Introduction

Ah, the 1990s. A time of questionable fashion and graphics that somehow managed to look amazing at the time. Enter *Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero*, a title that promised to expand the famous fatality-flinging universe of the *Mortal Kombat* franchise into a rich and epic action-adventure. What did we end up with? A game that felt like it slipped out of an alternate dimension where bad controls and frustrating gameplay are the norm. Spoiler alert: It’s not pretty.

Gameplay

Gameplay in *Mythologies* revolves around Sub-Zero navigating through a maze of poorly designed levels while battling enemies with all the finesse of a toddler trying to pick up a spoon for the first time. Players control our favorite ice thrower using four attack buttons, a block button, and a run button. Picture a fighting game morphed into an awkward side-scrolling platformer where you end up stuck in the proverbial mud more often than not. Special moves require 'ice power'—which seems appropriate, considering how frozen you will feel waiting for the game to register your buttons. Gain experience points to upgrade abilities, but do so while juggling a health meter that depletes faster than your will to continue playing.

Graphics

The graphics present a mixed bag—or more accurately, someone left a bag of mixed nuts in the sun. The game utilized Midway’s digitized actors from the original *Mortal Kombat* games, resulting in character animations that look like they were shot during an impromptu living room rehearsal for a low-budget superhero film. The backgrounds, however, do sport some real-time 3D elements, giving you a tiny glimpse of what could have been. Cutscenes featuring live-action footage are like finding a relatively well-preserved fossil in a dumpster: surprising, but also raising some serious questions about your life choices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, *Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero* is kind of like that one ex that you can’t forget. Sure, they had their moments—like some delightful characters and the odd fun mechanic—but the overwhelming frustration and bitterness leave a bad taste in your mouth. If you’re an ardent *MK* fan ready to cringe while playing through possibly one of the worst experiences in the franchise, have at it! Otherwise, it’s best to let Sub-Zero stay in the 90s, frozen in time, where bad games flow like cheap beer at a college party—abundant, regrettable, and ultimately an experience you think twice about reliving.

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