Over the top bloodshed continues with Mortal Kombat X

Ed Boon and his dedicated crew at NetherRealm Studios have been hard at work over the past decade, attempting to revive one of the most iconic fighting game series in the history of interactive entertainment. At its peak, Mortal Kombat was an arcade legend, thanks to its incredibly competitive and violently over the top one-on-one battles. Mortal Kombat X is the next installment in this long running line of battle-hardened warriors and kung fu masters, and recent gameplay videos showcase a gorgeous looking title with a lot of intricate depth and boisterous character design.

The Mortal Kombat universe has always been filled with rich and entertaining storytelling, and Mortal Kombat X is no exception. The latest saga will take place after 2011’s Mortal Kombat (also referred to as Mortal Kombat 9) ended. NetherRealm’s newest release will feature a non-linear story line that follows a classic cast of famous characters, including Sub-Zero, and Scorpion, but will also introduce an array of brand new contenders, both good and evil, that will tie-up certain aspects of the story. The game will transition at some point during your journey, taking things twenty-five years into the future, where battles are fought between seasoned Mortal Kombat veterans and a variety of newly introduced, young fighters. Mortal Kombat has featured exceptional storytelling in the past, so much so that a feature length movie stemmed from the series in 1995. Some rumors suggest that Ed Boon may be working close with a studio in an attempt to release a new-age Mortal Kombat film alongside the game’s release.

When Mortal Kombat X was unveiled at this year’s E3, we were presented with six playable characters, including four characters that are completely new to the series. Torr is a giant, hulking, mask-wearing brute, who carries a small and agile woman on his back named Ferra. These two combine attacks together that are both fast and agonizingly hard hitting. D’Vorah is a half-human, half-insect fighter that uses an array of bugs and tendril like attacks to sting and poison her foes into submission. Kotal Kahn is a massive Aztec style warrior, covered in tattoos and tribal markings. He uses large Aztec inspired weapons and supernatural powers. Lastly, is Cassie Cage, daughter to famous Mortal Kombat protagonists, Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade. She is showcased as using similar fighting techniques from both her father and mother, but manages to have her own unique fighting style. These new faces were joined by two Mortal Kombat alumni, Sub-Zero and Scorpion. Much like the last release, Ed Boon and the team at NetherRealm will be slowly unveiling which playable characters we can expect to see, as the impending release grows closer.

Gameplay will remain classic to the series, using the same one-versus-one battles and over-the-top special moves that made the franchise such an iconic romp. Although Mortal Kombat X will feature some new tricks, and a very in-depth fighting-style system that may change the way that we view our favorite characters. Each combatant comes packaged with three unique and very different fighting styles. For example, Scorpion can use a Ninjitsu mode, which makes use of traditional fighting stances and dual swords. Picking Hellfire will cause Scorpion to use a wide array of firey attacks and heat-intensive special moves. Another possible choice is Inferno mode, which has yet to be outlined by developers. Each fighting style has its own strengths and weaknesses, and you’ll be forced to pick one style to use before the battle starts, adding a massive amount of depth and discovery to an already impressive looking fighting experience. Not only will you be able to master your favorite characters moves-sets, but you now have multiple styles to use to better combat specific challengers. Like NetherRealm’s recent fighter, Injustice, you’ll now be able to use environmental tools to your advantage, allowing you to swing from objects, throw weapons, and create explosions to gain the upper hand in a close fight.