Mortal Kombat Armageddon

Why even bother with the reviews? You know that they are all going to talk about how "dial a combo" fighting games "can't compare" to Tekken, Virtua Fighter, et al. You know they're going to say something about how air combat is an interesting addition but not enough to make the game seem like anything more than a character increase since last time. You know they're going to say the sidegames are nice and fun, but they'll say it in a backhanded way. And you know they are going to give it a noncommittal score ("7.0/8.0 out of 10") and end with some tired, cliched closing line like "fans of the MK series will enjoy the multitude of characters, but everyone else may want to wait until the next-gen round of kombat." The same cookie-cutter, lazy reviews we always get from media outlets whenever the game featured isn't a AAA title or "quirky sleeper hit."

Most of us here know what we're getting into with this game, you either loved Deadly Alliance and/or Deception or you didn't. I enjoyed the hell out of both of them, and I know I'll like this one. The storyline fucking rules, the opening movies in the recent MK games are always second-to-none, and the fanservice is supreme. I'm all over it.

To those set on the PS2 version because they're worried about XBox 360 backwards compatibility - well that sucks, I was looking forward to ripping off your faces. Keep in mind Deception is backwards compatible, and Armageddon uses the same engine. I'd say it's very likely we'll see Armageddon made B/C, sooner than later.

If the XBox version really is delayed until next week, it's probably just so UMK3 can come out on Live that Wednesday.
 
Why even bother with the reviews? You know that they are all going to talk about how "dial a combo" fighting games supposedly "can't compare" to Tekken, Virtua Fighter, et al. You know they're going to say something about how air combat is an interesting addition but not enough to make the game seem like anything more than a character increase since last time. You know they're going to say the sidegames are nice and fun, but they'll say it in a backhanded way. And you know they are going to give it a noncommittal score ("7.0/8.0 out of 10") and end with some tired, cliched closing line like "fans of the MK series will enjoy the multitude of characters, but everyone else may want to wait until the next-gen round of kombat." The same cookie-cutter, lazy reviews we always get from media outlets whenever the game featured isn't a AAA title or "quirky sleeper hit."

Most of us here know what we're getting into with this game, you either loved Deadly Alliance and/or Deception or you didn't. I enjoyed the hell out of both of them, and I know I'll like this one. The storyline fucking rules, the opening movies in the recent MK games are always second-to-none, and the fanservice is supreme. I'm all over it.

To those set on the PS2 version because they're worried about XBox 360 backwards compatibility - well that sucks, I was looking forward to ripping off your faces. Keep in mind Deception is backwards compatible, and Armageddon uses the same engine. I'd say it's very likely we'll see Armageddon made B/C, sooner than later.

If the XBox version really is delayed until next week, it's probably just so UMK3 can come out on Live that Wednesday.
 
It seems UMK3 XBLA is coming in November. Midway issued a press release today saying:

"CHICAGO – October 9, 2006 – Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment industry publisher and developer, today announced that Mortal Kombat®: Armageddon™, the final chapter of the Mortal Kombat franchise for current generation gaming systems, has shipped for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Both the standard and Premium Edition packs are now available. Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft is scheduled to be available Monday, October 16. In addition to Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Midway is also scheduled to release both Ultimate Mortal Kombat® 3 for Xbox Live™ and Mortal Kombat®: Unchained™ for the PSP™ (PlayStation Portable) in November of this year."
 
