How "Mortal Kombat (2011)" Managed To Fix "Mortal Kombat Trilogy" (And Not Really)

 

It's no secret that I don't want to play the first eight entries of Mortal Kombat anymore. Mortal Kombat (2011) or Mortal Kombat 9 had given a lot of stuff that defined the entry. Sure, I'm skeptical about Mortal Kombat 1 where I call it a BAD FANFICTION that feels like NetherRealm Studios hired me to write it UNSUPERVISED! Earlier, I wrote an entry on how Mortal Kombat X fixed Mortal Kombat 4. It's highly possible that NetherRealm Studios revisited Mortal Kombat Trilogy and discovered ways that they could fix the game.

One could consider that we had the fifth generation console (PSX), the sixth generation console (PS2 and I no longer long to replay the 3D era), and the seventh generation (PS3). The news that Mortal Kombat Trilogy might be included in the Mortal Kombat Legacy Collection (and I have no intention to replay the older games). Now, I'd like to write where Mortal Kombat 9 managed to fix Mortal Kombat Trilogy (given the leap of technology) while highlighting where I think did worse.

I. Did it better than Mortal Kombat Trilogy

Revisiting past failures CAN be helpful in present success. Realizing where you went wrong can be helpful. It's possible that they were replaying Mortal Kombat Trilogy during the creative storm process. This is where they went right and wrong. These improvements are significant for me. For instance, the return to the 2D fighting game was a BIG STEP. 

Gameplay mechanics are accessible yet deep

The use of one button per limb defeats the use of high and low attacks. The old controls make the game TOO ACCESSIBLE when it's NOT supposed to be a game for babies. Tekken's use of one button per limb made it accessible without nerfing the pros. Mortal Kombat 9's new dial-a-combo system (which is often called preset combos) is similar yet different to Tekken's dial-a-combo system. Anybody who plays Tekken could remember stuff like Kazuya's Flash Punch Combo was Left Punch, Left Punch, and Right Punch. It had to be pressed at a certain speed to be done correctly. There's an impact on the learning curve -- which means having to RELEARN the whole game.

I jumped into it and was pretty fine. NetherRealm Studios renamed the moves from Left Punch to Front Punch, Left Kick to Front Kick (but the buttons weren't on the front), Right Punch to Back Punch, and Right Kick to Back Kick. I prefer to use Tekken's LP, RP, LK, and RK for familiarity's sake. Learning new combos was a challenge. It meant that there was more replay value. Mortal Kombat could've chosen to follow Street Fighter's, but chose Tekken's.

The Aggressor Bar is replaced by the Super Meter -- something similar from the Street Fighter series. IMHO I felt X-Ray moves should've not have been made too easy to execute. Instead, certain characters should've been given certain commands to perform the X-Ray Attacks. The Super Meter also allowed Combo Breaker (Level  2) and certain special moves to be enhanced. I was too much of a fan of the Enhanced Moves TBH. Well, maybe except when playing as Hanzo Scorpion and Kuai Liang Sub-Zero. 

The 2 vs. 2 Kombat was fully realized thanks to the new processor. The fifth-generation console didn't have that much power. That's why Marvel vs. Capcom console ports back then lacked the true tag team -- it was MEMORY CONSTRAINTS. The 2 vs. 2 Kombat here plays the 2 vs. 2 Tag Team mechanic. The use of swapping in and out allowed more gameplay differences. My only beef is that the 2 vs. 2 ladder should've had Goro and Kintaro as a tag team -- like the Cyber Sub-Zero Story Mode. Have Shang Tsung and Quan Chi as a tag team -- except Shang Tsung will not morph. Then have a more OP Shao Kahn at the end! 

Not returning to the MOFO A.I. that was in the earlier days

I remember playing Mortal Kombat II on the Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks disc in the PS2. I couldn't process how I realized the Arcade was designed to defeat you. It took some cheating mechanics like figuring out how to outsmart the A.I. If my memory serves me right, I saw someone in the arcade trying to defeat Kintaro using Kuai Liang Sub-Zero. OUCH! OUCH! Mortal Kombat Trilogy also has a ridiculous A.I. -- beating Mortal Kombat 9's EXPERT difficulty in being a BUTTON READER!

