Mortal Kombat 1 reviewDeveloper: NetherRealm StudiosPublisher: Warner Bros. GamesPlatform: Played on PS5Availability: Out now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC (Steam, Epic Games)
It Has Begun… Again. 30 years on from furrowing the brows of parents and bothering the halls of the Senate, NetherRealm Studios has returned with Mortal Kombat 1, a full re-roll on the mammoth universe and bloodthirsty roster of kombatants that dwell within.
Mortal Kombat 1 – not to be confused with video games Mortal Kombat (1992) or Mortal Kombat (2011) or movies Mortal Kombat (1995) or Mortal Kombat (2021) – sees the timeline reset, following the outcome of Mortal Kombat 11 and hero Liu Kang’s battle with reality-warping Elder God, Kronika.
In the aftermath of Kang’s victory, the former Shaolin monk found himself bestowed with the power of time, affording him the opportunity to restart history and reshape the realms of the universe, in an effort to ensure a timeline that dials back on the violence, chaos, and war that had plagued previous existence. The new Time God has done a fine job, creating an admittedly imperfect, but mostly balanced existence for all. Still, Man is made to war. And Liu Kang will be reminded of this soon enough.
Immediately, Mortal Kombat 1 impresses with its presentation, kicking off with a gorgeous intro sequence and a stunning title screen and carrying that visual splendour across the entire game. Character models and their costume design is fantastic, with even the less-spotlit kombatants, such as Li Mei and Reiko, having some fantastic detail, while demoness Ashrah, sporting majestic wings and bedecked in white and gold, has one of my favourite designs in Mortal Kombat history. It’s humbling to remember those MK9 and Injustice models at this point, as MK strives closer and closer toward realism.
Once everything starts moving, it all looks a tad sillier, as our photo-realistic kombatants stiffly dance around at high speed. This is, of course, the order of the day with MK, but while long-term fans have come to terms with the franchise’s animation style, Keaton-Batman neck syndrome and stiff jumping animations are looking increasingly dated in modern light. That said, the stages are universally fantastic, representing some of the finest visuals seen in all of fighting games. Stage design has always been NetherRealm’s strong suit, and MK1 boasts some breathtaking environments. From the regal opulence of Queen Sindel’s throne room, to the colorful and bustling Sun Do Festival (complete with firework display!), these stunning vistas are bursting with life, character and personality.
In keeping with its “back to the roots” vibe, MK1’s soundtrack pays tribute to the series’ origins, its score mixing exciting, modern music with a touch of the beat-heavy, techno influences of the original trilogy. It seems that NetherRealm has finally gotten over its interminable “Hans Zimmer-lite” obsession of past releases, with the sad, slow strings and mournful dirge that was MK11’s score now a thing of the past (…or is that the future?)