Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Review

Over the last few years I have become a fan of Mortal Kombat, the first few trailers for the new game Mortal Kombat 1 had me super excited for this sequel/reboot and I have now played enough of it to review it, so here is my review for Mortal Kombat 1. The premise of the game is set after the events of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath. Liu Kang has created a new timeline which sees legendary characters reimagined and able to make their own decisions in the new era. 

Characters

After the events of the previous game Lord Liu Kang is now the protector of Earthrealm and I really like his character progression. He is now the god in this universe and he plays the role really well, he has clearly tried to help as many characters get a fresh start and his new timeline is interesting. 

There are some iconic characters who are changed up such as Raiden, Kung Lao, Scorpion & Sub-Zero. They are all so different from the previous timeline and I like how the game really doubled down on it and gave them the attention that they deserve. 

But some of the lesser known characters also got time to shine with Reptile, Baraka & Mileena all having way more to do then they have in previous titles. It makes this game feel fresh and new to fans of the franchise and I give the game real credit for that. 

Pretty much every character is great (apart from Nitara) and I really give credit for to the developers for fleshing them out and making them more interesting then they have ever been. 

Story

The story is a reboot/sequel and it does a brilliant job changing up establish characters and setting this up as a new but exciting timeline. It gives lesser characters important roles and is a fresh story that kept me guessing throughout. However, I do have a complaint and it is one I had in Mortal Kombat X. There are 2 characters here who play major roles in the story but are paid DLC, it means they are complete and Neatherealm are making us pay extra for characters that should already be a part of the roster. Also I am used to having dialogue between the characters in the other modes but it isn't here and it makes the game feel a bit lifeless. 

Side Activities

The game adds a new mode called invasions. It is basically a board game type simulation where you go between short fights with modifiers and gaining unlocks. I actually enjoyed it and switching between characters for tactical advantages. I mean, I couldn't play it for long spells because it becomes repetitive and dull but in short doses its pretty fun. I also had quite a lot of fun with multiplayer, I am not great at the game but for the most part I managed to hold my own and get some wins. Towers is the same as usual and does a decent job in keeping me interested with some good character endings. However, it just feels like something is missing. The lack of creativity in the customisation and the lack of a Krypt this time does make certain aspects feel a little under developed. 

Gameplay

The one thing that hasn't let Mortal Kombat games down is the gameplay. The game is a lot of fun and flows really nicely. All the characters feel unique and that time has really been taken to craft them and make them play really well. This game introduces Kameo Fighters, they assist you in battle and all feel different, its a fantastic addition to the game and adds more layers to the gameplay. Fatalities are brutal as always and violence is definitely still here in the bucketloads. 

Graphics

The game looks fanatastic and continues the great graphics from the previous game. It looks incredibly life like and full of colour. The Stages that the battles take place on are so in depth and it is clear that care has been put in to make it all unique. As I mentioned Fatalities and Brutalities are over the top and the violence is still at the forefront of the franchise. 

Overall

Overall, Mortal Kombat 1 is a great game that I thoroughly enjoyed, It feels like a great fresh start for the franchise and though I still think improvements can be made this is a great step in the right direction. 

Rating - 8/10

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath (2020) Review

After the success of Mortal Kombat 11, Netherealm studio decided to create an expansion which would be called Aftermath. This would focus on DLC characters and what they were up to during the events of the main story and how things they do can change these events. So after playing the story and using the DLC characters with Aftermath, here is my review for the expansion. The premise of the game sees Shang Tsung, Fujin and Nightwolf sent back to events during the story in order to find Kronika's crown before she does. 

The story is better then the base game. But not by much. 

I really didn't like the story of Mortal Kombat 11, I thought it let characters down and had a lacklustre ending. This story focuses on some of the lesser known characters such as Nightwolf, Fujin & Sheeva which is pretty cool and I liked how they were given time to shine. It is also nice to once again play as Shao Khan and see him somewhat redeemed from the main story. 

But there are certain elements of the story telling which doesn't work. One twist is particularly bad and doesn't make any sense from what we have been told in previous games and actually ruins one character in the franchise. The ending is once again lacklustre and I just don't think it nails the landing which is a a shame. 

