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Mortal Kombat 11 Review Thread: The Grindly Microtransaction Wins Again

ethomaz

Banned
Metacritic: 83 (PS4) / 88 (XB1)
Opencritic: 83

CGMagazine
95
"Mortal Kombat 11 isn’t just a fantastic entry into this long running franchise, it’s a stunning example of how much value and content developers can pack into the fighting game genre."

PlayStation Universe
95
"Stuffed with masses of modes and a veritable avalanche of stuff to do, Mortal Kombat 11 is the best the series has ever looked, sounded and most importantly, played. Oh and it doesn't hurt either that it just so happens to have one of the best story modes ever made, too."

Vandal
92
"It is incredibly clever how NetherRealm can make such an old series interesting all the time and even delivers one of the best Mortal Kombat games ever with Mortal Kombat 11. I almost had to force myself to write this Review ... In my head I hear Scorpion "Get Over Here" all the time and I will respond to it again!"

Jeuxvideo.com
90
"Mortal Kombat 11 is a success in every respect. NetherRealm takes risks and it pays off. Its gargantuan content, its racy gameplay daring to change in depth some historical mechanics, its technical mastery and its sparkling achievement make this Mortal Kombat an example to follow."

Softpedia
90
"I have no doubt that Mortal Kombat 11 is the best game in the series thanks to the incredibly deep combat mechanics, customization options and addictive addictive extra activities. Not the mention that game brings new meanings to the word “bloody.”"

Multiplayer.it
90
"Whether you just plan on stopping by for the story and messing around with friends locally every once in a while, or plan on going hardcore into online play, you’ll have plenty to do, and you’ll have plenty of fun doing it until whenever the next Mortal Kombat game comes out some time in the next generation."

Critical Hit
90
"A bone-breaking blast of bloody fun, Mortal Kombat 11 is a celebration of ultra-violence that pushes the franchise forward to gloriously gory new heights."

Press Start Australia
90
"Mortal Kombat 11 is both joyful and frustrating. It’s far and away a superior game to Mortal Kombat X where it truly matters - the roster is strong and varied, the visuals are phenomenal, and the flow of battle is as sharp as ever. If you play with friends, solid online offerings will deliver in droves. If you’re thinking of playing solo, although Story mode is some of Netherrealm’s best, the grind to unlock everything beyond that is sobering. It’s this grind that means Mortal Kombat 11 stands besides Mortal Kombat X, and not above it."

IGN
90
"Mortal Kombat 11 is the best game in the 27-year-old series thanks to deep, methodical new mechanics and fun story."

Eurogamer Italy
90
"NetherRealm did an outstanding job, pushing the graphics and the systems really close to the technological border of the eighth console generation in order to produce what is arguably the best installment in the series."

Merlin'in Kazanı (Turkey)
89
"I think players who like fighting games will be satisfied with the game. Although you don't have much to do with fighting games, you can have fun with the story of Mortal Kombat 11."

Hobby Consolas
89
"New evidence of Netherrealm's expertise. It surely shows some lack of new ideas, but everything that's included in the game is really well done."

Everyeye.it
88
"Mortal Kombat returns after four years of absence, flooding our screens with an incalculable amount of blood and ultra-violence. The eleventh chapter of the saga signed by Netherrealm and published by Warner Bros. Games is a concentration of new mechanics and classic elements, masterfully united under the sign of an above-average production."

SpazioGames
88
"A Mortal Kombat with great customization possibilities and lot of single player content, even sometimes grinding could be avoided. We loved the more tactical gameplay that leaves to the player much more control over the simple combo connection."

IGN Spain
88
"Mortal Kombat 11 doesn't change many things. The series of Ed Boon and NetherRealm is still alive. This new game is deep and it is full of content. The Fatal Blow is a good idea, and visually he continues to be brutal and spectacular, although it is running in Unreal Engine 3. The new characters and modes are great."

Areajugones
85
"Mortal Kombat 11 is a major improvement for the franchise in all of its departments. The story mode is both appealing and fun for the player, and the fights are much closer than they used to be. It is, indeed, a delightful experience for the fighting game aficionado."

The Games Machine
85
"Mortal Kombat 11 is probably the best chapter in the entire saga. Visuals, soundtrack and gameplay have reached an astonishing level of depth. Unfortunately, being forced to be always online and a progression system that seems a bit too random prevent this fighting game to become the masterpiece it deserves to be."

XGN
85
"Mortal Kombat 11 is the biggest fighter in the franchise yet. The story is rich, the cast is great and the focus on eSports is great. The game is not perfect, with the biggest flaw in the in-game currency. When it comes to fighting, perfection is neared."

