Mortal Kombat 1: A Reboot that Breathes New Life into the Series
By [Your Name]
From the very first moment I laid my eyes on the Mortal Kombat series, I was hooked. It all started when I encountered the first game at a Finnish amusement park. Since then, I’ve been an ardent fan, and Kong Lao has held a special place in my heart ever since Mortal Kombat II. Today, I am excited to delve into the exhilarating experience that Mortal Kombat 1 offers.
While Mortal Kombat 1 is technically a continuation of the series rather than a full-fledged reboot, it embraces a fresh perspective. The storyline picks up after the events of Mortal Kombat 11, where Liu Kang, now the God of Gods, has reshaped the universe to grant humanity a chance at a better life. This pivotal role reversal allows NetherRealm Studios to revamp each character, presenting them in updated and dynamic forms. Notably, fighters like Rain, Mileena, and Raiden feel both familiar and entirely new.
However, the real highlight of Mortal Kombat 1 lies in its groundbreaking feature: the Kameo Fighters. With a roster of 15 formidable warriors, players can instantly swap fighters during combat, altering the dynamics of the fight. While this concept is not entirely new to the fighting game genre, it adds an intriguing layer of strategy to battles. Even as a seasoned Mortal Kombat player, I found myself needing time to adapt and learn new techniques when faced with unexpected opponent switches.
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One aspect that often goes unnoticed is how seamlessly NetherRealm Studios has streamlined the gameplay. They have simplified the use of super meters, making combos more intuitive and improvisation easier. Additionally, Mortal Kombat 1 boasts heightened speed, accompanied by stunning animations and a silky-smooth 60 frames per second experience (based on my playthrough on Xbox Series X). These enhancements transform every fight into a beautifully violent dance, unparalleled by any other game of its genre.
Yet, amidst all the new features, Mortal Kombat 1 stays true to its roots. The controls remain familiar, with easy blocking and throws, allowing players to quickly find their comfort zone. This balance between innovation and tradition creates an enjoyable experience for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.
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However, one aspect of Mortal Kombat 1 left me with mixed feelings — the inclusion of Gumi Warriors. While Mortal Kombat has always embraced fighter customization, the reliance on specific combinations for powerful moves feels somewhat gimmicky. Consequently, an imbalance arises, as certain fighters outshine their counterparts. Personally, I found this addition flashy but lacking substantial gameplay value. I prefer the more traditional approach of having a diverse cast of supporting characters rather than fleeting inclusions.
Nevertheless, combat in Mortal Kombat 1 remains exceptionally smooth, granting an unprecedented sense of control over each character. In comparison to the weightier feel of Mortal Kombat 11, Liu Kang’s New Grace Universe elevates the gameplay, making it more fluid and seamless.
The introduction of a new universe not only allows for character redesigns but also plays a pivotal role in the campaign. Typically, fighting game campaigns tend to be lackluster, but Mortal Kombat has consistently stood out alongside Tekken. In Mortal Kombat 1’s 15-episode story mode, players embark on an increasingly nonsensical journey, embodying numerous characters. This captivating narrative, featuring classic and fresh faces, provides surprises and jaw-dropping moments. Remarkably, Mortal Kombat 1 manages to make the story more accessible to newcomers, acting as a soft reboot while retaining the essence of its predecessors.
Aside from the engaging campaign, Mortal Kombat 1 introduces a new game mode called Invasion. With elements reminiscent of a board game, players engage in battles to unlock and level up their fighters. While the previously available tower mode remains accessible online, some players may find the options somewhat lacking after completing the campaign, which spans approximately six hours. NetherRealm Studios attempts to compensate for this by incorporating four different currencies, adding an artificial sense of depth to the game.
Graphically, Mortal Kombat 1 is a visual masterpiece. The gameplay maintains a smooth and flawless experience, only slightly interrupted by cutscenes running at 30 frames per second. The meticulous staging, character design, exceptional lighting effects, and flawless animation elevate the game’s visual appeal. Comparatively, Mortal Kombat 1 surpasses the graphics of Street Fighter 6, giving a sense of a console generation leap. The overall presentation is impressive, albeit slightly sluggish during character selection. I must also acknowledge the outstanding voice acting, whilst the music, though not detracting from the experience, fails to leave a lasting impact.
Before I conclude, it is essential to address what Mortal Kombat is renowned for — its gratuitous violence. Fans need not worry, as Mortal Kombat 1 embraces even more grotesque and over-the-top gruesome fatalities compared to its predecessor. These fatal blows, while harder to execute, intensify the excitement of battles.
Ultimately, NetherRealm Studios has delivered a satisfying package with Mortal Kombat 1. The resurrection of the series breathes new life into the franchise, with gameplay innovations and eye-catching graphics. The campaign proves to be one of the best experiences in the fighting game genre, skillfully interweaving classic characters with fresh faces. However, the game may leave some single-player enthusiasts wanting more beyond the campaign’s duration. Kameo Fighters, while flashy, add little substance to the overall experience. Yet, when engaging in battles against human opponents, whether online or locally, Mortal Kombat 1 undeniably provides top-notch entertainment. This reboot is the perfect opportunity for both new and longtime fans to immerse themselves once again in the enthralling universe of Mortal Kombat.
