ImmortalKira

The NRS era of Mortal Kombat marks a significant shift after the chaotic mess that was Armageddon. Following the nonsensical storylines, the decision to reset the timeline was a smart move that gave the series a fresh start. While the stories in this era still have their weak points, they don't reach the level of disarray seen in Armageddon. In terms of narrative, this era is an improvement, though it's still not without its flaws.

But let's get to the real highlight of the NRS era: the sheer amount of sexual appeal. Female characters are presented with an abundance of revealing outfits, turning up the heat in a way that hadn't been seen before. From Kitana to Sonya, and even Kira's cameo appearance-where she wore her alternate, more revealing costume from Deception/Armageddon-the NRS era certainly didn't hold back on showcasing its female fighters. Kira's brief inclusion, before being scrapped and replaced by Skarlet, was a frustrating moment for me, especially since her appearance was one of the more eye-catching cameos.

On the gameplay side, the timeline reset also led to some interesting decisions, like making Kabal a good guy for part of the story, which was an amusing twist. Watching him get pulled back into the darkness by Kano was a fun dynamic, adding some layers to Kabal's character. While the stories may not be as bad as Armageddon, there's still a lot that doesn't quite stick, but overall, the reset was a good call.

Another huge win for this era was the introduction of the best guest character ever: Kratos. His inclusion was a perfect fit for Mortal Kombat's brutal world. The sheer savagery of his fighting style and his incredible Fatality made him feel right at home, and honestly, he's probably the best guest character the series has ever seen.

Unfortunately, the NRS era wasn't without its own missteps. A notable frustration was the lack of creativity when it came to Fatalities. Kira, who was known for her mix of Kano and Sonya's moves in Deception, had her iconic Fatality effectively stolen by Mileena, a move that felt lazy and disappointing for fans who appreciated Kira's original style. This lack of innovation soured an otherwise solid era of Mortal Kombat.

In conclusion, the NRS era breathed new life into the Mortal Kombat franchise, with a solid reset of the timeline, plenty of fanservice, and iconic guest characters like Kratos. However, the series still struggles with creativity, particularly when it comes to Fatalities and storytelling. Still, it was a huge improvement over the shambles of Armageddon.

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is a game that delivers on quantity but falters heavily on quality, particularly when it comes to the storyline and character handling. No other game in the Mortal Kombat series matches Armageddon's massive roster, featuring every character from the franchise up to that point. It's an impressive feat that undeniably makes the game a fan favorite when it comes to sheer variety. However, this is where the praise ends for many, as the game's lore, stories, and character development feel like a massive step back, especially after the brilliant Mortal Kombat: Deception.

The narrative in Armageddon is nothing short of chaotic. After releasing what many consider the best Mortal Kombat game in history, Deception, Armageddon comes along with a story that seems disjointed and, in many cases, nonsensical. The lore feels rushed, and several characters are thrown into situations that simply don't fit their established arcs. One of the biggest disappointments is how Armageddon treats Kira, a character who had a promising debut in Deception. In Armageddon, she is handled in the worst possible way, becoming a shadow of her former self. Her moveset is altered and worsened, making her fighting style less enjoyable and much less unique.

What's even more baffling is Kira's role-or lack thereof-in the Konquest mode. She doesn't even get to fight, leaving Kobra, who is clearly a less skilled fighter, to handle Taven alone. How does that make sense? Kira had so much more potential, but her involvement is cut short in favor of lesser characters. This disconnect extends to her ending, which feels completely out of place. Kira's fate in her own ending is lackluster, while Kobra's ending oddly gives her a better outcome. It's frustrating when you compare this to Deception, where the Black Dragon characters like Kobra, Kabal, and Kira all had endings that aligned perfectly with each other and felt coherent.

The fatality system in Armageddon is another sore point. The custom fatalities, while novel, are a step down from the brutal, creative finishers Mortal Kombat fans have come to expect. It feels like the developers prioritized quantity over quality here, and it shows.

On a positive note, Armageddon introduced features like the Kreate-A-Fighter mode, which is still one of the best customization tools the series has ever seen. But no amount of customization can save the lore from being an absolute mess.

In conclusion, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is a game that excels in terms of roster size and features but fails miserably when it comes to the story and character treatment. Kira, in particular, suffers the most, becoming a watered-down version of herself with an unfulfilling arc. After the success of Deception, it's hard not to wonder how this game's lore turned out so disastrously. The reset of the timeline, while necessary after the mess Armageddon made, doesn't erase the frustration fans felt when this game was released.