''Mortal Kombat'' (also known as ''Mortal Kombat 9'') is a 2011
fighting video game
A fighting game, also known as a versus fighting game, is a genre of video game that involves combat between two or more players. Fighting game combat often features mechanics such as blocking, grappling, counter-attacking, and chaining attac ...
developed by
NetherRealm Studios
NetherRealm Studios (stylized as NetheЯRealm Studios) is an American video game developer based in Chicago and owned by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Led by video game industry veteran and ''Mortal Kombat'' co-creator Ed Boon, the st ...
and published by
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE; also known as Warner Bros. Games or WB Games) is an American video game publisher based in Burbank, California, and part of the newly-formed Global Streaming and Interactive Entertainment unit of ...
. It is the ninth main installment in the ''
Mortal Kombat
''Mortal Kombat'' is an American media franchise centered on a series of video games originally developed by Midway Games in 1992. The development of the first game was originally based on an idea that Ed Boon and John Tobias had of making a v ...
'' franchise and a
reboot
In computing, rebooting is the process by which a running computer system is restarted, either intentionally or unintentionally. Reboots can be either a cold reboot (alternatively known as a hard reboot) in which the power to the system is physi ...
of the series. The game was released for the
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...
and
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation ...
systems in April 2011, and a
PlayStation Vita
The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita, or Vita) is a handheld video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, and in North America, Europe, and other international territo ...
port was released in May 2012. An expanded version of the game, titled ''Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition'', was released for
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation ...
and
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...
in February 2012 and for
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
in July 2013.
Although beginning during the events of ''
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon'', the plot is a
retcon
Retroactive continuity, or retcon for short, is a literary device in which established diegetic facts in the plot of a fictional work (those established through the narrative itself) are adjusted, ignored, supplemented, or contradicted by a subse ...
to the earliest period in the ''Mortal Kombat'' series: the events of the
first
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
three
3 is a number, numeral, and glyph.
3, three, or III may also refer to:
* AD 3, the third year of the AD era
* 3 BC, the third year before the AD era
* March, the third month
Books
* '' Three of Them'' (Russian: ', literally, "three"), a 1901 ...
games
A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (such ...
(as well as the third game's
two
2 (two) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 1 and preceding 3. It is the smallest and only even prime number. Because it forms the basis of a duality, it has religious and spiritual significance in many cultur ...
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
Shao Kahn is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Depicted as emperor of the fictional realm Outworld, he is one of the franchise's primary villains. Feared for his immense st ...
. While having characters and levels rendered in three-dimensions, the
gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and pla ...
distances itself from the
3D graphics
3D computer graphics, or “3D graphics,” sometimes called CGI, 3D-CGI or three-dimensional computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data (often Cartesian) that is stored in the computer for the ...
style seen in the last five 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. Colloquially this is called
2.5D.
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 one 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. A sequel, ''
Mortal Kombat X
''Mortal Kombat X'' is a 2015 fighting video game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It is the tenth main installment in the ''Mortal Komba ...
'' was released in 2015 with another direct follow-up, ''
Mortal Kombat 11
''Mortal Kombat 11'' is a 2019 fighting video game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It is the eleventh main installment in the ''Mortal Kombat'' franchise and a sequel to 2015's ''Mortal Ko ...
'', releasing in 2019.
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
A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent.
Frame and FRAME may also refer to:
Physical objects
In building construction
*Framing (con ...
),
although characters are rendered in
three-dimensional fashion, intended to give depth and range to portrayals of various projectiles.
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.
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.
Extra features include a story mode during which the player plays as multiple characters,
a
Fatality training mode (allowing players to practice executing finishing moves),
the Challenge Tower,
tag team
Tag team wrestling is a type of professional wrestling in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. Tag teams may be made up of wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of establish ...
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.
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
). The four-player tag-team feature is an original feature, allowing two players to play together.
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.
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.
A single-use
online pass An online pass is a digital rights management system for restricting access to supplemental functionality in a product by using a single-use serial number. Online passes are primarily intended to hinder or discourage the second-hand sale of a produc ...
is also included with the game which is mandatory to access the online components. Online passes are also available from the
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store (PS Store) is a digital media store available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 game consoles via the PlayStation Network.
The store offers a range of downloadable content ...
and
Xbox Live Marketplace
Xbox Games Store (formerly Xbox Live Marketplace) is a digital distribution platform used by Microsoft's Xbox Series X, S, Xbox One and Xbox 360 video game consoles. The service allows users to download or purchase video games (including both ...
. There is also a
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...
-exclusive 3D display mode, for which 3D glasses are not necessary.
Plot
The game's director,
Ed Boon
Edward John Boon (born February 22, 1964) is an American video game programmer, voice actor, and director who was employed for over 15 years at Midway Games and since 2011 has worked for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in its daughter c ...
, described it as an altered re-telling of the events of the first three ''Mortal Kombat'' games (''
Mortal Kombat
''Mortal Kombat'' is an American media franchise centered on a series of video games originally developed by Midway Games in 1992. The development of the first game was originally based on an idea that Ed Boon and John Tobias had of making a v ...
