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| | Title:
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
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System:
Xbox
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Genre:
Fighting
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Publisher:
Midway
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Developer:
Midway Entertainment
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Release:
October, 2006
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Online:
Yes
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ESRB:
M
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Mortal Kombat has been a long endearing series. Over the past decade we’ve had a series of games, animated movies, and motion picture films all based on Midway’s most recognized franchise. Since the gaming industry is moving into a new generation of console gaming, it appears that Mortal Kombat is nearing its end for the current gen systems. Ed Boon and the gang are giving current-gen console owners one last final run with the Mortal Kombat series before going completely next-gen.
Personally, my favorite MK game is still the original for the Sega Genesis. It was the first of its kind in the fighting game genre, and a serious alternative to other 2D fighters. The introduction to the whole Fatality system was ingenious enough to create all sorts of praise and controversy. Though, as the series went on, and as video games became increasingly violent, Mortal Kombat no longer was the baddest kid on the block. A plethora of relentless, uncompromising, and viscerally gory games made the MK franchise look a little less threatening and far less unique.
However, the series turned in a needed direction that took MK fans outside the traditional tournament style scenario. Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks was a much needed breath of fresh air that gave gamers something different from the standard 2D/3D, one-on-one fights. Although, the game didn’t feature all the playable characters from the original series, the fact that you could run around and kick butt with some really cool moves, made up for that. The interactive environments and co-op moves also added whole new elements to the fighting scheme in a Mortal Kombat game. Strangely enough, the adventurous environments and non-arena style combat setting worked really well for MK, and it isn’t the last we’ll see of such a feature.
No more Mortal Kombat?
While the good news is that the Shaolin Monks adventure mode will be present in the upcoming Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. The bad news is that after Armageddon, the MK series will no longer be produced for the current-gen systems. Then again, I suppose that’s not really bad news considering that the Midway team will be focusing on producing bigger, badder, meaner projects for the next-generation systems. In the meantime, gamers will have their hands full with Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.
The game will feature just over 60 selectable characters, dating all the way back to the original Mortal Kombat. Some of the characters included in the game are: Ashrah, Baraka, Blaze, Bo Rai Cho, Cyrax, Dairou, Darrius, Drahmin, Ermac, Frost, Fujin, Goro, Havik, Hotaru, Hsu Hao, Jade, Jarek, Jax, Johnny Cage, Kabal, Kai, Kano, Kintaro, Kira, Kitana, Kobra, Kung Lao, Li Mei, Liu Kang, Mavado, Mileena, Mokap, Moloch, Nightwolf, Nitara, Noob Saibot, Onaga, The Dragon King, Quan Chi, Raiden, Rain, Reiko, Reptile, Scorpion, Sektor, Shang Tsung, Shao Khan, Sheeva, Shinnok, Shujinko, Sindel, Smoke, Sonya Blade, Stryker, Sub-Zero, and Tanya.
Kombating with your own Kombatant
If you can’t find a character to your liking, you can always create your own. This is a mode that every fighting game these days should feature. But nevermind the competition, Ed Boon and the gang at Midway are going all out this time. So among the 60 characters you can now add your own character to the bunch. Apart from customizing your fighter’s look and attire, you can select from a standard move set or customize each of your fighter’s moves individually. This feature, along with the advanced Konquest mode, could make Mortal Kombat: Armageddon one of the very best fighting games of all time.
Bigger moves, more air, and custom fatalities
One of the bigger reasons fighting games are falling off the popularity charts might just concern the lack-lusting, turbo-charged fights. Like every other arcade game on the market, most fighting games are common super-sonic, one-on-one bouts of nothing special. DOA4 took steps with a variety of counter-moves and interactive environments. But, compared to other games in other genres, most fighting games just don’t take big steps, in any new directions.
So there was a sparkle of interest after hearing that MK: Armageddon will feature string air-combos, similar to MK: Shaolin Monks. So the fight can be taken to the air (like in most DBZ games) and combos can be put together with little inhibitions from gravity. MK: Armageddon will also feature directional throwing. It seems simple, but it will be a complimentary addition to the custom fatality feature. Especially since players can manually aim and throw their opponent into various stage hazards. Such a feature gives a whole new dimension when trying to survive against a skilled opponent, in a hazardous arena.
Finally, but certainly not least, is the custom Fatality finisher. Instead of being assigned a lengthy controller button combination to execute some deadly maneuver, players will be given a versatile amount of starting and ending points for finishers. After the finisher screen pops up players will be given a specified amount of time to string together a custom finisher. This is done from a pre-selected amount of finisher positions and moves that range from impaling your opponent, to ripping off their body part(s). Such a feature gives gamers multivarious options for finishing an opponent, with whichever character they please. For MK fans this should be like a dream come true.
For more info stay tuned in with Xboxcore.com, as the October release for Mortal Kombat: Armageddon draws closer.
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