Mortal Kombat (2011)

Mortal Kombat is a fighting video game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game is the 9th installment in the Mortal Kombat series and is a reboot of the franchise and the first game of the videogame universe, Aethranorioum.  The game was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 systems in April 2011, and a PlayStation Vita port was released in May 2012. An expanded version of the game, titled Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition, was released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in February 2012 and for Microsoft Windows in July 2013.
Although beginning during the events of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, the plot is a retcon to the earliest period in the Mortal Kombat series, the events of four installment games of the Mortal Kombat (as well as each games are have updates). The storyline involves the divine protector of Earth, Raiden, attempting to change the aftermath of the events of Armageddon by contacting his past self as he faces defeat at the hands of the evil emperor of Outworld, Shao Kahn. While having characters and levels rendered in three-dimensions, the gameplay distances itself from the fully 3D graphics style seen in the last four games, bearing closer resemblance to that of the 2D era of the series, using a camera that is perpendicular to the two-dimensional playing field.
Upon release, Mortal Kombat received very positive reviews and won several awards for fighting game of the year. It was also a commercial success, selling more than two million copies in the first month alone. Due to its extremely violent content, the game was banned in Australia due to the lack of appropriate ratings category, and South Korea, and it has been reportedly indexed in Germany; the Australian ban was later lifted due to the introduction of an R18 classification and the game was released with many other R rated games in May 2013.
== Gameplay ==
Principal gameplay involves one-on-one 2.5D style fighting. Mortal Kombat uses a single two-dimensional fighting plane (at 60 frames per second),[5][6] although characters are rendered in three-dimensional fashion,[7] intended to give depth and range to portrayals of various projectiles.[8]Unlike previous Mortal Kombat games, four buttons on the game controller represent attacks and are each linked to a corresponding limb.
A new feature is the "super meter", which can be charged by various actions during battle such as performing special moves, getting blocked by the opponent, or getting hit by them.[8] The super meter can be charged to three levels, each of them enabling a different action to be performed. At the first level, it can be used to deliver an enhanced version of one of the character's special attacks; two levels can be used to interrupt a combo attack, and the full three levels allow for the delivery of a special attack called an "X-ray move". The X-ray move unleashes a series of attacks during which the game provides an internal view of the character being attacked, which shows their bones and organs being broken or ruptured.[8][9]
Extra features include a story mode during which the player plays as multiple characters,[10] a Fatality training mode (allowing players to practice executing finishing moves),[11] the Challenge Tower, tag team fighting, and an online mode. The Challenge Tower mode is a single-player option that includes 300 specific challenges of various difficulties providing currency rewards upon completion; players have the option of using in-game currency to bypass other difficult challenges, completing them later.[8][11] Among the various challenges are "Test Your Might" (rapidly pressing buttons and using specific timing to destroy blocks of varying difficulty), "Test Your Sight" (following an object hidden under a cup or skull and revealing the object after a shuffle), "Test Your Strike" (destroying a specific block in a stack) and "Test Your Luck" (fighting under certain conditions, such as no jumping[11]). The four-player tag-team feature is an original feature, allowing two players to play together.[12] During tag gameplay, two new types of attacks become available. The first of them is the "tag assist" attack, in which the off-screen character temporarily jumps in and performs certain attacks during the active character's combo. The other is the "tag kombo", in which the active character performs a combo that is finished by the off-screen character as they enter the fight.[8]
The online mode includes a "King of the Hill" option, where up to eight players can act as spectators and play the winner of a fight. Spectators may also rate the fights and use the "forum" to determine how to perform various combos or moves observed during a fight.[10] A single-use online pass is also included with the game which is mandatory to access the online components. Online passes are also available from the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Marketplace.[13] There is also a PlayStation 3-exclusive 3D display mode, for which 3D glasses are not necessary.[14]
The normal blows have changed a lot. Instead of having a few punches and kicks divided between high and low, there's now a button for each limb: front arm, front leg, back arm, and back leg. This combines with most martial arts techniques. The player can also execute many special moves with little effort. Also new are intro and outro animations. Each character will have a different intro and outro, depending if they decided to do a Fatality or not.