Instead, the computer poses a significant challenge WITHOUT making me want to break the controller. Medium difficulty (which I always play, UNLESS searching for the secret bosses) carries over the reasonable difficulty of the 3D era. The difficulty is MANAGEABLE without the D*** ANNOYING F*** YOU button reading. Kitana doesn't often automatically counter with the Fan Lift or Jade using her projectile invincibility so soon. Instead, the game would try to focus on the characters doing combos and not moves that the human player couldn't do. I could play at HARD and NOT get too much of a whipping. 

That means the bosses Old Man Shang Tsung (who could morph into ANY playable character), Goro, Kintaro, and Shao Kahn aren't as difficult. Sure, I finally figured out that well-timed jump kicks COULD finally defeat Kintaro in Mortal Kombat II. Shao Kahn could be defeated with well-timed uppercuts. However, that removes the FUN from the game. Mortal Kombat 9 makes these bosses manageable as ever. Sure, they can be difficult at first. I could remember Shao Kahn beating me up to four-five times. That was MORE MERCIFUL THOUGH than Mortal Kombat II, where Shao Kahn beat me more than that! 

Motaro was practically removed for practical reasons

Motaro's inclusion in the cutscenes hints that NetherRealm Studios could've included Motaro but CHOSE NOT TO. THANKFULLY MOTARO IS NOT IN THIS GAME AS A BOSS CHARACTER! Motaro was just F***ING ANNOYING. Mortal Kombat 3 and its updates make Motaro INCREDIBLY IMBALANCED. Motaro had an invulnerability to projectiles, teleported more often, had that incredibly long metal tail, and his unusual body structure. The game had Motaro in cutscenes only to be KILLED OFF BY RAIDEN. The scene is almost a blatant love letter THAT they all decided NOT to put Motaro. 

Theoretically, Motaro could be included with invulnerability to BOTH X-Rays and projectiles. However, that would make Motaro TOO DIFFICULT compared to Goro, Kintaro, and Shao Kahn. The solution was definitely NOT to put Motaro. Goro and Kintaro were hard but NOT TOO HARD. Shao Kahn was a battle to the death (no timer). However, the three bosses in their Mortal Kombat 9 incarnation were FAR BETTER. 

Sidenote: I've had a hatred for Motaro. Right now, I feel maybe Hsu Hao, Drahmin, and Moloch might be fixed. But Motaro? Seriously? Motaro had a role as a Kameo Character in Mortal Kombat 1. However, I feel that I still hate MOTARO THE MOST. 

Finding secret characters isn't as hard (all the while, they remain Klassic Levels of Annoying)

Mortal Kombat II had an INFURIATING AI. It made trying to fight Jade (by using nothing but low kicks) before the "?" challenging. One had to get 50 straight wins before they fought Noob Saibot. Smoke required the Toasty Guy -- which was a LOT harder to get before. However, Mortal Kombat (2011) managed to help get the Secret Character versions of Reptile, Jade, Smoke, and Noob Saibot at a reasonable level.

I'd give a credit to the AI and difficulty level. I confess I even went to playing Beginner level (which felt like I was babied) to find most of them. Secret Character Noob and Secret Character Smoke were easier to find. I remember finding Secret Character Noob by winning WITHOUT BLOCKING (but he should be at the background). However, Secret Character Noob is HARD unless you mastered the art of block and comboing him. Secret Character Smoke is also a hard challenge. Honestly, I hate accessing Secret Character Smoke since it means I FORFEIT the chance to feed my opponent to the Living Forest. That was a rumor turned reality for a long time! 

Secret Character Jade and Secret Character Reptile were the hardest to get. Secret Character Jade required playing against Boss Shang Tsung, DO TWO FLAWLESS VICTORIES, and DO A FATALITY on the MOFO. The Boss Shang Tsung fight can be THAT ANNOYING. I appreciate how Shang Tsung is no longer OP. However, Boss Shang Tsung was probably just given the morphing ability for nostalgic reasons. Secret Character Reptile required that annoying "SOMETHING BY THE MOON" (Santa Claus, Witch, ET), two flawless victories, AND do a Pit Fatality. Yeah, those two are the MOST ANNOYING TO FIND.

