Mortal Kombat 1 crams a multiverse of pain into one game

polygon.com:

Mortal Kombat 1 is theSuper Smash Bros.of Mortal Kombat games and the Mario Kart: Double Dash of fighting games.

Comparing the latest entry of the fighting game series known for obscene levels of gore and violence to squeaky-clean Nintendo games might seem strange, but hear me out. Mortal Kombat 1— not to be confused with the original Mortal Kombat released in 1992 — encompasses a bloody regurgitation of all things Mortal Kombat. The game brings back classic characters and stuffs the game to the brim with references to other Mortal Kombat games. It, like Super Smash Bros., is a universe-uniting game — but there’s a twist.

This time around, developer NetherRealm Studios will expand the game’s overall roster by utilizing what the developers are calling a Kameo system. This new way of fighting will allow players to choose a primary fighter and a secondary Kameo fighter, a character who can be called in for the special tag-team attacks, combo breakers, and assists. (Thus the Mario Kart: Double Dash comparison.) Polygon got to experience the new system in action as part of a hands-on preview hosted by publisher Warner Bros. at Summer Game Fest last week. Although the Kameo system allows developers to bring in more characters, satisfying fans who long for the return of forgotten MK fighters, what stood out during the preview were the absolutely stunning visuals and animations implemented in the new game.

Mortal Kombat 1 even boots up beautifully; the game’s starting screen depicts a serene forest and lake landscape with two stone dragons in the center. It’s a peaceful scene, but it’s short-lived. From there, I can choose either local multiplayer versus or the Kampaign mode, and move directly to the character select screen.