Worth Playing
80
"All in all, Mortal Kombat 11 is a solid addition to the franchise. It has arguably the weakest story mode in the new MK trilogy, but even that mode has one of the better fighting game story modes on the market. The gameplay is solid, satisfying and fun, with a lot of potential depth. There's a lot of good single-player content for those who like beating up various characters, in addition to the online multiplayer that is genre-standard. Mortal Kombat 11 is everything that a Mortal Kombat game should be, and it's something fans should enjoy."

Gaming Nexus
80
"Mortal Kombat 11 is a nice send off to the 25+ year story of the series and it's NetherRealms best fighting game to date. It's just unfortunate that almost all of the single player content had to be filled with ridiculous amounts of grinding, RNG loot drops and unfair, unbalanced challenges."

Trusted Reviews
80
"Mortal Kombat 11 is yet another great entry in NetherRealm’s fighting series. The story mode is all too brief, but delivers a frantic action blockbuster that unashamedly hurls fan service all over the place, and is all the better for it. An increased focus on cosmetic loot and player customisation hasn’t come at the expense of excellent combat design, which feels tighter and more rewarding thanks to some subtle yet clever changes to what we know and love."

Gameblog.fr
80
"Mortal Kombat 11 is a very beautiful and enjoyable fighting game, and has a lot to give. Fans of the franchise and newcomers will a find something very technical and deep, with a lovable campaign plenty of game modes and even some quite interesting tutorials. A serious contender in its genre for 2019."

GamesRadar+
80
"Mortal Kombat 11's story mode, along with its gameplay, is the most intense and gripping narrative in a fighter that I've played in years."

Variety
80
"Mortal Kombat 11 is uncomfortable. Outlandish. Campy. Combined with the game’s complex, precise gameplay, it’s a damn good fighting game."

USgamer
70
"There's a lot to love in Mortal Kombat 11. It's a fantastic fighter with a roster of 25 varied characters, tons of customization options, beautiful graphics, and one of the best story modes in a fighting game. It's a shame that modes like the Krypt and Towers of Time inject annoyance and tedium into what was an excellent experience. The progression is complex and obtuse, when it should be easy and straightforward. MK 11 could been an all-time best, but it's just a contender."

We Got This Covered
70
"Mortal Kombat 11 is arguably the most enjoyable entry in the long-running franchise. It's visually incredible and a blast to play. However, questionable design decisions -- namely, a grind-heavy approach to progression -- hold it back from true fighting game greatness."

Shacknews
70
"Mortal Kombat 11 isn't the ideal MK package and may not even be the best MK package to come along in this console generation. Still, it's a strong package and one that still proves fun to play alone or with friends. It's not a flawless victory, but it's still a victory, nonetheless."

Push Square
70
"Structural foibles detract from the fact that Mortal Kombat 11 is an excellent fighter with lots to offer. Those yearning for the gore-soaked days of old will find plenty to love, and newcomers will be enthralled by its excellent story and deep fighting system."

Hardcore Gamer
70
"Mortal Kombat 11 provides a solid if unremarkable cast of characters to choose from and plenty of ways to customize them. It’s just a pity that much of the activities and rewards revolve so heavily around grinding and microtransactions."

TheSixthAxis
70
"This game is the pinnacle of Mortal Kombat action. Fights are fluid, weighty, and gorgeous to look at. Unfortunately, that tightly-designed gameplay is bogged down by a grindy system of loot and consumables that only serves to artificially extend your playtime in the most tedious ways imaginable. There is so much heart and care put into this game, from the combat to the gorgeous visuals and memorable story, but that effort feels nullified by the desperate attempt to twist an iconic video game franchise into just another endlessly online service game."
 
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ethomaz

Banned
If I can give my opinion reading some reviews...

The game is really, really good... the core gameplay is great.

But it has a even worst gameplay system based on microtransaction than Injustice 2.
So I see a lot of reviewers discounting 1-2 points because it is really grind to the point to force you on the microtransaction side of the game.

It really sad about that (that is why I used that thread title)... I hope at least some balance in microtransaction is done asap with updates.

Everything else is better than I expected.
 
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Mista

Banned
I didn't hate MKX but it just didn't capture me the way MK9 did in 2011 which was a phenomenal game so I am going into this with high interest and hopes.
Exactly the same here. Now hoping MK11 is going to bring the excitement back and based on the reviews looks like it will
 

Petrae

Member
Good to see the game getting lit up by some review sites for its greedy microtransactions and forced grind. This game was a slam dunk for me a month ago, and now I'm going to the store after work to cancel my $100 preorder because of said microtransactions and grinding. It's a major bummer.