'', ''
Mortal Kombat II
''Mortal Kombat II'' is a 1993 arcade fighting game originally produced by Midway for the arcades in 1993. It was later ported to multiple home systems, including MS-DOS, Amiga, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Genesis, 32X, Sega Saturn, Super Nint ...
'' and ''
Mortal Kombat 3
''Mortal Kombat 3'' is a 1995 arcade fighting game developed by Midway Games and first released into arcades in 1995. It is the third main installment in the ''Mortal Kombat'' franchise and a sequel to 1993's ''Mortal Kombat II''. As in the prev ...
''):
Story
During the
Armageddon
According to the Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, Armageddon (, from grc, Ἁρμαγεδών ''Harmagedōn'', Late Latin: , from Hebrew: ''Har Məgīddō'') is the prophesied location of a gathering of armies ...
war, all warriors from the realms have been killed, leaving only
Raiden and
Shao Kahn
Shao Kahn is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Depicted as emperor of the fictional realm Outworld, he is one of the franchise's primary villains. Feared for his immense st ...
remaining. Having defeated Blaze, Shao Khan is imbued with godlike power and easily overpowers Raiden. In a final attempt to stop Shao Kahn, Raiden casts one last spell to send a message to his past self through his shattered amulet, with the vague message "He must win" before being killed.
During the events of the first tournament from the first
game
A game is a structured form of play (activity), play, usually undertaken for enjoyment, entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator s ...
, the past Raiden sees visions of the future due to the message he received and notices his amulet has been damaged. Raiden concludes that
Liu Kang
Liu Kang is a character (arts), fictional player character, character in the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game series by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Depicted as Earthrealm's greatest warrior and champion, he is generally the main hero of ...
must win the tournament to save Earthrealm. During the tournament, Liu Kang becomes the only remaining Earthrealm contender, due in part to
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always end ...
's murder of Bi-Han, better known as
Sub-Zero, in retaliation for the latter's massacre of the former's Shirai Ryu clan including Scorpion's wife and infant son some years earlier. Liu Kang is successful in defeating the Shokan Prince
Goro, as well as the crafty sorcerer
Shang Tsung
The Shang dynasty (), also known as the Yin dynasty (), was a Chinese royal dynasty founded by Tang of Shang (Cheng Tang) that ruled in the Yellow River valley in the second millennium BC, traditionally succeeding the Xia dynasty and f ...
. Raiden's amulet, however, cracks further, a sign that future events remain unchanged. Disappointed with the sorcerer's failure, emperor Shao Kahn orders Shang Tsung's execution, but is convinced otherwise when the sorcerer suggests holding a second tournament in Outworld with different stakes: if Earthrealm wins, Outworld will leave them alone forever, but if Outworld wins, they will be allowed to invade Earthrealm uninhibited. Though he initially refuses, Raiden relents when Tarkatans invade Earthrealm as part of Shang Tsung's blackmail against Earthrealm.
During the second tournament, Bi-Han's younger brother
Kuai Liang
Kuai Liang ( 190s–200s), courtesy name Zirou, was an adviser to the warlord Liu Biao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was from Zhonglu County, Nan Commandery, which is located southwest of present-day Xiangyang, Hubei. He had ...
decides to become the new Sub-Zero, and he and his friend
Smoke
Smoke is a suspension of airborne particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product ...
arrive to avenge his brother. They are followed by Lin Kuei cyber assassins
Sektor
This is a list of playable and boss characters from the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise and the games in which they appear. Created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, the series depicts conflicts between various realms. Most characters fig ...
and
Cyrax
This is a list of Player character, playable and boss (video games), boss characters from the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise and the games in which they appear. Created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, the series depicts conflicts between ...
who are tasked with retrieving the rogue warriors for cybernetic conversion. Raiden changes the timeline by rescuing Smoke from being converted, at the cost of Kuai Liang being taken away.
Kitana
Kitana is a fictional character in the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Debuting in ''Mortal Kombat II'' (1993), she is a royal from the fictional realm of Edenia. Her primary weapon is a pair o ...
, the adopted daughter of Shao Kahn, chooses to join Earthrealm's fight after learning of the existence of her half-Tarkatan clone
Mileena
Mileena is a fictional character in the '' Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Introduced in ''Mortal Kombat II'' (1993), she is a clone of the Edenian princess Kitana, created with the blood of t ...
, created by Shang Tsung on Shao Kahn's orders, with Kitana's childhood friend
Jade
Jade is a mineral used as jewellery or for ornaments. It is typically green, although may be yellow or white. Jade can refer to either of two different silicate minerals: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amphibole group of ...
, joining her later. In a bid to save Earth, Raiden substitutes
Kung Lao
Kung Lao ( or ) is a fictional character in the '' Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. A Shaolin monk, he debuted in ''Mortal Kombat II'' (1993). He is depicted as a primary hero in the series, inc ...
in place of Liu Kang during the tournament. Following his victory over Shang Tsung, the ruler of Netherrealm,
Quan Chi
Quan Chi is a fictional character in the '' Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games/NetherRealm Studios. He first appeared in the main series with ''Mortal Kombat 4'' (1997) following appearances in the non-canonical animated ...
