Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance

This one easily beats the crap out of the last two installments. Gone are the stiff digitized characters or pseudo 3D. Insert a good amount of DIFFERENT fighting styles, adequate graphics, interesting characters & secrets and a few barrels of blood and you've got my favourite MK since the first sequel. If you didn't like MK in the past, chances are you won't enjoy this one either. But this is one of the best come-backs one could imagine, and it sets an example for all MKs to come. Although it's still a bit rough around the edges, Midway must be commended for reinventing and rejuvenating this franchise. Bring on MK6 :-)

85/100

Let me start out by saying that I am completely sure that everyone thinks that because of the previous Mortal Kombat games (that have been TOTAL failures) that Deadly Alliance will be absolute crap. Well, it is not. Deadly Alliance is by far the BEST Mortal Kombat game ever since part 2. Ed Boon actually took time to make it, and surely, people will be happy to know that it is not completely half-assed like Mortal Kombat Gold (which I liked), or Special Forces (which I've never played). Several changes have been made to the gameplay factor, such as new fighting styles, more weapons, and new uses for weapons. So please, for anyone who reads this review, I suggest that you rent this first, then buy it. I sincerely hope this review benefits your needs.

Graphics: 8 out of 10 The graphics for Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance are clean, and crisp. The animations are very impressive, and the reason why I say that, is because Sonya, and the other girls have some great jiggle action. These graphics lack in smoothness, and are somewhat bland. Character models look pretty impressive, and fatality animations simply just look amazing. Blood effects look better than ever, and now, some people may be happy to know, is that the blood actually stays on the floor. Each character have a great amount of detail, as does your environments. Like I just said, the environments/levels have a great amount of detail, BUT, only certain levels have a great amount of detail. Take the Lin Kue headquarters for example. Each time you, or your opponent hits the ground (which is made of ice) the ice cracks, and that's what I meant when I said a great amount of detail, because the ice looks so realistic. The blood that flies on the floor also has a great amount of detail too, because over a certain period of time, the blood dries up, and it is clearly noticeable. This game has a few CG scenes, but not too many. The CG doesn't really impress all that much. Overall, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance has very good graphics, very good textures, and smooth animations.

Sound: 10 out of 10 Put it this way, the sound kicks ass. The background music is still very good, and when you here bones crunching, and cracking, it sounds unbelievably realistic. Character voice acting isn't really what you would call `good', but it has improved from the last Mortal Kombat games (I.E. MK 4, and MK Gold). Scorpion still throws his spear, and it still sounds the same as it did five years ago. There is not much to say, but the sound delivers a HIGH amount of realism. Period.

Gameply: 10 out of 10. The gameplay is just great. If you combine the new features, and the addicting fun factor, you have a ****ing good game. New features include, new fighting styles for each character, three fighting styles to be precise, the new `Fatality' feature, where you can set it to where you can execute a fatality without moving (so you don't mess up), and a whole new weapon system, which is a BIG improvement from Mortal Kombat Gold's weapon system. Now, you can stab your opponents with weapons, but this only applies to certain characters. For instance, Sub-Zero, Reptile, Frost etc. have the ability to stab there enemies, which slowly drains their health little by little. The fighting styles I don't really care for, but it is still a great feature. Now this is the part where I give you the bad parts of the gameplay. First, the combos are a little too hard to pull off. Second, there is only ONE fatality for each character, which really sucks. Three, certain characters have been DRASTICALLY changed, to the point to where in the previous games, they would be the best, but now, they're the worst. For example, Cyrax. He was once the best character in the game, but now, he is one of the worst. They took out his new move! That was the only way I could win against someone! That's like taking out Scorpion's spear, and replcing it with missiles! Ah well, I cant complain. Heres another good feature about the gameplay. Now, your opponents bleed as your beating them up, and as you beat them up, they get bruises, and black eyes. Overall, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance has some great, solid, and deep gameplay.

Story: 7 out of 10 Once again, earthrealm is in danger, but this time, it's not Shinock, or Shau Kaun (forgot how to spell his name) it's the classic Shang Stung (forgot how to spell his name too) and Mortal Kombat 4's Quan Chi. They have formed a `Deadly Alliance' and plan to rule outworld, and earthrealm by resurrecting this army (forgot which one). Liu Kang is dead (hooray!!) and now, everyone has to stop Quan Chi, and Shang Stung to save earthrelm. The story is quite good, but seems to be the same old thing. The story deserves a seven, because it lacks in originality.

