#Mortal kombat 11 review

[longpub]

Mortal kombat 11 review

#Mortal kombat 11 review series#

A battle erupts in Kotal's Koliseum until D'Vorah transports Baraka, Skarlet, Shao Kahn, Black, and Kano to her hive, recruiting them into Kronika's fold. Meanwhile, Kotal Kahn, the current emperor of Outworld, attempts to execute Shao Kahn loyalist Kollector, but is interrupted by a time storm that brings Shao Kahn, Skarlet, Baraka, and younger versions of Kano, Erron Black, Jade, Raiden, Kitana, Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Jax, Scorpion, Kabal, and Kung Lao from the past and erases Dark Raiden from existence. Kronika creates an alliance with revenants Liu Kang and Kitana, now rulers of the Netherrealm, immediately afterwards. The team succeeds in destroying the Netherrealm castle, though at the cost of Sonya's life. Two years later, a Special Forces strike team led by Sonya Blade, Cassie Cage, and Jacqui Briggs attack the Netherrealm, with Raiden providing a diversion to aid them. This latter act inspires Kronika, Shinnok's mother and the keeper of time, to rewrite history in order to undo Raiden's interference and erase him from existence. Plot įollowing Shinnok's defeat, Dark Raiden plans to protect Earthrealm by destroying all of its enemies and making an example of Shinnok decapitating him. However, unlike Injustice 2, in Mortal Kombat 11 the characters' appearance does not determine their abilities, allowing the players to create custom move lists independently of their character's appearance. Each character has an initial set of outfits, weapons and moves, which can be further customized by the player. Mortal Kombat 11 introduces a Custom Variation feature which offers a character customization system similar to the Gear system in NetherRealm Studios' previous DC Comics fighting game Injustice 2, improving over the Variation system featured in Mortal Kombat X. Another returning finisher is Mercy, last seen in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, where the winning player can opt to revive their opponent, giving them a small amount of life.

#Mortal kombat 11 review series#

Also new to the series is a Flawless Block mechanic, which allows for a comeback window after blocking an attack with precise timing. Krushing Blows are a special cinematic variation of a given special move, triggered when certain requirements are met, like most Brutalities in the previous game. Like X-ray moves, Fatal Blows deal a large amount of damage, but unlike them, they only become available when a player's health drops below 30%, and can only be performed once per match. Fatal Blows are special moves similar to the X-ray moves in Mortal Kombat X. Alongside the returning Fatalities, Brutalities, Stage Fatalities, Friendships and Quitalities, new gameplay features are introduced, such as Fatal Blows and Krushing Blows. Like the previous three games in the series, including MK Mobile, Mortal Kombat 11 is a 2.5D fighting game. Noob Saibot’s Fatal Blow "Together Again" An enhanced version of the game containing all downloadable content up to that point, titled Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate, was released for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on November 17, 2020. This expansion includes an additional story mode, three new characters, new stages, and the return of stage fatalities and the friendship finishing move. Upon release, the console versions of Mortal Kombat 11 received generally favorable reviews, which praised the gameplay, story, graphics, and improved netcode, but it received criticism for the presence of microtransactions and over-reliance on grinding.Īn expansion for the game was released on May 26, 2020, entitled Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath. The game was released on Stadia on November 19, 2019. Announced at The Game Awards 2018, the game was released in North America and Europe on April 23, 2019, for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One-with the exception of Europe's Switch version which was released on May 10, 2019. Running on a heavily modified version of Unreal Engine 3, It is the eleventh main installment in the Mortal Kombat series and a sequel to 2015's Mortal Kombat X. Mortal Kombat 11 is a 2019 fighting game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros.

[criminalmutantsins]

My Thoughts on MK1 Hanzo

(Spoiler Warning: Smoke’s Tower Ending is discussed)

I saw Smoke’s tower ending and was surprised to see Hanzo in the new timeline, let alone as a child. Although I’m open to how the writers will handle his character, I’m kind of disappointed that they went this route. When I learned that Kuai Liang would be Scorpion in the new timeline, I expected Hanzo to either not even exist or live a nice life with Harumi and their son. Instead, Kuai Liang is married to Harumi and Hanzo is much younger than them, which is so weird. I really hoped Hanzo would have a happy life and only be involved in the games through mentions at least.  Also, this decision paints Liu Kang in a bad light. It’s no secret Liu Kang made sure his allies had a good life while making some of his enemies’ lives (Shang Tsung and Quan Chi) insignificant to prevent them from turning into their past counterparts. So, it makes me wonder why Liu Kang didn’t think to give Hanzo a good life or at least watch over him. It’s shown that Hanzo is a starving orphan forced to steal for essentials. I have no doubt Liu Kang knows about Hanzo’s past since he met the older and kinder Scorpion in MK11 and Raiden has disclosed Hanzo’s past in MK 9. Plus when Liu Kang fused with the Hourglass, he most likely became aware of what happened in MK9 and MKX. He gave Shao Kahn the chance to be a better man by being the Kingdom’s general- a risk that didn’t pay off, yet didn’t give Hanzo what he always desired- his wife, son, and the Shirai-Ryu. It feels so out of character for Liu Kang to not make sure Hanzo had a good chance at life. 

If I had the opportunity to write Hanzo’s character, it would’ve been very different. I would’ve made him a former Lin Kuei member(he would be 5 or more years older than Bi-Han) who held the Scorpion title until he retired to Japan- where met Harumi and had their son. Hanzo would’ve also been the one to train Kuai Liang in his fire powers in the latter’s childhood. In his honor, Kuai would take the Scorpion mantle after Hanzo retires. Hanzo could also help Kuai and Smoke form the Shirai-Ryu but Harumi helps in recruiting and training while he takes care of their young son. 

Though, I still hold some faith that NRS will write the new Hanzo well. I guess I’m just disappointed because I wanted Hanzo to finally live a happy life where his family stays alive. He was one of my favorites in the MK9-MK11 era so I can’t help but feel a connection towards him.

