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Mortal Kombat gets a few balance tweaks
NetherRealm Studios delivered a hotfix to Mortal Kombat over the weekend, making some overall balance changes and tweaking a few characters. Some non-specific changes include damage reduction on a few special moves and some adjustment to juggle combo damage scaling. Certain basic combos also saw their damage reduced as they were "doing too much damage without using any meter." This is actually the second hotfix delivered for Mortal Kombat. NetherRealm revealed in April that it had the ability to adjust the game's balance without the need for patches. Check out the complete list of changes after the break. We're just going to enjoy this sweet infinite combo we just discovered while we still can.
Mortal Kombat waives 'Kombat Pass' until PlayStation Store returns
The PlayStation 3 version of Mortal Kombat is seeing the end of an irksome TECHNICALITY: the "Kombat Pass," a token that is required for online play but cannot be redeemed while the PlayStation Store is offline, is being temporarily waived. Up until now, the pool of online combatants was limited to those who hastily activated their passes right before the PSN fell into a coma in late April. Writing on Mortal Kombat's official Facebook page, NetherRealm Studios confirmed that the game's online component should now be unlocked for all players, though it'll be cordoned off as soon as Sony re-opens the PlayStation Store (possibly by next week). The Kombat Pass code is included with all new copies of Mortal Kombat, and can be purchased separately for $9.99 once a free trial period expires. If you own a used copy of NetherRealm's well-received revamp, you now have an entire weekend to gauge the value of pulverizing pelvises over the internet.
Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection to bring the original trilogy to XBLA and PSN
Has the rich, all-encompassing story mode of Netherrealm Studios' reboot of the Mortal Kombat franchise filled you with an unquenchable thirst for more of the universe's gore-lore? We suggest going back to the franchise's roots -- an act which will be made much easier in late summer, when Warner Bros. Interactive launches the Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection on XBLA, PSN and PC for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). The compilation promises to include "arcade-perfect" ports of the series' original trilogy: Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, each of which will be infused with online multiplayer and leaderboards. As an added promotion, the company is licensing an official Mortal Kombat Klassic Fight Stick with PDP, a $129.99 peripheral with a retro Mortal Kombat button layout (similar to PDP's recent Tournament Edition stick) which includes a download voucher for the upcoming Kollection. The Fight Stick is available to pre-order now, but the Kollection itself is not. Because you don't have to pre-order downloadable games, you silly goose.
Amazon price matches Portal 2 discounts on 360 and PC, drops Mortal Kombat to $40
You there, in the check-out line of Walmart, with the debit card in your swipin' hand! Put that away, man. Amazon's price matched Kmart, knocking that 360 version of Portal 2 you've got your eye on down to $34.99 (or $29.99 on PC), as well as both versions of Mortal Kombat down to $39.99.
Mortal Kombat review: Flawless victory
It's been nearly 20 years since the original Mortal Kombat debuted in arcades. It was a decent game that relied on two gimmicks -- gore and digitized fighters -- to gain notoriety. Now the ninth game in the franchise it spawned is here, and while the gore is still there, it's completely overshadowed by just how exceptional a game this is overall. Series co-creator (ko-kreator?) Ed Boon and his team at NetherRealm Studios have created something that you can't help but see their blood, sweat and tears in. Sure, it's campy as all get-out, but it's also one of the most polished, deep and enjoyable fighting games I've ever played.%Gallery-120488%
Montage(s)! Mortal Kombat Fatalities, Stage Fatalities and Babalities!
Spotting every Fatality, Stage Fatality and Babality in a Mortal Kombat game used to cost you hundreds of quarters, a copy of Tips & Tricks magazine and a whole lot of time. Now, it's as simple as jumping past the break, where we've got three montages queued up featuring the latest Mortal Kombat's trademark 'alities. Perhaps you feel guilty? We get it – you were raised on a diet of hard work, which you washed down with a tall glass of trial and error, and you're not about to freebase dozens of 'alities because we made it so simple. Fine, we respect that. Now, if you'll excuse us ...