, and the fire-breathing
Kintaro, Kung Lao's neck is snapped by Shao Kahn while his back was turned, killing him, with Liu Kang retaliating and mortally wounding the emperor in a fit of rage. Raiden's amulet continues to deteriorate and he becomes increasingly concerned.
Shao Kahn is healed by Quan Chi, at which point the two realms enter into an alliance. Quan Chi also revives and brainwashes Shao Kahn's long-dead wife,
Sindel
This is a list of playable and boss characters from the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise and the games in which they appear. Created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, the series depicts conflicts between various realms. Most characters fig ...
. In doing so, the ward that prevents Kahn's physical access to Earthrealm is nullified and a full-scale invasion is now possible. Raiden saves
Johnny Cage
Johnny Cage is a fictional character in the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games/NetherRealm Studios. Introduced in the original 1992 game, he is an action movie star with an extensive martial arts background. The series de ...
from certain death by slaying the centaurian
Motaro
This is a list of Player character, playable and boss (video games), boss characters from the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise and the games in which they appear. Created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, the series depicts conflicts between ...
. Joined by police officers
Stryker
The Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III. Stryker vehicles are produced by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-C) for the United States Army in a plant in London, Ontario. It ...
and former Black Dragon member
Kabal Kabal may refer to:
* Kabal (earthworks), a desert fortification found in northern Kuwait used to house American military and coalition forces
* Kabal Tehsil, a town in Pakistan
* Kabal (Mortal Kombat), a character from the ''Mortal Kombat'' series ...
, the Earthrealm fighters attempt to stop Kahn's invasion. Kintaro severely burns Kabal but he is revived by
Kano
Kano may refer to:
Places
*Kano State, a state in Northern Nigeria
* Kano (city), a city in Nigeria, and the capital of Kano State
**Kingdom of Kano, a Hausa kingdom between the 10th and 14th centuries
**Sultanate of Kano, a Hausa kingdom between ...
, which greatly increases Kabal's speed. Kahn dramatically enhances Sindel's power by sacrificing Tsung, taking the souls he has stolen for centuries and infusing them into Sindel.
Raiden and Liu Kang travel to appeal to the Elder Gods, requesting they stop Shao Kahn's invasion. The Elder Gods refuse, saying that Kahn's invasion does not violate their laws, and that only attempting to merge Earthrealm into Outworld would be a violation.
While Raiden and Liu Kang are away, Sindel leads an Outworlder attack on the heroes. In the battle, many of the assembled warriors are killed by Sindel, and Kitana is brutally beaten. Before Sindel can kill her,
Nightwolf
Nightwolf is a fictional character in the '' Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games/NetherRealm Studios. He debuted in ''Mortal Kombat 3'' (1995) as a Native American shaman selected to help defend Earthrealm against invading ...
intervenes and sacrifices himself in order to kill her. Raiden and Liu Kang return soon after, and Kitana dies of her wounds after sharing her final words with Liu Kang, leaving Cage and
Sonya Blade
Sonya Blade is a fictional character in the '' Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. She debuted in the original 1992 game as the roster's sole female fighter. Inspired by martial artist Cynthia Roth ...
as the only survivors, but both of them are too injured to continue fighting.
Raiden attempts to ally with Quan Chi, offering the souls of the deceased heroes as payment. Quan Chi declines, and reveals he already has possession of the heroes' souls and has turned them into undead "
revenants
In folklore, a revenant is an animated corpse that is believed to have been revived from death to haunt the living. The word ''revenant'' is derived from the Old French word, ''revenant'', the "returning" (see also the related French verb ''rev ...
". Quan Chi's words make Raiden realize that "He must win" refers to Shao Kahn himself; should Kahn conquer Earthrealm without victory in Mortal Kombat, the Elder Gods will punish him. Liu Kang, angered by the seemingly pointless deaths of their allies, blames Raiden and goes to attack Shao Kahn alone. Raiden tries to stop Liu Kang, but ends up accidentally killing him when Liu Kang's fire mixes with Raiden's lightning, burning Liu Kang alive. Overcome with guilt, Raiden surrenders to Shao Kahn, at which point, the Elder Gods intervene, imbuing Raiden with their power, which he then uses to defeat and kill Shao Kahn for violating the Mortal Kombat code.
After Shao Kahn's death, Raiden vows to rebuild Earthrealm with Cage and Blade. Quan Chi, now shown to be an agent of
Shinnok
Shinnok is a fictional character in the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. One of the franchise's primary villains, he debuted in the action-adventure spin-off '' Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zer ...
, the exiled Elder God of darkness, reveals that the destruction of Shao Kahn and the weakening of Earthrealm by the death of their fighters was part of
their plan to conquer all the realms for their own bidding.
Characters
The game had 28 playable characters at launch. Four other fighters were
DLC characters. The playable characters in bold are new to the series, while the ''italicized'' ones are guest characters.
Cyber Sub-Zero and Quan Chi are secret characters in the original PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, however they are unlocked in the ''Komplete Edition''.
Goro,
Kintaro and
Shao Kahn
Shao Kahn is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Depicted as emperor of the fictional realm Outworld, he is one of the franchise's primary villains. Feared for his immense st ...
are non-playable boss characters. Kratos is a PlayStation exclusive.