[imperotenebre]

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Aftermath PS5 gameplay 4K - prime impressioni

Una degna conseguenza

[zetamagnus101]

New Spawn review is up for everyone!

https://youtu.be/jvUs6C3kXRo

[cruiseskybird]

Mortal kombat 11 switch review

Also, the Krypt looks like an absolute mess, with PlayStation One-era fog and a complete lack of a skybox.īeyond pure looks, the character-specific tutorials are missing (there’s a placeholder that says “Coming Soon”), moves that can do a Krushing Blow have their requirements left out of the movelist for some reason, and the competitive variations for each character in both Tournament mode and Ranked are missing, with the variations in tournament simply replaced by a generic variation that just says “Default.

Category: Video Games Tags: Mortal Kombat 11, Mortal Kombat 11 for Nintendo Switch. Environments look low-res, with muddy textures and extremely basic lighting effects. Mortal Kombat 11 for Nintendo Switch NEW and sealed. Mortal Kombat 11 is a snappier, sharper-looking game on next-gen consoles. Unlike the Wii U, the Nintendo Switch has gained massive support from publishers like Bethesda, Epic Games, and Warner Brother Games. Instead of the characters, the biggest sacrifices made to the visuals were mostly in the look of the stages. Continue after the break for the original Mortal Kombat 11 review. Review: Mortal Kombat 11 (Nintendo Switch) With the Nintendo Switch came a brand new era for third-party AAA developer studios and publishers. Obviously it looks better on more powerful game consoles, but you cant. It runs at a mostly steady 60FPS character models look great, albeit a bit fuzzy and the stellar art design stands out even on the substantially less powerful hardware. This is a very fun game with a pretty decent story.

“The general graphics look expectedly worse, but even at its base level Mortal Kombat 11 is an absolutely gorgeous game and a lot of that does come through on the Switch version.

[epicrox]

Till The End Of The Moon Review - Episode 1 part 1

WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW

PARTS: 1.1 | 1.2 |

This is mostly for me to look back on and see the moments that I caught my eye. Nothing analytical. I offer nothing to the table

I'm also a visual person so there's a lot of screenshots x

I'm so glad the opening credit is animated. Usually I have to put my phone down to enjoy the theme song without being spoiled. Plus it's so pretty

2. There's so much CGI, it's making my head hurt.

3. EYELINER!

4. Ahh its Wang Yi Fei! I can totally see her and Mobei-Jun drinking together and talking about serving their demonic rulers. Maybe rant a little to each other

5. Some of these moments give me sci-fi vibes. Is this not technology?

6. Can be easily mistaken for an intergalactic overlord. Can he be categorised as one?

7. That's basically an alien invasion

8. Ooooh magical sniper

9. Luo Yunxi always looks so ethereal but now in a demonic way

10. I'd now like to congratulate Tantai Jin for becoming a honorary member of the “Cold Duke of the North” club by saying this singular word when the FL (Li Su Su) did something cool:

11. OMG I never noticed he had highlights in his hair

12. Wang Yi Fei looks kinda creepy in the background

13. I really like this screenshot of him

14. Cinematic shots + epic/rock music

15. Who's that character that gives another character a kiss on the forehead to protection them? I feel like Li Su Su must've gotten that when she was born or she is an ancient creature that has been reincarnated. I think.

16. For some reason I was thinking about Glinda. But she didn't kiss Dorothy on the forehead did she? Just told her to wear the red slippers.

17. He's also wearing some kind of lipstick. Probably everyone's "cult favourite" Clinique Black Honey.

18. Bleed on it!

19. Magical Object - The Mirror of the Past - Holds some importance - can bring down the Devil God.

20. Currently holding perhaps a celestial being or just a talking object. The Dispatcher of the story according to Vladimir Propp's theory.

21. Thank you GCSE Media for that little nugget of knowledge

22. Did not expect him to be bullied in his past life.

23. Now sir, Dispatcher guy (being in the object) never said you had to kill Tantai Jin

24. Li Su Su's father knows something about her unique forehead mark/protection. My guesses are that he'll tell Su Su while he's dying.

25. FINISH HIM! (Mortal Kombat Voice)

26. Maybe he won't be the one to tell her

27. My girl just said she's going to kill you and THIS is your reaction:

28. Like he's just standing there

29. Tantai Jin: (confusingly looking around) ...wtf just happened.

30. I like how he looks back at where Li Su Su was levitating seconds before getting zapped somewhere. Gives me the feeling that he might also travel back in time to stop her. Might disrupt Ye Xi Wu (Li Su Su) and pre Devil God Tantai Jin's relationship. Have a love triangle with himself. He might be jealous their relationship, wanting her for himself. Similar to that one extra scene in SVSSS. Just a thought. The background music adds to the tension.

31. I keep comparing him to Luo Binghe like I did in my first post about this drama 1 or 2 years ago. There are a few similarities between them as the drama continues.

I'm splitting Episode 1 into 2 parts cuz I said too much for the first 27 minutes of this drama. The first episode felt too rushed to me. Maybe that's just me but the pacing gets better afterwards.

Hopefully I write less in my other review posts. I struggle with being concise so probably not.

[alln64games]

Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero 

NA release: 11th December 1997

PAL release: 12th February 1998

JP release: N/A

Developer: Midway, Avalanche Software

Publisher: Midway (NA), GT (PAL)

N64 Magazine Score: 9%

Traditional fighting games like Mortal Kombat aren’t platformers. In order to combine Mortal Kombat with a platformer, you’ll need to put in some serious work to bring out the strengths of both genres. Making B turn the character around does not solve any issues with trying to make a platformer out of Mortal Kombat. On top of being ridiculous for a platform game, it also makes fighting a nightmare.

With the hassle of using up to jump, levels need to be properly designed around this compromised way of platforming. MK Mythologies doesn’t cater for this, though, instead taking the most annoying tropes of the worst NES platformers and adds some of its own.

After you punch up the first enemy, you’ll walk down a corridor and be squashed by a pillar and be instantly killed. Fighting past the first enemy again, you’ll time your run and dash past it – only to be killed by a second pillar. The third time, you fight again and try to stop before the second pillar. It will clip you, but you’ll be alive – but the recoil will send you under the first pillar and you’ll be crushed and killed again.

