Unleashing Havik
Mortal Kombat 1 launched in a very precarious state. It was by far the best playing MK game in quite some time. It also had a great story mode, but maybe not quite as strong as some of the previous entries. With that said, everything else around it was a huge bummer. From the ridiculous microtransactions to the incessant grinding to unlock what a lot of players are here for, namely the second fatalities and brutalities for each character, it overshadowed a lot of what was great about it. Fast forward a year and we have the biggest update to the game. So, does it finally make it feel whole?
Khaos Reigns continues the tradition set by MK11 with a brand-new story mode that continues the narrative from the base game. The new story mode focuses on the three new characters as well as the invasion of Havik into the existing realm. Yeah, the multiverse stuff is overplayed, but they handle it well. The main campaign is just a few hours long and it is decent with some fan-favorite moments for sure, but it definitely didn’t feel as strong as past campaigns. Even the expansion from MK11.
MSRP: $49.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $39.99
The story revolves around Khaos Havik as he enters the realm and draws our heroes back into his. It mostly focuses on multiverse characters, which are neat, but never really have lasting power. It just feels like a side story, which I guess it is, but less like a continuation of the main story. To be fair, that original story kind of fizzled out towards the end. I get this is all a reboot, but perhaps it is nostalgia that makes me yearn for a return to the classic MK storylines.
This update also brings six new characters, with three available at launch. First up we have Cyrax and Sektor, which have been gender-swapped in this iteration. Much like previous iterations of these characters, they are extremely fun to play. I have always loved the cyber ninjas, and these new takes continue that tradition. Also included in this initial outing is Noob Saibot, who is always a fan favorite. He is definitely one of the more complex characters to be added but remains extremely fun to play. So the included new characters are a hit. There are three more coming which are all three guest characters. These include Conan, Ghostface, and the T-1000 from Terminator 2. I am hot and cold with guest characters, so we will see how those play out as they release.
Alongside the paid expansion, there are some new features that will be available for everyone. The biggest additions are new Brutalities and Animalities. The Brutalities are again locked behind grinding costing seasonal coins, and they are pricey. The grind for these continues the issues with enjoying these parts of the game. Animalities are the biggest addition for me here. These are all unlocked from the start and there is one for every single character. These are kind of nuts considering how in-depth they are. The animations just scream expensive, and they look fantastic.
This package is a ‘your mileage may vary’ situation. The new characters are great additions, the story is a decent three-hour romp, but my favorite parts were the Animalities and new modes such as the return of the Towers of Time. Sadly the grind has not been addressed. It takes way too long to get to the good stuff. The monetization is still ridiculous and what is with the main menu taking forever to verify my license to play Invasions? These are the kinds of things I would love to see. MK1 could have been one of the best entries of the franchise, but it keeps getting uppercutted by its shortcomings.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.