The DLC Characters are cool

The three DLC characters that are included in the Aftermath are Sheeva, Fujin & guest character Robocop. They all play well, as a big film fan playing as Robocop was fun and these characters all flowed in really nicely. 

This expansion is way too expensive

Expansions are usually not that cheap but I feel like Aftermath is way too expensive. At release it was £32.99 in The UK and even now it is not much cheaper. For a 3 hour campaign, 3 DLC characters and some new skins it just feels like an overpriced expansion. 

Overall

Overall, Mortal Kombat: Aftermath is a decent expansion for the franchise. The gameplay is still great and the story is a bit better. But the price and lack of content for that price makes it no better then the base game. But it certainly isn't terrible and if you are a fan of the franchise I think it is worth picking up for the extensive content. 

Rating - 7/10

Mortal Kombat 11 (2019) Review

The new Mortal Kombat game is heading our way next month and I have to say that I am really excited for it. In prep, I have been playing the recent games and I have just played Mortal Kombat 11 and completed enough to review it. Though, I haven't played the expansion Aftermath as I will be doing a separate review for it. So after completing the story and most of the side activities here is my review for Mortal Kombat 11. The premise of the game sees 2 years after the defeat of Shinnok, Raiden has been putting the offence onto the realms that oppose Earthrealm. But this draws the ire of the Titan Kronika and sees kombatants from different eras clashing to protect their future. 

Characters

After my complaints about Mortal Kombat X it is great to see Liu Kang be pushed to the forefront here. Bought in as a younger version of the character, I really liked seeing Earthrealms champion be given the spotlight again and playing as him was enjoyable and seeing his development is one of the highlights of the game. 

Kitana was another character who was misused in MK X but by showcasing her younger version of the character it really works. She is seen as this leader and is way more then a damsel which I think she has been portrayed before. Her whole story is up there for most interesting part of the story. 

After the events of MKX Sub Zero and Scorpion are now allies and watching them work together and have this friendship is one of my favourite parts of the game. Their characters have been developed over the last few games and it is cool to see.

But the problem is that pretty much the rest of the cast aren't given much to work with or are misused.

Cassie Cage was the main character in the last game, but after the first chapter, I feel like she is given little to do and the stuff she is given is pretty dull. 

They even recast Sonya Blade as UFC Legend Ronda Rousey and she is terrible in this role. She just doesn't fit the character and all I can hear is the person and not the character they are supposed to be playing. The actress from the previous game was good and it would have kept for a consistent tone amongst the character. 

Kronika herself is the villain and she is a terrible villain. Her motivations are all over the place and the voice performance by the excellent Jennifer Hale is not enough to save it. She doesn't really do anything and she continues a trend of weaker villains. 

Certain characters get wasted to such as Shao Khan and Erron Black and I wish the game would do better with characters like these. 

Story 

The story is not good here. There are some really promising moments but I just feel like those moments are kind of wasted by decisions they make later on in the story. The most frustrating thing is that the promise that we were going to see Evil Raiden is totally ignored and forgotten about, it all happens off screen and that is incredibly frustrating. The whole game relies on time travel and it breaks its own rules throughout, things make no sense and becomes confusing. Overall, this story is really poor and I hope the next game is written way better then this one. 

Side Content

Similar to previous Mortal Kombat games, this game has many towers that are fun and challenging in their own ways. There are modifiers added to some of these to add even more challenge to the game. There is also the towers of time, these are updated regularly which is impressive considering the game was released 4 years ago, they are towers with themes and gives gear for specific characters. The krypt is back as an interactive game to get unlockables and it is a fun little game that I am glad they added. Plenty to do here and that is before you get to online which I am not very good at but there is plenty to do there. 

Gameplay 

The gameplay has been developing over the past few games and it is great here. The special moves feel so appropriate for the characters. The gameplay flows really nicely and each character feels unique and that makes it really enjoyable. It was changed that X-Rays are gone and replace by Fatal Blows, these could only be accessed when your character is in the final 25% of your health. At first I didn't like this, but I grew to see the benefits and how it can clearly swing a match. Fatalities are still here and this is the most brutal it has ever been, they are so creative and violent that it sets out this game to others. 

Graphics

Whether you like the game or not, there is no doubt that this game is beautiful. The graphics are incredible, the character designs are top notch and there are so many options for different costumes. Every level looks great and the arenas have their own nuances and actions going on in the background. The cutscenes look great, even if the content isn't particularly good which raises it slightly higher due to how many cutscenes there are. 

