Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance

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.

Very few flaws can be detected in this latest rendition of the classic series. Fatalities lack the disturbing power of the first MK, Lui Kang(whom I didn't like anyway) is killed off, and your selection of characters, at first start up, is extremely limited(9). Even though these "flaws" may seem like game-killers, they are not. After choosing my character for the first time, Scorpion, I was greeted by what seemed to be the shortest load screen in the history of MK on a CD form. That was just the beginning of me being surprised. The stage opened up with a very cool rotation effect as the camera zoomed in on me and my advisary, Sub-Zero. I was enraptured by the background, and I almost missed the unforgettable sound of "Fight!!!". I was a pure button masher for nearly the entire round. As Scorpion, I had to try back, back, X. Only to realize later on that, that had been changed to back, forward, X. Scorpion's spear spewed relentlessly from his palm and caught Sub-Zero in mid air. The last few hit to kill my advisary became a flurry of button mashing, until Sub-Zero fell to the ground(in a bloody mess). As if you didn't already know, the blood that falls to the ground remains there until the very end of the fight. What happened next in the fight was a pure stroke of genius for Ed Boon and the other creators. There is no load between fight rounds, Sub-Zero merely stood up and dusted himself off and he was ready to fight. The very first thing Sub-Zero did was pull out his sword, I tried to block his attacks, but was unsuccessful. Sub-Zero ran me through with his sword, and the sword styed there, spewind my blood to the ground and I continually lost life. Long story short, I managed to kick the crap out of him and was screamed at by that familiar voice to "Finish Him!!!". I walked backward from Sub-Zero and tried to remember the Fatality combination I had seen on the Internet. (Back, back, down, back+attack 4). The screen went black and I caught my first glimpse of good violence in a video game for the PS2. Scorpion threw out his spear and it went through Sub-Zero's head. Scorpion then proceeded to try and tear the head off of the body, he succeeds and sends Sub-Zero's body sprawling to the ground. "Fatality!!!", I hear, and the match is over. In record time for an MK game too(less than a minute).

Superb graphics, and great controls help this to be the greatest MK of all. MK Trilogy is just as good.

9 out of 10

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

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

Evil sorcerer Quan Chi has escaped from his confinement in the Neverrealm and has formed his 'deadly alliance' with the deadly Shang Tsung.Together they plan to resurrect the army of the long forgotten dragon king and have total domination of the two realms unless the resistance can stop them.

This is absolutely brilliant for the audience it appeals to.The fight scenes are in no way toned down as you play them,treating us to seemingly none stop blood letting and wetting our sadistic appetites no end.This comes to ahead when the game allows you to perform a 'fatality' on your opponent,where you get to dismember any certain vital body organ,causing your agitator to die the slowest,most painful death you can imagine.

There is a veriatable array of colourful characters to choose from,my particular favourite,were I put on the spot,probably being Scorpion,who has the ability to yank his opponents to and from him and can do wicked wonders with his two swords.

Delightful fun,and,in some ways,a rather guilty pleasure.****

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.