The game is a trial-and-error experience, getting a bit further each time. I used save states pretty quickly but it was still incredibly frustrating. And that’s just the first level – the second is much, much worse.

Level two consists of lots of tiny platforms. The screen is too far zoomed in to see much, and the camera doesn’t scroll how you would like, so you have to make many blind jumps. Some platforms will also collapse. Another really frustrating things are platforms that move towards and away from the camera, so you can only jump on them when they’re in “line” with the 2D aspects – which is quite difficult to see.

As you slowly progress, you’ll encounter doors that need keys. You’ll need to explore elsewhere in the level to find the keys. Sometimes, these paths are hidden off screen. For example, there’s a bridge that collapses when you stand on it, get past and carry on and you’ll find a locked door. To find the key, you have to jump into the empty space under the collapsing bridge – something that usually kills you.

Oh, and sometimes getting to the door before finding the key for it means that you can’t go back to where the key is, so you have to die.

Even using cheats, I couldn’t bear to finish Sub Zero. The level layouts are atrocious and there’s really no enjoyment to get out of the game and progression just feels like you accidentally stumbled on the correct path and doesn’t feel rewarding.

This isn’t just one of the worst games on the N64 – it’s one of the worst 2D platformers.

Although we normally take pride in completing games before reviewing them at N64 magazine, I abandoned MK Mythologies: Sub Standard on level two, and would sooner be impaled on a spike than play it any more. It’s awful.

- Jonathan Davies, N64 Magazine #11

Remake or Remaster?

While making games to expand on the characters of Mortal Kombat is a good idea, every aspect of MK Mythologies would need to be completely redone to have anything decent.

Official Ways to get the game

There’s no official way to play Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero 

[owlixx]

Arcade Review

I attended VCF Midwest 18 (retro computing festival) in Chicago with my dad this last weekend and we stopped by the Galloping Ghost Arcade. I jotted down a list of the games we played and figured I’d flesh that out with some notes/context for tumblr.

1. Tron - they had both the original machine and the Discs of Tron machine. Considering we had both brought Tron shirts, this was a hit with us.

2. Qix - I’m familiar with the “cut off the box while something bounces around in it” genre and I had heard this name before but I don’t think I’d ever connected those dots before. I wanna play some more of this one sometime.

3. Asteroids - a classic and not much to add, but the vector graphics were so bright and vivid here that it really looked cool. and the momentum feels pretty good too on the ship.

4. Street fighter/mortal Kombat - we played MK2 and 4 which was good fun, I’d like to play more of all of them. And we did one round of SF1-4 which was super fun. I wish it was easier to get into fighting games. And that I didn’t have to pick one main!

5. Commander havoc - this really impressed with the vivid vector graphics and interesting track-cylinder controls. I didn’t even get to the platforming part until playing later in the Atari collection on my vita! Which emulates the track-cylinder using the touch screen which is a nice touch, never heard of this game before

6. Battle zone - again, this is familiar territory but playing with the real headset and joysticks really elevates it.

7. Batman forever - this one was just silly, the photo scans of the actors looks so goofy on top of the movie already being goofy

8. Berzerk - a favorite of my dad’s

9. Wizards of Wor - this one played like Pac-Man if Pac-Man has a gun, really wasn’t bad despite never hearing of it before

10. Dragon’s lair - got further than I think I ever have before, new goal of mine is to actually beat this game or at least watch the full “movie”

11. Capcom vs - always fun until the game actually starts lol, love the rosters but I suck at these even more than normal fighting games. Highlight was my dad recognizing a couple character from tatsunoko and promptly kicking my butt with them

12. Dungeon and dragons hack and slash - already own this at home but always fun to see, I really ought to beat my copy sometime with someone else

13. Virtual fighter/tekken - again, takes me back to a simpler time but I need a local player 2 for these to be fun

14. Darius - I think we played the oldest and newest one. Neat novelty for the wide wide screen. On the old one, you can tell it’s a CRT in the middle flanked by mirrors reflecting CRTs on the bottom of the machine. I have burst on my vita and never played it before, it’s cool to see how arcade accurate it is now!

15. Silent scope - always gotta pop my head in here because it’s a fun novelty, I should try the home port someday for fun

16. La machine guns rage of the machines - I have this on Wii but it was fun to play the arcade version! I was surprised by how strong the rumble was. I need to play this, NY gunblade, and ghost squad more at home with my legit Wii zappers

17. Aerosmith - never knew this existed and boy is it buckwild and kind of hilarious. Never would’ve expected the Aerosmith game to be a rail shooter

18. Moonwalker - we played this for about 30 seconds before sharing nervous laughter and moving on

19. Journey - we called this one out ahead of time thinking it surely wouldn’t be here. Plays like tron where it’s actually 5 minigames featuring poorly digitized heads of the band members. Pretty funny

20. Resident evil gun survivor 2 - this was really curious! You aim with a lighting but also move by using the light gun as a joystick. Pretty neat but the multiplayer didn’t work for us. Looks like there’s a home port exclusive to EU/JP? I’d love to play more of this oddity

21. Castlevania arcade? - I think this was just a port of Castlevania 1 but still interesting

22. Super Mario bros versus - couldn’t tell if this was different from Mario 1 at all functionally but playing with an arcade joystick and buttons was neat!

23. Mario bros - I’m so used to the remake included with GBA Mario games that the original makes me embarrass myself when I play it

24. Donkey kong - I need to actually clear all the stages at least once

25. Sinistar - my dad clutched a win against the S man himself, kinda neat how this game has multiple phases and free movement

26. Star Wars arcade - we played a super low poly one because it was 2 player with a much higher poly one next to us but single player only. Also played a ROTJ speeder bike game with neat handlebar controls

27. Defender/Stargate - a classic, I need to get decent at this one sometime

28. Tempest - TxK was the first game I got on my vita and I didn’t really get it, but now I get it more and the graphics really impresses. I’d like to play more versions of this game

29. Pac-Man/mania - a staple like bread or eggs. Maybe someday I’ll play all them in order

30. Joust/2 - this was super fun. Really shines in PvPvE with an uncertain alliance. Transforming the mount in the sequel is neat, had never seen it.

