Mortal Kombat XL Review

MOOORTAL KOMBAT! The viscously gruesome arcade classic returns bigger and better than ever in Mortal Kombat XL. A follow up to 2015’s Mortal Kombat X, the XL upgrade adds nine new DLC fighters, every DLC costume, and a cavalcade of balance adjustments and gameplay improvements. But does it live up to the large expectations?

Combat

Building off of the foundation of Netherrealm Studios 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot, MKXL keeps the same classic combat that the series pioneered. But it also brings along modern additions like brutal X-Ray moves. These give you a closeup look of exactly how your sword shattered your enemy’s spine.

Combos aren’t quite as flashy as Marvel vs. Capcom or Guilty Gear. But there’s a visceral satisfaction that comes from juggling your opponents in the air as they spray enough blood to make a vampire blush.

The use of a dedicated block button shouldn’t be a problem for series veterans. But as a Street Fighter aficionado I encountered some difficulty unlearning my habits of holding back. Of course, Fatalities, returns in all its gory glory. It is not only a series staple. It’s the reason for the Entertainment Software Rating Boards’s creation! No other game can deliver the same level of violence as Leatherface hanging Reptile on a hook, chainsawing him in half, and spilling his guts on the floor.