Sweet Tooth was considered to be the PlayStation exclusive before Kratos was chosen.
Marcus Fenix
Marcus Michael Fenix is a fictional character and the primary protagonist from the first three games in the ''Gears of War'' video game series. He first appeared in the first game of the series, released in 2006.
Appearances Video games
Fenix d ...
was supposed to be included as an Xbox exclusive. However, according to Ed Boon, he said that the character becomes too "agile" and was not included in the Xbox 360 version.
Master Chief was briefly considered as an Xbox exclusive as well. Another planned character that never made it was Chuck Greene from the ''
Dead Rising
is a series of action-adventure games created by Keiji Inafune. It was originally developed by Capcom until Capcom Vancouver took over developing the franchise. As of March 31, 2022, the game series has sold 15 million units worldwide and is ...
'' series.
Tremor
A tremor is an involuntary, somewhat rhythmic, muscle contraction and relaxation involving oscillations or twitching movements of one or more body parts. It is the most common of all involuntary movements and can affect the hands, arms, eyes, fa ...
is included in the PlayStation Vita version, only in some character challenge towers.
Motaro
This is a list of Player character, playable and boss (video games), boss characters from the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise and the games in which they appear. Created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, the series depicts conflicts between ...
and
Shinnok
Shinnok is a fictional character in the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. One of the franchise's primary villains, he debuted in the action-adventure spin-off '' Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zer ...
appear in a few cutscenes in the story mode.
Development
In a November 2008 interview, Ed Boon stated that game sales for ''
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
''Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe'' is a 2008 fighting video game, developed and published by Midway Games. The last entry in the franchise before the company went bankrupt in 2009 and sold the franchise to Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment ...
'' would dictate what features would appear in "the next game". In 2009,
Midway Games Chicago filed for bankruptcy and was purchased by
Warner Bros. Interactive
Warner Bros. Games (formerly Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) is an American video game publisher based in Burbank, California, and part of the Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment, Global Streaming and In ...
.
This led the game to be developed by
NetherRealm Studios
NetherRealm Studios (stylized as NetheЯRealm Studios) is an American video game developer based in Chicago and owned by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Led by video game industry veteran and ''Mortal Kombat'' co-creator Ed Boon, the st ...
, becoming the first installment in the series to be published exclusively under the Warner Bros. label. On June 18, 2009, Boon confirmed on his
Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
page that developers were performing
motion capture
Motion capture (sometimes referred as mo-cap or mocap, for short) is the process of recording the movement of objects or people. It is used in military, entertainment, sports, medical applications, and for validation of computer vision and robo ...
for the game and that it would not feature superheroes. Dan Forden was also expected to return as the music composer for the game. In late 2009, Boon stated that the franchise was returning to its bloody origins
and that the production team were aiming for a "Mature" rating, as opposed to the "Teen" on the previous game. Boon also showed concern about content being classified under the "Adults Only" rating.
''Mortal Kombat'' was officially revealed on June 10, 2010, with a release for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2011.
It was revealed at the
Sony
, commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...
E3 press conference that ''Mortal Kombat'' would be
3D compatible, and Boon said that in dealing with the 3D capability, more attention to detail was required so as to not obstruct the gameplay. Boon said that the extra mode from previous games ("The Krypt") would return with an "elaborate and sophisticated unlocking system" and put "the other games in the series to shame."
He also said they intended for ''Mortal Kombat'' to be accessible to the casual player
and more "engaging",
with experts on the fighting genre consulted. New features were made to create a deeper fighting experience.
Some mild humorous elements were also included, such as the
Babality
Fatality is the name given to a gameplay feature in the ''Mortal Kombat'' series of fighting video games, in which the victor of the final round in a match inflicts a brutal and gruesome finishing move onto their defeated opponent. Prompted by ...
finishing moves. At the time, Boon said that the production team were considering a PC port of ''Mortal Kombat'' as "there seems to be a market for
C gamesin Europe."
''Mortal Kombat'' runs on a heavily modified version of the
Unreal Engine 3
Unreal Engine (UE) is a 3D computer graphics game engine developed by Epic Games, first showcased in the 1998 first-person shooter game '' Unreal''. Initially developed for PC first-person shooters, it has since been used in a variety of genre ...
, similar to the engine used by its predecessor, ''Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe''.
Developers recreated the entire fighting engine so that it was restricted to a two-dimensional plane of fighting,
with senior producer Hans Lo stating at
Gamescom
Gamescom (stylized as gamescom) is a trade fair for video games held annually at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Since 2018, it has been organised by ''game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche'' (English: Associa ...
2010 that the change from 3D gameplay to 2D was advantageous for ''Mortal Kombat'', as it increased graphical detail for characters and arenas
and improved gameplay speed. Another new mechanic is the inclusion of "blood physics" (blood loss is portrayed as being more natural and being clearly visible on characters or surroundings).
Developers stated that online gameplay for ''Mortal Kombat'' would be a main priority,
declaring interest in capabilities to link the player's progression feed to their accounts on social networking websites such as
Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
and
Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
, and recreate the feel of socializing with players in an arcade.
