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If you're completely into brutal, bloody fighting action, then Mortal Kombat 1 has it in abundance. When you take a closer look, however, you'll find some of the most polished combat in the entire series, an excellent narrative, a wealth of content to explore, and exciting new additions that make the latest entry in the NetherRealm Studios saga one of the best fighting games you can play right now.

Faced with the challenge of serving as both a sequel and a soft reboot of more than 30 years of established franchise history, Mortal Kombat 1 excels in every respect. By returning to the roots that made the violent fighting game so captivating from the start, the game offers a skillfully conceived cast and recovers the simplified fundamentals of fighting games. All this contributes to making it one of the best games in the series.



One feature that NetherRealm has always excelled at in its fighting games is single-player content, and Mortal Kombat 1 is no exception. The plot follows Raiden, now the champion of Earth, after the Fire God Liu Kang restarts history. During this journey, you will witness the heyday of the Lin Kuei and experience a peacetime Outworld in a narrative that unfolds in unexpected directions. 

Although billed as a reboot, this narrative is intricately connected to the previous trilogy of titles developed by NetherRealm, which spans from Mortal Kombat (2011) to Mortal Kombat 11. However, it builds its own narrative and stands out for its sharp and surprising writing.

The narrative is impressive for bringing in well-known characters in innovative ways. Sub-Zero and Scorpion take on completely new forms, while the god of thunder, Raiden, appears as a young mortal. Liu Kang's manipulation of the timeline has fundamentally altered the world, so that although the characters are recognizable, they often act in unexpected ways. 



Although it's a reboot, Mortal Kombat 1 doesn't shy away from the series' rich history, as evidenced by the diverse cast of characters. In addition to traditional characters such as Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Liu Kang, and Johnny Cage, there is room for an equal amount of 3D-era fighters and new faces. 

The return of characters like Reiko, Havik, Ashrah, Nitara, and Li Mei demonstrates NetherRealm's audacity in avoiding recycling familiar characters like Sonya Blade and Kano, relegating them to secondary roles. The courage to explore new directions is a positive highlight of the game.

New Kombater modes 

New to Mortal Kombat 1 is Invasions mode, which replaces Krypt and features a fusion of board game and top-down RPG elements. The main motivation for exploring these areas, which are detailed representations of the game's central stages, is to unlock chests containing items such as concept art, character palettes, new skins, brutalities, fatalities, and various customization options.

Although the miniature backdrops are very cool and authentic, obtaining these items is a time-consuming process. This is due to the repetitive nature of each encounter, which plays out like a single fight with variations on the characters in the cast. This ends up making the mode a little monotonous as you play.
 

In addition, there are the tower modes, which we already know well from the old games in the franchise, with varying levels of difficulty, as well as the survivor mode and an infinite challenge option. The three main difficulties are Novice, warrior, and Champion, where you face six, eight, and 10 opponents, respectively.

Survivor mode means you keep your life bar from previous fights. When you choose to fight other players, there's the local co-op mode and online options that include ranked and casual play, with the return of the Kombat League and King of the Hill.



As for combat, we're back to the classic method of enhancing moves and using combo breaks, which were introduced in Mortal Kombat (2011). In place of the abandoned mechanics is the new Kameo system, which allows you to choose a second character who can be summoned during a fight to perform a variety of different moves. 

It's interesting to see how many mechanics have been cut and the good results that this decision has brought about. Additions such as the variation system, interactive objects in the environment, and the ability to burn meters have been cut in favor of a more fluid and clean mechanical experience. 

The beauty of martial arts

The graphics in Mortal Kombat 1 really do represent an impressive leap from previous titles in the series. The scenery is a real visual spectacle, full of details that really impress players. The color composition is incredible, creating an immersive atmosphere that immerses players in the game's bloodthirsty battles. The attention to detail is remarkable, from urban environments such as Jonny Cage's house to Liu Kang's temple of monks, and each location is a masterpiece in terms of graphic design.

What's more, the special effects and animations in Mortal Kombat 1 are breathtaking. The characters' special moves and abilities are accompanied by visual effects that make each fight seem more realistic and violent. Movements flow smoothly and naturally, making combat a true visual experience. The physics of the characters and objects in the environment are very well executed, adding an additional level of realism to the game. 



The game's cutscenes are second-to-none in terms of quality. They maintain the standard of excellence of previous games in the series, offering cinematic narratives that delve deeper into the history of the Mortal Kombat universe. The quality of the animation and the acting of the digital characters are very good, making players feel truly immersed in the game's plot. 

The sound effects in Mortal Kombat 1 deserve a special mention, as they are truly excellent. Every blow, kick, and special move is accompanied by perfect sound effects that enhance the gaming experience. The impact sounds are clear and realistic, allowing the player to feel the precise sensation of each blow delivered and received. 



In addition, the dubbing of the characters in Mortal Kombat 1 is impeccable. Each character has a unique voice that perfectly matches their personality. The lines during the cutscenes are delivered with intensity and emotion, making the game's story even more engaging. The short dialogues between fights are also very good, where the characters usually speak some interactive phrase not only to their opponent but also in the context of the moment in the story. 

All in all, we can conclude that Mortal Kombat 1 is an excellent game, and it's very clear that NetherRealm got it very right with this new game and can be expected to get it right in the next ones if it follows this new recipe, which has also given the franchise a new air, where both old fans and new players can enter the MK universe and get to know this new story.

We are grateful to Warner Bros. Games for making the game available in advance to ensure this content was possible. For this review, the game was playtested on the PC platform via Steam.