Mortal Kombat (2011 video game)
Mortal Kombat | |
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File:Mortalkombat2011logo.png | |
Developer(s) | NetherRealm Studios[3] |
Publisher(s) | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
Designer(s) | Ed Boon (executive producer) |
Engine | Unreal Engine 3[4] |
Platform(s) | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
Release | Spring 2011[1][2] |
Genre(s) | Fighting game |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Mortal Kombat (or Mortal Kombat 9) is an upcoming fighting game in the Mortal Kombat franchise developed by NetherRealm Studios (formerly known as Midway Games) This is the ninth installment in the series but the first title to be published under the Warner Bros. label.[5][6]
The developers have stated that this is the first game in which they are making a conscious effort to create deeper gameplay for more hardcore players. This is also the first title to include 3D graphics but 2D gameplay. The story is to take place during the time of first three games: Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II and Mortal Kombat 3. However, the events of the games are said to take place in a different scenario because of Raiden's knowledge of the future. It is slated for an early 2011 release on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 systems.
Gameplay
Primary gameplay will take place on a single 2D fighting plane which was, according to Ed Boon, the second most-requested feature by Mortal Kombat fans for a new title. This 2D fighting plane, according to Electronic Gaming Monthly, will make the characters' various projectiles more effective in the game as opposed to the other titles in the series.[7]
Unlike previous Mortal Kombat fighting games, there are four attack buttons that each represent a corresponding limb, a concept better known for its existence in the Tekken franchise. A "super meter" was added to enhance the gaming experience, it can be charged by various actions during battle such as performing a combo or getting hit by the opponent.[7] The super meter can be charged to three levels which if used up will either enhance a special attack, interrupt a combo or cause the attacker to perform an "X-Ray" move. During these X-Ray moves, the camera will zoom in and will show an inside view of the character who is being attacked while bones and organs are broken or ruptured.[7][8]
Some modes that have been confirmed are the online mode, the Tag-Team fighting mode, and the Challenge Tower. The Online mode will: include a King of the Hill option, where players will be able to spectate on fights and play the winner; include a rating system where spectators can rate the battles after it is over, and act as a "forum" to find out how to perform various combos or moves they see while spectating a fight.[7] The four player tag-team feature is a completely new to the series, where characters choose teams of two to fight in the same arena. During a tag-team fight, characters can briefly come in and out of the stage and perform "assist attacks", or can perform "special entry attacks" where the tagged character can enter the stage while attacking and remain in the combat while the other character jumps out.[7] The Challenge Tower mode is a single player option, that Ed Boon described as "similar to an arcade ladder". It will include specific challenges of various difficulties providing currency rewards upon completion; players will have the option of using up some of this in-game currency to by-pass the more difficult challenges.[7]
Storyline
Developer Ed Boon describes the game as an altered re-telling of the events of the original first three Mortal Kombat games (MK, MK II, and MK3).[9]
...Raiden is about to be killed by Shao Kahn, and just before he delivers the last blow, he [Raiden] sends a mental message to his earlier self, so the camera rewinds back to Mortal Kombat 1. The Raiden from back then gets a message and he doesn't know what's going on, but he knows something bad's going to happen, and the game spans Mortal Kombat 1, 2, and 3, retelling the story with an enlightened Raiden, and he's changing the course of things, so everything you've seen happen before – Liu Kang winning, the guys turning into cybernetic ninjas, are changed around, so you might see a character become cybernetic who wasn't before, and so you see a different version [of events].
Boon also noted that the game starts at the end of Armageddon. [citation needed]
Confirmed characters
Ed Boon mentioned in an interview with IGN that they will be focusing on characters from Mortal Kombat, MK II, and MK 3. "[I]f you have a favorite character from those games, you're probably going to see him or her in the game."[4] Boon has also gone on record to say he is aiming for a roster of roughly 26 characters overall in the final game.[10]
The developers of the team have stated that the characters have been designed with the intent to make each character unique. With this idea, the developers have given the characters their own individual stances, victory poses and fatalities as opposed to previous games. Lead designer John Edwards has gone on to say that certain characters are differentiated by speed and playstyle, as in some characters are power oriented and do not need to perform combos while others will be grapple oriented.[7]
The following characters have been so far confirmed to be playable in the game: Cyrax, Johnny Cage, Kano, Kung Lao, Mileena, Nightwolf, Raiden, Reptile, Scorpion, Sektor, Shang Tsung, and Sub-Zero.[11][12][13][4][12]
Development
The game was first hinted at by Ed Boon in January 2009, shortly after the release of the previous game in the franchise, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.[14] In a November 2008 interview, Boon stated that he believed Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe's performance would reflect upon what features what would be put in "the next game", presumably Mortal Kombat 9.[15]
On June 18, 2009, Boon confirmed in his Twitter page that they were performing motion capture for the game. He also revealed that the game will not have superheroes in it,[16] thus ruling out an immediate follow-up to Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. He also stated that they were going back to its bloody origins[17] and they were aiming for a "Mature" rating, contrary to the "Teen" rating attained by the previous game. He even questioned "going too far" and showed concern about crossing the limit to "Adults Only" rating.[18][19]
It has been said that online for Mortal Kombat will become a main priority,[20] which GamePro editors called a "smart move",[17] and in January 2010 a screenshot of Ed Boon's personal PSN ID was published, which suggested that online testing of Mortal Kombat was underway.[21] Dan Forden is expected to return as the music composer for the game.[22]