According to Dave Pindara, one of the lead artists for ''Mortal Kombat'', environments were developed to create active objects and effects such as "scripted cinema events", "dynamic lighting effects" and "characters and objects that animated and reacted to the fights." Arena development began with 18 arenas, but development of environments with different times of day and original arenas related to the plot scaled up arena development to roughly 30 arenas. One unique feature is included with each stage
such as "The Desert" which has a "sand tech", allowing for realistic sand motion during characters' interaction.
Dan Forden, lead sound designer, said the intent was to create a "cinematic game audio experience". Sound effect design included use and enhancement of the "bone-crunching audio design" of previous titles and, while the "dynamic experience" was vital, small details such as the "rustling of fighter's clothes" and background sounds were also included. Music for each stage was similar to previous games but with "a completely new arrangement".
Boon said that there was a focus on including characters from the first three ''Mortal Kombat'' games and that "if you have a favorite character from those games, you're probably going to see him or her in the game."
The game's developers stated that the characters had been designed with the intent to make each character unique – each having his or her own individual stance, victory pose and Fatality with no shared animations. Lead designer John Edwards said that characters are differentiated by features such as power and speed.
Producer Shaun Himmerick said that the internal and external character design required "two months or ten weeks".
Boon said that an exclusive character was planned for the Xbox 360 version, but "unfortunately, the circumstances didn't allow us to make a 360 exclusive." Boon also said they were in talks to include
Sweet Tooth from
Sony
, commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...
's ''
Twisted Metal
''Twisted Metal'' is a series of vehicular combat video games published by Sony Computer Entertainment, and developed by various companies. The series has appeared on the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3. As o ...
'' franchise.
On April 5, 2011, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios announced ''Mortal Kombat'' was finished and ready for mass production, with
pre-order
A pre-order is an order placed for an item that has not yet been released. The idea for pre-orders came because people found it hard to get popular items in stores because of their popularity. Companies then had the idea to allow customers to r ...
s having gone "gold". Asked what would be the correct way to call it, for example "''MK9''" or "''MK2011''", Boon answered he would say "The ''Mortal Kombat'' game they rebooted in 2011."
Release
Promotion
On August 31, 2010, a teaser trailer "Shadows" debuted on
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
, featuring a track "
Another Way to Die
"Another Way to Die" is a song by American musicians Jack White and Alicia Keys. Written and produced by White as the theme song to the 2008 James Bond film ''Quantum of Solace'', it was released as a single in the United States on September 30, ...
" from the band
Disturbed
Disturbed may refer to:
Books
* ''Disturbed'', a 2011 novel by Kevin O'Brien (author)
Film and TV
* ''Disturbed'' (film), a 1990 film starring Malcolm McDowell
* "Disturbed" (''Numb3rs''), a 2009 episode of ''Numb3rs''
* "The Disturbed", a 2 ...
's album ''
Asylum
Asylum may refer to:
Types of asylum
* Asylum (antiquity), places of refuge in ancient Greece and Rome
* Benevolent Asylum, a 19th-century Australian institution for housing the destitute
* Cities of Refuge, places of refuge in ancient Judea
...
''. On September 28, 2010, the slogan "Kombat Begins In ..." appeared with a clock counting down on the ''Mortal Kombat'' official website, the countdown ending on Monday October 11, 2010. At the conclusion of the countdown, a link to the Facebook page was added to the website and an accompanying Facebook application was also released that showcased a teaser trailer for the game.
![Kitana at Igromir 2012](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Kitana_at_Igromir_2012.jpg)
On October 4, 2010, the "Environment Bio" trailer of the ''Mortal Kombat'' arena, The Pit, was released to explain the in-game backstory on its origins and evolution. Similar videos featuring The Living Forest, the Dead Pool, and Kahn's Coliseum were released afterward, also explaining background information on the stages. In a similar fashion, character profile videos were released for Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Mileena, Liu Kang
and Raiden. In April 2011, ''
Playboy
''Playboy'' is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother.
K ...
'' models Jo Garcia and
Brittney Palmer
Brittney Palmer (born June 24, 1987) is an American ring girl, model and artist. She is best known for her work as an octagon girl for the UFC, being awarded Ringcard Girl of the Year at the World MMA Awards in 2012, 2013, 2019, and 2022.
E ...
(dressed as Mileena and Kitana, respectively) promoted the game in a sponsored vlog advertisement. In April 2011,
Bespoke Arcades
Bespoke Arcades is a British manufacturer of custom-built arcade machines. Bespoke Arcades is a subsidiary of Page Global Ltd and was formed on 28 July 2005. Company clients include Wayne Rooney and Dynamo (magician), Dynamo. Their products are so ...
created a series of
arcade machines
An arcade cabinet, also known as an arcade machine or a coin-op cabinet or coin-op machine, is the housing within which an arcade game's electronic hardware resides. Most cabinets designed since the mid-1980s conform to the Japanese Amusement Ma ...
to promote the game at the
Gadget Show Live 2011. In April 2012, two live-action
cosplay
Cosplay, a portmanteau of "costume play", is an activity and performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture, ...
trailers featuring Rachelle Glover (Kitana) and Danni Levy (Mileena) were released; they were later combined into one commercial video titled "Fight Anywhere".
