The story is solid, and has quite a few surprises. Because Raiden encourages different things to happen in his quest to change the future, different things happen to characters than what you may remember from the old series. This rebooted version covers the first three MK games, and has quite a few surprises in store for your favorite characters. The story itself may not be anything fresh and new, but considering that fighting games are notorious for having little to no stories at all, this story is definately welcome, as it gives you a background and reasons for which you are fighting.
The controls are as solid as you can ask for in any game. Special moves are easy to pull off, and equally as easy to integrate into your normal hand to hand combos. It plays just like the MK games of old. The graphics may be new and cutting edge, but the game itself plays like the old 2D fighting games you remember.
The graphics are beautiful. The characters all have an incredible amount of detail and effects on their special moves. As beautiful as teh characters may be, the backgrounds steal the show. Never have I seen a fighting game with the amount of detail put into the backgrounds as here. Also, the new X-Ray moves are truly a thing to behold!
One of the many complaints about MK vs DCU was the teen rating. This is a reemergence of MK to the adult genre. Fatalities are as gruesome and brutal as they have ever been. Every character has at least two fatalities, a babality, and stage fatalities. There is rumor of something called a Brutality, but as of yet, nothing is known of their validity.
The replayability is through the roof. There are many modes to tackle including, Story Mode, Ladder, Tag Team (which is almost a separate game in itself), and of course online play. The Krypt makes a return. Every match you play earns you Kombat Koins that can be spent in the Krypt to unlock alternate costumes, fatalities, and hidden characters, as well as concept art. There are also ladder modes for the mini-games Test Your Might, Test Your Sight, Test Your Strike, and Test Your Luck. With all these game modes, it will take even the most avid gamer quite some time to explore everything this game has to offer.
All in all, this game is amazing. If you have even a passing interest in fighting games, Mortal Kombat, or good games in general, then you must buy this. Ed Boon wanted to take his flagship series back to good old days where it belongs, and he knocked it out of the park.
9.5 Fatalities out of 10!
TOASTY!!!!!
~CDB