mortal kombat 2 review
Mortal Kombat IIAfter marking the minds of all players in 1992 with Mortal Kombat, a fighting game known for its extreme violence, Midway puts a layer on it 1 year later with Mortal Kombat 2, which constitutes for many fans one of the 2D episodes the most successful in the series.
Finish Him! Flawless Victory! It is with pleasure that we find these replicas which have now become cult in this second opus by Mortal Kombat. As a reminder, the first Mortal Kombat had caused a sensation with the players, not for its gameplay, but above all for its atmosphere, for its originality, and for the charisma of its characters of anthology that are Raiden the god of lightning, Liu Kang, the master of martial arts or the famous duo of ninjas: Scorpion and Sub-Zero, which are the emblems of the series.
From the introduction, there is a much darker and darker atmosphere than its predecessor. Besides, that all hemoglobin lovers with a Super Nintendo rejoice, the blood was not censored this time. We remember in passing that the censorship of the first Mortal Kombat imposed by Nintendo had divided the community of players in two: those who played the Megadrive version deemed more mature, with the possibility of activating the blood via a well-known cheat code, and those who played on the censored Super Nintendo version where the interest of the game was greatly reduced since what makes the charm of the Mortal Kombat series is above all its dose of gore. This partly explains why the game sold so much better on the Sega console.
To return to Mortal Kombat 2, we note in the selection of characters the disappearance of Kano and Sonia, to see the arrival of 7 new fighters: Baraka, Jax, Kitana, Kung Lao, Mileena, Reptile and the sorcerer Shang Tsung . Each of these new characters is truly charismatic and has its own identity: for example, we will appreciate Kung Lao, a Shaolin monk who fights with the help of a cutting hat, or Baraka, a creature belonging to the demonic race of Tartakans with long blades embedded in his forearms. We can also note the appearance of 7 additional hidden and non-playable characters that we can only fight by respecting certain criteria. Once again, the developers used digital images to shape the sprites of the characters, whose animation has now become much more fluid and detailed than before, a real feast for the eyes.
At the level of the combat arenas, we go from 6 zones to 10 (including one hidden and another exclusive to the Megadrive version). The level design is also very neat there. The arenas are full of details and are really cold in the back thanks to the very special color palette of the game. It is enough to play a few seconds on famous areas such as "The Pit II" or "Living Forest" to see the rendering . In addition, they are all very varied and very scary. Each arena has its own stamp, and some of them can give rise to a novelty of this opus: Les Fatality de Stage (or "Stage Fatality").
Indeed, Mortal Kombat 2 is not only a visual improvement. The game includes new special moves, new "Fatality" but also the famous "Stage Fatality" which allow you to take advantage of the scenery to massacre your opponent. For example, the combat zone "The Dead Pool" allows you via a manipulation to be carried out during the essential "Finish Him!", To send your enemy into an acid bath using an uppercut. Radical. But that's not all ! Mortal Kombat 2 also incorporates two new finish moves: the "Babalitiy", which transform your opponent into a baby and the "Friendship" where your character ridicules his enemy in a humorous way instead of killing him mercilessly. To continue in the developer trip, we will also be entitled when we inflict an uppercut on his enemy at the appearance of the head of one of the game developers in a corner of the screen shouting "Toasty !!!" (wire rack !!!). Totally hilarious and not at all serious, this mythical sound is now anchored in most of the minds of players of the time.
As for the solo mode of Mortal Kombat 2, it could not be more classic: you face chain opponents until you reach the first boss Kintaro, who is none other than Goro's younger brother, and finally to the terrible Shao Kahn who will give you a lot of trouble. You can obviously adjust the difficulty by going to the options (which by the way are not very numerous). But the main asset of Mortal Kombat 2 lies above all in its multiplayer which promises good games and sleepless nights in perspective to castigate from evening to morning.
However, despite all these improvements, Mortal Kombat 2 retains the rigid and soft gameplay of its predecessor. Those who expected a fast and nervous game like Street Fighter 2 will not find their account. The fights sometimes lack punch, and the blows often return because ultimately, they are few. Another element that may upset some: the button guard system. It turns out to be too slow, and we'd rather dodge an attack by jumping rather than blocking it. The fact that the game requires a 6-button controller can also be a problem for 3-button Megadrive controllers (in which case it will often be necessary to press several keys to get out a simple basic stroke).
In the end, Mortal Kombat 2 is therefore a worthy sequel. Despite its still rigid gameplay, the game is very neat visually. The new characters are charismatic, and we appreciate the integration of the new "Fatality", "Stage Fatality", "Babality" and "Friendship" which are a very good idea. Mortal Kombat 2 is undoubtedly a must in the fighting games of the 16-bit era, which bluffs not by its gameplay, but by its universe, its atmosphere, its violence and its fun. Who has never heard Scorpion roar "Come here!" throwing his rope? Who has never thrilled to freeze their opponent with the dreaded Sub-Zero? All the ingredients to have a good time are there and the multiplayer mode promises good delusions between friends. FINISH HIM!
The notes
Graphics 17/20
Graphically, Mortal Kombat 2 is much more beautiful than its ancestor. The sprites in digital images are more fluid and much more detailed than before, and the arenas are all varied and very creepy. A real treat for the eyes.
Gameplay 14/20
Slightly faster than its predecessor, Mortal Kombat 2 remains soft and the handling is rather rigid. It will take a little time to get used to the movements of the characters and be very quick to perform the Fatality.
Lifespan 16/20
Like any fighting game, the solo ends quickly, while the multiplayer will keep you hooked for whole nights. The humorous side of Mortal Kombat 2 will make you laugh for sure if you play with friends.
Soundtrack 14/20
The music is discreet overall, but it fits well with the dismal and disturbing atmosphere of the game. The sounds are successful and we take pleasure in listening to the cries of agony of his opponent and the famous " Toasty !!! "
Scenario 14/20
Mortal Kombat is undoubtedly one of the rare series of fighting games to have a real scenario that holds water. In the continuity of its ancestor, Mortal Kombat 2 always develops a little more the macabre universe of the series and makes us discover new characters, including the terrible Shao Kahn.
Mortal Kombat 2 shines with its atmosphere, its originality, its degenerate violence and its ubiquitous humor. Although it does not reinvent the genre of the fighting game, it remains an essential of the 16-bit era, and it is undoubtedly one of the most successful 2D episodes of the Mortal Kombat saga. Lovers of unhealthy hemoglobin and humor will find their happiness in this opus even more gloomy and darker than its ancestor.
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