On March 8, 2011, a
demo
Demo, usually short for demonstration, may refer to:
Music and film
*Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than release
* ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 recording by the band Behind Crimson Eyes
* ''Demo'' (Deafhea ...
version of the game was released for download globally, initially exclusively for
PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Network (PSN) is a digital media entertainment service provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Launched in November 2006, PSN was originally conceived for the PlayStation video game consoles, but soon extended to encompass smartp ...
members. The demo (an arcade ladder with single- or two-player capability) showcases four characters (Johnny Cage, Mileena, Scorpion and Sub-Zero) and the stages The Living Forest and The Pit. Performance Design Products sponsored the inaugural National Mortal Kombat Championship, which took place in
Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
in May 2011. ''Mortal Kombat'' was also internationally presented in the 2011
Evolution Championship Series
The Evolution Championship Series, commonly known as Evo, is an annual esports event that focuses exclusively on fighting games. The tournaments are completely open and use the double elimination format. As with Super Battle Opera, contestants ...
(Evo), being recognized as a "main tournament fighting game". "Professional gamers"
Justin Wong
Justin Wong, occasionally shortened to just Jwong, is a formerly American and now Canadian professional fighting game player.
Wong has won more EVO titles than anyone else with nine tournaments won: seven for '' Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of ...
(winner of the PDP championship) and Carl 'Perfect Legend' White (the Evo 2011 champion) spoke positively of ''Mortal Kombat''s place in future tournament events.
Retail versions
''Mortal Kombat'' was available for pre-order in three different editions: Standard, Kollector's Edition (includes a copy of the game, art book, Sub-Zero and Scorpion figurine bookends and a
downloadable content
Downloadable content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can either be added for no extra cost or it can be a form of video game monetization, enablin ...
(DLC)
skin
Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation.
Other cuticle, animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have diffe ...
, dubbed a Mortal Kombat Klassic costume), and the Tournament Edition (includes a
fight stick controller instead of the bookends and art book).
A European version of the Kollector's Edition was also released, which includes the game, art book, a Scorpion & Sub-Zero figurine, a Steelbook case and downloadable skins.
In the United States, pre-orders at retailers
Toys "R" Us
Toys "R" Us is an American toy, clothing, and baby product retailer owned by Tru Kids (doing business as Tru Kids Brands) and various others. The company was founded in 1957; its first store was built in April 1948, with its headquarters loc ...
and
Wal-Mart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
were provided with classic ''Mortal Kombat'' skins for
Kitana
Kitana is a fictional character in the ''Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Debuting in ''Mortal Kombat II'' (1993), she is a royal from the fictional realm of Edenia. Her primary weapon is a pair o ...
and
Mileena
Mileena is a fictional character in the '' Mortal Kombat'' fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Introduced in ''Mortal Kombat II'' (1993), she is a clone of the Edenian princess Kitana, created with the blood of t ...
, modeled after their ''
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'' is a fighting game in the ''Mortal Kombat'' series, developed and released by Midway Games, Midway to Video arcade, arcades in 1995. It is a standalone update of 1995's earlier ''Mortal Kombat 3'' with an altered gamep ...
'' appearances. A classic Jade skin (also using her ''UMK3'' model) was also included with pre-orders of ''
Mortal Kombat
''Mortal Kombat'' is an American media franchise centered on a series of video games originally developed by Midway Games in 1992. The development of the first game was originally based on an idea that Ed Boon and John Tobias had of making a v ...
'' or ''
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation'' on
Blu-ray
The Blu-ray Disc (BD), often known simply as Blu-ray, is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released on June 20, 2006 worldwide. It is designed to supersede the DVD format, and capable of sto ...
(both released April 19, 2011).
GameStop
GameStop Corp. is an American video game, consumer electronics, and gaming merchandise retailer. The company is headquartered in Grapevine, Texas (a suburb of Dallas), and is the largest video game retailer worldwide. , the company operates 4,5 ...
,
Best Buy
Best Buy Co. Inc. is an American multinational consumer electronics retailer headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota. Originally founded by Richard M. Schulze and James Wheeler in 1966 as an audio specialty store called Sound of Music, it was rebra ...
and
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It has been referred to as "one of the most influential economi ...
also participated in pre-order bonuses and included classic costumes and Fatalities for Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Reptile respectively.
''Mortal Kombat''-themed costumes were also provided for the owners of
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation ...
avatar
Avatar (, ; ), is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means "descent". It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, goddess or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearanc ...
s who preordered any version of the game.
Downloadable content
Netherrealm Studios released the Klassic DLC pack (containing the classic outfits and Fatalities that were exclusive to pre-order deals) on June 7, 2011.
Downloadable characters include
Skarlet (a newly introduced red female character based on a glitch rumor from ''Mortal Kombat II''),
Kenshi (first introduced in ''
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance''),
Rain
Rain is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water f ...
(first seen in ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3''),
Kratos from the ''
God of War
A war god in mythology associated with war, combat, or bloodshed. They occur commonly in both monotheistic and polytheistic religions.
Unlike most gods and goddesses in polytheistic religions, monotheistic deities have traditionally been po ...
