Introduction

Ah, Mortal Kombat. The franchise that taught a generation that hitting your friends until they’re bloodied and broken is not just acceptable, but encouraged. Mortal Kombat 1 brings the series back like a long-lost relative who shows up at your door after years, with a questionable backstory and a penchant for fighting at family gatherings. Modern graphics, new mechanics, and old nemeses returning to kick each other’s butts? Sounds like a great day to stab your best friend in the virtual face.

Gameplay

Gameplay follows the classic fighting formula that fans will recognize and love, with just a sprinkle of new spices added to the mix—think of it as a fresh twist on grandma's famous chili recipe. The first noteworthy addition is the Kameo Fighters. Not only are you fighting your opponent, but now you have a sidekick who can jump in, take a hit for you, or execute a cool attack while you’re busy trying to figure out that one move you always screw up. It’s like Magic: The Gathering, but with a little less magic and a whole lot more violence. Fatal Blows are back and they’re more collaborative than ever—because why wouldn’t you want to team up with your Kameo Fighter for maximum carnage? They’re basically the 'let’s hold hands and destroy someone together' feature of the game. You still have a classic Story Mode to show off with your skills and tower modes that let you fight your way to the top, which is great if you’re the type that enjoys some good-auld fantasy crushes—but this time, you get the added bonus of Invasions mode, which is like Monopoly but with way fewer family arguments and way more ass-kicking involved. The game also adds crossplay, which you may think is about getting your friends together for online brawls, but is actually a new method for keeping your ex from dodging your calls in console form. Of course, if you’re playing on Switch, don’t get too excited. You’ll have to wait until a patch makes it usable without self-combusting due to technical issues. Playing single-player is where ‘Mortal Kombat 1’ shines; intricate mechanics blend with a story that, while not winning any awards, is just deep enough to fuel your desire to smash your foes for hours on end. Thank you, Liu Kang, for spinning the cartoon violence of my youth into a narrative as convoluted as my sleep-deprived thoughts at 3 AM.

Graphics

Graphically, this game is the equivalent of having your mom show you baby pictures at family dinners—gorgeous, yet embarrassing if shared with the wrong crowd. The character models and environments look splendid—much prettier than your last Tinder date, for sure. With the power of Unreal Engine 4, the graphics could easily double as a pre-rendered movie if the budget weren't spent on more fatality effects than a Make-A-Wish Foundation wish granted directly in a Mortal Kombat fight. The splashes of colors during fights, however, may require a pair of sunglasses painted by a mad artist—you’ve been warned.

Conclusion

Overall, 'Mortal Kombat 1' does what it needs to do—smashes the competition while providing the trademark chaos we all know and love, albeit not without its share of minor dips into the lake of issues. It’s got new features to shake up the gameplay, a roster that could make a bouncer cry, and more blood than a vampire's dating profile. Sure, it may have a few hiccups—the Switch version needing a miracle among other blemishes—but on the PS5, it's a solid 8 out of 10. Besides, if you're not OK with losing a few matches and some fictional lives along the way, then maybe you should be playing peek-a-boo with your neighbor instead. So grab your controller and get ready for that brutal beatdown. It’s time to fight and finish your opponent with style (and a smattering of pixelated guts, of course).

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