The controls also refer a lot to Mortal Kombat 3, with the clash limited to a single plane, the fastest pace of struggle. Many attacks will throw the opponent into the air, and several others that take advantage of aerial combat. The "run" button is no longer in, but there is quick dash the player can use to inflict even more damage to their opponent if they're quick in getting their combo. Also out is the infamous system "Dial-a-Kombo", which was introduced in MK3 and used pre-defined sequences of buttons to execute "ready" combos. The combos are more akin to those found in MK and MKII, consisting largely of chaining regular attacks and special moves together. In the words of Ed Boon: "You're making your own combos. We aren't programming them in as much". This brings a lot of freedom to play and with the speed of return, as it is very easy to improvise a few effective beatings.
Also using 3D gameplay-style at Mortal Kombat 4 but within 2.5D as well using elements.
The game features three different single player modes: Story Mode, in which the player assumes the role of several different pre-designated characters and the main plot is told; a tournament ladder reminiscent of the earlier MK games which features a sub-boss, boss, and an animated ending for each character; and a training mode which allows players to hone their skills with their chosen character.
Another new feature is the Fatality Practice Mode, where the button combinations for the Fatality are shown above, and a green square on the ground indicates the correct distance for the Fatality to work. If the player moves away from the square, it turns red, indicating that the Fatality will not be executed.
== Plot ==
The story retells the events of the first four games, in a new timeline where Raiden receives a message from himself in the prime future after the Battle of Armageddon has happened and Shao Kahn became the supreme leader of all the realms. Because of this plot, characters and scenarios present are the classic ones, bringing the old to new and starting a new conflict.
==Chapters==
The story mode of Mortal Kombat is told in 16 chapters, with one character being playable in each chapter. The order of each chapter is listed below:
# Johnny Cage
# Sonya Blade
# Scorpion
# Tavius C. Morrigan
# Liu Kang
# Jax Briggs
# Smoke
# Sub-Zero
# Kitana
# Jade
# Kung Lao
# Kurtis Stryker
# Kabal
# Ermac
# Nightwolf
# Lord Raiden
== Kombatants ==
The game features 40 playable fighters form to 28 veterans and 12 newcomers in addition to 10 downloadable (DLC) characters, 3 bosses, and secret character battle, Cyber Sub-Zero, unlocked this character to beat Story Mode.
=== Playable ===
* Baraka
* Core
* Cyrax
* Dullahan
* Ermac
* Fujin
* Gecko
* Gemini
* Hattori Hanzo
* Jade
* Jax Briggs
* Johnny Cage
* Kabal
* Kabrana
* Kari
* Kano
* Kitana
* Kung Lao
* Kurtis Stryker
* Liu Kang
* Lord Raiden
* Mileena
* Natbleeda
* Nightwolf
* Noob Saibot
* Quan Chi
* Quánjíshǒu
* Reiko
* Reptile
* Scorpion
* Sektor
* Shang Tsung
* Sheeva
* Sindel
* Smoke
* Sonya Blade
* Sub-Zero
* Tavius C. Morrigan
* Wynd and Rayne
* Zain Patel
==== Exclusive Quest ====
* Kratos (God of War) (PS3)
=== Bosses ===
* Goro (Sub-Boss)
* Kintaro (Sub-Boss)
* Shao Kahn (Final Boss)
=== Pre-Order ===
* Frostbite
=== DLC ===
* Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
* Havik
* Jarek
* Kenshi Takahashi
* Meat
* Nitara
* Rain
* Sareena
* Skarlet
* Slenderman (Slender Man)
== Arenas ==
# The Armory
# The Bell Tower
# The Bridge (cameo)
# The Cathedral
# The Courtyard
# Dead Pool (Stage Fatality)
# The Tower
# Goro's Lair
# The Graveyard
# Kahn's Colosseum
# Chamber of the Flame (Playstation 3 exclusive) (3 Stage Fatalities)
# The Living Forest (Stage Fatality)
# The Desert
# Hell (Stage Fatality)
# The Pit (Stage Fatality)
# The Pit Bottom
# The Rooftop
# Shang Tsung's Gardens (between Pit I, Palace Gates and Warrior Shrine)
# Shang Tsung's Flesh Pits
# Shao Kahn's Throne Room
# Soul Chamber
# The Street (Stage Fatality)
# The Subway (Stage Fatality)
# Throne Room
# Training Dojo
# Wastelands of Outworld
# Elder Gods' Arena
# Prison
# Wind World
# Shaolin Temple
== Reception ==
PC Magazine called this iteration of Mortal Kombat one of the most anticipated titles of E3. The 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo showcase version received the Best Fighting Game of E3 and Best Stage Demo of E3 awards by GameSpot, and the Best Fighting Game of E3 award by GameTrailers. GameSpy called Mortal Kombat the "Fighting Game of Show" in their "Best of E3 2010". Game Informer also rated Mortal Kombat eighth in their "E3 Hot 50" calling Mortal Kombat "...the most violent game ever made..."
