Mortal Kombat 11 is a snappier, sharper-looking game on next-gen consoles. On both Xbox Series X and PS5, the incredibly (and sometimes disturbingly) detailed fighter has received a minor technical facelift and one or two new features that will ultimately make the game better for everyone. Though NetherRealm released a new version of the game, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, to coincide with the next-gen launches, all MK11 players receive access to the next-gen versions of the game and their benefits. On Xbox Series X/S, you simply need to download the game. On PS5, you will need to download the separate PS5 version of MK11, which you can grab free of charge if you own the PS4 version. (This means that you need to have a PS5 with a disc drive to get the upgrade if you bought a physical copy on PS4.)
MK11 sees similar improvements on both platforms. The next-gen versions run at a “dynamic 4K resolution,” which means it runs in 4K under ideal circumstances but will change resolutions on the fly to maintain smooth performance. According to NetherRealm, it’s also received a general tune-up, visually. As with most last-gen games, the next-gen consoles cut down MK11’s load times dramatically. The menus, which once took 5-10 seconds to load on Xbox One and PS4, load almost instantly on the Series X and PS5.
Anecdotally speaking, MK11 seems to take better advantage of HDR support. Metal surfaces seem more reflective, and it’s easier to see the smallest details in character costumes, projectile particle effects, and gory finishers. As with other games I’ve seen that have received resolution bumps, you aren’t seeing anything new, but nuances of what was already there are easier to appreciate.
Though I noticed moments in matches when those newly shiny surfaces dimmed, possibly indicating a slight downturn in resolution, the game always looks great. It tends to happen in the moments when you’re least likely to notice because the fight’s heating up. And, in keeping with the promise of dynamic resolution, the kombat (sorry) never stuttered.
In addition to the visual upgrades, the update adds a beta for cross-play matchmaking in certain modes. When enabled, matchmaking will pair you with players across PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. (PC, Switch, and Stadia players remain siloed for now.) After playing between five and 10 cross-play matches, I didn’t notice any significant difference in performance between cross-play matches and those with players on the same platform. As always, both your and your opponent’s internet dictates performance more than anything else. Since it works, at least in its current incarnation, cross-play is an important long-term upgrade for MK11. Even if it has a loyal fanbase now, putting the player pools together will help keep wait-time down for fights even when players drift away, ensuring that matchmaking feels lively and populated for longer.
The PS5 version adds one additional wrinkle. Taking advantage of DualSense’s haptics, your controller rumbles on one side when you get hit, indicating which direction the damage came from. Clever, but not especially helpful–it isn’t the most inspired use of the tech.
So if these upgrades are free, what does Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate bring to the table? MK11 Ultimate is a “game of the year edition”-style re-release, which gives players access to Mortal Kombat 11 and all of its DLC, including three new characters–Purple ninja Rain, Rambo (yes, that Rambo), and long-running fan obsession Mileena. If you already own MK11, you can buy the new characters for $5.99 apiece, or as a set in the new “Kombat Pack II,” which costs $14.99.
The jump to next-gen isn’t tremendous, but if you’ve put some time in and walked away, you might want to go back and take it for a spin on your next-gen console. Though it probably won’t blow your mind, it’s still impressive. And fun as hell. — Mike Epstein, November 2020. The original review, first published in April 2019, continues below.
The new big bad in Mortal Kombat is named Kronika, and she’s causing a ruckus by messing with time and rewriting history. Characters are getting erased or colliding with their past selves, while alliances are reverting and new ones are being made–it’s the kind of chaos that’s ripe for conflict. Nothing that happened with Mortal Kombat before really matters anymore; the series is giving itself a clean slate, and not just with the lore in the story. NetherRealm’s multifaceted fighting system has been streamlined, and comprehensive tutorials and practice functions are focussed on making sure no matter where you’re coming from, you’re well-equipped to dive deep into Mortal Kombat 11.
It’s hard not to get excited about the story mode in a NetherRealm game given the studio’s history of crafting involved narratives, and Mortal Kombat 11 unsurprisingly delivers an entertaining and polished blockbuster-style cinematic experience with its tale of Kronika’s time-bending antics. Combat is woven in with a number of cutscenes, though you’ll probably spend more time watching well-choreographed action rather than participating. But the story is a great primer for some of the series’ more popular characters nonetheless, and the joys of Kronika’s time manipulation means that even if you’re a passing fan and aren’t up-to-date with all of the wacky stuff that’s happened in the universe lately, you can still get a kick out of seeing classic versions of familiar faces, who are just as baffled as you about what’s happened to their future selves since.
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Mortal Kombat 11’s eclectic roster includes a solid selection of the series’ iconic fighters, along with some of the great additions from Mortal Kombat X, like gunslinger Erron Black and the grotesque insectoid D’Vorah. Three brand new characters do their best to help the lineup branch out–Geras is an imposing heavy with the ability to rewind and manipulate time, Cetrion is an elder god with flashy elemental projectiles, the Kollector has a wonderfully unsettling and bamboozling six-armed demonic design–and they all add an inspired diversity to the familiar roster of magical ninjas and military hard-asses. Character variations also help to keep things diverse. A returning concept from Mortal Kombat X, each character can select between different sets of special moves that alter their playstyle. You can now customize these loadouts in MK11, but only two predetermined movesets are acceptable for serious competitive play. Even so, it means there are a few things to consider when picking which fighter to use.
Some key changes streamline the mechanics of MK11, resulting in a fighting system that feels more active and aggressive than its predecessors. The special meter system has been simplified, allowing for amplified maneuvers to be used at almost any time–gone is the idea of needing to hold back and save up two or three bars of a meter to perform a particular kind of technique. Separate meters for offensive and defensive techniques, along with rapid recharge rates, mean they can be used more liberally, too. “Fatal Blows” replace MKX’s X-Ray techniques, serving as a last-ditch comeback mechanic that can be activated once per match when your health is nearly depleted, adding a heightened tension when things get down to the wire. Significant block damage discourages you from being overly defensive, while learning the perfect-timing demands of the “flawless block” system is encouraged to mitigate some damage and open up turnabout opportunities. Running and stamina meters have been removed and dash distances feel shorter, honing MK11’s focus on always being within striking distance of your opponent. All of these tweaks mean there is rarely a low moment in a Mortal Kombat 11 fight.
If you’re new to the series, learning all those intricacies of the fighting system, special moves, and combo strings for characters can be intimidating. Fortunately, Mortal Kombat 11 does a lot to help onboard you to almost all of its concepts. Following the good work seen in Injustice 2, Mortal Kombat 11 features a comprehensive series of fantastic practical tutorials, with everything from teaching you basic attacks to more advanced lessons on managing the ebb and flow of a match, strategies on how to change or maintain the dynamic of a fight (like dealing with corners or projectile spam), and how to approach building your own combos. What’s more, there are also a series of tutorials that succinctly break down expert-level concepts, such as one that shows you what frame data is and how it works in clear, visual terms. Not only that, there are lessons on how to interpret that information and use it in a practical scenario–it’ll teach you what makes a move “safe” or “unsafe,” how to create pressure in a fight, and even how to perform frame traps. It’s an impressive resource that doesn’t just give you a better understanding of Mortal Kombat 11’s systems, but a deeper understanding of fighting game mechanics in general–knowledge that you can take to any other title.
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