Mortal Kombat 1 is a comic book movie set in the Warner Bros. Cinematic Universe based on the fighting game series Mortal Kombat. Developed by Netherrealm Studios, Mortal Kombat 1 follows directly from the events of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath and explores the new universe Liu Kang created after gaining control of Kronika’s Hourglass. Unfortunately but not unsurprisingly, this new universe ends up being way too similar to the first, and doesn’t do much to push the series forward despite being perfectly enjoyable to play.
That isn’t to say there aren’t good ideas here. The opening hours of Mortal Kombat 1’s story mode lets players utilize well-established characters in brand-new situations before slowly funneling them back towards the inevitable “Shang Tsung is evil and Earthrealm’s protector is more incompetant than he appears” shtick that’s been in use for decades, and until that happens there are moments of genuine creativity on display. Fighting as Kung Lao before he learns how to utilize his hat in combat, or as Raiden and Kenshi before their more magical abilities are unlocked, is a surprisingly fresh change of pace.
It’s a shame moments like that aren’t explored further. These early hours are when the game is at its most interesting, before it becomes an MCU-like romp through 30 years worth of guest stars and callbacks. If hearing phrases like “It has begun” and “compete in Mortal Kombat” make you clap and point at the screen like DiCaprio, you’re in for a treat. Even the most obscure characters get a bit of lip service - Ashrah brings up Kia and Jakaarta at one point, characters who haven’t been mentioned since MK: Mythologies. It’s nice, and it’s comfortable nostalgia, but it is absolutely nothing new.
Mortal Kombat 1 is the fighting game equivalent of Toy Story’s Sid Phillips, a child taking all of their playthings apart and then gluing them back together in different combinations to see what happens. Nothing is unique here, not even any of the playable characters are original. As a series-long player, it’s hard to find Mortal Kombat 1’s roster entirely disappointing (even though it’s just a kameo, I can’t deny that seeing Shujinko from Mortal Kombat: Deception again fills me with nostalgia) but it is indicative of the franchise’s unwillingness to embrace evolution. Did we really need to spend another game listening to Johnny Cage’s one-liners again?
Fortunately, this is the best Mortal Kombat’s combat has felt in years. Both MKX and MK11 were slower, more heavy-feeling experiences when compared to Mortal Kombat (2011), and Mortal Kombat 1 strikes the perfect balance between 2011 and MK11 while also bringing back popup attacks. A fight between two skilled players is a joy to watch, both in a mechanical sense and visually. Mortal Kombat 1 is the prettiest and most realistic-looking Mortal Kombat game to date, so much so that some of the more violent fatalities might cause more squeamish players to look away. There are few faults to be…
2023-09-13 23:00:05
Original from screenrant.com
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