'' series, and
Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger () is a fictional character and the primary antagonist in the ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' film series. He was created by Wes Craven and made his debut in Craven's ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' (1984) as the malevolent spirit ...
from the ''
A Nightmare on Elm Street
''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' is a 1984 American supernatural slasher film written and directed by Wes Craven and produced by Robert Shaye. It is the first installment in the ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' franchise and stars Heather Langenkamp ...
'' franchise. A free compatibility pack is available alongside each character that contains "klassic" skins for two characters and is available to all players.
A "
Season Pass
A season ticket, or season pass, is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.
History
The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' has illustrative quotations which show the term ''season ticket'' used in the United States in 1820 ...
" available to Xbox 360 users offered the first four DLC characters together at an overall discounted price.
Warner Bros. is one of the first game companies that introduced the concept of season pass: a long term, pre-paid, post-launch downloadable content plan.
PlayStation Vita port
The
PlayStation Vita
The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita, or Vita) is a handheld video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, and in North America, Europe, and other international territo ...
version of ''Mortal Kombat'' was announced on January 18, 2012. It was released on May 1, 2012, in North America and on May 4 in Europe. The Vita version of the game includes all the features from the PlayStation 3 version of ''Komplete Edition'', and adds new costumes and a new Challenge Tower that are not available in the console versions,
as well as touchscreen controls for finishing moves and other exclusive features, but removes one stage. The online servers for the Vita port were shut down on July 16, 2014.
''Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition''
On January 9, 2012, Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment announced ''Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition''. This version was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on February 28, 2012, in North America and on March 2 in the United Kingdom, and consists of the game with all of the downloadable content released for it. The North American release also includes download codes for the album ''
Mortal Kombat: Songs Inspired by the Warriors'', as well as the 1995 film ''Mortal Kombat'' (available via the PlayStation Store or
Xbox Live
The Xbox network, formerly and still sometimes branded as Xbox Live, is an Internet, online multiplayer video game, multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft. It was first made available to the Xbox ...
).
In May 2011, Ed Boon hinted on his Twitter account that a Mac version of the game was more likely than a PC one. By February 2012, developers stated there were no immediate plans for a PC version, but were "gauging interest". On May 22, 2013, it was announced that the ''Komplete Edition'' would be released for Windows on July 3, 2013. Initially, the game became only available through
Steam
Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization ...
but a retail version followed during the first days of August.
As of March 21, 2020, Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition has been removed from
Steam
Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization ...
due to changes with Warner Brother Games' network.
Reception
According to Ed Boon, during its release month, ''Mortal Kombat'' sold one million copies between both PlayStation 3 and Xbox versions. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, publisher of NetherRealm Studios' ''Mortal Kombat'', reported that ''Mortal Kombat'' had sold close to three million units as of August 2011. According to Warner Bros., this covered the cost of the entire Midway asset acquisition. By 2013, the game had sold closer to 4 million.
Critical response
Prior to the game's release, Techtree listed ''Mortal Kombat'' as "one of the reasons for people to own a gaming console in 2011", with ''
PC Magazine
''PC Magazine'' (shortened as ''PCMag'') is an American computer magazine published by Ziff Davis. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009. Publication of online editions started in late 1994 and have continued to the present d ...
'' and 2D-X editor Jeffrey L. Wilson claiming this was one of the most anticipated titles of
E3 2010
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010 (E3 2010) was the 16th E3 held. The event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. It began on June 14, 2010, and ended on June 17, 2010, with 45,600 total attendees. Ther ...
. The E3 2010 showcase version of ''Mortal Kombat'' received the Best Fighting Game of E3 and Best Stage Demo of E3 awards by
GameSpot
''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
, Later, ''Mortal Kombat'' won several
Game of the Year
Game of the Year (GotY) is an award given by various award events and media publications to a video game that they feel represented the pinnacle of gaming that year.
Events and ceremonies
British Academy Games Awards (BAFTA Games Awards)
...
type awards for the best fighting game of 2011.
''Mortal Kombat'' received critical acclaim from critics. GameZone's David Sanchez considered calling the game as "a fitting reboot for the series" would be an understatement, and stated that the game, "while offering plenty of nostalgia", is "a major step up for the series".
Andrew Reiner of ''
Game Informer
''Game Informer'' (''GI'', most often stylized ''gameinformer'' from the 2010s onward) is an American monthly video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and associated consoles. It debuted in August 1991 w ...
'' called it "the best ''Mortal Kombat'' yet."
[Andrew Reine]
Mortal Kombat Review: Much More Than A Classic Revival
www.GameInformer.com, April 19, 2011 According to Mark Waltron of GameSpot, "over-the-top, bloody, and bursting with content, ''Mortal Kombat'' is a return to form for the franchise."
IGN's Ryan Clements called it an "amazing" game that "combines the novelty of extreme violence with a great fighting engine."
Neidel Crisan of
1UP.com
''1Up.com'' was an American entertainment website that focused on video games. Launched in 2003, ''1Up.com'' provided its own original features, news stories, game reviews, and video interviews, and also featured comprehensive PC-focused conten ...
stated it "has simply set the standard for future fighting games to follow."
Eurogamer
''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 and owned by alongside formed company Gamer Network. Its editor-in-chief is Martin Robinson.