Overall

Overall, Mortal Kombat 11 is a good game. The gameplay is fantastic and it is a fun game. Skip, the story mode and just play the side content and you will be in for a great time. 

Mortal Kombat X (2015) Review

The new game Mortal Kombat 1 is set to come out in September. So I thought I would play the last few games to remind myself of the story and the gameplay. So I have just finished Mortal Kombat X and here is my review for the game. The premise of the game is set 20 years after the defeat of Shao Khan, the realms are at a flux with Earthrealm, Outworld and Netherealm all with their own objectives and lust for power. 

Characters 

With the extended timeline from the previous game we are introduced to a bunch of new characters here. The main ones being the four Spec Ops kids. Kung Jin, Takeda, Jacquie Briggs and their leader Cassie Cage. These characters are all really well realised and it was a risk to put so much time into new characters but I think it worked here. Cassie is probably viewed as the main character of the whole game and she is a fun character who is developed pretty nicely here. 

Some of the iconic characters are back and handled really well. I really liked Steve Blum's portrayal as Sub-Zero and it is really cool to see how they have decided to use him as this clan leader who has respect and honour. His long term rival Scorpion is also treated really well, this is the most unique stuff I have seen from the character in games and that is cool to see. 

Unfortunately, some characters are not given enough attention. Liu Kang, Kitana & Raiden are three of the most iconic characters in the franchise and they are really underused here, I mean Liu Kang and Kitana don't even have a chapter in the story mode. 

It also doesn't help that the villains are poor in this game. Shinnok played by Troy Baker is just a bit over the top and generic for me, he had the hard time in coming after Shao Khan but he just feels short and isn't particularly interesting for me. Also Quan Chi is one of my favourite bad guys and he is treated so badly here, ever character beats him up and treats him like a jobber and that really upset me. 

Main Story 

The main story is okay. It does a really good job at introducing these new characters and giving us enough time and reason to care about them. I also like seeing how the more experienced characters such as Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade have been affected by the events of MK 9 and all their friends dying. But as I said before, the story involving Shinnok and the Neatherealm isn't particularly interesting and leaves little to really care about. I just wish certain characters were given more to work with and the main ending just feels a bit rushed (apart from an awesome post credit scene). 

Side Content

This film has towers of fighting for each character and they are really fun. There is also a reward at the end of each tower by seeing a cutscene based on that character. Obviously some are better then others but they are all fun to watch and feel like a worthy reward. There are also living towers which sees different types of matches going on in the tower which is a nice change of pace. I didn't play too much online (because I am not that good) but it seemed to flow well and and work correctly. To get more unlockables and costumes you had to go through the Krypt, an interactable mini game where you go through a krypt of knowledge and easter eggs. The DLC are really cool also, as a big film fan it was cool seeing characters such as Alien & Predator in the game, though it does feel a bit cheap as they make us pay for characters who are in the story mode and already finished such as Tanya & Rain. 

Gameplay 

The gameplay is fantastic, the fighting feels so fluid and fast. It is just really exciting to play as these different characters with their different styles. Each character has 3 different varieties with different moves which shows the attention to detail that the creators went through to give the player a great experience. Some characters are better then others but I managed to find my way through all of them and find the versions I enjoyed. Though, one little thing is that I thought the intro discussions could have been better, they weren't written that well or feel that well voice acted which was a shame. 

Graphics

The film was one of the first to be seen as next-gen for the PS4 and it looks great. It doesn't look as strong now but for when it was released it looked really strong with great design. Some really cool arenas and character designs mixed with fantastic cutscenes. 

Overall

Overall, Mortal Kombat X is a good game that has some great things a fighting game requires. It falls a little short on other things but this is definitely a fun game and one I would recommend for sure. 

Rating - 7/10

Mortal Kombat (2021) Review 

Finally, after a long wait Mortal Kombat has made its way to The UK and today I watched it and here is my review. The premise of the film sees a group of warriors brought together to help defend Earthrealm for the evil Outworld. 

