Mortal Kombat PS Vita review

It kind of threw me off that this one wasn't numbered or didn't have a tag-line at the bottom

So this game has been out a while. I know, we're late to this party. Honestly, though, I really think there's something to this game and that people need to give it a shot. Unfortunately, my view of this game on the PlayStation 3 was tainted after a six-hour play session that resulted in my hatred of it, but coming to it now several months (actually more like a year) later, I can look at it with fresh eyes.

If you don't know anything about the "Mortal Kombat" franchise, here goes: Our world of Earthrealm must combat the realm of Outworld in a tournament called Mortal Kombat, and if Outworld wins ten straight times then our world is absorbed into theirs. Boom. That's really all you need to know.

The big question is how could they have possibly made so many games up to this point if that was the sole premise. Though that becomes a silly argument as people can just look at "Street Fighter," "Dead or Alive," or my personal favorite "Bloody Roar" (so old school, I know). What is impressive is what "Mortal Kombat" does this time around.


Now, if you've played the PS3 version of this game you really know everything I'm about to write, but for the sake of argument let's pretend that you haven't, and those of you who actually haven't don't even need to pretend.

There is a story mode to the game, regular ladder and tag team tournament fighting, a challenge tower, training and multiplayer. That's a lot in a fighting game. More than "Marvel vs. Capcom" actually.

Not one of Raiden's better days.

Story mode is something fans will get a kick out of because the plot of this "Mortal Kombat" revolves around the thunder god Raiden sending a message to himself in the past to change the events in history so that Shao Kahn (the big bad evil guy) doesn't take over Earthrealm.

You literally start from what was the first storyline in "Mortal Kombat 1" (I'm not sure if they were numbered in that fashion but for the sake of plot development we'll say they are) all the way to the current game.

For someone like me who hasn't played this franchise religiously and only seen those terrifically awful movies, this was a much better story and fun way to learn who each of the characters are and why they're a part of this universe. You very literally get to play as a majority of the cast and the game gets progressively harder as you move through the tale of the brave warriors defending Earthrealm. It's about 16 chapters and each chapter is about six or so fights long so it's a good, long campaign.

To vary up the combat, you'll fight against tag teams all by your lonesome and at one point against a host of enemies without your health regenerating at the end of each round. The game really tries to test your skills and takes you through so many different characters that it's a perfect introduction to the controller scheme and fighting styles of a majority of the characters. You'll find that through the story you can actually find a character that's right for you.

Hey look! Two Power Rangers, the bad guy from "Big Trouble in Little China" and a monster!

The challenge towers are mission-based combat situations where you'll have to perform a specific attack or win a bout with a certain handicap on you. This, coupled with the story, is probably the best way to learn how to play if you want to hone your skills before going online for some multiplayer. And I hear that multiplayer community for "MK" is tough, so watch out.

Ladder fighting is essentially the bread and butter of "Mortal Kombat." You pick a character and fight your way to Shao Kahn at the end of a traditional "Mortal Kombat." Each character has their own unique ending as well, so that'll be fun for completionists and those who are interested in the backgrounds of all the characters, all of which you can read at the Nekropolis in the extras menu.

A match made in Hell.

Speaking of extras, there's a whole slew of them to find should you collect enough Koins in game through the story and whatnot. The unlockables include art, alternate costumes, music, codes to change the gameplay up in silly or interesting ways and everyone's favorite: Fatality moves for all characters.

Oh, and let's not forget that everyone's favorite god of war, Kratos, is in the game. And to top it all off he's accompanied by the hilariously scary and somewhat out of place Freddy Krueger from "A Nightmare on Elm Street." I suppose this is Sony and Warner Bros.'s way of putting their two cents into a NetherRelam production.

Honestly, the best part of this game is the fighting, or the Kombat as it's called because anything spelled correctly with a "c" is just plain wrong in this universe. The controls don't seem to be much changed from the games that have come before it and Scorpion still shouts "GET OVER HERE" when he launches his awesome hand-thingies. Some of the moves can be super-charged after successful combos and blocks have built-up power, but the real treats are the X-ray moves and Fatalities.

Okay, Reptile just stabbed Johnny Cage in the eyes with his fingers. Ew.

X-Ray moves are unique for each character, and some are proximity sensitive while others are reactionary. The main point is these attacks deal enough damage to knock out a third of your opponent's health bar, and, boy, do they look like they hurt. How badly? Well the game x-rays the body of your opponent to show you just what you're breaking or slicing open.

In Sub Zero's case, it shows him reaching into his opponent's stomach to freeze an organ and crush it in his hand, and then he headbutts them for good measure. Ouch.

Fatalities are just as gruesome as ever, but you only start out with one for each character and you have to unlock the others with the Koins. Who could resist scavenging Koins after watching Johnny Cage pull someone's head off or Kung Lao slice a man in half with his hat?

Now, the game itself is a solid 8 or 9. It's not perfect but it's pretty dang good if you're looking for a game on the PlayStation Vita. The graphics in the fights definitely took a beating compared to the PS3 and you can totally see the marked difference, which is a shame as the graphics in "Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom" seem to be hardly changed.

I'm just really impressed at the amount of game that there is here. I mean, story mode, regular fights, challenges, training, unlockables, multiplayer...It's a full game. If more fighting games were like this I'd probably be more inclined to buy them and check them out.

"Mortal Kombat" shows what a lot of work can do for a game that's just about hitting people and pulling their spines out. A story that is fun and longer than some first-person shooter campaigns coupled with competitive fighting gameplay and unique controls for each character promote a level of skill with intricacy and attention to detail.

Developers should takes notes from NetherRealm and the work that they do. Think about how popular this franchise is and how many "Mortal Kombat" games there have been over the years. Obviously, they're doing something right.

And if you don't play this game, NetherRealm will send Raiden to your house to do this to your head.