Mortal Kombat dares to return to its roots, and the result is a great blend of the best aspects of all past games.
GAMEPLAY - The series returns to its roots by having 2-D battles rather than the Soul Calibur-style 3-D fights. This is just as enjoyable as it ever was, and there are also a few new features to this game to go along with the old. First, there are tag team fights, which are reminiscent of Marvel vs Capcom fights, as your partner can attack from the side lines or switch in on the fly. There are also new special grabs that result in massive damage once you've filled up a bar at the bottom of the screen. These are usually very brutal, and also very satisfying. Another thing left out was the variety of fighting styles each person had, but this doesn't take away from the fights at all. Otherwise this game has what you'd expect from a MK game: story mode, the Krypt, the old school tower mode, and much more. When it comes to fighting games, Mortal Kombat always has the total package, and this is especially relevant with the newest release in the series. - 8.5/10
STORY - The best part about the story mode here is that it is a retelling of the story that took place during the original tournament from the first game. All the characters return, along with a few familiar faces that weren't at the tournament originally, but are immediately recognizable. While it doesn't play out quite like the original story, it's still a lot of fun to see it unfold. I just wish there was more to it other than fight, watch cinematic, fight, watch cinematic, etc. What there is satisfies though, and a lot of long-time fans should appreciate the return to the series' roots with the story as well. - 8.5/10
GRAPHICS - Graphics aren't top notch, but they're not that bad at all either. They're a small step down from the very aesthetically-pleasing Marvel vs Capcom 3, so you shouldn't be disappointed here either. - 8/10
SOUND - The sound effects are probably the best part of this game, while the music doesn't stand out that much. The voice acting, unfortunately, hasn't gotten too much better since past games, but has improved nonetheless. Fans of the series shouldn't expect anything new or mind-blowing here, as it's what you would expect. - 7/10
LENGTH/REPLAY VALUE - The length and replay value really depends on how much you enjoy fighting games. Like past games of the series, you should have a good idea of what to expect here based on games that came before this one. In my opinion this is the best series of fighting games out there, but even it does get a little old after awhile. - 7/10
BOTTOM LINE - Mortal Kombat is a great retelling of the story that got the entire series started. Not only does it continue to be the best fighting series on the market, but it somehow manages to find a way to make you want to play each new game that comes out. While it doesn't feel entirely like an old school Mortal Kombat games, I think that the combination of the old and new aspects really combine to make a great package here. If you're a fan of this series or of fighting games, this is a definite must-have. - 8/10