31. Warlords - 4 player pong basically, but also reminded me a bit of boom blox. Keeping an eye out for this one now.

32. Night driver - never heard of it before but kind of fun

33. Pole position - feels so much better with a real wheel and pedal

34. Qbert - terrible at it but cute

35. Spy Hunter 2 - pretty fun in 2 player mode actually

36. Speed racer - this really surprised, this was super fun. Jumping over my dad was the highlight until we both collectively ran off a cliff and quit

37. Gauntlet dark legacy - somehow plays way worse than the GameCube version? But fun seeing this guy here

38. Robocop/2 - first one sucked, second one relatively impressed especially with the Wild Guns-Esque shooting gallery minigame

39. Contra - we had just played the DS Contra 4 so we had to play this one for comparison. As hard as I remember, especially for him lol. Also played an odd 2.5D contra in Japanese. I got the feeling it was a phone game port and googling now confirms yes, it is, called Contra Evolution

40. Ikari warriors - fun to play because of the unique twisting joystick. My dad lamented that we didn’t get to the tanks

41. Crystal castles - my dad showed off a secret warp trick on the first try that I managed to recreate on my vita port that uses the touch screen as a trackball. Way cooler with trackpad than joystick like I’d played before. Also always think of the musical artist

42. Cyberball - hot nonsense, he crushed me. Fun dual screen corner setup

43. Sonic the fighters - I had thought it would be fun if they had this one and they did! Didn’t play long but just fun to see it show up

44. Segasonic - this was my wildest guess as to what could even appear here, very happy to see it! My only chance to ever really play this game. Sadly, had a rude guest next ti me during it

45. Yi are king fu - this was high on my dad’s list and did in fact appear, he blazed through the first five levels quickly. I’d like to try and play this a bit more

46. Ring king - boxing game my dad was looking for, we really struggled to get started with the controls

47. Punch out - it was neat to get to play the arcade original with the wireframe graphics like his alternate costumes in smash bros

48. Judge dredd - this one was just kinda funny, classic stiff digitized photo graphics ala mortal kombat

49. 3D xevious - had never seen this, kinda neat

50. Super puzzle fighter - a favorite of my mother’s, fun to see the cabinet version. Especially since the XBLA port is weirdly compromised in some ways

51. Space invaders - this one was fun because it had a physical background graphic that the game sprites seemed to hover above, which was much more impressive than seeing just the game sprites in isolation

52. Mega man power battle - I had beaten both of these before on the capcom arcade collection for $1.99 a pop, but playing and seeing a real cabinet was a real treat

53. Paperboy - I always associated this game with the NES but the arcade version with a unique handlebar controller is a lot more charming. Still far too hard.

54. Pit fighter - so bad it’s good, this was on my dad’s list

55. Quake - this was a curious one, having to aim and move with just arcade buttons

56. Star Trek - pretty cute vector game, the Split View of first persons and top down is pretty neat

57. Cliff Hanger - fascinatingly, a laserdisc game in the style of Dragon’s Lair but repurposing clips from Lupin III without advertising itself as such.

58. Wrestlemania - not my first time playing this one, but always fun to see the super over the top moves

59. Rampart - one of my dad’s favorites, admittedly kind of advanced for the time with the base building in between rounds. Kind of an addicting gameplay loop if I am being honest

60. Quantum - super cute vector game with trackball that plays like Pokémon ranger where you have to draw circles around objects. Pretty good game feel, curious about this one

Didn’t get to play:

Popeye - favorite of my dad’s, screen broke

Star Wars episode 4 - similar

Mk3 - working but poor screen, my favorite MK

Soul calibur - the only had 2 and we ended up skipping it anyways

Silent hill - beautifully giant machine but was either down for repair or occupied

Monkey ball - had that silly banana joystick but down for repair

[teathattast]

Tea's Game Reviews #001

NBA 2k23 (PC)

Alright so NBA 2k23 2nd impressions,

To preface, I'm not much into sports. I can enjoy basketball if I decide to watch, but I don't go out of my way to watch or play the games. This was on sale for like $10 on Steam.

Hopping in there's a bit of a learning curve, especially on PC, but once you get the hang of the mechanics it's pretty cool. General movement is clunky. Story mode seems entertaining, although I've yet to actually play it aside from the intro. Premise is you get drafted to the team of your choice and people aren't happy you were picked over another popular college player.

Lots of cool little features like a shoe creator, clothing stores in the plaza (lobby), gym training mechanics, headphones option to listen to the impressive, multiple in game music playlists while completing quests/waiting for matches, tattoos, a barber, etc. Steam reviews complain of cheaters online, but that's to be expected with multi-player games these days.

A major selling point is the eclectic mix of big and small artists like J Cole, Megan Thee Stallion, Polo G, Lil Baby, Drake, house music, indie tunes and others creating a familiar atmosphere that sets the tone and keeps the game interesting.

Character customization is decent. Face scanning app won't even open, so character creation is necessary. Clothing, tattoos, gear, etc are pretty expensive, which opens the door for microtransactions. Not sure how easy it is to earn in game currency as I've not played much yet, but it's possible to earn. Character stat customization is extensive combined with the ability to create your dream team.

Only match I played was the tutorial against an NPC for a quest. Tried playing an online match but it took too long to start, so I left to play Mortal Kombat 11. Will possibly do a 3rd impressions post but maybe not idk. Hope you enjoyed :)

Hours logged: 3

Graphics: 8/10

Sound Design: 6/10

Music: 10/10

Plot: TBD

Overall Rating: 7/10

[kosmikkrueger]

HELLO NEW FRIENDS!!

Hi there! I don't know if an introduction is something people typically do for things like this, but I felt like it was necessary given as I plan on posting things like reviews and opinions here.

My name is Jen, but I typically go by (and prefer) Kosmik. I'm 28 years old (29 in December), and have an 8-year-old daughter. I've been gaming for 2 decades, and my daughter is growing up learning how important and helpful video games can be.

