Let’s face it: Mortal Kombat games were weird on the sixth generation of consoles. Despite being good fighting games in their own rights, Mortal Kombat: Deception and Mortal Kombat: Armageddon never felt like true Mortal Kombat games. That’s where Mortal Kombat 9 comes in.
This is a great game for challenging dexterity, gross and fine motor skills (while using the involved arm/hand) and also challenge you to use tactics like anticipatory skills, logic and gives a competitive edge. This usually is a nostalgic game that often gets the patient thinking in terms of long term memory. Games adapted to all technologies, are compatible with almost all browsers, smartphones and mobiles. We have even the most classic games to the most modern ones for boys or children and for girls. Now you can play directly in your web browser, they do not need to download or have a large internet connection.
Brilliantly titled just “Mortal Kombat,” the ninth mainline entry in the ultraviolent game franchise is a breath of fresh air that will remind players why they’re fans of Mortal Kombat in the first place.
Mortal Kombat offers players an entire reboot of the game’s universe. After the ending of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon seemed to imply that the game’s world was coming to an end, Mortal Kombat 9 begins with Raiden going back in time to change history.
The game’s story mode offers an enjoyable retelling of the story of the first three Mortal Kombat games. If you’ve ever watched the campy 90s film, many scenes of the Story Mode will be familiar to you. This time travel plot also allows NetherRealm Studios to change some aspects of Mortal Kombat lore, giving players a fresh take on classic characters and their motivations.
That said, there’s a certain lack of originality that stems from this game being a reimagining of the three first games. While Deception and Armageddon took risks with their setting and expanded the Mortal Kombat universe in meaningful ways, this one feels like it’s playing it a bit too safe.
Somewhat unexpected is NetherRealm’s decision to return the gameplay to its 2D roots. Instead of the 3D arena-like combat of previous games (Deception looked more like a Tekken clone in that regard), players will instead return to two-dimensional fights. Fans of more traditional fighting games will surely appreciate the change, while those looking for a more three-dimensional experience might have to look elsewhere.
Gone are Deception’s multiple combat stances; in more traditional Mortal Kombat fashion, each character has a single combat style. Luckily each character has tight controls, and the game’s hitboxes are finely tuned.
Fatalities make a glorious comeback following their absence in Armageddon. Just like in the classic games, Fatalities are gory finishers that are meant as a spectacular finisher for any fight. Each character has two unique fatalities: one of them comes unlocked and the other you have to find in the Krypt.
The Krypt is the place where you’ll be unlocking most of the game’s additional content. From concept art to alternate costumes, the Krypt is an excellent alternative to the usual grinding of other fighting games.
Many characters from Mortal Kombat’s rich history make their comeback in this game. Fan-favorites like Sub-Zero and Scorpion make it into the roster, and so do other iconic characters like Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and Liu Kang.
Even the characters that look like simple recolors (we’re looking at you, Cyrax and Sektor) feel unique and original. This gives the game a nice feeling of balance and makes mastering each character feel like an achievement. Of course, button-mashing is a valid technique as always, but with the inclusion of X-Ray moves and counter moves, it’ll require more than a bit of luck to defeat your opponents.
As a fighting game, Mortal Kombat 9 is pretty close to perfection. A brilliant Story Mode and solid gameplay make it one of the best Mortal Kombat games to date, and its outstanding narrative makes it a great starting point for new fans of the franchise.
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