Main Character

There was much controversy when it was revealed that Lewis Tan would be playing an original character Cole Young and unfortunately this is one of the most boring protagonists you will ever see. In a world full of over the top colourful characters he is is just a normal guy and Tan plays it so stoically that he feels really out of place. The other issue is that the writing for his character is really poor, the film does nothing to make you care and literally gives him the most basic motivation to get involved and it really doesn't help him. 

Supporting Characters

Like the game it is based on, this film has plenty of characters in it so I am going to try and keep this section quite short. Firstly we have Joe Taslim as Sub-zero and Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion and these two are great. The film really does a good job in showing the rivalry between these two characters and how personal that it was and despite their characters not being in the forefront they are maybe the most interesting part of the film. But the show stealer has to be Josh Lawson as Kano, this is one of the funniest characters I have seen in a long time, he had one liner after one liner and it easily made Kano the best character in this film. Lawson is clearly having a blast in the role and he really adds some necessary humour into a film that is pretty serious otherwise. Mehcad Brooks as Jax and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade are fun aspects of the film and it does feel like they fit the characters that we have seen from the games. There are some interesting things done with their characters and stories but that doesn't change the fact I liked their characters. But there are a few characters here that I thought didn't work, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang was one of those and that was mainly because of he didn't have a character.  He felt like an exposition tool and I just felt like the actor didn't quite fit the role and was relegated from being the huge character that he is in the previous films and the games. Then there is Lord Raiden and Shang Tsung, two of the biggest characters in the video games and they are portrayed fine, it's just they do very little and have next to no characterisation and it feels like a bit of a let down, to both fans who love the characters and casuals who have no idea who they are. 

Story  

The story is okay, it is fun to watch these characters come together and clash in interesting battles with some interesting interactions. The Scorpion and Sub-Zero is the highlight and I wish there had been a bit more of it but there is no denying it is pretty captivating stuff. But this film goes against so much lore from the games it is unreal and it really affects the characters and how they get involved. Plus despite this film being called Mortal Kombat there is a lack of tournament and it just ends up feeling like build up to a sequel we actually want to see. 

Script

The script is also okay, the humour only really works when it is Kano, he had me laughing consistently in the film but I do think some of that was Lawson adlibbing because he is clearly a funny guy. There is also some decent emotion from the Scorpion and Sub-zero conflict but not much else. 

Style

The best thing about the style is that fatalities are here and they are here in all their awesome glory. Some taken literally out of the games and it is amazing to see these things that have just been in the games in a film version. The fight scenes are also pretty decent again with the Scorpion vs Sub-Zero fights being the best of the lot, with a few being a bit weaker then others. But the issue is the pacing, this film isn't particularly long and it has so many characters. If you are a fan of the lore then you know who these characters are and it feels like the film expects everybody to know who they are and it makes the film feel lighting quick without the substance required because it has just so many characters. 

Overall

Overall, Mortal Kombat is a pretty average film. It has some good action and characters. But some iconic characters are misused and the lead character is incredibly boring and if you aren't a fan of the franchise this isn't going to exactly bring you in. But as I am a fan of the franchise I think there are some elements of the film that could lead to some exciting things in sequels that will probably come. 

Rating - 5/10

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)

So the new Mortal Kombat film finally makes its way to The UK tomorrow which means I have just watched the last Mortal Kombat film made Annihilation and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees the warriors of Earthrealm attempt to stop Shao Kahn's invasion. 

Main Character 

Robin Shou as Liu Kang and Talisa Soto as Kitana were the only actors who reprised their role from the previous film and after watching this train wreck it is easy to see why. Neither of them are very good in the film and it seems like they were the only ones who signed a 2 film contract so they were forced to be here. The characters are so bland and you won't care about them or anybody that appears on screen. 

Supporting Characters

James Remar takes up the role of Raiden and he is so dull and poor. At least Christopher Lambert is so over the top its ridiculous but Raiden is given way more to do in this film and the character just isn't very interesting with Rear clearly not enjoying himself at all. Sandra Hess and Lynn Williams take up the roles of Sonya and Jax respectively and they offer very little and Jax actually became really annoying and I was wishing he had as much screen time as he did in the first film. At least the new guy they cast as Johnny Cage realised he only wanted a small role and doesn't barely appear here. Shao Khan is finally here as the villain and he is so cliché, the awesome character from the game is gone and replaced by this bloke who isn't actually that intimidating. There are more characters from the games here but they are used so poorly that I just wish they hadn't bothered. 