My first console was playing on my dad's N64, but my first one that I owned myself was my light blue GameBoy Advance SP I got for my 10th birthday. When I was 12, my grandparents bought my brother and I a GameCube, and we played that thing for YEARS. We still have it, actually, and it's still in working condition. Since then, I've played on and owned an Xbox, PS3, PSP, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series S.

Some of my favorite games are Skyrim, Resident Evil 4, Far Cry 5, Call Of Duty: Warzone, The Dark Pictures Anthology, and Mortal Kombat 11. That's not to say I'm necessarily GOOD at them, but between the memories of multiplayer and the storylines in most of them, all of these hold a very special place in my heart.

I plan on using this platform to mainly post my opinions and reviews about video games, and maybe to spark some discussions on occasion. I stream 2-3 days a week, and all of those can be found on my twitch over at Twitch.tv/kosmikkrueger. I'm more than happy to discuss anything I post here over on my twitch when I'm live, and I'm more than happy to answer any questions dropped into my ask box or sent to me on Twitter, where my handle is the same as here. I hope to talk to you guys soon!!

[elen-000]

Mortal Kombat: New Era

“Mortal Kombat 11” is the eleventh main installment in the iconic Mortal Kombat series, developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Released on April 23, 2019, the game is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, and Stadia, with the Switch version in Europe launching on May 10, 2019.

Reception and Expansions

The game launched to generally favorable reviews, with praise directed at its gameplay, story, and graphics, as well as improvements in netcode. However, it faced criticism for its microtransactions and grinding mechanics. The game was further enriched by its expansion, Aftermath, released on May 26, 2020, which added a new story mode, three characters, new stages, and brought back Stage Fatalities and Friendships. An enhanced edition, Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate, was released on November 17, 2020, featuring all downloadable content up to that point for newer consoles. A sequel and series reboot, Mortal Kombat 1, launched on September 19, 2023.

Gameplay Innovations

Mortal Kombat 11 continues the series' 2.5D fighting tradition and introduces new gameplay mechanics. Players can utilize Fatal Blows and Krushing Blows, which are powerful moves triggered under specific conditions. Fatal Blows, available only when health drops below 30%, deliver high damage and can be performed once per match. Krushing Blows, on the other hand, are devastating hits with dramatic visuals and substantial damage. The game also features a Flawless Block mechanic, rewarding precise blocking timing with a chance for a counterattack. The return of the Mercy move allows players to revive their opponent after a victory, adding a twist to the traditional finishing moves.

The Kustom Variation feature offers extensive character customization, letting players modify characters' appearance and move lists. This system, akin to the Gear system in Injustice 2, provides deeper personalization without affecting a character’s abilities. Cross-play was introduced for online modes, though it remains in beta and does not include Nintendo Switch, PC, or Stadia.

Plot Summary

Mortal Kombat 11 picks up after the defeat of Shinnok, with Dark Raiden deciding to eradicate Earthrealm’s enemies. This drastic action prompts Kronika, the keeper of time, to rewrite history and erase Raiden. As time shifts, characters from the past and future clash, leading to alliances and betrayals. A special forces team kedai168, led by Sonya Blade and Cassie Cage, attempts to combat the chaos, leading to numerous confrontations and shifting alliances between Outworld’s factions.

The storyline delves into the conflicts triggered by Kronika’s time manipulation, including battles with revenants, cyberized enemies, and other classic villains. Key characters like Liu Kang and Raiden confront their fates, while new alliances form and betrayals unfold.

Aftermath Expansion

Following Kronika's defeat, Liu Kang and Raiden attempt to restore history but are interrupted by Shang Tsung, Fujin, and Nightwolf. Shang Tsung reveals that the Hourglass cannot alter history without the Crown of Souls. The expansion includes a new narrative where Shang Tsung's plans lead to additional betrayals and power struggles. He ultimately gains control of Kronika's powers, setting up a climactic battle with Fire God Liu Kang.

In the final showdown, Liu Kang battles Shang Tsung, who seeks to reshape history. Depending on the outcome, players experience different epilogues, including a canon ending that paves the way for future developments in the Mortal Kombat universe.

Mortal Kombat 11 delivers a rich blend of classic and innovative fighting mechanics, with a compelling storyline and deep customization options that continue to evolve the franchise.

[beracun]

Kembali ke Mortal Kombat (One)

Entah kenapa, mungkin dalam 4 tahun terakhir konsep multiverse banyak diadopsi di dunia pop culture. Kalo saya tidak salah ingat, mungkin yang pertama kali mempopulerkannya adalah MCU dengan Infinity War-nya, tentunya juga sang bebuyutan DC juga tidak mau kalah dan menggunakannya dalam film The Flash, hingga film drama seperti Everything Everywhere All At Once pun mengadopsi konsep ini. Sampai yang baru saja di video game yang belum lama ini saya beli, Mortal Kombat One, turut ikut serta menggunakan konsep multi semesta ini.

Terakhir kali saya menikmati rilisan game Mortal Kombat adalah pada edisi Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1995). Sebagai anak SD pada saat game itu dirilis, saya sangat menikmati perubahan desain karakter dari seri Mortal Kombat sebelumnya, selain itu ada perasaan takjub saat memainkan game yang mempertemukan konsep modern, purba, dan fantasi tersebut. Setelahnya, ada masa dimana saya menjadi sangat anti Mortal Kombat. Mungkin karena kesadisannya yang makin ke sini makin berlebihan yang mengganggu sensibilitas seorang Pisces seperti saya. Mortal Kombat sendiri juga adalah IP yang diciptakan orang-orang barat yang seperti sedang mencoba menciptakan kisah mitologi timur versi mereka sendiri, selalu ada rasa aneh melihatnya. Namun jika mau melihatnya dari angle yang lain, mungkin saya bisa menilai bahwa Mortal Kombat adalah sebuah hasil karya dari orang-orang yang sedang bermain-main dengan konsep. Menembus batas-batas budaya sekaligus menguji sampai mana imajinasi brutal manusia bila diletakan dalam arena yang jelas, pertarungan hidup-mati.

Mungkin karena sudah bisa mentolerir hal-hal seperti itu, saya rela merogoh kocek untuk membeli Mortal Kombat One sebagai game pertama PS5 saya, selain tentunya karena melihat visual dan gameplay yang kelihatannya edan dan menyenangkan dari review-nya di IGN. 

