Review: Mortal Kombat 1

NetherRealm Studios has decided it’s time again to reboot the Mortal Kombat franchise with the release of Mortal Kombat 1. But this latest iteration doesn’t just set the number back to one. Until now, the series’ storyline had grown a bit convoluted and full of inconsistencies. Mortal Kombat 1 keeps most of the traditional gameplay and story elements the franchise is known for while pushing it into new territory.

I’m no fighting game expert. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing them, but I’m just no good. In fact, most of my fighting game experience came when I was younger, button-mashing my way through matches with friends. Ironically, this typically happened in older Mortal Kombat titles more than anything. So, going into MK1, I expected more of the same. I figured I’d jump in, play through the story, and check out the Invasion and Tower modes. From there, I’d probably dip my toes into some quick Online Versus, get my ass kicked a few times, and call it a successful endeavor.

But that’s not what happened. Mortal Kombat 1 is quite a ride, and even when I was on the receiving end of a beatdown, I had a blast. Overall, the combat feels a little slower than, say, Street Fighter 6 or even recent MK titles like Mortal Kombat 11. Not too slow; it’s just the right pace that gives me enough time to actually grasp what is happening and really learn. After a few hours, I was pulling off flashy combos and felt like a pro — something I’ve never felt before as a fighting game casual. Obviously, my opponents brought me back down to Earth in my next match. But still, my point stands.

Mortal Kombat 1 (PC, PS5[Reviewed], Xbox Series X|S, Switch)
Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
Released: September 19, 2023
MSRP: $69.99

A visit to Outworld

NetherRealm really upped its game with the Story Mode in Mortal Kombat 1. It’s definitely the best tale the studio has told yet, both cinematically and narratively. The story slots itself in after Liu Kang’s ending in Mortal Kombat 11, with him restarting time via the power of the Hourglass. After creating the universe, separating it into realms, and filling them with life, he begins a New Era with the goal of finding peace. Of course, that part’s up to the mortals.

Story Mode is comprised of 15 chapters across four acts, with each chapter focusing on a specific iconic Mortal Kombat character. You’ll pummel through each chapter as its respective character, experiencing several cut-scenes along the way and a few fights. Typically, you’ll challenge four opponents in total, progressing the story while learning that character’s moves. By the end of the Story Mode, I had a pretty good understanding of how most of the roster played.

In terms of the actual narrative, it’s a fun ride. Mixed with the flashy cutscenes, the game felt like a Mortal Kombat movie but with more substance. In a few previous entries, Story Mode and its cutscenes played like tacked-on speedruns of the roster. But that’s not the case here. MK1 takes its time telling the story, and it packs interesting twists along the way.

My only gripe with the story is how soon it ended. In total, the campaign took me about five hours to complete. Since this is one of my biggest draws to fighters, I, of course, wish there was more, but I understand this is pretty par for the course for a fighting game not called Street Fighter 6.

Not quite how I envisioned Invasions

Going into MK1, I was very excited about Invasion Mode. It was touted as the feature that would keep those who finished the game’s brief campaign playing for quite a while longer. Essentially Invasion Mode allows players to navigate a Mario Party-style game board, completing challenges, encountering opponents, and unlocking rewards. A handful of the rewards are permanent cosmetics, such as gear, taunts, finishers, and more. But some of the rewards are specifically for Invasion mode, like Talismans, which grant battle buffs. There’s also skill points to increase the health, damage, and other stats of your character. In theory, it adds a bit of an RPG mechanic.

However, it feels a bit half-baked and poorly executed. Oftentimes I never even realized the effect of Talismans or other rewards. Honestly, Invasion Mode plays more like a mobile game. The path forward was often linear, and the mode, in general, was just repetitive and boring. In the end, it felt like a grind to unlock rewards, but it wasn’t a fun grind.

Thankfully fans of Towers will be happy to see that mode has returned in MK1. It’s the same classic Towers mode we’ve seen time and time again, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Overall for a reboot, I’d hoped for more fleshed-out challenges, both new and old. Instead, the modes feel rather barebones and lack the true depth to be a worthwhile experience.

Beautifully Brutal

As for the sights and sounds of Mortal Kombat, NetherRealm’s focus on the current generation exclusively paid off. MK1 is absolutely gorgeous. The character models are the best they’ve been. Characters like Mileena and Baraka have always looked more fantasy than realistic, but here, they look more real than ever. The stages are detailed and immersive. It’s great seeing the Story Mode transition from a cutscene to a fight. It’s practically seamless due to the high level of detail within each stage.

As I said before, I’m casual when it comes to fighting games. But the Kombos and move lists in MK1 feel great. The iconic X-Ray Fatal Blows make a return which is definitely a good thing. Speaking of which, MK1 has some of the most brutal—yet entertaining—Brutalities and Fatalities we have seen yet. Overall the Kombat feels extremely fluid, and I’m looking forward to trying even more characters and trying to hammer down their playstyle. Sorry, Raiden and Ashrah, I gotta spread the love!

I only spent a few hours in the Online Modes, but didn’t encounter any sort of lag or desync in any of my matches except for one. In that instance, there was a little bit of a stutter, but it seemed to be the case for the other player as well. I think it was more of a fluke than anything, as I never encountered it again. For now, it doesn’t seem like there are many Online Modes, just Ranked, Casual, and Private Rooms. I imagine that’s what is most important for those who dive deep into competitive online play, but I would have liked to see a little more variety.

Not without its faults

While most of my experience with MK1 is positive, there are definitely some issues. Most importantly, I think the lack of meaningful or fun modes stops MK1 from reaching its full potential. As a primarily single-player fighting game fan, I’m disappointed Invasion Mode isn’t the engrossing addition solo players need. Hopefully, that changes next time.

Another big issue for me is the microtransactions. I know it’s become the norm lately, but I still don’t like it, and I’ll continue to voice my displeasure. Though it’s not as bad as it could be, this is a fully-priced $70 title. You’ll earn Kredits and Koins for playing MK1. Kredits reset each season and are used specifically on cosmetics for that season. Koins, on the other hand, persist and are used for unlocking rewards and cosmetics via the Shrine. However, there’s a third currency called Dragon Krystals. You get a very small amount by grinding out gameplay, but the intent is for you to purchase more using cold, hard cash. Of course, the coolest cosmetics are obtained via Dragon Krystals. I just don’t like this practice. I’m all for DLC and future paid content, but this style of microtransactions never sits well with me.

Even though Mortal Kombat 1 is no Flawless Victory, it still feels like a step forward for the franchise. The core gameplay is the best it’s ever been, which I think is the most important thing for the genre. It’s a great entry point for newcomers to fighting games and even fellow casual players like myself looking to delve a little deeper than usual. The Story Mode is peak cinematic Mortal Kombat which alone is a worthwhile adventure for those interested. Despite a lackluster lineup of modes with an unnecessary grind for cosmetics, Mortal Kombat 1 is still fun to play. Ultimately, it’s a brilliant reboot, and I’m on board for wherever the universe takes us next.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}