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Review roundup: Mortal Kombat 11 – A worthy addition to the series

So ready to get my ass handed to me in this.

mortal kombat 11 showing off scorpion
Image: NetherRealm Studios

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While we had the chance to play a little Mortal Kombat 11 while at PAX this year, sadly, we didn’t get the chance to review the full game. Luckily, plenty of other outlets had the opportunity, and for the time being, we’ll have to live vicariously through their experiences with the title.

Created by NetherRealm Studios, Mortal Kombat 11 introduces some new characters with the main antagonist looking to reset the (admittedly convoluted) timeline in order to do…something. I don’t know, I’m here for the fatalities.

Let’s see what everyone is saying about Mortal Kombat 11.

The story of Mortal Kombat 11

kronika from mortal kombat 11

Pictured: Kronika (Image: NetherRealm Studios)

I’m no loremaster when it comes to Mortal Kombat games, but from my experience with recent titles, there is definitely an interesting story to be had. In MK 11, someone named Kronika is looking to change everything, including resetting the past.

GameSpot was a fan of the story, stating,  “It’s hard not to get excited about the story mode in a Netherrealm game given the studio’s history of crafting involved narratives, and Mortal Kombat 11 unsurprisingly delivers an entertaining and polished blockbuster-style cinematic experience with its tale of Kronika’s time-bending antics.”

While there are plenty of cutscenes and cinematics, fights are woven throughout the story to keep you engaged.

Ok, that’s cool, but what about the fighting?

mortal kombat 11 gameplay

Image: NetherRealm Studios

The Mortal Kombat series has always had interesting fighting mechanics, and it seems like MK 11 is no different. Running, a feature found in the last game, has been removed and combos have been dialed back a bit in favor of shorter, burst combos, according to Wccftech.

In addition to the changes above, MK 11 also introduces a few new attacks in the form of Crushing Blows and Fatal Blows. These can be great tide-turners and Newsweek breaks it down as such:

Crushing Blows happen during a match after your character performs an attack under specific conditions. Each fighter has their own special Crushing Blow conditions and some are general across every fighter. […] These Crushing Blows deliver more damage than usual and can juggle an enemy in the air, leaving them open for combos.

Fatal Blows are a cinematic combo sequence activated when your health is at 30 percent. By pressing L2 + R2, the attack is a perfect comeback move. However, once it lands once you won’t be able to do it again for the rest of the rounds so use it wisely.

Fatal Blows sound like a huge addition, and it will be interesting to see how these get used in gameplay, and especially in the tournament scene.

Digital Trends add to that, commenting on the great character selection, “Classic characters bring with them some familiarity, sticking to what they do best. Scorpion, for example, returns with his familiar spear and sword attacks to deliver satisfyingly fluid combinations in combat. Newcomers, on the other hand, deliciously shake up the formula. Geras’ time and matter bending attacks will change the way you think about spacing and distance in a fight.”

Game modes in MK 11

mortal kombat 11 fight scene

Image: NetherRealm Studios

So, now we know about the story and the fighting elements, but what about the content? All of the above is great, but what if you don’t want to spend all of your time playing online and prefer to enjoy the game on your own. Luckily, MK 11 has a handful of options that should satisfy most gamers.

You have the story mode, of course, the one mentioned above, but in addition to that, you have Klassic Towers. This mode allows you to play as any character on the roster with a unique story that ends with you taking on Kronika.

Towers of Time is also available, with Newsweek describing it as a “more ladder-style fights but with a twist. Each Tower has their own special gimmicks that offer more challenges. Some fights have projectiles thrown at you throughout the match while others give your opponent stronger attacks.”

To help with the increased difficulty, players can use “Konsumables” that they’ve gathered throughout their play time to help counter the increased difficulty found in the mode.

Overall impressions

After scouring many reviews this morning, the general consensus is that this is a great addition to the Mortal Kombat lineup. An interesting story, updated mechanics, plenty of characters (with more on the way according to leaks!), and a tutorial mode that is out of this world all make it a must-have for MK fans and fans of the genre.

Mortal Kombat 11 is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Excited to get your hands on the new Mortal Kombat? Have you played it yet? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Former KnowTechie editor.

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