Spoiler Alert

Untuk mengulik game ini lebih dalam dan tahu latar belakang cerita sebenarnya saya pun memainkan Story Mode. Intinya, Mortal Kombat One bercerita tentang sebuah semesta baru yang didesain Liu Kang, yang kini berprofesi sebagai penjaga waktu. Liu Kang mencoba membuat garis takdir baru demi menciptakan semesta yang lebih baik dari sebelumnya, singkat cerita semua berantakan karena adanya sebuah intervensi jahat. Dari situ semua portal waktu yang berhubungan dengan berbagai karakter Mortal Kombat yang ada terbuka termasuk segala kemungkinan-kemungkinan variannya. Katakanlah ada Sub Zero versi perempuan atau Johnny Cage versi pantomim.

Fast forward ke chapter terakhir cerita, saat perjalanan menuju raja terakhir, karakter utama yang kita pilih akan dihadang oleh berbagai karakter anomali. Anomali yang dimaksud adalah gabungan dari dua karakter menjadi satu karakter yang baru, bayangkan saja karakter Raiden dengan kekuatan petirnya ternyata juga bisa mengeluarkan racun seperti karakter Reptile, atau General Shao dengan palu andalannya juga memiliki kekuatan es seperti Sub Zero. 

Ini menjadi pengalaman yang menarik dan membuat saya bertanya-tanya, mungkinkah di semesta lain sana ada diri saya yang merupakan gabungan dari orang-orang lain? Saya dengan skill kemampuan bermain drum seperti Joey Jordison misalnya, atau saya dengan tingkat intelegensi setingkat Stephen Hawking namun dengan rupa 11-12 dengan Tony Leung. Benarkah kemungkinan-kemungkinan di semesta luar sana terbuka seluas itu?

Membaca beberapa artikel singkat tentang multiverse, saat ini ini keberadaanya memang belum bisa dibuktikan secara nyata. Namun secara teori dan filosofis keberadaannya memungkinkan. Kalo saya nggak salah inget, Mas Hilmi pernah bilang dalam kisah-kisah di agama Islam hal-hal seperti ini juga menjadi pembahasan, seperti kisah Sayyidina Umar dan Sayyidina Ali bin Abi Thalib yang dituduh sedang menghindari takdir. Namun dijawab, bahwa mereka sedang menghindari satu takdir menuju takdir yang lainnya. Mungkinkah ada semesta di mana Sayyidina Umar terkena wabah atau Sayyidina Ali benar-benar tertimpa tembok? Entahlah.

Secara keseluruhan game Mortal Kombat One saya berikan ponten 8 untuk segala pengalaman menyenangkan saat memainkannya, terutama sistem pertarungan dan tombol untuk mengeluarkan jurus kombinasinya yang bikin ketagihan. Namun satu yang pasti, franchise Mortal Kombat yang selama ini dengan cetek hanya saya pikir dibuat dengan semangat ultra ugal-ugalan, sekarang berhasil membawa saya pada perenungan-perenungan.

[jcmarchi]

Mortal Kombat 1: Ed Boon Confirms Story DLC, Teases 'Big Surprise'

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/mortal-kombat-1-ed-boon-confirms-story-dlc-teases-big-surprise/

Mortal Kombat 1: Ed Boon Confirms Story DLC, Teases 'Big Surprise'

Mortal Kombat 1 launched back in September and became one of our favorite games of the year – read why in Game Informer’s Mortal Kombat 1 review here. Since its release, developer NetherRealm Studios has released additional characters, like Invincible’s Omni-Man, while teasing other new fighters like Quan Chi and DC’s Peacemaker. Now, Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon has teased even more new content on the way. 

During the recent CCXP23 event in Brazil, Boon revealed that story DLC is coming, as reported by IGN. 

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“Just like we did with [Mortal Kombat 11], we’re going to release a second part with more story and we have a big surprise after that,” Boon told the crowd at CCXP23. 

Mentioning Mortal Kombat 11, it’s likely that Boon was referring to its Aftermath DLC, which included an all-new story and more. After this story DLC release for Mortal Kombat 1, it sounds like players can expect even more in the form of a “big surprise.” Unfortunately, Boon stopped short of sharing more about this surprise. 

This additional content speaks to the studio’s philosophy around supporting Mortal Kombat 1 post-launch. Boon said during CCXP23 that, “[We’re] going to be supporting the game for even longer than we did with Mortal Kombat 11,” adding that, “It’s going to be fun.” 

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If the recent cadence of content is any indication, Mortal Kombat 1 fans are in for a treat over the next few years with NetherRealm’s latest fighter. 

For more, read Game Informer’s Mortal Kombat 1 review and then check out Boon on the YouTube interview show, Hot Ones. 

[Source: IGN]

What do you think this big surprise for Mortal Kombat 1 could be? Let us know in the comments below!

[bahamutgames]

AFTERTHOUGHTS - ROUNDUP ROUND 7

September 2023

Happy October! I'm a little late here because I had to take a health break from being online for a few days. But I'm back now! It's getting colder outside, and Halloween (my favorite holiday!) is right around the corner!

Also... hello new followers! This blog has basically been a ghost town since I started it but unexpectedly, some gifsets I made last month REALLY took off! So now I've got almost 50 followers. Usually I wouldn't do so much preamble on a roundup post but I feel the need to explain myself a little bit. This is what this blog is mostly for, posting my thoughts and opinions on games I played recently. To keep them neatly organized and also not clogging up everyone's feeds. I understand this is NOT what most of you followed for, so feel free to unfollow if you like. If not, I hope you enjoy what I have to say!

As with EVERYTHING I share here, these are not reviews. This is just word vomit from me sharing my thoughts on games. Nothing I say should be taken as fact, and if anything I talk about is interesting to you, you should absolutely play it and form your own opinion!

That's that on that, let's tackle the September games!