But I'd take any of these over the more ridiculous requirements back then!

Balancing out Noob Saibot and Rain 

Who could remember how Noob Saibot and Rain were SUPER PAINFUL in Mortal Kombat Trilogy? Those who were fun to play as BUT they can be VERY IRRITATING to fight. Noob Saibot's Ghost Ball was D*MN broken in Mortal Kombat Trilogy. Noob's Ghost Ball used to make the opponent too easy to set up with. That meant Noob players had to find new ways to deal with Noob. Noob's Shadow Slide though was an effective addition. Rain's Water Ball used to be a key to easy victory. However, the recent incarnations made Rain's Water Ball less powerful.

Both characters end up being more balanced. I couldn't help but LMAO at how these two retain some power -- all the while not being as powerful. 

II. Did it worse than Mortal Kombat Trilogy (but mostly MINOR nitpicks and I LOVE TO NITPICK)

Some of these complaints may just be minuscule. However, it doesn't mean I wouldn't talk about how these games made me give it a slightly lower score. Now for them...

Honestly, why is Rain NOT in the Story Mode at all and just DLC?!

Rain happens to be one of my favorite villains in Mortal Kombat. Rain's backstory where he chooses to betray Edenia than suffer -- makes him a dynamically Love to Hate villain. However, Rain had NO INVOLVEMENT in the Story Mode. Rain was later added as a DLC character along with Kenshi, Skarlet, and Freddy Kruger (who may be the obstacle to getting the game remastered). I could talk about Rain a lot. Sigh! This was an issue one way or another!

Kano was fun to play as but I have nitpicks

Kano was originally shelved aside with Sonya Blade in Mortal Kombat II. However, they made a return and have evolved ever since. I bet hatred for Jarek is because KANO IS SO MUCH EFFING BETTER! There are times I pick Kano in Mortal Kombat 9 just to pretend to be a bad guy. Sure, Shang Tsung is also fun to play as among the bad guys. 

I could imagine if Nostalgia Critic reviewed Mortal Kombat 9. Cinema Sins also pointed out a nitpick I can agree on. Kano was seen using his EYE LASER in the Story Mode -- that was to torture the captives. However, none of Kano's moves NOR fatalities used his eye laser! I thought that giving Kano two heart rip fatalities was just dumb. Kano could've benefited from using a reinvented, gorier version of his eye laser in Mortal Kombat 9 while having a heart rip fatality. Instead, having two heart rip fatalities made Kano's fatalities redundant. I could accept Kano NOT having the eye laser as a regular move. But come on, why didn't he get an Eye Laser fatality if that's the case?

Added bonus, Kano could've had his Skeleton Rip from Mortal Kombat Trilogy as a bonus DLC. Instead, that move wasn't seen again except in Mortal Kombat 9 as a brutality. 

Babalities have returned with a twist BUT I'd prefer Friendships

Mortal Kombat 9 chose to have the Babalities. Sure, itw as fun seeing these with a hilarious return. However, I'd prefer to have Friendships over Babalities. My reason is that I'd prefer to have the option to SPARE MY OPPONENT. In fact, some characters downright MURDER their characters. Stryker uses a grenade. Shang Tsung seals the soul. I would've preferred doing a funny scene. Instead, Mortal Kombat 9 chose to copy from Killer Instinct's Humiliation. The characters turn into babies and get HUMILIATED. Upsettingly, Mortal Kombat 9 could've returned Brutality with a simpe button input and use it as a combo ender. SIGH!

Shang Tsung was fun to play as BUT I had a few issues with his fatalities

Shang Tsung was balanced out since the 3D era. None of that morph into any playable characterOP nonsense. However, I still want to point out I had issues with his fatalities. The first fatality had him turning into a generic monster clown then SHOOTING the opponent dead. It was a gorier remake of the Jokers first fatality. Was it an apology to the fans due to how underwhelming Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe became. However, the second fatality should've been a bloodier variation of the Soul Steal. Shang Tsung did Liu Kang's Mortal Kombat Deception fatality with a few variations. Sure, it was cool but I always wanted to see Shang Tsung steal the soul and COPY THE IDENTITY, leaving behind a withered, bloody husk!

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What are your thoughts?