Now back to the koins. Koins are the currency, er, kurrency of the game
and are awarded for completing matches and challenges in Konquest mode, or by beating
computer opponents in the game's Arcade mode. You can also bet the koins
you've won on a match against another human player. Koins are spent in the Krypt,
which contains 676 koffins. The koffins can be opened to unlock new
characters, alternate costumes, and videos and other bonus content. To
open a koffin, you need to pay the koffin's price in the appropriate one of the
seven available types of koins. Some require only 20 some odd coins,
while others have costs which run into the thousands.
Now on to what the game is really about, the fighting. Each fighter
possesses three different fighting styles, one of which usually involves a
weapon. Each fighting style includes its own set of moves and combos,
giving each fighter a wide range of attacks. It is easy to switch between
styles - pulling the left trigger changes your character's stance and fighting
style. The right trigger is used to block attacks, and depending on the
active fighting style can also reverse your opponent's attack. No fighter
uses the same three styles and each fighter also comes with a unique set of
moves, so each match-up is unique. With over 20 fighters in the game
you'll find plenty of variety to the matches. As an aside to Mortal Kombat veterans, you'll see a mix of old and new faces. The fighters
returning from past versions of the game have gone through some changes too, so
don't be too disappointed if your favorite attack or combo has been dropped.
 |
| Boom! |
Mortal Kombat is a 3D fighter, and adds the sidestep to your character's
defensive moves. It might not be possible to duck or jump over projectiles
thrown, shot, etc; at you, but a quick step to the side and they will sail
harmlessly past. It is also pretty cool to sidestep a punch and watch your
opponent connect with nothing but air.
It is not too hard to beat the early AI opponents in the Arcade mode, but the
difficulty ramps decidedly up as you progress through the mode. The
fighters become faster and string together more combos and special attacks,
which will challenge all but the best of fighting game players. The bosses
at the end of arcade mode are particularly tough, and many players will need to
crank the game's difficulty down to the lowest level to have any chance of
beating them. The AI, even in the later levels, seems susceptible to kick
attacks, and you can sometimes ride this to victory by stringing together kicks
and occasionally getting your opponent caught in a juggle.
Graphically the game looks pretty good. The fighter models are great
looking, with smooth animations and lots of realistic touches such as flowing
hair, flapping garments, and the requisite bouncing boobies. The game
keeps the Mortal Kombat tradition of buckets of blood alive, and arenas will be
littered with the results of well-placed attacks. Some weapons can even be
left impaled in enemies, providing a constant fountain of blood from the victim.
The arenas also look pretty good, although you won't want to spend much time
looking at them in the middle of a fight.
Gamers usually either enjoy fighting games or they don't. It's a good
sign that Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance is actually enjoyable for those who
don't normally play fighting games. The training provided by Konquest
mode, the variety of moves, and the progressive difficulty level combine with
the exciting action to make the game accessible to those who generally play
games of other genres. The game also provides a good degree of challenge
and a number of fighters and moves to master, ensuring that fighter veterans
will enjoy it as well.
In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated:
86%. A return to the glory years of
the series, and a pretty enjoyable fighter. A deeper Konquest mode that
compelled players to complete it and Xbox Live support would have made this an
even better game.
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