Mortal Kombat XL Review

List

Mortal Kombat XL boasts a solid roster of characters, bolstered by the additions of the Kombat Packs DLC. All the original favorites return along with some new faces and some chilling guest characters. Icons from horror movies and Mortal Kombat come together like chocolate and peanut butter, blending seamlessly with the brutally campy tone of the series.

Fighting games have always been one of the best ways to portray a character’s personality. Mortal Kombat developers absolutely nail the mannerisms of big screen slasher in both animation and gameplay. Jason moves with murderous determination, unstoppable when he sets his sights on his prey. Meanwhile, Alien steps away from danger, spitting acid to corner his victims.

Each character has three different variations, each with the addition of new combos and special moves that can completely change a character’s play style. For example, Inferno Scorpion has access to Hell Ball and Demon Fire, bullet moves that keep the opponent out. But Ninjutsu Scorpion uses a pair of swords to pressure enemies in close combat. Counting each variation as its own character, MKXL has 99 options to choose from. This means that everyone can find a font or style that suits them.

Combat mode

Content-wise, Mortal Kombat XL offers a myriad of modes for any level of kombatant. Casual fighters will love the extensive single player story and chaotic “Test Your Luck” mode in which random modifiers such as bombs falling from the sky liven up the game.

If you’re looking to test your skills, online lobbies provide a great way to find stiff competition. Even three years after launch, the online community remains active, making it easy to get in and get smashed by people who have been playing this game longer than you have.

The Crypt, MKXL’s place to unlock new fatalities, music or concept art, would normally be a menu in any other title, but here it has been expanded into its full-fledged game mode. Players can spend the coins they earn as they play to unlock new goodies in a first-person exploration game, complete with a vast world map and enemies.

MKXL’s version of arcade mode, Towers, pits the player against a series of random computer-controlled opponents with different variants such as survival, where you keep the same health bar during each fight. Whatever you are looking for, Mortal Kombat XL offers tons of ways to enjoy the carnage.