Mortal Kombat 1 Review
Violence, bone-crushing action, dismemberment, blood, and an extremely cool factor – Mortal Kombat is back, and this time, with a reboot of the entire franchise starting with Mortal Kombat 1, we witness the biggest changes yet in this iconic game. Yes, the fighting has not only improved but become more cinematic, cooler, and the brutality is as high as ever.
After MK11 Aftermath, Liu Kang becomes the Time Keeper, and with this power, he returns to carefully rearrange the timeline to bring more peace to the world, gradually giving up some of his own powers. Liu Kang now becomes the Fire God, once again protecting Earthrealm, leading his mentors, friends, and even his old enemies.
However, Liu Kang is not the only one trying to reshape the world according to his own will, and this conflict forms the backbone of Mortal Kombat 1's story.
With this intriguing storytelling approach and setting, we get both a continuation of the storyline and a reset of characters and the world. Masters become students, foes become friends. Formerly one-dimensional henchmen are now characters with depth, shining in the spotlight.
Raiden is now a young farmer and a friend of Kung Lao, both led by Liu Kang. Sub Zero and Scorpion, along with Smoke, are brothers. Kenshi lost his eyes but found even greater power. Baraka and Reptile also have well-developed backgrounds, along with impressive combo sequences. Experiencing the over 7-hour-long story mode, I believe MK1 boasts stunning graphics, perhaps the best ever in a fighting game.
The cutscenes are excellently done, with great graphics, sound, combat, and interesting character origins, often with humorous moments. The character mocap is flawless, delivering outstanding movements and emotional expressions. Running on Unreal Engine 4 and not even using Unreal Engine 5, Mortal Kombat 1 still manages to recreate a highly authentic feel. At times, it felt like I was watching high-quality CGI animation rather than real-time game rendering.
One notable aspect is that Mortal Kombat has traded its darker, grittier, and more hardcore color palette for a brighter and more casual look, signaling a fresh reboot, a reinvention, or perhaps an attempt to attract a broader audience. There aren't many truly hardcore, violent fighting games like Mortal Kombat. Street Fighter and Tekken cater to a different crowd. It's not entirely impossible that NetherRealm Studios wanted Mortal Kombat 1 to tone down the madness a bit to make it more cinematic and accessible to a wider player base.
At times, after playing this Reboot version, I even found it better than the recent 2021 live-action movie, especially when experiencing the game on an Xbox and OLED TV. So, I can confidently say that if you ever liked the story mode of previous MK entries or even Injustice, you'll undoubtedly enjoy the Story Mode of this reboot.
Praising it so much, but if I have to point out one flaw in the story mode, it might be that the game forces you to play too many characters in a short amount of time. The pacing of the story mode might not be perfect, and it lacks proper guidance, making you look into the Moveset Menu yourself. This can break the immersion as you finally get the hang of a character's combos only to see their screentime ending, and you move on to learn a new character.
The game's roster will consist of 22 characters, including iconic ones, some new characters, and some redesigned older ones.
In terms of character design, fighting moves, battle maps, and sound, MK11 was already good, but Mortal Kombat 1 has taken it to a new level. Looking at the combat system, at first glance, MK1 might seem simplified, with NetherRealm removing environmental elements, reducing each character to a single version, and streamlining the dark gauge. However, as they say, "less is more." So Mortal Kombat 1 is a simplified game with a lot of sophistication because now, every character can deal a lot of damage if you master their combos and movesets.
The introduction of the Kameo system is indeed a significant and exciting change for the franchise. When you enter a match, you can select a character and choose one Kameo. The Kameo roster consists of 15 characters, some of whom may not appear in the main roster of the game. Kameos have their own unique movesets, they can break opponent's combos, tie up or zone opponents, buff the player's armor, and even perform their own Fatalities.
While it might initially sound like fanservice, the Kameo gameplay mechanics go much deeper, and I believe this design change is one of the most dramatic and thrilling the franchise has ever seen.
