E310 Preview: Mortal Kombat, More Blood More Better
There have been many Mortal Kombat games released since I was a kid. I’ve ignored the majority, only purchasing Deception out of all of them. After seeing the gameplay from the Mortal Kombat that’s going to be released next spring, I decided that I will be buying it immediately. It’s a return to the older Mortal Kombat games, meaning it’s pure, gore-filled nostalgia.
This reiteration of the game is on a 2D playing field, but the environments are designed in a way that makes it look like you could turn Scorpion into a pacifist and have him frolic through the impaled-head-filled woods. Simplifying this version to two dimensions means it’s a) a better fighting game, b) back to the basics, and c) just plain better.
Mortal Kombat is by no means a duplicate of its earlier predecessors. Several features have been added: firstly, there is X-ray vision. Instead of simply beating the hell out of someone, you can literally slam your fist through your opponent’s jaw, or slice through their spine with an icy blade and watch their vertebrae shatter from the impact.
Another new feature is the realism; while exaggerated, the damage you give and receive is illustrated throughout the fight. For example, if a character takes a series of blows to the head, their jaw will have fallen off by the end; the rest of their head will be smashed to a bloody pulp. Again, back to the M-rated Mortal Kombat, not that silly T-rated nonsense.
One feature that will be particularly fun to toy around with is the new 2 vs 2 fighting. Mileena and Nightwolf can take on Scorpion and Sub Zero, and any character can attack while switching to their counterpart, or just borrow their abilities to help start a combo. This will add another dimension to the gameplay while keeping the traditional parts there.
The adaptation of old-school 2D fighting brought to life with stunning 3D visuals and today’s best technology as well as modern gameplay enhancements make Mortal Kombat a preorder-and-buy-at-midnight game for any first gen Mortal Kombat fan.