Rayman Origins (November 15, 2011) - PS3

Hey! Look! I beat my first Rayman game! Similarly to BB, I actually got this game years ago, but never managed to beat it at the time. But with the Rayman Mario + Rabbids DLC out (which I still haven't bought lol BUT I WANT TO REAL BAD!) I figured it was time to finally take the plunge into this series! And I LOVED it! I was having such a killer time with it! Super gorgeous visuals, AMAZING music (I love how goofy it is the lum song was stuck in my head forever afterwards lol), genuinely funny plot, very fun gameplay, the works. But... Partway through the game, suddenly the whole plot changes and you're no longer dealing with demons? And then you have to go through all the worlds a second time and fight a final boss that has nothing to do with the story? Only to then afterwards be told to go through AGAIN and collect almost all the electoons so you can fight the ACTUAL final boss in a super long, super brutal level that's just a long string of memorization. It felt like the second half of the game was made by a different team, it just didn't feel nearly as good and it kinda killed the game for me in the end. I did enjoy the first half a lot though, so I will absolutely check out some of the 3D Rayman games soon, but I might steer clear of Legends atm.

One thing I have to say though: dude the Nymphs are SO hot! Like, they are SO fine it's actually insane. A lot of games will make horny character designs and flaunt them constantly and they're just okay. But no, Rayman Origins earned it. I'm so thirsty for them, that character designer deserves a raise. ANYWAY-

Mortal Kombat 11 (April 23, 2019) - Xbox One

And here we go with my first gamepass game of the month lol. My sister was very kind and gave me a month for my birthday, and one of the first things I beat was a simple arcade run of MK11! MK is a series I actually have an odd amount of history with, but it's also a series I just never really got into. But I did find myself watching the 11 story mode, and I'll try it out whenever it comes into my path. So, here we are. I played as Scorpion, who tends to be my favorite especially whenever Reptile isn't available, and just did a run of the Arcade ladder. I had a good time with it! I'm always impressed with how simple it is despite how edgy it is. And I think being able to make your own custom movesets is super cool (mine mostly just consisted of his classic moves cause they're all I know lol.) Game looks great, has some really gorgeous stages, again, considering how edgy it is, and I thought the final boss was really neat. My only complaints come from the lootbox stuff, I know you can unlock everything for free but I really hate when games put all the customization options behind random chance rather than just putting it in a shop where I can pick and choose what I want. Injustice 2 did the same thing, but thankfully in MK it looks like you don't have to pay for anything. Neat time other than that though.

Gyromite (August 13, 1985) - NES

Next up is a game I didn't technically "beat" since it has like 99 levels. But I did play through the first few levels out of curiosity and I actually enjoyed it so much I wanted to give it a shout out! Gyromite is actually one of the NES games made to work with ROB from Super Smash Bros. Brawl (they made the NES after that game came out). And I wanted to see if I could emulate ROB... I could not. But I already had Gyromite downloaded so I decided to play it myself, and I gotta say. I think it's more fun by yourself with 2 controllers! You play as a scientist trying to get all the bombs without getting touched, and you use the second controller to lift and raise gates to help bridge gaps or stop enemies. Also, you can collect carrots to distract enemies. It's really basic but it's actually a SUPER fun game that I think deserves more love! If you haven't tried it, I do think it's a neat little experience that really deserves to be on NSO.

Dracula X (July 21, 1995) - SNES

Hey, my second Castlevania game! And uh... man idk I did not like this nearly as much as Super Castlevania 4 lol. Idk what the consensus on this is, I know fans consider it to be a non canon stripped down version of a much better game. But I figured I could play this in a night, and I was right! Also, I'm no good at Metroidvanias so I figured I'd play the platformer. And yeah, this game kinda sucks. Feels super clunky to play, has some bizarre enemy placements that make the game almost impossible at some scenes. And generally, outside of some nice sprites and the always BANGING Castlevania music, it's just kinda boring. The only real praise I can sing (outside of the super good music) is that the Wolfman totally kicks ass! He was so cool and genuinely the best boss fight in the game. So while I wasn't really into it, I know that if I had played the REAL game this was based on, it would probably have been a lot better.

Venba (July 31, 2023) - PC

Next up is another Gamepass game! I wanted to play Venba since I first saw it because it just looked really nice and cute! And that's exactly how I'd describe it now that I've played it! It's a very nice story about an immigrant mother, her relationship with her husband, her child, and the food she cooks. And so each level consists of you trying to cook a meal with your mother's cookbook, which has become really messed up over the years. Each level is a puzzle where you try to figure out the right way to cook, and see how it brings the family together. I really had a great time with it! These simple and cute games are always a blast to play and a nice breath of fresh air. And it actually made me pretty emotional. Obviously it's not the same experience at all cause I'm white but it did seriously make me think about my relationship with my mother who also came to America for similar reasons. The game actually almost made me cry lol, but more importantly, it made me hungry! I might have to try cooking some stuff they showed in it! Biriyani in particular really caught my interest as something that just looks CRAZY tasty. And hey, maybe I'll ask my mom to help me make some Romanian food too haha.

Outside of that, the music is really nice, I think most of it is licensed? Or at least is lyrical music performed for the game and it's great. And I particularly loved the art style, which no outlines and a more spraypaint looking brush. It's incredibly unique looking! And Venba herself is SO cute, she's so fine. I love her. I want her to be happy. If you're looking for a nice, short game to play through for an easy and relaxed experience, I can't recommend Venba enough!

Metroid: Zero Mission (February 9, 2004) - Gameboy Advance

Remember when I said I didn't like Metroidvanias a game or two ago? Well, sometimes you gotta step out of your comfort zone. I've only beaten 2 games in the genre before, Ori and Radical Rescue. Ori was good and RR was... neat. But I've never beaten a single metroid in my life until now! I chose Zero Mission for a few reasons, but two big ones are that it's a remake of the first game. And the second is that I actually did play and enjoy this one in the past. But clearly I did not get very far cause I didn't remember SHIT lmao. I planned on playing this side by side with a walkthrough, but I'll admit I actually had a faster and way more fun time just genuinely using the maps the game gave me and just running around. It's fun to figure it out and get upgrades and be like "OH I can do that thing now!" it's like a collectathon lol. The music is nice, the sprites are KILLER (I'm a huge GBA sucker after all).