Kameos can become useful tools as long as you know how to use them effectively. Some features of Kameos, such as creating counterattack opportunities, throwing projectiles, dealing extra damage, or extending your combos, can significantly impact the flow of a battle. Moreover, Kameos suitable for the situation can help you overcome the weaknesses of your character. For example, if you're playing as Kenshi and want to summon your ancestors to assist you, but your opponent doesn't give you any openings, you can use Frost to freeze the enemy long enough to call Sento and unleash a deadly combo. Or if your opponent is spamming projectiles, making it hard for you to approach, don't worry, Sub-zero can provide you with an ice armor to counter anything coming your way.
Additionally, Kameos directly affect your health points. Kameos with strong abilities will grant you fewer hit points, while weaker Kameos will provide you with more health.
It can be said that the Kameo system provides a range of additions that allow players to break the traditional rules by letting their characters wield tools they weren't originally designed to have. This leads to a more diverse combat system and creates a whole new way of setting up combos.
In addition to discussing the elements that have been retained, the meter management system in Mortal Kombat 1 has undergone significant changes. Now, there is only a single meter, which accumulates through various interactions like taking damage, performing special moves, or blocking attacks. Interestingly, the meter also increases when you engage in regular attacks against your opponent. It appears that this meter increases whenever you engage with your opponent in any way, and perfect blocks are the only way to prevent it from rising.
Furthermore, the flashy Krushing Blows and mechanics like Wake-up Attacks and Wake-up Rolls seem to have been removed from the game, making way for the Kameo system to shine. These changes suggest a shift in focus towards the new Kameo system and aim to give Mortal Kombat 1 a unique and dynamic gameplay style.
One of the most notable omissions is the removal of the Variation system. In Mortal Kombat X, this system was highly praised for its diversity, but in Mortal Kombat 11, it was criticized for being less flexible, with some characters having Variations that didn't significantly alter their playstyle. Therefore, it's not surprising that the developers chose to eliminate this system in the reboot.
For example, let's consider Scorpion, one of the most iconic and beloved characters due to his coolness factor. In previous games, Scorpion had multiple Variations to adapt to different opponent playstyles. One of his Variations, the Demon Dash, allowed Scorpion to slide toward his opponent, dealing damage on hit and even more if amplified. While this move may sound powerful, its range and speed weren't its strong points, making it vulnerable to punishment when used from a neutral position. Consequently, Scorpion players could easily fall victim to throws or even more extended combos from their opponents. This highlights how some Variations could have drawbacks that didn't align with NetherRealm's design philosophy.
To enhance the depth and flexibility of gameplay in Mortal Kombat 1, NetherRealm Studios has introduced several significant changes, allowing characters to utilize a wider variety of combos within a single match.
For instance, Scorpion can now cancel his teleport, slide, and anti-air special moves all within the same match. Other characters, such as Kenshi, can switch between different stances, like the default stance and the Sento stance. In the default stance, Kenshi excels at mid-range combos and long-range sword strikes. In the Sento stance, Kenshi calls upon his ancestors to assist in combat, turning the battle into a 3v2 scenario. This provides a wide range of options and strategies for players to explore.
Additionally, Mortal Kombat 1 introduces an air combo mechanic for each fighter, allowing you to launch your opponent into the air, execute stylish combo sequences, and brutally slam them back to the ground. However, the brutality doesn't end there, as Kameo characters may be waiting below to catch the unfortunate opponent and continue the combo.
Players now have more options for countering opponents, and mistakes in Mortal Kombat 1 are heavily punished. The addition of an air block mechanic allows players to defend against aerial attacks successfully. If done correctly, you can counterattack by launching your opponent into the air and punishing their mistakes. Fatal Blow moves have also been adjusted to prevent easy comebacks, with slower execution, harder combo setups, and significantly reduced damage when incorporated into extended combos.
