALLY see how these events unfold throughout the story. So, I find it good that the plots from MK 1, II, and 3 are included. And besides, how do you continue the story after armaggeddon destroys every fighter in the Mortal Kombat world?

 

[ITurnGirlsGay]

The Story Mode may be known by hardcore Mortal Kombat fans who've played I, II, and 3, but maybe there are some who don't know about the events of the Mortal Kombat trilogy. It's for both old and new MK players, which is great. The Story Mode makes me look at these events at a different way. A way that wasn't around in the original games, in cinema form of course. You don't have to read texts anymore. You ACTUALLY see how these events unfold throughout the story. So, I find it good that the plots from MK 1, II, and 3 are included. And besides, how do you continue the story after armaggeddon destroys every fighter in the Mortal Kombat world?

My thought would have been to develop the other characters and place more emphasis on that. I get that there's a cinema aspect to it, but a movie's only as good as its dialogue and the writing for this was just plain awful in parts. I mean seriously, afters some of the lines they used, I half expected Lt. Horatio Cain to put on a pair of sunglasses and for the Who to start screaming "YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH"

I'm not suggesting that they should have created an entire NEW Mortal Kombat, but may I remind you that we do have prequels that we could have explored? The Great Kung Lao who won the original tournament? You don't have to go forward, but they certainly could have gone backward a la Killer Instinct 2. Simply redoing a storyline *I* am all too familiar with doesn't do anything for me.


You raise a good point, if you don't know the whole storyline, the story mode is cool, but if you're a die-hard MK gamer, the story mode is old hat. Most of my friends that grew up on this franchise feel the same way about this game as I do; it's the same old stuff on a new platform using modern technology. One of my friends called it "Mortal Kombat Trilogy 2: The Story Mode"

I'm not saying the game isn't "good." I'm saying that for what I thought they were doing, I was completely let down and disappointed. It certainly isn't the GOTY that people said it would be.

 

[Chicago1989]

I can understand that you wanted a completely new story and I can respect that, but you have to remember, this is a REBOOT. You couldn't have expected anything else but a revisit of the trilogy with new alterations to it. That is what Netherrealm Studios said last year while MK was in development; LAST YEAR!

 

[ITurnGirlsGay]

I can understand that you wanted a completely new story and I can respect that, but you have to remember, this is a REBOOT. You couldn't have expected anything else but a revisit of the trilogy with new alterations to it. That is what Netherrealm Studios said last year while MK was in development; LAST YEAR!

The revisit I'm fine with, it's the same old story just in a different format that bugs me. To each their own, though. I respect why you like it.

On a side note, if you perform the "alternate" fatalities in fatality training (they work), it unlocks them on the moves sheet.

 

[Chicago1989]

On a side note, if you perform the "alternate" fatalities in fatality training (they work), it unlocks them on the moves sheet.

Wait, wasn't unlocking the alternate fatalities done in The Krypt? How would you figure out how to do them on Fatality Training if you haven't unlocked them yet?

 

[ITurnGirlsGay]

Wait, wasn't unlocking the alternate fatalities done in The Krypt? How would you figure out how to do them on Fatality Training if you haven't unlocked them yet?

No, the Krypt is shit. I have a moves list. If you perform the fatalities in Fatality Training with the moves list, it unlocks them as well. The Krypt is a complete joke in this game.

EDIT: If you'd like the moves list, PM me and I'll send it to you. You definitely do not need the Krypt for a damn thing unless you like concept art and drawings of alternatives concepts.

 

[JGlass]

I just finished the Story Mode mere moments ago, and I gotta say, this is the most fun I've ever had playing a Mortal Kombat game. The storymode was detailed, didn't leave a single stone unturned. I realize the open endedness of the story is something hardcore MKers dug, but as a comic book fan I like to know what my canon is, and this made sure you knew exactly what happened throughout the first three Mortal Kombats. I like how they made it so that the story ends in essentially the same manner, and that Mortal Kombat 4 is set to begin when the next Mortal Kombat is released (I already can't wait!), and hopefully they continue with the same pattern as this one. I'd like to see them take it right through Mortal Kombat deception (which I believe is when Onaga decides to take over Outworld), and I'd love to see the stories of Havik, Horatu, Dariou, and Darrius explained, as they are from realms that were never before mentioned. I'm also excited to learn more about Tanya, Jarek, and Kai, and Reiko, four combatants from Mortal Kombat 4 that don't appear again in the game until Armageddon. Fujin is another character that only appears in 4 and Armageddon, but from what I understand he's sort of Raiden's protege.

And the cinematic sequences were phenomenal. They really nailed the look of Outworld, the chaos brought to Earthrealm, the character's voices, body language, etc. (except for their teeth, did you notice they were all weird?).

They brought back everything they needed to, and left out the things they didn't need. Good work by the Mortal Kombat krew.

As I said, I've just finished the Story Mode, but I'm yet to try anything else. How's the tag combat? And who all do you like to play with? So far I've only played with the good guys, and I'm liking Nightwolf, Jade, Kitana, and Stryker the best I think. Any baddies worth giving a test run?

 

[Jay Sherman]

From the perspective of a HUGE MK fan, and I mean loyal fan, this game is a blast.

Story. (Beware contains spoilers)
I do not where you lurk but most MK fans complain because the story became so damn muddled with pointless characters, plot twists, irrelevant cannon fodder, I began to think I was watching TNA. This game gave the series the shot in the arm it needed badly. Gaining perspective from how things happened through series history 1-3 was an absolute nerd-gasam, the dropping of characters that only made the cut because they were 10 games in the series like Meat, Bo-Rai-Chi, Frost helped too. The story has always a tad cheesy as it is Mortal Kombat at the end of the day (Sonya stopping bleeding of 2 severed arms with a a lazer?..The way Raiden accidentally kills Lui Kang?). I really hope this next one is the last and I hear no more of Shao Khan. The ending with Quan Chi speaking to Shinok made it clear the next one is the final stand, and have a new lead villian. On a personal note my favorite has always been Johnny Cage and well as to avoid spoilers lets just say being a JC fan this time really worked out. There are some odd things in the story I wish were not there like Sub Zero becoming a cyborg was a tad lame, and pointless. Syndel killing everyone other then Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade was odd as she was never portrayed as that much of a threat.

Gameplay.
Excellent. I till this very day play UMK3 like a mad man and could never adjust to MK going into the 3d foray as it never felt right and became more a button masher with the added ability to side step. Button commands are a tad odd as I prefer an "HP,HP,HP,B,RUN JAB X 3 Special" rotation as opposed to actually remembering inputs to chain to others but I have adjusted well and am enjoying it to no end. Juggles are back in a big bad way as they are definitely harder to do but not impossible. Xrays our not as bad as I thought they were going to be as high end players seem to use portions of there bars to Combo Break anyways as even an 10 hit from anyone can average 40-48%. Combo Breaking is a huge welcomed addition as for as much as I love performing it, getting caught after 1 mistake leading into a 70% can be beyond frustrating. They made sure to give this game a good competitive scene and I will be part of it. I am getting into my old Sega MK ways with high end play, and money matches which to me is the mark of a game that has high replay value and a true competitive edge for skilled players as opposed to a "who can mash faster". I recently found a 74% Xray juggle with Johnny Cage.