On the one hand, it's a solid comeback mechanic, only usable when a fighter is on the brink of defeat. Studying a move list to determine what delivers a Krushing Blow proves to be time well-spent.įatal Blows, on the other hand, are going to be an acquired taste. Using a certain move to counter a move will trigger an X-ray hit that does greater damage and sheds more blood. Krushing Blows add a degree of strategy to select counters. The other big additions are the Krushing Blows and the Fatal Blows. The expanded options are a nice feature for both casual and veteran players.
#Mortal kombat 11 story mode series#
It's certainly encouraged me to use more enhanced moves than I have in previous series entries. That means there's meter to perform enhanced moves, as well as defensive measures to escape combos. Rather than ask players to use their meter on either offense or defense, they can now do both. However, "Mortal Kombat 11" does make a change that works for the better and that's the separation of its meters. It also encourages players to learn combos that cover greater ground. In some ways, this pushes more projectile zoning and teleport moves to help close in gaps. Narrative is fine and all, but if we're talking about a fighting game, the biggest question is, how does it play? "Mortal Kombat 11" feels closer to old-school MK in a lot of ways, with the most jarring change being the removal of the Run button. But after watching the ending more than once, it's hard not to feel the desire for more closure with the brilliant characters that NetherRealm established. There are definitely good points to the Story Mode, like the epic bromance between the present Sub-Zero and Scorpion. And while speaking more about the Cages would delve into spoiler territory, given the massive role that Johnny and Cassie played in "Mortal Kombat X" and their place in the overarching plot, they're treated like afterthoughts by the end of the MK11 story. The plot sets up a past Kung Lao, shaken by visions of his future, to confront Raiden on his mistakes that get him and his friends killed. For example, the very premise of the plot almost demands a confrontation between the determined and heroic Thunder God Raiden of MK9 and his power mad counterpart of MK11. I'll just say that NetherRealm set up a lot of interesting plot points and often doesn't explore them to their fullest. It's hard to go into exactly why the latter half fell flat with me without discussing specific spoilers. That's part of the reason why MK11's Story Mode ultimately feels like a disappointment by the end. None of the other past/present confrontations prove as fun, entertaining, or thought-provoking as the two Johnny's. The stark contrast between the arrogant Johnny of MK9 and the grizzled, matured family man Johnny of the future is one to behold, showing just how thoroughly NetherRealm has turned one of their most recognizable fighters into a three-dimensional character. Simply put, the buddy cop dynamic between past and present Johnny Cage is the biggest highlight of the MK11 story. Shao Kahn enters a future where he has fallen and Kotal Kahn has taken his throne. Liu Kang and Kung Lao come in from the past as Shaolin heroes and must face that their future selves are Netherrealm Revenants. As one would imagine, this leads to some intriguing confrontations.
Kronika has sent the past and present timelines on a collision course, resulting in the present MK11 fighters meeting with many of their counterparts, pulled directly from the climax of 2011's "Mortal Kombat" reboot.