NetherRealm can rebalance Mortal Kombat on the fly, no patches needed
Reptile's acid spit too powerful? Does Raiden have a super cheap infinite combo? Not to worry, as Mortal Kombat maestro Ed Boon revealed to Eurogamer that the latest entry in the series can be balanced at any time -- without the need to download a patch. Boon noted that if a character is discovered to be too powerful, or if an inventive player discovers an infinite combo, developer NetherRealm is able to "make adjustments and address those things immediately." Precise details on how this works were not revealed, with Boon stating only that the dynamic updates are "built into the system" and don't require a patch. Mortal Kombat isn't the first game to utilize dynamic updates. Certain Xbox Live Arcade games have managed similar on-the-fly updates using Title Managed Storage, a limited amount of Xbox Live server space Microsoft grants its developers. This system allows Monday Night Combat to receive balance tweaks and is also what powers "Teh Internets" levels found in Super Meat Boy.
Xbox-exclusive Mortal Kombat fighter discussed, Boon says
With Kratos headlining the Mortal Kombat roster on PS3, it seemed only a matter of time before NetherRealm Studios would announce an Xbox-exclusive character for the ninth installment in the grizzled fighting game series -- except the game's out today. It never happened. "Unfortunately, the circumstances didn't allow us to make a 360 exclusive [character]," MK boss man Ed Boon told Eurogamer. "I'm not allowed to talk too much about it, but I can tell you we certainly wanted to do an exclusive for 360, but that's all I can say." Boon did end up saying a little more, as he hinted that Halo's Master Chief and Gears of War's Marcus Fenix came up as (obvious) choices during discussion. Of course, Chief has been known to "balk at" the invitation to join an exclusive fighting tournament. And we heard that it's in Marcus' contract that any arena he enters has to be cover-based.
Mortal Kombat: Legacy continues in second episode
The first 12 minutes of Mortal Kombat's live-action excitement wasn't enough for you? Perhaps the second episode will help sate your hunger for martial arts mixed with so, so many guns.
Mortal Kombat's Shang Tsung featurette will get inside your head
Man, we knew Shang Tsung was a bad dude, but we didn't know he could make people tear their own heads off, as detailed in Mortal Kombat's latest trailer. You know what, Mortal Kombat? We're not sure that's physically possible. We've been trying all morning, but we just end up hurting our hair.
Rumor: Mortal Kombat Xbox 360 exclusives include arena, free DLC character, Avatar support
Ever since revealing Kratos for the PS3 version of Mortal Kombat, Xbox 360 owners have been waiting to hear about platform-exclusive features for Microsoft's console. While NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. have yet to confirm anything, Save and Quit has posted up some rumored features -- and no, none of them are a playable Spartan. Outside of an exclusive Puzzle Kombat mode, the Xbox 360 will also get a King of the Hill mode (which features Avatar support) and an arena called The Pit 360, a remake of Mortal Kombat 3's The Pit 3. Additionally, it's reported that DLC character "Lady in Red" will be offered as a free download for Xbox Live users for a limited time following her debut and there will be exclusive Mortal Kombat-themed Avatar gear available for purchase on Xbox Live. None of this is confirmed, of course, but the image above supposedly shows off the King of the Hill mode and some Avatars, giving this rumor just a little hint of validity. We've contacted both NetherRealm and Warner Bros. for comment.
Test your might against these new Mortal Kombat screens
Fresh screens from Mortal Kombat highlight the struggle between Sub-Zero and Mileena, plus those creepy trees with faces -- watching, wishing they had arms and legs. At least that's what we'd like to imagine they're thinking. In reality, their thoughts are probably ... much darker.
Mortal Kombat tournament koming to Bally's Las Vegas May 14-15
Planning to be in Vegas later this summer and know a thing or three about pulling off Fatalities? Good news: PDP Tournaments is coming to Bally's in Las Vegas on May 14 through 15, and is bringing along $21,000 in prize money for a Mortal Kombat tournament. All you need to do to enter is sign up on the event's website (though you'll need to book a place to stay if you're not from around there, of course). The tourney will be played using official PDP Mortal Kombat joysticks, so you've got the option to shell out $129.99 at sign-up for your own to practice on. The event sounds exciting: double elimination over two days of nothing but MK. Good luck to everyone who enters; we'll help you start psyching up right now.
Mortal Kombat tag team match pits Background against Our Attention
Happy April Brutal Violence Day, everyone! Enjoy some footage of a Mortal Kombat tag team match, featuring Kitana, Mileena, Sindel and Jade. Even though the match has more painful-looking attacks and surprise reversals than the spinoff Mortal Kombackgammon, we found ourselves unable to concentrate on the actual fighting because of the guy in the background performing a resurrection ritual or something. Way to steal the show! Maybe we should let the guy have his moment. It must be hard work to be the "resurrection guy" in the Mortal Kombat universe.