Many sites welcomed the return of the series to form: praising it not only for returning to the roots, but taking them to a totally new level.
==Release==
Mortal Kombat (2011) was released on April 19th in America and April 21st for Europe.
Mortal Kombat was available for pre-order in three different editions: "The Standard Edition," "The Kollector's Edition," and "The Tournament Edition." The Standard Edition consists of a copy of Mortal Kombat with no extras. The Kollector's Editions consists of a copy of Mortal Kombat, Sub-Zero and Scorpion bookends, an art book, and a Klassic Ninja DLC that allows you to unlock a Klassic Costume for Ermac. The Tournament Edition is the same as the Kollectors Edition but instead of bookends and an artbook, it contains a fight stick controller. In addition, PS3 owners who purchase a copy of either Mortal Kombat or Mortal Kombat: Annihilation on Blu-Ray (which is also released April 19th) will receive a code to unlock Jade's "Klassic Kostume."
The game has been denied a classification by the Australian Classification Board, due to "violence that exceeds strong in impact."Warner Bros. appealed the decision to the Classification Review Board, but they were unsuccessful, with the board determining that "the impact of the violence in Mortal Kombat is higher than strong and thus could not be accommodated within the MA15+ classification". The game is now on the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service list of prohibited items. Importing the game is illegal in Australia, with any copy found at the border being seized, and its recipient possibly receiving as much as an A$110,000.00 fine. The Australian Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor, who is looking to resolve the issue of a R18+ certificate for video games, has asked to be briefed on the Mortal Kombat decision, citing "public disquiet on the issue."
Last December, the push to introduce an adult rating for games in Australia stalled again, with censorship ministers gathered at the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) delaying their decision until new guidelines could be created to show the impact of an R18+ rating. The draft changes have now been made public, outlining the type of content that could make it as an R18+ title in Australia.
The draft guidelines, which were released by the office of the Federal Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor, show that the proposed R18+ rating for games would be applied to titles deemed to feature high impact classifiable elements. Under the proposed guidelines, an R18+ rating would allow:
*Virtually no restrictions on themes;
*Violence except where it "offends against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults";
*Implied sexual violence, if justified by context;
*Realistically simulated sexual activity;
*Virtually no restrictions on language; and
*Drug use and nudity are permitted.
The R18+ guides are similar to those that currently exist for film in Australia, except for the caveat that game violence must not offend community standards.
The MA15+ rating for games, too, has been tweaked in the proposal. While most of the guidelines for the rating have been retained, several have been added, including:
*Strong and realistic violence should not be very frequent;
*Sexual activity must not be tied to rewards or incentives;
*Interactive drug use that is detailed and realistic is not permitted; and
*Nudity must not be related to incentives and rewards.
The proposals have already been sighted by Australia's state and territory attorneys-general, who will review the guidelines before making a decision on the introduction of an R18+ rating for games at the next SCAG meeting in early July.
Minister O'Connor--who has staunchly supported an adult rating for games--reiterated the federal government's backing in a press statement, saying that the new classification would help bring Australia into line with other comparable nations.
"This issue has been on the table for many years, without the necessary progress to make change," he said.
Australia's federal government finally released the long-awaited draft guidelines for the possible introduction of an adult rating for games in Australia yesterday, with the proposed changes outlining what type of content would be allowed under an R18+ rating Down Under. While the games industry has welcomed the proposals, another group came out today in support--the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
In a press statement, the Conference--which represents the official views of the Catholic church in Australia--outlined that while its preference would be the banning of R18+ games, it acknowledged that such an outcome was not "achievable."
"In an ideal world, the sort of material that is included in R18+ or higher classification films and computer games would never be seen in a civilized democracy. However, it is not an ideal world and, in the real world in which we live, such material unfortunately is produced and is available, sometimes legally and often illegally, within our society," the press statement said. "The preferred position of the Catholic Church is that R18+ material should not be available. But if such an outcome is not achievable then the Australian National Classification Scheme should include an R18+ classification category for computer games."
