That mortal kombat demo thingy

[Bebpo]

I never gave any of the 3d MKs more than a quick look because they were laaame.  MK didn't really work with a 3rd plane. Last MK I played a lot was UMK3.
So kind of surprised that this MK reboot almost gets it and brings back 2d MK in the way that SFIV brought back SFII.

What it gets right:
-2d plane
-Graphics are good, smooth.
-Lots of characters
-Controls are spot on, feels like 2d MK
-Movelists are alright
-Fatalities are not bad

Why it's still not there and why white people still can't make fighting games:
-Not much room to combo things.  Remember in 2d MK when you could jump kick into a fireball or spear?  Doesn't seem to work here.  There seems to be very very little freedom to make your own combos and link moves from standard combo starts like jump kicks.
-Instead every character has like 6 canned combos and you can do them and go into a special move

So basically it's almost good, but feels too stiff and restricted with little room for creative gameplay, especially if you're coming from MvC3

[iconoclast]

Nether Realm was talking about how the combo system in this game is supposed to be "free form" and that the dial-a-combo problem has been done away with. So I think some of the crazier juggle combos will come out eventually, just gotta give people enough time to find them.

Stupid PSN gold demos.

[Shaka Khan]

I'm playing the demo right now. It feels much better than all the previous 3D MKs, but it's still an MK game (flow, stiffness and all), so I honestly don't understand why people were talking it up as much as they did. I'm sure it's gonna end up being fun and loaded with features, if the dimmed options are anything to go by.

I love how they ditched the weapon system from the old 3D Mks though, the combo system feels a lot better and being locked out of tag battle means that we can't fully explore them yet. Enhanced specials and X-ray attacks are much welcomed too.

[Raban]

any word on when this is hitting XBLM?

[Shaka Khan]

Since non-plus members are getting it next week, then probably by then.

[Cravis]

Anybody take a look at the achievements? You get one for...

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Unlocking Cybernetic Sub-Zero

[close]

Also for those who have played it, please tell me "Toasty!" is back.

[bork]

I thought it was available for free on the Euro PSN server?  Was that bullshit?

I'm definitely interested in trying this out.  And Bebpo, another game that looks like it may have a promising fighting game engine is Skull Girls, coming for XBLA and PSN.  The game's artwork is going to be a turn-off for a lot of people though, I think.

[EmCeeGrammar]

Whoopsie!


             () ()
               u   
                o

[Enl]

Anybody take a look at the achievements? You get one for...

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Unlocking Cybernetic Sub-Zero

[close]

Also for those who have played it, please tell me "Toasty!" is back.

[youtube=560,345]gaf9x15VzO8[/youtube]

[Robo]

And Bebpo, another game that looks like it may have a promising fighting game engine is Skull Girls, coming for XBLA and PSN.  The game's artwork is going to be a turn-off for a lot of people though, I think.

Yup.  I love the background art, though.

[Cravis]

Youtube Vid

Awesome!!

[ferrarimanf355]

[youtube=560,345]IkZoTcw6p54[/youtube]

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I just love the t-shirt with a picture of some toast.

[close]

[chronovore]

Unless you're 13, I've never been able to understand the attraction to this game.

[tiesto]

Unless you're 13, I've never been able to understand the attraction to this game.

-Nostalgia from playing MK1-2 when you were 13 (which I did)
-MSTRKRFT soundtrack, if you are an electrohouse fan (which I am)

That's it for me. Glad to see fighters had a bit of a revival this gen, hopefully RPG is the next gen to have a revival.

[demi]

Unless you're 13, I've never been able to understand the attraction to this game.

> tim schafer

[bork]

Unless you're 13, I've never been able to understand the attraction to this game.

I was 11 or 12 when the original came out, and thought the digitized graphics and gore were cool for a minute.  Then I realized how shitty the game play was compared to Street Fighter.  And no matter what they've done with this series, it's always come off as stiff and unpolished, with incredibly cheesy character designs.  Even after going 3D, they still made the characters look like they were wrestling/superhero rejects from the 80s and kept the same stiff, stupid animation and voices.  When they finally started over again with MK5, I liked the ideas they had, but it just never quite came together, and only ended up getting worse with the sequels.

I'm interested in this new title, but hearing that the characters still share the same normals and seeing the same stiff animation/game play in videos doesn't have me all that hyped up.  But I will certainly wait for the demo to see for myself.  I see this game being a fun title that's still far below all the J-developed fighters on the food chain, though, TBH.

My favorite "Mortal Kombat" was Unreal Championship 2.  That game had Rayden playable, and he fit it perfectly.  The hybrid FPS/fighting system worked perfectly, and I wish they had kept that concept going.

[ferrarimanf355]

Good thing I don't live in Australia.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6303984.html

[chronovore]

So, unless you're 13, or became strongly moved by it when you were 13.

I understand. I'm still into music that was popular the first time someone gave me head, so I'm familiar with the, er, broad strokes of this effect.

[Shaka Khan]

A lot of people are definitely attached to the series for nostalgic reasons, but the recent MK games are some of the most casual friendly fighting games you'll find on the market; easy inputs, lots of flash, no depth to speak of, and while the exaggerated gore used to be cool when people were 13 today it's just hilarious and crowd pleasing as the games never take themselves too seriously. Basically they're easy to pick up party games.

The 3D games (excluding MK4) are also known for being loaded with features, modes, mini-games, unlockables, and lots of easter eggs (though the latter has always been a staple of the series).

Now coming to this one: MK9 is proving to be quite different than the rest. It's a solid game at its core with actual depth, unique mechanics and combo systems, which as you may have guessed is a first for the series, all while retaining the familiar MK charm. The creators clearly have been taking lots of feedback from the fighting games' community, and were really pushing it to be taken seriously and considered for tourney play (which it ended up doing). Add to that an extremely positive reaction from the media and core players alike and you have a possible winner.

Edit: Did I mention it runs on UE3, at 60fps/720p? Yeah, it looks really good.

[Akala]

Went from hype to meh. It's fun, but much closer in feel to the recent 3D MK's than I hoped it would be. Combat is pretty janky, and shit that should work (closing stuff with a slide for sub zero for example) just doesn't. There seems to be a ton of stuff packed into the game, and it may be fun at parties or whatever...but left a bad first impression.

[Shaka Khan]

I told y'all it still feels like a 3D MK.

[bork]

Went from hype to meh. It's fun, but much closer in feel to the recent 3D MK's than I hoped it would be. Combat is pretty janky, and shit that should work (closing stuff with a slide for sub zero for example) just doesn't. There seems to be a ton of stuff packed into the game, and it may be fun at parties or whatever...but left a bad first impression.

Agreed.  It just feels like a more-polished (or rather, actually COMPLETED) MK Vs. DC, and that "stiff" feel to the game play is in full effect. 

Not that I'm surprised, but the game play has nothing on all the J-fighters out.  For casual play, MvC3 >>>>>>>>>>> this anyway.

Still might get this if the online is good though.