Very few flaws can be detected in this latest rendition of the classic series. Fatalities lack the disturbing power of the first MK, Lui Kang(whom I didn't like anyway) is killed off, and your selection of characters, at first start up, is extremely limited(9). Even though these "flaws" may seem like game-killers, they are not. After choosing my character for the first time, Scorpion, I was greeted by what seemed to be the shortest load screen in the history of MK on a CD form. That was just the beginning of me being surprised. The stage opened up with a very cool rotation effect as the camera zoomed in on me and my advisary, Sub-Zero. I was enraptured by the background, and I almost missed the unforgettable sound of "Fight!!!". I was a pure button masher for nearly the entire round. As Scorpion, I had to try back, back, X. Only to realize later on that, that had been changed to back, forward, X. Scorpion's spear spewed relentlessly from his palm and caught Sub-Zero in mid air. The last few hit to kill my advisary became a flurry of button mashing, until Sub-Zero fell to the ground(in a bloody mess). As if you didn't already know, the blood that falls to the ground remains there until the very end of the fight. What happened next in the fight was a pure stroke of genius for Ed Boon and the other creators. There is no load between fight rounds, Sub-Zero merely stood up and dusted himself off and he was ready to fight. The very first thing Sub-Zero did was pull out his sword, I tried to block his attacks, but was unsuccessful. Sub-Zero ran me through with his sword, and the sword styed there, spewind my blood to the ground and I continually lost life. Long story short, I managed to kick the crap out of him and was screamed at by that familiar voice to "Finish Him!!!". I walked backward from Sub-Zero and tried to remember the Fatality combination I had seen on the Internet. (Back, back, down, back+attack 4). The screen went black and I caught my first glimpse of good violence in a video game for the PS2. Scorpion threw out his spear and it went through Sub-Zero's head. Scorpion then proceeded to try and tear the head off of the body, he succeeds and sends Sub-Zero's body sprawling to the ground. "Fatality!!!", I hear, and the match is over. In record time for an MK game too(less than a minute).
Superb graphics, and great controls help this to be the greatest MK of all. MK Trilogy is just as good.
9 out of 10