But of particular interest. Dude. Oh my god. The Zero Suit scene. Holy shit. It's so scary! I was seriously screaming during it! It does such a good job of building tension and just making the situation so scary and dire, and then jump scaring you when the space pirates actually go through doors and climb through vents. It was seriously so bone chilling. But then getting the full power suit and running back through the ship and seeing all the space pirates cower in fear at your might, even hiding in the places you had to hide before? Genuinely brilliant. It was so exhilarating and got such a good reaction out of me. I absolutely ADORED this game! Idk if I'll play many more Metroidvanias past this but damn am I glad I gave this one a go!

Punch-Out!! (May 18, 2009) - Wii

And last, and least! Punch-Out!! Another game series I've never beaten any games in before! I could have played the NES one which probably would've been shorter, but again for a few reasons I decided on the Wii one. It's the newest, seems to be the most popular(?), and also was new when I was a lot younger so I have some nostalgia for when it was coming out. So I played it and uh... Yeah I really did not enjoy this game at all. I know this series is SUPER beloved with tons of fans but I just do not get the appeal. Tons of memorization, the characters are all kinda ugly and also yeah it's kinda racist, boring gameplay. Idk I just was not really into it. Full disclosure, it is a bit of a skill issue. I could not beat Soda Popinsky so I had to use an infinite Star Punch cheat lol. Everyone else I beat legit or at least did the first round and then cheated (I only did this for the characters after Soda, when I stopped caring). But not, him I could not do.

It's not all doom and gloom though. I do think the music is also pretty good in it. And I do have to give the game some props, everyone who comes from another region does legit speak their native language I believe. Which fucking rules actually. And I guess it gave us Little Mac in Smash Bros. Who is fun. But idk, yeah I just wasn't really into this. Oh well, different strokes for different folks. At least I played it!

[realjediverse]

Mortal Kombat 1 Game Review!

Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) is the twelfth main installment in the Mortal Kombat series, serving as both a sequel to Mortal Kombat 11 and the series’ second reboot. It was released on September 14, 2023 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The game has received mostly positive reviews from critics, with praise for its gameplay, story mode, and visuals.…

[legion1227]

Mortal Kombat 11: A Review.

In anticipation of Mortal Kombat 1 releasing, I decided to buy Mortal Kombat 11 a few months ago. I played the game in bits over the years at gatherings but never got much substantial time with the game until this purchase. As a big fan of the Mortal Kombat franchise, this game held me down, a fighting game casual fan, while waiting for the next entry.

Story-wise, the Mortal Kombat games got messy over the years. It was simply about a tournament in the 90s games, then became more complex with the 3D era of games introduced in the 2000s, like Deception, Deadly Alliance, and Armageddon. Then, Mortal Kombat 9 was released. MK 9 was the (sort of) reset the franchise needed. Cleaner slate, taking characters in new directions, 9 was ambitious. Then Mortal Kombat X was the follow-up, and Mortal Kombat 11 was the finale to a story established in 9 while also setting up the next game as a hard reset, like 9.

Mortal Kombat 11 was in a bizarre spot, huh.

Regardless, the story mode and story DLC were a lot of fun. Battling through the vast amount of characters in the roster with a rotating and changing cast of characters to play was fun. Ideally, when I'm looking for single-player content in a fighting game, the Mortal Kombat games are the standard of what I love and want to see. The cutscenes and fighting choreography are the best seen in the franchise so far. Character arcs for fan favorites like Scorpion and Sub-Zero are memorable. Newer or returning characters like D'vorrah or Kotal Kahn stand out in their own ways. And Kronika made for a challenging final boss for the game, though not as memorable as previous final bosses like Shao Kahn. The Aftermath DLC was even more fun. As a small continuation from the original story, DLC characters like Nightwolf and Fujin get some time to shine. But whoever's idea it was to bring back Cary-Hiruyuki Tagawa, the legend who played Shang Tsung in the 1990 movie, to reprise his role for this game is a genius. Whenever Shang Tsung is on screen, he's an utter delight.

Looking beyond the campy pleasure that is the MK story, other single-player content provides many hours of enjoyment. Traditional arcade mode to unlock character endings is my favorite thing in a fighting game right after a decent story. Fighting several different opponents, watching specialized intros between my character and the enemy, attempting to link combos, and alternating between finishing my opponents with fatalities, brutalities, stage fatalities, friendships, and whatever else all add to an overwhelmingly positive experience. I tried every character, and among the nearly forty available characters, I found that stringing along combos and special moves with Shao Kahn was the easiest. I love many fighting game series besides Mortal Kombat, like Street Fighter, Blazblue, or Tekken, but I've always appreciated how much easier it is to pull off special moves or complex combos in the recent MK games. So gameplay-wise, Mortal Kombat 11 feels good. It feels right. It's joyous to look at and a bomb to play.

Besides the traditional arcade mode, there are other arcade-esque modes called the Towers of Time. The ever-changing rotating towers with differing objectives or challenges provided a different intrigue every day. Your rewards usually end up being one of three types of currency that can be used at the Krypt, where you can buy customization options for each character or concept art or brutalities, among numerous other things.

There comes my one major gripe with the game. The Krypt fucking SUCKS!

Actually, the Krypt is somewhat cool. Exploring an island to purchase various items, navigating through death traps, and seeing some easter eggs for fans was a distinguished experience. What muddies the experience is that you have coins, souls, and hearts that act as payment for whatever. Some items cost coins, and some need others. The best way to accumulate currency is grinding through the arcade towers, which can become tedious after a while. Especially considering the requirements for hearts and souls are more demanding and specific than coins. My hope for Mortal Kombat 1 is that a version of the Krypt similar to this one appears but only uses one type of currency.

As a casual fighting game fan, this game works immensely for me. The blueprint of fighting game single-player content I would like to see as someone who prefers not to hop online and get my ass handed to me by pros who eat, sleep, and breathe the game. I dunno if or when I will get Mortal Kombat 1, but until that day, for a Mortal Kombat fix, I will definitely indulge over and over again in Mortal Kombat 11. Great game. 4/5.