The fights themselves seemed to have been refined as well. Aside from the added depth from different character variations, and background interaction, Mortal Kombat X feels like a tighter game. Fans of “button-mashing” may want to think twice since everything is much more precise this time around. Timing for combos leaves no room for errors and animations for attacks are less instant, requiring players to really think twice before spamming a move. Every element, from punches to kicks to grabs, feels more realistically weighted (despite the over the top violence) adding a nice crunch to combat. The vibration you feel when landing a punch right into the jaw of an opponent is visceral, and quite enjoyable.
And just as important as the feeling of Mortal Kombat X is its look. This is clearly the most beautiful entry in the Mortal Kombat series yet – and not just because this one made it’s way to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, either. New designs for each character and their different variations are stunning. So too are the affects caused by each of their attacks and the backgrounds. It’s easy to get lost in how the snow falls off of trees as you’re getting beaten to a bloody pulp. Or how your brain falls out of your skull after watching Scorpion cut off the entire front section of your head. I mean, sure, you just got your ass kicked – but didn’t it look great?
The beauty of Mortal Kombat X really shines when you enter the Krypt. There is such an immense attention to detail in a section of the game that actually equates to nothing more than an unlock store. Players navigate Mortal Kombat X‘s Krypt in first person as they explore and open up different areas as well as some sweet in-game unlocks. Every gravestone, corpse, and surface is beautifully rendered. I often found myself just standing still and simply looking up at the sky, marveling at the amount of work they put into this one part of the game that didn’t really require it. That was until one of the Krypt’s random beasts attacked. It was a splendid experience.
To top it all off are the sheer abundance of options presented to players by Mortal Kombat X. Theres the story mode, a variety of different towers for those looking for a bit of Mortal Kombat nostalgia, training, and several different versus modes for fans to partake in. For those who desire to be a part of something much larger, Mortal Kombat X has Factions.
These Factions are a way to contribute to the overall community of Mortal Kombat X. Join a faction, then every little thing you do contributes to your Faction reputation and the Faction as a whole. At the end of a set period one of the five factions is crowned the winner and then it all starts up again. It’s a pretty cool element that will have players constantly checking leaderboards as they vie for that top position in not only their very own Faction, but in all of Mortal Kombat X.
There is one minor complaint that can be levied against Mortal Kombat X. There aren’t really any unlockable characters, which is sort of a shame. Especially since you fight a handful of classic Mortal Kombat characters whom you have no way of unlocking. Yes, the game does offer a roster of 24 fighters out the gate (25 if you got Goro), but it’s a bit saddening to see fan favorites on screen but be completely unable to use them. But this one sour note isn’t enough to tarnish how great Mortal Kombat X is.
The combination of sticking to the core values of the Mortal Kombat franchise, while also adding just the right amount of new makes this latest entry more than worthwhile. Mortal Kombat X shows just why this series has managed to stand the test of time as one of the premier fighting franchises available. It does a great job of not relying to much on nostalgia, and giving plenty of new while still remaining recognizable. The only question left to ask is:
“Who’s Next?”
If you’re picking up MKX, check out our useful Wiki for some handy tips, tricks and guides.
