Visceral Perfection
Let me begin this review by informing the reader that I almost never play fighting games. I've enjoyed my fair share of time with the Super Smash Brother's series,but besides that, fighting games have never really clicked for me. The combos, the blocks, the reversals and special moves have always been far too intimidating.
That's not to say that I don't appreciate them however. I was a bit young for the arcade fighting game peak, but I remember watching people sink quarter after quarter into the local Mortal Kombat machine as a child. I vaguely remember playing it myself once or twice, but button mashing will only take a six year old so far, and when I found myself unable to perform the gruesome fatalities all the cool older kids could do, I shrugged my shoulders and went meekly back to pac-man.
The recent resurgence of fighting games in video game culture has been something I've been following from afar. I know the characters mostly through cultural osmosis and bored wikipedia scanning. I recognize Scorpion and Subzero just like I can recognize Ryu and Chun Li, but I've never had more than a glancing experience with the characters themselves, and I've never really understood their stories or inhabited universes. I mean, how could a game where all you do is punch the other guy until one of you is dead really be worth that much attention?
This is where the new Mortal Kombat game took me by absolute surprise. The new Mortal Kombat game has been a revelation to me. Not only is it a fantastic piece of software, but it has managed to open an entire genre of games to someone who never quite "got it" before.
For the uninitiated, Mortal Kombat is a 2D (movement-wise) fighting game that pits a colorfully gruesome cast of characters against each other in battles to the death. For those who need a reason, the game provides an incredibly detailed, enjoyable and LONG story mode that will not only introduce the players to the characters but artfully explains the ridiculously gruesome and arcane world they inhabit. From what I understand, the story covers the events from the first three Mortal Kombat games via a clever plot device. This means that if you're like me and have only a basic grasp of who these people are, this is an excellent way to catch up on a large cast of well known characters.
And what characters they are! The roster is huge (not including presumably downloadable character's not available to me in China), and there doesn't seem to be a throw away in the bunch. Every fighter drips personality in their moves, story arc and dialogue. The voice acting is fantastic and had some genuinely laugh out loud moments in the story (I'm looking at you Johnny Cage).
The fighting mechanics are balanced and enjoyable. After completing the provided helpful (but still insufficient for someone like me) tutorial, I found myself able to perform combos, grabs, blocks and special moves with some degree of reliability. Sometimes it still feels like my inputs don't always correspond to the desired special move I may be going for, but as a relative newbie, I can't comment on whether this is due to my inexperience, the nature of the fast paced (k)ombat or that fact that I am using an X-Box 360 controller and not an apparently far superior arcade joy stick. Even with this small problem, the fighting remains fast, gruesome and most of all fun.
Regardless, you will have an arsenal of powerful moves to deal with your opponents. Every character has unique combos, special moves and a gruesome X-ray attack that can be used when a special meter is filled. Fatalities are present, ridiculous and as satisfying as ever.
Tired of fighting? Try the challenge tower! A game mode that pits you up against specific characters or events with some hilarious modifiers. Test your might by breaking stacks of stone. Test your reflexes by keeping your eye on the human skull with the ball inside. Test your ability to keep a straight face as scantily clad women of impossible proportions split unfortunate losers apart with their thighs.
The game looks beautiful and its light hearted take on gore and dismemberment is well realized in every facet of its presentation. The aforementioned X-Ray attacks are especially cringe worthy, even if the effect lessens somewhat around the 100th viewing. The only complaint I have as far as the presentation goes is "Where in the bloody hell is the Mortal Kombat theme music even I was acquainted with?" Is it in here? Have I just not found it yet? The menu and game music doesn't quite match the hyper absurdity being portrayed by the rest of the game which is a bit of a shame.
Before I wrap this review up, I must also make a disclaimer that while in China, I have no access to X-box live and was thus unable to play or participate in any of the online modes (a huge shame I'm sure).
Overall, the new Mortal Kombat took me by surprise when I popped it in last week on a lark. It grabbed me immediately and introduced me to the incredible world of special gauges, fatalities, air grabs and ritual decapitations. For those who may be on the fence about trying Mortal Kombat due to their inexperience in the genre, trust me. Give this one a shot.
