Not the usual MK.
Not fights in the arenas, but a dangerous journey through the classic MK universe.
The first time you start you can choose only one between two characters: Liu Kang or Kung Lao; when you complete the game Sub Zero (if you play as Kung Lao) or Scorpion (if you play as Liu Kang) are available too.
In order to get the best of this game, you must play it with a friend, in Ko-op mode (you can’t enter the game any time you want, like in arcade side scrolling beat’em ups, but only from the beginning of the story).
Gameplay. Combos, attacks and special moves available are many, but only some of them are easy to remember and to perform: there are throws, punch/kick combos, fatalities, multalities and brutalities, to finish enemies quickly and to get more points.
By the way, the only way to make your character stronger is by killing the highest as possible number of foes, since by doing it you get experience points.
In some levels you can use weapons: these ones are highly effective, and they can’t be blocked.
As usual in MK universe, you can terminate demons by using in your advantage every peril or trap environments offer: spikes, fire, magma, animated trees… though you won’t get exp points, since this is a sort of easy and quick “cheating”, in some points of the game it’s necessary to proceed through the game.
At the end of the areas (they are divided into sub-levels) you must beat a boss: by doing that, you can get new abilities allowing you to visit new zones of the areas you’ve already visited: so it’s important that you remember the levels, because often you must come back after your character gets upgraded.
During the adventure you’ll have to perform the classic “test your might” mini-game, for instance against a boss or to unlock a door.
Difficulty. MKSM is easy to beat: you can find healthy green spheres on your way, and even if you die in a sub level you can restart it with your health bar replenished.
Graphics. Definitely, something better could have been done. Environments are the ones already seen in MK previous episodes, but they look to be a little too plain to impress the player.
And characters are even worse: very few polygons make them sloppy; but at least their moves are still fluent and quick.
CGI sequences are too poor: embarrassing, in comparison of the Xbox standards.
Sounds. Music is in perfect MK style, so if you appreciate it, it won’t disappoint you.
Sound effects are pretty good, it’s always a pleasure hearing Liu Kang’s war screams, it’s impossible not to think about Bruce Lee; when you kill a demon screams of pain are good to listen; on the other hand dialogues are terrible but they do reflect MK characters’ disposition.
Value. The game itself is funny in single player mode, but it gets great in ko-op mode, and if you miss the arcade side scrolling beat’em ups (I’m talking about games like Double Dragon, Final Fight, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage folks!), you really must give it a try.
With a friend all the combos are much more devastating, and it’s a good feeling when you cooperate with someone else in such games.
So you can play it by yourself at least four times (as Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Scorpion and Sub Zero) and many other times with a buddy.
To add value to the game, it is possible to unlock MK 2.
Title. In spite of its technical side lacks, MKSM is still a good game, since you can find the MK philosophy and its universe classic features.
A must-own for every MK series fan; and if you’re just looking for a furious beat’em up, like a good beat’em up is supposed to be, give MKSM a try, you won’t be disappointed.