By this point it’s fairly standard knowledge that Mortal Kombat is a brutal, visceral experience. What gamer hasn’t seen, at the very least, a screenshot or animated GIF of Kano’s famous “heart rip” fatality? Knowing its reputation, I had to wonder just how bone-crunching and organ-ripping an 8th-gen imagining of the series would be. Trailers have hinted at what’s in store already, but after finally playing Mortal Kombat X on a real-live PS4, I can confidently say that the title is both absurdly violent and–to my surprise–delightfully cheeky. Dead or Alive has always been more my speed, but after today’s blood-soaked display, I couldn’t quit smiling.
Mortal Kombat X brings a variety of new ideas to the table, one of which involves selecting one of three different variations for each character. Newcomers Ferra and Torr (who actually comprise a single fighter, the latter a hulking giant and the former a small woman on its back) are easily one of the best examples. Two of the variations alter the abilities Ferra can unleash from the back of her colossal companion, while a third actually has her cheering from the sidelines, unlocking Torr’s true ferocity but also subtracting certain (and perhaps more clever) abilities that can only be executed under Ferra’s governance. She’ll still hop in for special moves and fatalities, of course, which is a nice touch and smart choice by the developers.
Speaking of special moves, the ones available in today’s demo were especially savage. And as a PAX exclusive, energy bars remained permanently filled up! Of course, I used this to my advantage constantly, defeating the host producer from NetherRealm Studios by virtue of nothing more than my ability to spam the R2 and L2 triggers repeatedly. This was hardly a problem, as it provided an excellent opportunity to showcase some of the most impressive moves in the game. And impressive they absolutely were.
Certain specials trigger the game’s X-ray effect, granting the player at inside look at just how terribly fighter’s muscles, organs, and bones are abused with each and every ruthless blow. A personal favorite had Cassie Cage quite literally crotch-punching foes where it hurts, each of Torr’s oversized testicles ricocheting violently as the brute writhed in pain when a blow landed. Hey, I warned you about excess cheekiness in the game, and if you’re wondering, the crotch-punch can be applied to unsuspecting ovaries as well.
I had a chance to try my hand at nearly every character,and outside of Ferra and Torr, I enjoyed returning shock-master Raiden the most. One of his special abilities has him frying foes and subsequently tossing them skyward, well above the clouds in a strikingly impressive visual sequence. Once behind the cover of a stormy night, Raiden relentlessly electrocutes the opponent, causing him to scream in pain before falling to his death. Except he really just loses some health, because it’s Mortal Kombat. In the wake a ruthless sack-whack from Cassie Cage moments prior, getting revenge by ruthlessly shocking her system was particularly satisfying.
You’re probably waiting to hear about what happens after the announcer below-growls “FINISH HIM,” and though the results do deliver, I’ll admit I was a bit too desensitized to find the true fatalities all that shocking. It’s a bit of a lose-lose and not something I’d blame NetherRealm for, but the detail and graphic ferocity that has been applied to moves that occur throughout each and every match make finishers the slightest bit less mind-blowing. Yes, the heart rip still hits the spot (as do Cassie’s kneecap-destroying bullets), but it’s more of a gloat in Mortal Kombat X, as opposed to a leap-from-your-chair death sentence. I don’t see that as a problem so much as an evolution, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with Mortal Kombat evolving.
There’s still a lot more to learn about Mortal Kombat X, and when I asked about online modes and which characters have yet to be confirmed, I was politely stonewalled. Press materials indicate a “persistent world” when it comes to rankings and online play, and if NetherRealm can pull off something interesting in that regard then the game’s replay value, though already lengthy due to the nature of local play, could easily skyrocket. Visually the game is looking nice, and though I hope excess polish is applied before its 2015 release date (lookers like Dead or Alive 5 still give MCX a run for its money on last-gen hardware), the environmental detail and character models genuinely do excite and amaze, if sporadically. The game feels how the next generation of Mortal Kombat ought to feel, and that itself is half the battle.
Related: Interview with Mortal Kombat X Senior Designer Adam Urbano
Precisely when during 2015 the game will release has yet to be determined, so it’s likely there will be plenty of time for NetherRealm to tweak and fine-tune until things looks and feel perfect. Thankfully there’s gameplay footage to watch and rewatch in the meantime; just be careful not to desensitize yourself before release.