One key element that defines Mortal Kombat is its Fatalities. While they remain gruesome and gory, they have taken on a more cinematic tone. They are still exciting but somewhat less chilling compared to previous iterations. This shift might be an attempt by NetherRealm Studios to appeal to a broader audience without compromising the franchise's signature violence. However, Mortal Kombat 1 remains a highly violent game that sets it apart from other fighting titles on the market.
In addition to the single-player Story Mode, Mortal Kombat 1 offers other game modes like Tower and Invasion to provide a variety of experiences for players.
Tower: This mode is familiar to Mortal Kombat players. You can choose a character and then participate in various levels of the Tower, battling continuously to complete all the levels. Each level usually has a specific challenge or objective, making it an engaging and challenging mode.
Invasion: Invasion mode bears some resemblance to the previous Crypt mode, but it offers more content. In this mode, you traverse through different maps, defeat enemies, engage in mini-games reminiscent of "Test Your Might" from previous games, dodge projectiles, equip items, purchase gear, and level up your character's stats. Each season brings new updates to Invasion, including new maps, items, and gameplay styles. If you're looking to relive the Mortal Kombat 1 experience, NetherRealm Studios has ensured that this mode provides a nostalgic gameplay element.
As for the ranked mode, it's worth noting that Mortal Kombat 1 doesn't currently have crossplay. Additionally, it's unclear whether there will be region locking in the future. Some players may experience high ping, ranging from 150-200ms, and occasional lag during ranked matches. While player skill remains a significant factor in outcomes, network stability is crucial. In the Southeast Asia region, the availability of high-quality servers is uncertain. Nevertheless, when excluding network speed as a factor, the matchmaking system seems effective, matching players with similar win rates and skill levels. Success in ranked matches earns you unique rewards. Of course, if you prefer offline play, you can still practice, engage in local versus matches, and organize tournaments with friends as usual.
Regarding progression, the more you play a character, the higher their level becomes, and you unlock additional content related to that character. This can include changes to their appearance, avatar images, and various finishing moves such as brutalities, and even fatalities.
The game's customization system primarily focuses on aesthetics and does not alter a character's abilities. You can customize iconic items for your character, change their outfits and outfit colors, modify their fighting stance, and choose different finishing moves like fatalities and brutalities. Are there any other ways to acquire these items?
You'll have daily and weekly tasks that reward you with in-game currency. The game also features a comprehensive tutorial system that provides rewards, encouraging you to learn and practice various character combos and interactions with different Kameo characters. There are additional challenges aimed at honing your combo skills for each character.
With the rewards earned from both Tower and Invasion modes, you can visit the Shrine or Store to purchase various unlocks such as images, videos, music, and cosmetic changes for character appearances. Overall, Mortal Kombat 1's reboot provides a stable and well-balanced progression system, gameplay mechanics, and customization options.
VERDICT
After receiving the review code, I dedicated nearly 10 hours to immersing myself continuously in Mortal Kombat 1. It's evident that the story mode has been meticulously crafted, offering a fresh and promising start for the entire franchise.
The gameplay lives up to the expected quality standards, with visually and aurally appealing combat. It's not an exaggeration to say that Mortal Kombat 1 is the best installment in the series to date. The addition of Kameo elements injects novelty into the gameplay and shakes up the meta for those who genuinely want to excel in the game.
However, the game still has its limitations, particularly in terms of character balance. Some fighters, like Raiden, can execute a significant portion of your health bar with minimal meter usage, especially when combined with Jax. Nevertheless, this is the first iteration of Mortal Kombat 1, and any existing balance issues can likely be addressed in future updates. Regardless, NetherRealm Studios has delivered an impressive debut for the reboot of the world's most famous fighting game franchise. It comes as no surprise that I'll have to keep a tight grip on my controller to avoid raging and throwing it when faced with the thrilling and violent fatalities.