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✔️Zero Loading Times. An astounding feat by developers from NetherRealm.
✔️Sly Stallone provides vocals for his all-time greatest role.
✔️It’s the complete package, the ULTIMATE experience.
❌No exclusive content for those who purchase the Ultimate edition.
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Editor’s Note:
This review reflects our thoughts of Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate for PlayStation 5 & XBOX Series, released November 17, 2020. For our thoughts on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch & XBOX One version, see below.
Just a quick preface, this review is in addendum to both our previous reviews on Mortal Kombat 11, and Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath. So our thoughts on this complete package may be quick, just like the astonishing load times Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate demonstrates. I was blown away by the campaign’s seamless transitions from pre-rendered CGI to in-game action. The instantaneous flow made the theatrics of its cinematics to its interactive changeover seem one-in-the-same. This is the first time I’ve witness a Mortal Kombat title without load times since Mortal Kombat 3 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. An incredible feat for such a large title with intricate detail applied to every facet. This includes all dynamic and interactable levels, each character and their various models, the Krypt and it’s widescale investigative terrain, the stunning and well thought layout of the title’s UI, and of course both chapters of its excellent story.
Further labelling its remaster as ‘Ultimate’ is quite fitting. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate surely delivers its sub-titular intent, including the aforementioned performance upgrades, accommodating users for PlayStation and XBOX’s newest hardware line-up. Alongside these improvements, fans who purchase this version are given the complete experience, thus far. Ultimate includes the base game, both available Kombat Packs, and the Aftermath expansion. For a new release at a minimum of $79AUD, it is well worth the cost of admission – not withstanding the fact that most next gen titles are currently selling at an average RRP of $120AUD, this is a complete steal. However, at its core it’s still Mortal Kombat 11. Throwing next gen performance aside, Ultimate on previous generations contains the exact same experience you would expect the title to deliver.
Ultimately, the caveat to this bundle is its superior presentation on both the PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X. Granted both units utilise a specialised NVMe specifically built for their respective hardware, but besides that; if you have already purchased the the first Kombat Pack and the Aftermath DLC on last gen, then purchasing the 2nd Kombat Pack immediately gives you access to Ultimate – this in addition to a free next generation upgrade, devout Kombat players will already have their pathway to the experience, with or without the hardware in grasp. Albeit, Ultimate is still worthy to the fan that has yet to experience this incredible fighter. Sure there are a plethora of palpable pounders to enjoy, but for next gen owners, there’s only one. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is the pinnacle of fighting games, as of writing this review.
He'll give you a war...
Let’s talk about Mortal Kombat 11’s second Kombat Pack that released side-by-side this upgrade. Included within the transaction is three new unlockable characters, the highly request Rain and Mileena finally make their return upon fans literally yelling at series creator, Ed Boon on twitter demanding he “#FreeMileena”. After taunting his own player base for a couple of years, developers finally gave in and released the new revisions of the two anticipated masked ninja’s. Rain, cloaked in his apropos tribute to the late-great Pop artist Prince. Draped in trademark purple, the masked fighter demonstrates his rapid strikes by soaking his opponent with his Hydrokenisis skillset. Manipulating the wash while dousing his enemy with a flood of weakening attacks, the prince of vapor hosts a litany of new moves that will destroy the existing roster in quick fashion.
Mileena’s Tarkatan fangs thirst for human blood, all while her own resolve is to seek vengeance on those that oppose her father – Shao Kahn’s – will. Quite possibly Mortal Kombat X’s most popular fighter, her revised repertoire see’s the heiress elevate her heightened senses, with a new catalogue of attacks that will question your enemy’s vulnerabilities. The rose coloured princess entails the same perks her previous iterations harboured, although her floor attacks seem to deal slightly less damage for balanced combat. It was an issue within Mortal Kombat X, but seems to have been rectified here. Armed with her trademark Sai’s, the badass hybrid skins her foes, cutting them down to their critical point, and when her father commands that she finish them, she removes her headpiece, gives a haunting grin and feasts ferociously on the flesh of her foe. Fatality.
And of course, how could I forget the headline act in the entire pack. Keeping up with NetherRealm’s inclusion of classic Warner Bros.’ cinematic properties, fans were delighted to portray one of the all time greats in action movie history, John Rambo. With Terminator existing within the title’s first Kombat Pack, a dream match between the two hall of fame worthy characters can headline this bloody battle for cinema supremacy. Unlike Arnold’s fictional portrayal, Rambo is backed by vocals provided by the man himself, Sylvester Stallone. Sly delivers each line and comeback with great conviction, as he battles the entire Mortal Kombat 11 roster. Gripping his trusty hunting knife, the rogue militant dominates his prey by utilising every piece of weaponry he carries. Camouflaging himself in leaves, then ripping the throat of his enemies with his bare hands, this is the ultimate tribute to one of film’s greatest anti-heroes.
With that said, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate provides its fans and newcomers the chance to revel in its absolute gory… I mean glory. An achievement in technical prowess that will be astonishing for any and all competing studios to follow-up. NetherRealm have set the bar high, almost questioning the shoes left to fill for their own development team, heading into Mortal Kombat 12. A rich narrative containing the hellscape of torture and violence in true Mortal Kombat fashion, a follow-up with the legendary Cary Tagawa reprising his most notorious role as the maleficent sorcerer Shang Tsung, a jam packed roster of 40+ fighters for players to bloody and bludgeon their foes within friendly exhibitions, a litany of unlockables contained within the hallow grounds of the haunted Krypt, and taking on the trials and tribulation of each Tower of time. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is the essential fighter, the one and only that leads us on a path through the next generation. FIGHT!
Mortal Kombat 11 - Koch Media ANZ
Mortal Kombat 11 is a fighting game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
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