Replay Value: +10 out of 10 This game has SO MUCH replay value. As you go through the game, you collect coins. You can use these coins to buy coffins (over 600 of them!) that have lots of extras inside of them, such as alternate suits, secret characters, funny stuff, videos, animation tests, artwork, character designs, etc. There is also a new `konquest mode'. In konquest mode, you go through ten missions with each character. Konquest mode is very similar to practice mode, but in konquest mode, you earn coins, and if beaten with everybody, unlock a special hidden character. Add all of that to the fun, addictive gameplay, and you have an ass load of replay value.

Controls: 9 out of 10 The controls are very comfortable, and the control scheme is also very comfortable. The one thing I really did not like about the controls, is the fact that sometimes, most of the combos are hard to pull off. Take characters like Rayden and Frost for example. Fros and Rayden have some of the most longest combos in the game, and with Frost, it got to the point where I screamed. The controls are very comfortable. That's about all I have to say.

Fun factor: +10 out of 10 (you cant give those scores, but I feel that it deserves it!) This is by far, the best, and most funnest Mortal Kombat game to date. The gameplay is so addicting, that you cannot put the controller down. You can literally spend hours a night playing this. Lots of Mortal Kombat fans will find the simple, and fun gameplay to be quite impressive, and I really don't know what those EGM reviewers were thing when they gave this a 5 and a 6.5. Seriously, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance is so unbelievably fun.

Rent or Buy: If you're an MK fan, buy it, if your having doubts about it, rent it. Its your choice.

Recap: Graphics: 8 out of 10. Sound: 10 out of 10. Gameplay: 10 out of 10. Story: 7 out of 10. Reply value: +10 out of 10. Controls: 9 out of 10. Fun factor: + 10 out of 10.

Best Feature: Addicting, and fun gameplay. Worst feature: Only one fatality per character.

Overall score: 10 out of 10.

When I first heard about this game, I was admittedly uninterested.Mortal Kombat's last attempt at 3-D fell short so why should MK:DA be any different? Overall MK just seemed dated and I doubted MK:DA would be any good. Was I ever wrong.Since I own an XBox, fighting games are hard to come by and as such I decided to rent MK:DA. For starters, this attempt at 3-d works quite well as it is a true 3-d fighter.Graphics are lush and beautiful.The game also has alot of replayability as a new feature, the Kyrpt has been incorperated.Much in the vain of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2's shop mode, you can buy hidden charecters, new outfits, artwork and even videos among other things with Kredits earned in the game.

As for the storyline, its probably the best and most gutiest yet.In the three minute intro to the game we find out that Quan Chi has escaped from the Netherealm and has discovered the infamous army of the dead Dragon King.Of course this does Quan Chi little good as all the soliders are dead, but what is dead can be revived.For this, Quan Chi forms an alliance with Shang Tsung("Deadly Alliance"), who's powers with soul transplantation can be used to resurrect the army. This new alliance first must elimate those who could pose a threat to their plans.The first is Shao Khan.They approach him, declaring a false alliegnece to him and then charge at him while he's sitting on his throne.The next scene a loud scream is heard and Khan's helmet falls, covbered with blood.Next the Alliance travels to Earth to eliminate Lou Kang.Kang takes on Tsung and gains the upper hand but is then hit from behind by Quan Chi.Tsung takes the oppertunity and snaps Lou Kang's next, killing him.He then absorbs his soul.The intro concludes with images of Tsung resurrecting the army and Raiden telling the remaining Earth fighters"We must stop this Deadly Alliance"

The cast is nice and varied with returning favorites(No Lou Kang obviously) and some new charecters.The old charecters have recieved some very nice resigns.As for the fighting, each fighter can switch to one of two different fighting styles or one weapon style.This adds great variety to the game.

I went and bought this game immediatly after returning the rental.I highly recommend this game, especially to long time MK fans. 5/5

Ahh yes we have just recently entered The PS2 era and Mortal Kombat has risen from the grave after a terrible experience of Mortal Kombat 4 and appalling side scrolling Mortal Kombat Mythologies Sub Zero and Mortal Kombat Special Forces so how does Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance on PS2 compare...Absolutely amazing that's what yeah we have have Mortal Kombat back in 3D and this time it is a much better experience then Mortal Kombat 4 cause the visuals look stunning and now characters can pull out weapons with a simple button as well as different types of martial arts along with a training mode too.

Always enjoyed this one more than the other MK's. The weapons added a lot more fun and strategy, and the move sets were easier for me to master.