Rumor: Warner Bros. joining 'online pass' camp with Mortal Kombat
Warner Bros. may be following in the (very large) footsteps of Electronic Arts and THQ when it comes to discouraging -- or at least profiting from -- the sale of used games. Joystiq has learned from a tipster that when Mortal Kombat hits shelves on April 19, its box will include an "online pass" token that must be redeemed before playing online. At present, WBIE evidently intends to do the same for its high-profile releases F.E.A.R. 3 and Batman: Arkham City. Since the latter won't feature multiplayer, though, the token would have to unlock some other (equally attractive) content. According to an email obtained from our source, which appears intended for retailers, WBIE won't be promoting the pass -- in fact, no reference to it will appear on the game's packaging. Instead, it is apparently providing retailers with details on the pass, including how to purchase a new one if you're buying a used copy of the game. Unsurprisingly, a new pass will run 800 Microsoft Points / $10 for Xbox 360 and PS3, respectively. As with EA's titles, there will be a free two-day "trial period" before players are prompted to either enter the code or purchase a pass. We've contacted WBIE for comment on this information. You can find an excerpt from the retailer email past the break.
Mortal Kombat's first two downloadable fighters revealed
Wait, you mean to tell us that even though the game hasn't actually come out yet, you're already bored with the roster of fighters included in Mortal Kombat? How is that even possible? Regardless, you don't need to worry -- Netherrealm's Hans Lo recently revealed to CVG that two new kombatants are already in the works for post-launch DLC: Series regular Kenshi, and "Scarlet," a fully fleshed-out character based on a glitch in the old Mortal Kombat arcade machines, which turned Jade, Kitana and Milena blood red. Lo explained, "People always thought it was a hidden unlockable character and it wasn't, it was purely a programming glitch." He added, "She's no longer a glitch - she's an actual character, and she'll be coming pretty soon post-launch." We wish other developers were this sentimental about their earlier mistakes -- maybe then we could finally get that Laddergoat game we've always dreamed of.
Mortal Kombat trailer showing Kratos doing what Kratos does best
Well, our fears have been confirmed: Kratos is going to be the most unfair Mortal Kombat kharacter of all time. Not because he can blind and stun fighters or hit them from miles away with his Blades, but because he's obviously part god. Then again, so is Raiden, we guess. Never mind.
UK Mortal Kombat Kollector's Edition bumps bookends for figurine
Little known fact: Brits can't read. Well, not all of them at least. Despite naming our language, England enjoys an incredible 110 percent illiteracy rate. So it makes total sense then that the North American release of Mortal Kombat would come with bookends -- after all, what else is your book-learned American fighting game fan going to do when he's done with a couple rounds? -- while the UK release is saddled with a "kollectible" figurine. There's also an exclusive art book (mostly pictures, don't worry), an "in-game Retro Ninja Costume," and some console exclusive avatars and what have you. Enough words, have a taste of these images: %Gallery-119286%
NetherRealm and Rocksteady using Unreal Engine 3 for 'the next few years'
Epic's Unreal Engine 3 will power any games developed by Rocksteady Studios (Batman: Arkham City) and NetherRealm Studios (Mortal Kombat) through 2014 as part of a deal announced today by parent company Warner Bros. Interactive. Sure, the news in and of itself isn't all that exciting, but it does hint at the future of the Unreal Engine and the timeframe for the dawn of the next console generation. Specifically, this news would suggest that we're not going to see Unreal Engine 4 for at least a couple of years. Given that Epic has said UE4 is being targeted "exclusively" at next-gen consoles, it gives us some insight into when Epic -- and developers -- are expecting to be creating games for successors to PS3 and Xbox 360. Sometime around, say, 2014? Of course, there's no saying Unreal Engine 3 won't be used for next-gen games -- one look at the GDC 2011 demo of new UE3 features and it's obvious the engine still has a lot of miles left on it.
Mortal Kombat classification appeal rejected in Australia, import companies rejoice
Despite a contested rating by Warner Bros. Interactive, the forthcoming Mortal Kombat reboot has been permanently refused classification in Australia, effectively banning the title from official retail distribution. WB Games issued a statement regarding the ruling, stating that it's "extremely disappointed" that the game has been refused classification on the continent. The publisher continued, praising "thousands of Mortal Kombat fans in Australia and around the world who have voiced their support during the appeal process." Mortal Kombat's latest iteration will still arrive next month in other territories, also known as "the month when a handful of hardcore Australia-based MK fans are forced to import copies."
