Mortal Kombat has always been one of those series that's been in the back of my mind despite my primarily hands-off approach to the series since its failed jump to 3D. Could be because I played the original trilogy to death on the SNES as a kid (and hey, I turned out pretty okay, so kindly choke on a sword, Jack Thompson!), but I've kind of always had a secret longing for the series to return to the gory—err—glory days of yore in order to realize some sort of true potential I recognized in it. I pride myself on having an instinct for this sort of thing.
A lot of people claimed this already happened with X's immediate predecessor and series reboot, but I was never convinced. Despite the gore factor, it still smacked of cheesy Saturday morning cartoon goofiness, with an unwelcome aftertaste of rehashed nostalgia pandering. Didn't help that the character models were still as clunky and poorly weighted as the first paltry 3D offerings. Long story short, it wasn't what I wanted out of a series revival. Years passed without incident, my soul unknowingly incomplete all the while. And then...
From the word go, Mortal Kombat X felt like exactly what I always wanted. Realistically-proportioned characters, uncompromising violence, deep gameplay and, rather miraculously, new characters that not only didn't suck, but some of which were on par with series stalwarts! I literally didn't think it possible. Erron Black alone makes up for decades of forgettable Black Dragons and Netherrealm servants! It just reeked of effort and freshness that instantly reawakened that sick, little blood-hungry demon child inside of me! And my life has been nothing short of better ever since.
Aside from looking awesome, the "bloody good time" tone is right on the money, instantly taking me back to stuff like MKII. It also helps that the script doesn't read like someone's amateurish reboot fanfiction. Every punch, every bone-shattering X-ray attack, every nauseating Fatality, oozes belief and understanding of characters both new and old that feels truly genuine. That's what I truly wanted. Christmas came early in Our Lord Raiden's year 2015. Deck the Shaolin temples with balls of crimson red (before the daughter of Cage obliterates them, naturally)!
MOOORRRRTAL KOMEBAAAACK!
Mortal Kombat has always been one of those series that's been in the back of my mind despite my primarily hands-off approach to the series since its failed jump to 3D. Could be because I played the original trilogy to death on the SNES as a kid (and hey, I turned out pretty okay, so kindly choke on a sword, Jack Thompson!), but I've kind of always had a secret longing for the series to return to the gory—err—glory days of yore in order to realize some sort of true potential I recognized in it. I pride myself on having an instinct for this sort of thing.
A lot of people claimed this already happened with X's immediate predecessor and series reboot, but I was never convinced. Despite the gore factor, it still smacked of cheesy Saturday morning cartoon goofiness, with an unwelcome aftertaste of rehashed nostalgia pandering. Didn't help that the character models were still as clunky and poorly weighted as the first paltry 3D offerings. Long story short, it wasn't what I wanted out of a series revival. Years passed without incident, my soul unknowingly incomplete all the while. And then...
From the word go, Mortal Kombat X felt like exactly what I always wanted. Realistically-proportioned characters, uncompromising violence, deep gameplay and, rather miraculously, new characters that not only didn't suck, but some of which were on par with series stalwarts! I literally didn't think it possible. Erron Black alone makes up for decades of forgettable Black Dragons and Netherrealm servants! It just reeked of effort and freshness that instantly reawakened that sick, little blood-hungry demon child inside of me! And my life has been nothing short of better ever since.
Aside from looking awesome, the "bloody good time" tone is right on the money, instantly taking me back to stuff like MKII. It also helps that the script doesn't read like someone's amateurish reboot fanfiction. Every punch, every bone-shattering X-ray attack, every nauseating Fatality, oozes belief and understanding of characters both new and old that feels truly genuine. That's what I truly wanted. Christmas came early in Our Lord Raiden's year 2015. Deck the Shaolin temples with balls of crimson red (before the daughter of Cage obliterates them, naturally)!