The Mortal Kombat 1 reviews keep flying in. So, is the latest installment a new and fresh start for the franchise or not? Let's take a look what the ratings look like!
In Mortal Kombat 1 you get to witness the events after the ending of Mortal Kombat 11 where Liu Kang uses Kronika's Hourglass to create a new timeline for all realms. Leading to a world reset and complete new storyline for everyone.
Liu Kang's noble aim was to bring everlasting peace to all realms. However, you can only foresee what you already understand, and things beyond your knowledge remain unaffected by it. Thus, a new unexpected threat now endangers the realms, and the Champions are called upon to protect both themselves and each realm.
So far so good, but did the game deliver on its promises? Without further ado, let's dive into the Mortal Kombat 1 reviews and take a look how the new era turned out - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Mortal Kombat 1: Review Overview
So far, Mortal Kombat sits at 85 on Metacritic with over 5 reviews published. Here are some of our highlights from our favorite reviews so far:
Benny Rose from Gaming Age gave a top rating with an overall score from 100 and said:
Overall, Mortal Kombat 1 is a polished, beautiful work of art that is a remarkably innovative entry into the long running franchise. You can feel the love and care that went into recrafting existing characters in a way I never knew I would love.
With a rating of 90, Jaz Sagoo from COGconnected, praises the improvements made to the gameplay and the "kick ass" story mode:
Mortal Kombat 1 refines and improves on its solid foundation to deliver a devastating tag-team blow. The Kameo system opens up new possibilities which allows you to experiment with offensive and defensive maneuvers. In terms of single-player content, the story mode kicks ass and Invasion gives you the incentive to keep playing. With its solid online net code and wonderful tutorial, Mortal Kombat 1 is a flawless victory.
Justin Wood from CGMagazine thinks Mortal Kombat 1 is a great entry for new and returning players alike:
Mortal Kombat 1 is an excellent entry point for new comers and returning fans. It outshines every previous Mortal Kombat in almost every way, with intuitive controls and interesting modes. NetherRealm cranks the gore up to 11 and I cant wait to see what else they have in store for us.
Connor Makar from VG247, is longing for features that were left behind but also seems pumped for the new era of Mortal Kombat:
Mortal Kombat 1 is a generally positive step in a new direction. I find myself frustrated with Liu Kang's decision to allow live service DNA to creep into his new universe, and I long for some of the features left behind (like the Krypt). Mortal Kombat 1 sets the stage for a new era of MK that you can't help but get pumped up for. NetherRealm, like the characters in its ultraviolent universe, is staring right into the face of a brave new world and locking eyes with the future. Keeping those eyes in its head, though, may remain a challenge.
With an overall rating of 70, Christopher Teuton from Screen Rant, is a little bit conflicted:
As someone's first Mortal Kombat game, Mortal Kombat 1 is a perfectly adequate but not ideal place to start (that would still be Mortal Kombat 2011). For returning players who just want to see their favorite characters again, or for anyone itching to hear Johnny Cage come up with great jokes like "Reminds me of a terrible B-movie I was in called The Flesh Pits," while walking around a room that looks just like the old MK level The Flesh Pits, this game will be a must-buy. If you were hoping to see The Great Kung Lao of myth, however, or an entirely new cast of characters, Mortal Kombat 1 isn't essential, and brings very few truly new ideas to the table.
The general thoughts are clear: Mortal Kombat 1 seems like a polished piece of work, where every character got the love they deserved. With the intuitive gameplay, the entry welcomes longtime fans and newcomers alike. The new and thrilling story provides potential for the franchise's future, but also brings very few truly new ideas to the table, without a single new character at launch.