Kombat outside the arena.

User Rating: 8 | Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks XBOX
"Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks" is Midway's third game to take Mortal Kombat and mix it with adventure. Unlike "Mythologies Sub Zero" and "Special Forces", "Shaolin Monks" is worth the time playing and the money spent on it. You can choose Liu Kang or Kung Lao to start this adventure (There are also two hidden fighters for adventure mode) that takes place between MK1 and MK2. The first world teaches you all you need to know, for the most part and you'll learn more as you go on.

You'll see lots of your favorite fighters from mostly MK2, and maybe a few from MK3 if you look hard enough. The action is great, lots of screams and moans from the enemies you fight and buckets of blood. There are at lest nine fatalities for Liu Kang and Kung Lao to use, but that's not all. There are even Multalities and a Brutality to finish off your enemies. Once you finish fighting a boss there is a special fatality that must to done to finish them off. If you miss that, the boss will get a little more health and you will have to try it again. There are even environment fatalities,but your will not get points for those.Even test your might is back, it mostly serves to pull leavers and open doors. The music fits fine, but the only flaw I can fine in this is the voice acting. If you played "Resident Evil" on PS1, well it like that. Some times just want is said is funny. I wish there was more emotion in the voice acting. The graphics are good and there is tons of extras to find and unlock.

The only unlockable I didn't like was MK2. I have MK2 is also on the "Midway Arcade Treasures 2", so it's kind of a cheap unlockable. I would of liked "Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3", but then MK2 was the best MK made in the 2D days. There is also a versus mode where you play as unlocked fighters from story mode. Which is ok, but not as good as the fighting games "Deadly Alliance" and "Deception". Some of the unlockables need to be unlocked through multi player, which is ok, as long as you don't have any busy friends. "Shaolin Monks" is just as fun playing alone as it is with a friend. For all fans of Mortal Kombat, this game belongs in your collection.