The game was revealed on June 10, 2010, and is expected to release sometime on the first of March 2011 noted at GameStop.[2] A trailer was released on that day, which showed the game returning to a 2D plane of fighting, with other new features including a tag team mode.[13] USA Today noted that this was the first Mortal Kombat title to be announced exclusively under the Warner Bros. label.[23] It was revealed at the Sony E3 press conference that Mortal Kombat will be 3D compatible.[24]
Development of Mortal Kombat's fatalities took place in "fatality meetings" where MK team members would show fatality concepts to the rest of the team. If the concept was well received then the team will pursue putting the concept into the game, however some concepts would not go through if they were considered disturbing by the team.[25] When asked about the influence of Warner Bros. on Mortal Kombat, Boon called it, "nothing but positive" stating that Warner Bros. wanted to give Netherrealm Studios enough time to release a quality game that the team would be comfortable with releasing. [26]
In terms of gameplay, the developers have intended for Mortal Kombat to be accessible to the average player, so that the average player could not be removed from the experience of the game because of its complexity [25] and so that it could promote a back and forth where the gaming experience could be more "engaging for the player" rather than one-sided.[7] This in mind, the developers have also stated that they intend to focus on the hardcore player by creating new features in the gameplay as to create a more deep fighting experience. [26]
Reception
PC Magazine called this iteration of Mortal Kombat one of the most anticipated titles of E3.[27] The 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo showcase version received the Best Fighting Game of E3 and Best Stage Demo of E3 awards by GameSpot[28][29][30], and the Best Fighting Game of E3 award by GameTrailers.[31] GameSpy called Mortal Kombat the "Fighting Game of Show" in their "Best of E3 2010".[32] Game Informer rated Mortal Kombat the Best Fighter of E3 2010.[33] Game Informer also rated Mortal Kombat eighth in their "E3 Hot 50" calling Mortal Kombat "...the most violent game ever made..." [34]
Mortal Kombat was also nominated for Best Fighting Game of E3 2010 in the Game Critics Awards, but lost to Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds.[35][36]
References
- ^ Gaskill, Jake (2010-06-28). "E3 2010: Mortal Kombat Creator Ed Boon Interview". G4TV. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
- ^ a b "New Mortal Kombat Coming, Will Be Most Gory Ever". Kotaku. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
- ^ "Official Website". Mortal Kombat software. Retrieved 2010-6-10.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help); Text "publisher" ignored (help) - ^ a b c "E3 2010: Mortal Kombat Preview". IGN. 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
- ^ "Play This Sick Filth". Teletext. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ "Mortal Kombat team sheds Midway skin for 'WB Games Chicago'". Joystiq. 2009-07-27. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Shamoon, Evan. "Mortal Komeback". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Summer 2010 (239). EGM Media, LLC: 32–39.
- ^ Reiner, Andrew (2010-08-03). "Mortal Kombat". GameInformer. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ Shea, Cam (2010-06-15). "E3 2010: Mortal Kombat Preview - PlayStation 3 Preview at IGN". IGN. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "GameSpot Mortal Kombat Hands On". GameSpot. 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
- ^ http://colunistas.ig.com.br/arena/2010/06/24/mortal-kombat-volta-as-origens-jogamos-e-conversamos-com-os-produtores/.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ a b http://www.mkuniverse.lu/.
{{cite news}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ a b "The New Mortal Kombat Trailer Is Pure Brutality". Kotaku. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
- ^ "Mortal Kombat Ships 1.8 Million, MK9 In Development". Giant Bomb. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ "Interview: Ed Boon on The Ups and Downs of the Mortal Kombat Franchise". GameDaily. 2008-11-17. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
- ^ "Mortal Kombat 9 Details Discussed on Twitter". Gamers' Daily News. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ a b Shuman, Sid (November 2009). "Static". GamePro. IDG Entertainment: 28.
- ^ "Next 'Mortal Kombat' Back to its Roots With Sick Fatalities". WorthPlaying.
- ^ "Mortal Kombat 9 Planned for Mature Rating". Team Xbox. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ "Next Mortal Kombat Will Prioritize Online Play". 1UP. 08-10-2009. Retrieved 04-02-2010.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
and|date=
(help) - ^ "Ed Boon spotted playing MK9 Online!!". 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
- ^ "Dan Forden Returning For MK9!". Fdmk.net. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ Molina, Brett (2010-06-10). "Warner Bros. bringing back 'Mortal Kombat'". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
- ^ Johnson, Stephen (2010-06-15). "Sony Announces 3D Titles". G4TV. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
- ^ a b Graft, Kris (2010-08-04). "Back To Basics With Mortal Kombat". Gamasutra. p. 2. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ a b Graft, Kris (2010-08-04). "Back To Basics With Mortal Kombat". Gamasutra. p. 3. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ Wilson, Jeremy (2010-06-11). "E3 2010: The Most Anticipated Games". PC Magazine. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
- ^ Best Fighting Game - GameSpot's Best of E3 2010 Awards
- ^ Best Stage Demo - GameSpot's Best of E3 2010 Awards
- ^ O'Kelly, Justin (2010-07-01). "GameSpot Announces The Best of E3". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ "Best Of E3 2010 Awards Video Game, Best Fighting Game". GameTrailers. 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ GameSpy Staff (2010-06-25). "GameSpy's Best of E3 2010 Awards". GameSpy. p. 3. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ Ryckert, Dan (2010-06-25). "Game Informer's Best Of E3 Awards". GameInformer. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ^ Reiner, Andrew (August 2010). "Mortal Kombat". Game Informer. pp. 68–69.
- ^ "Game Critics Awards E3 2010 Nominees". Game Critics Awards. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ "Game Critics Awards E3 2010 Winners". Game Critics Awards. Retrieved 2010-08-03.