Whenever a new Mortal Kombat game rolls around, you can bank on three things happening: Unrelenting karnage, the letter “C” being condemned to the Phantom Zone, and some of the finest storytelling in the fighting game genre, because that is actually a thing. Since 2011, developer NetherRealm has been producing fighting games that weave fascinating narratives between each bloody left hook to the temple, good-looking brawlers with heart, fascinating gameplay mechanics, and genre titles with a healthy lifespan long after launch.

Mortal Kombat 1 doesn’t quite reach new heights, as its caught in the shadow of its previous incarnation (2019’s Mortal Kombat 11) and the release of Capcom’s superb Street Fighter 6 earlier this year, but as a grand reset of the now 30-year-old franchise, it’s still an engaging and thrilling refresh that preserves its legacy. Its bloodthirsty action has been kept intact, the new twists on the klassic status quo are surprising, and it still packs a visual punch.

In case you missed the fallout of Mortal Kombat 11 and its superb Aftermath expansion, Mortal Kombat 1 takes place in an entirely new timeline that has seen some radical changes made to the various realms of our universe. After ascending to godhood, reshaping time, and relinquishing that chronal power, Liu Kang now serves as the protector of Earthrealm. While some characters remain unchanged–Johnny Cage is still a B-list martial arts star looking for his next blockbuster hit, and Kung Lao is still an overconfident ass-kicker–other sweeping changes across the timeline have created dramatic shifts in the structure of Mortal Kombat.

I won’t go into too much detail here, but seeing former lackey Reptile get a chance to shine, Sindel firmly entrenched on the throne of Outworld, and Scorpion take up a more noble role in Liu Kang’s New Era makes for gripping entertainment. Of course, trouble is brewing, and between the rise of Shang Tsung, General Shao’s grand ambitions, and a puppetmaster behind the scenes pulling all the strings, it’s not long before everything comes to a bloody and violent head.

Mortal Kombat 1 is NetherRealm mostly on point, because while the story runs at an enjoyable pace and highlights the cast in their various chapters, things fall apart right at the end with what feels like a mad rush to the summit. It’s a strange swerve that feels oddly frantic, but as a testament to just how good the studio is at crafting a narrative about demigods punching each other into giblets, even a confused Mortal Kombat story is leagues better than the plot of any other fighting game on the market.

While its conclusion might come off as odd, how Mortal Kombat 1’s tale unfolds is still a sight to behold. Easter eggs are hidden everywhere, nuanced performances stand out, and the voice-acting is in top form.

On the gameplay front, NetherRealm is trying out a radically new system in Mortal Kombat 1. A part of me misses the variant approach introduced in Mortal Kombat 11, but in its place, the Kameo Fighters system makes for a fine replacement. At its most basic level, Kameo Fighters are essentially on-demand special moves that you can activate with a simple R1 and direction button combo. Each Kameo Fighter adds a select number of skills that can drastically shake up the flow of action, giving you options to pepper your foes with Kano laser-beams from a safe distance, deflect projectiles with Motaro’s shield, or call in for some air support from Goro and his nigh-unblockable stomp attack.

Depending on who you choose, each Kameo Fighter can fill the combat proficiency gaps that your current character can’t overcome on their own. This opens up the game and allows for more well-rounded fighters, while also adding a layer of accessibility to help even the playing field. You can mix up your offense-heavy playstyle with a defensive Kameo Fighter, become a scourge in the arena with handy support functions, or go all in on attack with this gameplay mechanic. There’s a lot of nuance to discover here, and as the weeks go on, it’s going to be fascinating to see just how big the Kameo Fighters iceberg is.

In terms of kore gameplay, Mortal Kombat 1 also has a number of other big changes to its formula as it looks to craft a lean, mean fighting machine. Krushing blows have been thrown out, fatal blows no longer have a few frames of invincibility upon startup, the meter system has been completely overhauled, and wake-up attacks have been given the boot. Alongside several other thoughtful additions, Mortal Kombat 1 runs hot with a familiar sense of style, one that is enhanced by its trademark dial-a-combo fisticuffs, Kameo Fighters, and gory fatalities.

And yet, something is off here. There’s a certain stiffness to the action, a subtle lack of polish that’s pervasive. It’s far from game-breaking, but after being spoiled rotten with Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 11, it is noticeable. Hopefully, NetherRealm can tighten up the feeling with a few post-launch patches.

The other big marquee feature in Mortal Kombat 1 is its new Invasions mode, essentially a seasonal tabletop game with decapitations and gimmick-enhanced battles. Taking place in a board game setting, Invasions tasks you with working your way through each space and battle, one roundhouse kick at a time. Mini-games are thrown in every few spaces to liven up the grind, challenging opponents will occasionally ambush you, and unique modifiers are present in most fights. There are also RPG elements thrown into the mix, but for the most part, I pretty much coasted through this mode until the difficulty ramped up in later boards. It’s worth mentioning that Invasions are free of microtransactions, and if you’re willing to grind through them, there are some neat rewards to earn here. The emphasis is on grind here, though.

Invasions is an interesting distraction that attempts to add more complexity to the Mortal Kombat 1 formula, but given the stingy nature of this mode when it comes to rewards, it’s not exactly an engaging one either. On that note, expect a lot of monetisation in Mortal Kombat 1, as between gear, cosmetic skins, fatalities, and brutalities, there’s a ton of stuff to unlock per character. If you’re invested in a particular character, you’ll steadily unlock their gear and eventually transform them into either a cool-looking protector of the realm, or a weird multiversal variant that comes across like the end result of a creative meeting where unlimited absinthe was on tap. The choice is yours!

On the online front, Mortal Kombat 1’s netcode is solid stuff. Like Mortal Kombat 11’s take on interconnected brawling, the returning Kombat League will offer plenty of rewards, a ranking system and currencies to earn. That said, matchmaking could still be improved upon. It’s aggravating that you can’t matchmake while in another mode, or even create a custom room that allows for multiple matches to unfold – something that puts Mortal Kombat 1 way behind its biggest competition. Crossplay isn’t available at launch either, but NetherRealm has promised that this feature will be added at a later date.

Mortal Kombat 1 is a fun start to a new chapter in the long-running series, but it’s one where there is definite room for improvement. The archaic online mode setup, confused Invasions mode, and gratuitous microtransactions don’t do it any favors, but the thrilling single-player, well-crafted Kameo Fighters system, and fundamental fighting mechanics are still at the top of their game. With a little bit of blood, spit, and post-launch polish, Mortal Kombat 1 can position itself as a confident refresh of the franchise. Oh yes, it’s klobberin’ time.

Released officially on 19 September, Mortal Kombat 1 is out now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, and, if you’re a glutton for graphical punishment, Nintendo Switch.


Mortal Kombat 1 review

The new era of Mortal Kombat kicks off with a fair amount of bone-crunching satisfaction as NetherRealm once again delivers a great story and action. However, it falls short of a flawless victory thanks to dated online options and a lack of additional modes.

 8
Mortal Kombat 1 was reviewed on PS5