Story 

The story is all over the place. It's like the film wants to get through the majority of the stories in the game but it rushes all of the without explanation and it makes fans like me incredibly frustrated. The whole plot is absurd and there is one element of the film that breaks all kinds of lore and makes the film laughably stupid with a really stupid ending. 

Script 

The script of the first film had some charm, yes it was cheesy but it kind of worked. This one is just so bad, with a mix of terrible acting and terrible acting it is just terrible and left me shaking my head as to how somebody got paid to write this mess. 

Style 

Now the most important part of Mortal Kombat - the fights. They are terrible, the overuse of slow mo is obvious because the cast just weren't particularly great at fight choreography or at least making them. Then you get the effects, they are so bad, maybe some of the worst I have ever seen. I know people will say it had a small budget, then they shouldn't have tried this rubbish. 

Overall 

Overall, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation is one of the worst films I have ever seen. There is no redeeming qualities to this film and no wonder it has taken nearly 25 years for a big budget reboot, avoid this film at all costs. 

Rating - 1/10 

Mortal Kombat (1995) Review

With the new Mortal Kombat film coming out one month from today, I thought I should go back and watch the films that the franchise already has to offer. I am a big fan of the games but much to my dismay I have actually never watched this film all the way through, until today that is and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees three Earthrealm warriors summoned to compete in the Mortal Kombat tournament in order to save the world from an evil sorcerer and his Emperor. 

Main Character 

Robin Shou plays Liu Kang and he does a decent job here, he doesn't give a top performance but honestly I actually think he fits the character well. He is great in the action scenes and I think he has a decent dynamic with the other characters, especially Johnny Cage. Linden Ashby plays Johnny Cage and I think he is a really fun character, he has plenty of charm and charisma that again fits the character of Cage well. 

Supporting Characters

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa plays Shang Tsung and he is truly great here and is a really intense villain. He has been linked to the characters for years and even came back to voice him in MK 11, showing how much he is loved in this role. He is a great bad guy and his mix of campiness and intensity really works and provides a great character. Even though it is a smaller role the same can be said for Trevor Goddard as Kano, he is so cool in the role and his likeness has become the standout for Kano ever since. Even though he passed away at a young age it is great to see a long legacy coming from his performance in this film. But then there are those that aren't so good, Christopher Lambert plays Raiden and he is just a bit weird, he never feels like what I would imagine Raiden to be and that does hurt the overall product. Bridgette Wilson-Sampras plays Sonya Blade and even though she gets plenty of focus I didn't think Sonya was treated with much love. She just isn't a very interesting character and it feels like they didn't give her enough interesting stuff to do. Also iconic characters such as Kitana, Scorpion and Sub-Zero are here but they are so wasted, they are there because it would be strange for them not to be but they are lacking for sure. 

Story

The story does follow some of the MK lore well and I am glad they bought the tournament into the film and they gave the heroes an accurate representation. But this film has a really sloppy execution of its plot, characters just seem to start fighting even though they are outside the tournament and motivations aren't exactly expanded upon. The last act is also absurd with plot holes that are very large and this film has a very clear sequel bait ending that it doesn't really deserve. 

Script

The script is easily the weakest part of the film, the film is cheesy and the drama doesn't really work and you just won't really care. This film has some okay elements in other areas but it feels like the screenwriters though showing the MK universe and action would be enough to satisfy. 

Style 

The style of the film has some good action scenes in it. There is plenty of exciting stunt work involved and credit has to go to the performers for that, also it is fun to hear the Mortal Kombat theme used and adds a layer of excitement. But this film has a few glaring issues and the lack of fatalities is one of them, Mortal Kombat is a really violent game but this film was forced to be PG-13. It waters the product down and basically makes it feel like any other action film when there should have been a more mature theme. Also I know this film came out in the 90's but the CGI in this film is horrendous and some of the worst I have ever seen in any film ever made. 

Overall

Overall, Mortal Kombat is an average film with some fun action. It is a quick and easy watch so if you want something on in the background to watch with friends once the pandemic is over then this could be one of those films. But people who aren't MK fans can give it a miss and will see the flaws in much greater detail. 

Rating - 5/10