Maybe I'll check out the "Komplete Edition" a year or so down the road, but that NRS/WBIE greed cost them a sale until then-- and that was a sale that included a season pass.
 

sn0man

Member
If I can give my opinion reading some reviews...

The game is really, really good... the core gameplay is great.

But it has a even worst gameplay system based on microtransaction than Injustice 2.
So I see a lot of reviewers discounting 1-2 points because it is really grind to the point to force you on the microtransaction side of the game.

It really sad about that (that is why I used that thread title)... I hope at least some balance in microtransaction is done asap with updates.

Everything else is better than I expected.

Does the complete version of Injustice 2 remove any/most/all of the annoying stuff? I usually wait out these games and get the complete edition. Probably going to pick up MKXL now and maybe injustice 2 equivalent on Black Friday this year.
 
damn grindy progression is such a deterrent, although every review says how good the gameplay is, so grinding with good gameplay shouldnt be THAT bad...
 

Enjay

Banned
Gameplay wise it is exactly the same as MKXL except now the fights look like they're shown from the perespective of Todd Snap. What is everyone expecting there??
 

Nymphae

Banned
"I think players who like fighting games will be satisfied with the game.

Huh.

Although you don't have much to do with fighting games, you can have fun with the story of Mortal Kombat 11."

I always find this sentiment funny. Like, because there aren't boring fetch quest side missions from NPC's "you don't have much to do in fighting games."

I have been playing my preferred fighting game for like 2 years straight now almost every day, and I still have a ton to learn and improve on, and look forward to playing every day. I sort of recently started maining a new character, and the process to get decent is long and very rewarding. In my opinion fighting games are one of the most content rich genres, not in terms of stupid checklists I need to complete, but for how deep the game itself is - you could spend years just training with one character in a fighting game. Some people may say that's boring, and that's fine, but I think it's incorrect to say there isn't a lot to do in fighting games - it's that what's there is so daunting and most people don't have the time, patience, or will power to get themselves to that level and would rather mash buttons and feel good.
 

Sub_Level

wants to fuck an Asian grill.
If I did not play MKX but did play every other MK game prior. Am I gonna be missing out on anything?

- Johnny Cage and his daughter Cassie Cage defeat an evil god named Shinnok.
- Raiden becomes cynical and overprotective of the Earth, and is an all-around jackass now.
- With their former ruler Shao Kahn dead, Outworld went through a Civil War between his daughter Mileena and his former general Kotal. Kotal won and became the new Kahn.

Those are the 3 most important story points. Hopefully you have a good memory of MK9 because that one is more important to MK11.
 
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ethomaz

Banned
Gameplay wise it is exactly the same as MKXL except now the fights look like they're shown from the perespective of Todd Snap. What is everyone expecting there??
Way different gameplay wise...
 
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Petrae

Member
Naturally, the GameStop guys were pissed about my cancelling the preorder. “We didn’t hear about the game being a grind. It’s just cosmetics.”

Then I showed them the thread that broke down how wrong their supposition was and that was the end of the discussion. Not that there should’ve been one anyway.
 

ethomaz

Banned
Naturally, the GameStop guys were pissed about my cancelling the preorder. “We didn’t hear about the game being a grind. It’s just cosmetics.”

Then I showed them the thread that broke down how wrong their supposition was and that was the end of the discussion. Not that there should’ve been one anyway.
You should cancel a preorder no matter the reason without saying anything to them lol

At least it is how I see to be fair.
 
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petran79

Banned
I remember getting a trainer for infinite fight money in MKX. Played tge game in offline mode to avoid vac detection and returned online with millions to unlock stuff in the krypt. Even then it took me a couple of hours just to search for stuff
 

Tesseract

Banned
all i care about : is the core game play good, is the balance good, is the pc port good and will it be regularly updated alongside the console versions, is the net code good, is ranked using ELO
 

xrnzaaas

Member
Honestly I'm not surprised by some reviews not mentioning or playing down microtransactions. Many reviewers don't even finish games (not that you could properly "finish" a fighting game), because they're racing against the clock to post the review as soon as possible (and because they don't want to piss off the publishers ;)). Having to deeply analyze the economy and progression in the game is way too much for them.
 
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angelic

Banned
Obviously it's correct most reviewers are utter hacks, but also the shop isn't live yet. Giant Bomb seem to like it, and give it a decent critique, useful that Jeff knows his stuff.

 

flacopol

Member


Microtransaction wins , flawless victory :'( not a basic tower? so no "arcade mode" only 1vs1 with a cpu.

