365//365: Day 268 – Mortal Kombat Armageddon (PS2)

The evolution of the Mortal Kombat franchise is best described as “lacking”. Even with the focus moving from 2D digitized actors and nonsensical button combinations, to 3D character models and nonsensical button combinations. There were some deviations from the formula, such as weaponry, but ultimately they proved to be an unnecessary gimmick masking the deep bleeding wounds the franchise has been suffering from since the second title. Mortal Kombat Armageddon, the final entry from the series of the previous era, tries its best to make a name for its self as something other than a series on a steep decline. Did Midway finally craft a product that took the series to a whole other level? Not entirely.

Like Mortal Kombat Trilogy, Mortal Kombat Armageddon boasts an absolutely massive roster for its time. While Trilogy featured every character from the first title on up to Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Armageddon features every character from every Mortal Kombat game since the first. For former fans of the series, coming into this one and seeing how different everyone looks, will put you in a state of shock. No longer are the token palette swipes masquerading as such; each fighter looks completely different from the other. There’s no Rain/Sub Zero/Reptile/Noob Saibot/Scorpion/Ermac/etc color changes with the same look, which really adds to the feeling that you’re picking a significantly diverse line up, something you’ve never really felt from the series.  Significantly diverse, up until you actually pick a fighter and enter the game.

The massive size of the roster still impresses years later. Even the copy and paste ninjas have received their own distinct looks.

You still have those silly weapons, as well as the nonsensical button combinations to pull off special moves. Each fighter has their own “fighting style” but it really doesn’t mean a thing, other than finally, their moves all don’t look the same. But there’s no actual tangible difference between them. There’s still a blocking button, which really should have been done away with after the first title, as well as the ability to walk up and down through the scenery. Speaking of which, this is the best looking MK game, with creative character models, engaging backgrounds which contain different stage fatalities and some pretty decent particle effects to boot. It’s not going to blow you away in terms of overall quality, but handling so many character models and whatnot, it’s quite a marvel.

There’s more to Armageddon than just fighting, as you’re offered a few alternatives to how you approach the game as a whole. There’s Motor Kombat, which is a crude kart racing addition to the package. With only a fraction of selectable characters/karts as well as some really uninspiring track layouts. It’s a gimmick you’ll visit twice at best, and never think about again, until you realize you’ll need certain pick ups for the next featured portion to this game.

Motor Kombat -- pretty shallow action within uninspiring tracks.

Next is something that more fighting franchises need to invest some in in producing (Hi, Capcom!) – Kreate a Fighter. While not as in-depth as even Soul Calibur IV, the mere presence of a character creation mode is a commendable notion. Many of the aspects to the creation mode have to be purchased via Kombat Koins, which you’ll earn through Other modes, including the previously mentioned Motor Kombat. You’ll recognize a few pieces you can dress your character up with, from certain video game franchises, helping to create your own crossover battles that will never happen. It’s a shame you can’t make each of the moves performed with conventional and intelligent button combinations.

Finally we have Konquest, which is best described as a third person action/adventure with a brand new character to guide you through. Think of this as a somewhat engaging adventure additive that Namco failed to produce when they attempted it through their Tekken home ports. You can pick up more Koins for your Kreate a Character model. There’s some camera issues, though nothing crippling. You’ll fight through waves of no name thugs, avoid traps, battle in one on one traditional battles and so on. While the story is pretty much forgettable, this addition proves to be quite an engaging way to pass the time while finding some unlockables and Koins to use.

Konquest -- a well built third person action/adventure/fighting segment that would have sufficed as a budget priced solo release.

There’s two flaws to the main game of Armageddon, one of which really diminishes the value of the franchise. First, the recurring flaw of difficulty spikes after the third fight on difficulties of Medium or higher. This is one of the most tiresome and idiotic aspects that seems to follow the franchise anywhere it goes. While the overbearing, unfair slant is lessened, it still becomes a chore to try and attack your enemy, when they almost always choose a counterattack appropriate for the situation, milliseconds before your attack comes out.

Then there’s the fatalities. Mortal Kombat banked on its over the top and flat out outrageous finishing moves that kills the opponent to seal the win off. Gone are the heart pulls of Kano, arcade machine drops by Liu Kang or beating your opponent into the ground like Sheeva. In its place is a do-it-yourself system, which, wait for it….everyone shares! There’s several levels to each fatality that gets progressively more difficult to perform. You can rip and arm off and slap your opponent with it, and other equally moronic segments that leads to the ultimate ending. The fact that each character shares this system, further erases any true feeling of diversity amongst the cast. It’s nice that no two characters look alike, and they look like they fight differently from each other, but when you slap our faces by once again linking each character together as one, that really makes you wonder “why?” With as much diversity as the series finally produces, not only through the fighting portion but the extra modes, why dilute all the hard work by totally low balling probably the most memorable aspect of the franchise.

That fan in the background is more tha just decoration.

If it weren’t for how well the overall package was produced, the retaining of the ancient combo system, button commands and butchering of the fatality format would have doomed Mortal Kombat Armageddon into obscurity. Luckily the Konquest mode is entertaining, the graphics are the best of the series, the cast of character all have distinct looks and the character creation mode helps strengthen Armageddon into a worth buying fighting title. It’s still a blast to play casually in a multiplayer setting, and the fact that you need Koins to unlock most of the aspects of the character creation mode, will have you revisiting at least Konquest often enough, or Motor Kombat if you can tolerate the blandness.

Rating: 7.5