Since 2008, it is known for the formerly eponymous games trade fair EGX ...
's Matt Edwards was more critical of the game, but added that "to judge ''Mortal Kombat'' harshly simply because it isn't the equal of ''
BlazBlue
''BlazBlue'' is a fighting video game series developed and published in Japan by Arc System Works, and later localized in North America by Aksys Games and in Europe by Zen United. An anime adaptation aired in Autumn 2013. The series has sold 1.7 ...
'' or ''
Street Fighter IV
is a 2008 fighting game published by Capcom, who also co-developed the game with Dimps. It was the first original main entry in the series since '' Street Fighter III'' in 1997, a hiatus of eleven years.
The coin-operated arcade game version wa ...
'' on a technical level would be unfair to what the game does right."
Brett Elston of
GamesRadar
''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', ''Edge'' and '' Computer ...
was also more cautious in his review, stating it is "a successful sequel that both reboots and redeems the wayward series, though it's not a flawless victory."
[Brett Elston]
Mortal Kombat review: A bloody good fighter that reboots and redeems the wayward series
GamesRadar, April 19, 2011
''Mortal Kombats gameplay was generally well-received due to its balance, violence and use of what GameTrailers called a "classic 2D template".
Reiner wrote that "the only area where Mortal Kombat feels antiquated is in its Artificial intelligence in video games, AI."
Waltron praised the game for having "one of the most in-depth story modes to grace a fighting game."
Crisan compared it to "watching a full length Computer-generated imagery, CG movie", and said that while "incredibly corny, it's also oddly addicting" due to its over-the-top plot.
One complaint concerned the shifting levels of difficulty in the game's story mode, described by Clements as forcing the player "to fight cheap tactics with cheap tactics."
According to Elston, "character balance, inconsistent detection and a stingy coin reward system drag down an otherwise bloody good time."
One year after the game's release, GameZone's Sanchez stated that ''Mortal Kombat'' has still remained "the best fighter currently on the market," calling it "today's greatest modern fighter" and "one of the most compelling fighters to come along in years."
The PlayStation Vita version of the game was also well received. Dan Ryckert of ''Game Informer'' called it "the most complete version of ''Mortal Kombat'' available,"
while Brett Zeidler of Destructoid hailed it as "a perfect example of keeping the best graphical fidelity possible and including an already astronomical amount of content." According to Walton, "despite a few control issues" regarding tag team combos, "''Mortal Kombat'' on the Vita is every bit the great and gruesome fighter as its console counterparts."
[Mark Walton]
Mortal Kombat Review
GameSpot, May 2, 2012 Steven Hopper of IGN recommended this "great port" for those who did not play the original release enough.
[Steven Hopper]
Mortal Kombat Vita Review
IGN, May 1, 2011
The PC version of ''Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition'' was well-received despite being released two years later than the console versions; the PC version received an 81/100 score on Metacritic.
In August 2013, questioned about the sales performance of the Windows version of the game, Boon tweeted that it was "WAY, WAY above expectations".
Controversy
In February 2011, the game was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board due to "violence that exceeds strong in impact". Warner Bros. unsuccessfully appealed the decision to the Classification Review Board, who ruled "the impact of the violence in Mortal Kombat is higher than strong and thus could not be accommodated within the MA15+ classification." The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service listed the game as a prohibited item and the Minister for Home Affairs (Australia), Australian Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor (politician), Brendan O'Connor asked to be briefed on the ''Mortal Kombat'' decision, citing "public disquiet on the issue".
In 2012, the Vita version of ''Mortal Kombat'' was banned in Australia as well. A spokesperson for Warner Bros. commented: "We felt that because of the Vita's size, the smaller screen would minimise the impact of the violence in the game and we felt it might fit within the MA15+ category. Obviously, the Classification Board of Australia did not agree." In 2013, however, following the introduction of an R18+ classification, the Komplete edition of ''Mortal Kombat'' was released uncensored on May 1, 2013, with the R18+ rating.
''Mortal Kombat'' was also indexed in Germany by the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons due to "drastic representations of violence," and was banned in South Korea due to its excessive depiction of blood and gore.
Legacy
Netherrealm Studios' success with ''Mortal Kombats story mode influenced Netherrealm's ''Injustice: Gods Among Us, Injustice'' series, and inspired developers of future fighting games to create similar film-like experiences in their games, like ''Guilty Gear Xrd'', ''Tekken 7'', ''Street Fighter V'', and ''Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite''.
Sequel
A sequel for the game, ''
Mortal Kombat X
''Mortal Kombat X'' is a 2015 fighting video game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It is the tenth main installment in the ''Mortal Komba ...
'', was developed by NetherRealm Studios for the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One and was released in April 2015.
References
Notes
Sources
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mortal Kombat (2011 Video Game)
2.5D fighting games
2011 video games
2010s fighting video games
Apocalyptic video games
Fighting games used at the Evolution Championship Series tournament
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Mortal Kombat games
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Multiplayer and single-player video games
NetherRealm Studios games
Obscenity controversies in video games
PlayStation 3 games
PlayStation Vita games
Science fantasy video games
Spike Video Game Award winners
Tag team videogames
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Video games about time travel
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Video games scored by Sascha Dikiciyan
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