Don´t want to rant over the game , I really want the best but just this things ... damn
 
And professional reviewers yet again not taking into consideration microtransactions are pathethic.
Made worse by it's not just microtransactions, but outside the main story the single player is not that great either when this has been NRS' strongest point since MK9, hell other than MKvsDC there strongest point since Deception actually..... Even big defenders, who openly admit to being friends with guys at NRS, like Maximilian, are telling people not to buy it unless it's only for online (with no interest in cosmetics outside of defaults) and the main story mode.
 

Shmunter

Member
So how does this work these days. Do we take off X amount of Woke points to get the real score?? I’m serious here, look at the oscars.
 
So how does this work these days. Do we take off X amount of Woke points to get the real score?? I’m serious here, look at the oscars.
More like Woke Points to cover up for shady practices in the background. It's actually quite smart when you think about it because it's confusing all the gaming outlets. They must be desperately breaking their head whether to praise the game for being progressive or criticize it for being shady.
 
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Acidizer

Banned
Good to see them hit another one out of the park. I didn't hate MKX but it just didn't capture me the way MK9 did in 2011 which was a phenomenal game so I am going into this with high interest and hopes.

Why is that?

I had MK X and though it was shit. I heard MK 9 was slower and deliberate like the original games.

Does 11 play like 9 in this way?
 

Sub_Level

wants to fuck an Asian grill.
is the pc port good

zuR9ss0.gif
 

Nymphae

Banned
Made worse by it's not just microtransactions, but outside the main story the single player is not that great either when this has been NRS' strongest point since MK9, hell other than MKvsDC there strongest point since Deception actually..... Even big defenders, who openly admit to being friends with guys at NRS, like Maximilian, are telling people not to buy it unless it's only for online (with no interest in cosmetics outside of defaults) and the main story mode.

Wow, huh. What is the issue exactly? I thought it had the modes everyone wanted?
 

Sub_Level

wants to fuck an Asian grill.
Wow, huh. What is the issue exactly? I thought it had the modes everyone wanted?

That poster is probably referring to the fact that the towers are just arcade & character challenges. Similar to MKX. Towers are updated weekly online.

MK9: Cinematic Story Mode & 300 Floor Challenge Tower with a wide variety of fun.
Armageddon: Action Game Story Mode & Kart Racing
Deception: RPG-Esque Story Mode, Puzzle Kombat, & Chess Kombat

I would agree that MK11 is weaker in its singleplayer offerings than the 3 above. But lets be honest, its still a better singleplayer offering than other fighters on the market. Soul Calibur VI comes the closest with its Libra of Souls, and even then its hampered by being a budget title.
 

Ozrimandias

Member
Why is that?

I had MK X and though it was shit. I heard MK 9 was slower and deliberate like the original games.

Does 11 play like 9 in this way?

Play it yesterday and here are some toughts:

- Feel slow, but not in a bad way...in fact i think that it plays better than MKX
- Story mode is the best out there.... NetherRealm Studios is on another level in this
- Feels more fluid, combos are connected in a better way than X.
- GUI is perfected, pretty clean and intuitive
- Sound is awesome, stages have a better desing than X, not as good as 2, but better than X
- Ronda Rousey Voice acting its mediocre
- Love the character desing, asian voice acting for Liu Kang, Asian models for the ninjas makes perfect sense and not a Calvin Klein Model Boy Band Sub Zero.
- New Character are less charismatic, Kronica, Geras and Cetrion are like a rip off from a Power Ranger Captain Planet character. Miss the Old Days where we have Fujin as a god. Damn i want Fujin.
- I tend to think that Fatal Blows doesnt stop the action, but add some dramatic tension to the fight.
 
Wow, huh. What is the issue exactly? I thought it had the modes everyone wanted?
That poster is probably referring to the fact that the towers are just arcade & character challenges. Similar to MKX. Towers are updated weekly online.
Uh no, I'm referring to towers of time being like living towers mixed with Injustice 2's multiverse but in the worst way.....well you'll see below. Klassic towers are also downgraded from MKX, while in MKX it was 3 modes of 10 fight arcade, a endless tower, and a survivor tower, it's now just 5 fight arcade, 8 fight arcade, 12 fight arcade, and a 25 fight endurance arcade....... Edit: There is a endless tower still there too thankfully.



This is actually a fairly normal challenge too compared to some of the insane stuff in ToT, some of which require select consumables to even be beatable.

Edit: They are toning down towers of time at least, so maybe they'll turn it into something fun.
 
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blackjon24

Member
You guys have fun with this game I'm going back to fighterz. Can't believe this, MK9 was such a good step in the right direction, what a shame
 
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