This is not the first time the Conference has come out in support of the introduction of an R18+ rating Down Under. In its submission to last year's federal government inquiry into the topic, the Catholic Bishops also stated their preference for an R18+ rating to better control game content in Australia.
Not all Christian groups are on this side, however. Vocal minority group, the Australian Christian Lobby, has lambasted the proposed guidelines, describing them as contrary to the interests of parents and children.
"Not only is this proposal contrary to the claim that the introduction of an R18+ category for computer games would protect children by merely relocating existing MA15+ games to a new R18+ category, it would inevitably open the Australian hire and sale markets to a higher level of graphically violent and sexually explicit interactive games," ACL's chief of staff Lyle Shelton said in a press statement.
The draft guidelines, which were released by the office of the Federal Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor, show that the proposed R18+ rating for games would be applied to titles deemed to feature high-impact classifiable elements. The proposals have already been sighted by Australia's state and territory attorneys-general, who will review the guidelines before making a decision on the introduction of an R18+ rating for games at the next SCAG meeting in early July. On July 22nd, Attorney Generals Agreed to an R+18 Rating being introduced for video games. 8 of 9 agreed to it. NSW AG still needs to make a decision, but with or without it, NSW is still most likely to go ahead as planned.
==Mortal Kombat: The Komplete Edition==
On January 9th, Mortal Kombat: The Komplete Edition was announced. The new version includes the full game, alongside all previously released downloadable content. It also includes the Mortal Kombat: Songs Inspired by the Warriors album (including a bonus track) and the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie for download, via the PlayStation Store or Xbox Live Zune. The Komplete Edition was released on February 28.
===PC version===
On May 22nd 2013, Ed Boon revealed that a PC port of the Komplete Edition would be released on Steam and retail at a later date (August 6th).
Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition was released to Steam on July 3rd.
==Trivia==
*This is the first game in the series to introduce guest characters. It is also the first fighting game in the series to feature more than one guest character from other franchises. In this case, Kratos from God of War Series, and Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street movie series.
*This is the first Mortal Kombat game to not have a manual, as well as the only fighting game to not have a manual on the PS3 or Xbox 360.
*This is the first fighting game in the franchise to include battle intros.
*This is the first Mortal Kombat game where the original secret characters are playable in their original outfits.
*This is the only game to feature the Bell Tower without a stage fatality.
*This is the first game to introduce characters Quan Chi and Kenshi in a 2-D plane fighting game.
*This is the developers' first Mortal Kombat game designed under Netherrealm Studios.
*This is the only game to show all Lin Kuei cyborgs in their human forms, before their automation.
*This is the only game Sub-Zero has a cyborg form, as he was the only Lin Kuei ninja to not have one.
*This is the first game where Kintaro has fatalities of his own.
*This is the first game where every character has their very own in-game voice.
*This is the first Mortal Kombat game at one of the game of Aethranorioum as well.
*Despite showcasing past moments in the original timeline, every moment, including the immediate outcome of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, showcases characters wearing their outfits debuting in the game rather than their older outfits, with the exception of Liu Kang (represented as his zombie form), Raiden (represented as Dark Raiden), Kenshi (as his new DLC design had not been finalized at the time) and Shao Kahn (wearing his Armageddon armor).
*Although commonly listed as the first Mortal Kombat game to have a tag team mode, this is not strictly true. Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition and Mortal Kombat Trilogy also had this feature, as well as Mortal Kombat: Deception's double enemy stages.
**However, this is the first game where two players can work together (Online/Offline).
**Mortal Kombat Trilogy had a 3 fighter team mode, however, it was not possible to switch out, characters only changed after one died, similar to Endurance Matches in the early games
*The announcer voice for this game is Jamieson Price, who is also the announcer for Super Street Fighter IV. Therefore, both rival franchises share an aesthetic element with each other.
*The demo for the game was hacked not far from its release, revealing everything about the game. (Characters, Stages, Etc.)
*At an early development stage, the finisher theme was originally the same one used in Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, before it was changed as the game's development progressed.
*Footage of the game was shown in a scene from the Warner Bros. film, Project X.
Category:Aethranorioum Games