Let me start by admitting right off the bat that I have always loved the Mortal Kombat series. The first one was even available on consoles in Finnish amusement parks before I played it for the first time, and the rest is history. I’ve had Kong Lao as my favorite since Mortal Kombat II, and he’s been the same in every game. So far, that’s it.
Mortal Kombat 1 is a reboot of the series, not really a reboot. It continues after the events of Mortal Kombat 11, but here Liu Kang has become the God of Gods and has reshaped the universe to give all humans a chance to live a good life. This led to a major role reversal and gave NetherRealm Studios a chance to revamp each of the characters. Although there are relatively few brand new names in Mortal Kombat 1, all of the fighters feel fresh as updated versions of themselves, with the likes of Rain, Mileena, and Raiden as different they could also be considered a brand new warrior.
But arguably the biggest draw and talking point of Mortal Kombat 1 isn’t primarily the reboot of its universe, but the so-called Kameo Fighters. Choose from 15 boxers, who are ready to jump in and change the conditions of the fight at the touch of a button, before they quickly disappear again (not a new phenomenon as such, there are many fighting games like this). On paper, this has the potential to change a lot of fights, and I noticed that even I, as a Mortal Kombat veteran, needed a few games to warm up and learn, even if my main opponent was doing nothing, Attacks will also come. .
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One thing not many talk about is how well NetherRealm Studios has streamlined the game. The number of super meters has been reduced and made more intuitive, making it easier to improvise combos, and the speed has increased. The latter, along with very nice animations and 60 frames per second (in my case on Xbox Series X), makes dancing around an arena that spreads death and violence a joy in a way that no other game can.
For all the new features, this is Mortal Kombat we’re still talking about. The buttons are right where they should be, you can block by pressing them, throw work as always, and it’s generally easy to get comfortable.
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but. . . As for Gumi Warriors, I can’t shake the feeling that it feels a bit gimmicky. Mortal Kombat has had a way of customizing its fighters for a long time, but here you have to choose the right turtle tail fighter to get a really sharp combo, and I automatically think there is no real balance here. Granted, there are 15 choices, and not all of them make sense, but when I had Konrao get Frost or Kano’s explanation, I felt like he was a little too powerful compared to the helpless Stryker.
Also, I really don’t think it adds much to the game other than being a flashy thing, which is actually worse. I prefer a more traditional approach anyway, having a bunch of supporting characters jumping in and out of the game just seems boring. However, this has never been a major problem (or a problem at all). Combat was very smooth and the feeling of control I had over my character is new to the series. I also like Mortal Kombat 11, but it’s noticeably heavier and clunkier than Liu Kang’s New Grace Universe.
The new universe is not only an excuse to remake all the fighters, but it also plays an important role in the campaign. This is an aspect I generally don’t care much about in fighting games, simply because it’s usually useless. There are basically two exceptions, Tekken and Mortal Kombat. Yes. Over 15 episodes we follow an increasingly senseless story that makes us play most of the characters. It’s hard to rate the campaigns of different games since NetherRealm is so good at this, but I would definitely say that this is one of the best games they’ve released. I won’t spoil the fun for you, but be prepared for a cast of classic characters with brand new characters, a few surprises, and a few jaw-dropping moments. I think it’s also easier for newbies to understand what the story is about this time, as it’s a sort of reboot of the story (although it doesn’t sound like it did in the preview).
In addition to the campaign, there is a new game mode called Invasion. It has a board game feel to it, but basically it’s just a way to hit, unlock and level up. I wasn’t a huge fan of Krypton in Mortal Kombat 11 because it took so long to unlock things, but I think I still prefer Hollow Invasion which I never got into. Of course, the tower still exists and can be played online. However, for me, I’ve always played fighting games, so it felt right to me, but I think some people will find Mortal Kombat 1 a bit empty when the campaign ends on after about six hours. NetherRealm themselves seem to be aware of this and have tried to create some artificial depth by including no less than four different currencies to unlock things.
Graphically, Mortal Kombat 1 is a visual treat. It’s always nice and smooth, except for the cutscenes which only run at 30 frames per second. The staging is well done, the characters are great, the lighting effects are top notch, and the animation work is top notch. When I compare it to Street Fighter 6, it almost feels like a console generation for Mortal Kombat. The presentation is also very good, if a bit slow when choosing new characters etc. I also want to give a shout out to the dub, which is really great, but the music is more anonymous this time. It was never broken, but I don’t remember anything about it either.
Before I start organizing the text and handing out my scores, I want to talk about the game’s heightened violence. After all, that’s why Mortal Kombat is still very well known. For those of you who are worried that it will be watered down, I have good news. The violence here is actually more grotesque than in Mortal Kombat 11, and although the fatal shots have always been deadly, they are sometimes at absolutely ridiculous levels. In a good way. In terms of how they work, they are also harder to get into and don’t take as much damage, which makes the game more exciting.
When I now sum up the package offered by NetherRealm Studios, I am overall very satisfied. Mortal Kombat is back with the Resurrection, and the developers dared to tinker with the gameplay and the general framework and introduce great graphics to everything. The campaign is very good and everyone should play it, but other than that there isn’t much to do at the moment for those who prefer single player. Kameo Fighters feel like something that can be skipped, but not because they’re bad, but because they don’t add enough. But as long as you’re playing against human opponents, whether online or locally, you’ve got top-notch entertainment to look forward to, and the reboot is a great opportunity for new fans familiarize yourself with the series, while we are old foxes can enjoy re-grabbing the universe.
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