[quote name='KaneRobot']Why even bother with the reviews? You know that they are all going to talk about how "dial a combo" fighting games supposedly "can't compare" to Tekken, Virtua Fighter, et al. You know they're going to say something about how air combat is an interesting addition but not enough to make the game seem like anything more than a character increase since last time. You know they're going to say the sidegames are nice and fun, but they'll say it in a backhanded way. And you know they are going to give it a noncommittal score ("7.0/8.0 out of 10") and end with some tired, cliched closing line like "fans of the MK series will enjoy the multitude of characters, but everyone else may want to wait until the next-gen round of kombat." The same cookie-cutter, lazy reviews we always get from media outlets whenever the game featured isn't a AAA title or "quirky sleeper hit."
[/QUOTE]

What a perfect & witty example of the general reviews we see nowadays :)
 
[quote name='GF_Eric']It seems UMK3 XBLA is coming in November. Midway issued a press release today saying:

"CHICAGO – October 9, 2006 – Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment industry publisher and developer, today announced that Mortal Kombat®: Armageddon™, the final chapter of the Mortal Kombat franchise for current generation gaming systems, has shipped for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Both the standard and Premium Edition packs are now available. Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft is scheduled to be available Monday, October 16. In addition to Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Midway is also scheduled to release both Ultimate Mortal Kombat® 3 for Xbox Live™ and Mortal Kombat®: Unchained™ for the PSP™ (PlayStation Portable) in November of this year."[/quote]

man november now for fucking umk3...jesus ... fuck damn midway for delaying xbxo version and not announcing bc yet
 
[quote name='guyver2077']man november now for fucking umk3...jesus ... fuck damn MICROSOFT for delaying xbox version and not announcing bc yet[/quote]

*ahem*
 
[quote name='KaneRobot']Why even bother with the reviews? You know that they are all going to talk about how "dial a combo" fighting games supposedly "can't compare" to Tekken, Virtua Fighter, et al. You know they're going to say something about how air combat is an interesting addition but not enough to make the game seem like anything more than a character increase since last time. You know they're going to say the sidegames are nice and fun, but they'll say it in a backhanded way. And you know they are going to give it a noncommittal score ("7.0/8.0 out of 10") and end with some tired, cliched closing line like "fans of the MK series will enjoy the multitude of characters, but everyone else may want to wait until the next-gen round of kombat." The same cookie-cutter, lazy reviews we always get from media outlets whenever the game featured isn't a AAA title or "quirky sleeper hit."

[/QUOTE]

That really is what most reviews have come to these days.
 
Just a heads up for anyone getting this from EB / GS tommorrow... they are going to start PS3 preorders tommorrow so expect a long line just to pick up your game.

I'm not even going to bother getting my preorder at this point and I'll just get the game at Best Buy.

I also heard that in Game Informer's review, they mentioned the Create a Fatality mode is lame and uninspired, and that custom character fatalities are out, so everyone does the same thing now. The create a fatality mode always did seem half assed... I'm starting to debate picking it up now for full price for alot of minor reasons.

I just wish IGN or Gamespot would put some kind of large review with lots of details on this stuff instead of Ed Boon keeping info away from everyone.
 
First review from Gamespot:

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/mortalkombatarmageddon/review.html

They mention how the create a fatality mode is pretty lame, the same complaints Game Informer had with the title.

How do you screw up the biggest MK game ever? You rip out character specific fatalities. GS also said the fighting system was weaker now for cutting out a style.

I'll get this game eventually, just not at launch anymore... this was my most anticipated game since they announced it, too :(

If anyone can get an extra MK Armageddon cell though I will GLADLY buy it off of you.
 
holy shit just saw commercial!!!

"The game looks virtually the same and runs just as smoothly on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, though the Xbox version is a little cleaner."
 
I love that IGN is bitching that it leaves some characters out in the closing statement. They left one character out and she was stupid anyways.
 
[quote name='furyk']I love that IGN is bitching that it leaves some characters out in the closing statement. They left one character out and she was stupid anyways.[/QUOTE]
Who did they leave out?
 
[quote name='elwood731']Who did they leave out?[/quote]

Off of the top of my head... I couldn't say... Is it the Vampire chick?
 
Am I to understand that there are NO character specific fatalities? Not even character-specific mini-fatalities? Somebody clarify this and tell me it isn't so.

I don't mind everybody having the same basic fatalities moves like ripping off an arm or something, but if I'm Reptile I want to be able to finish the guy off by eating his head.

[quote name='elwood731']Who did they leave out?[/quote]
Probably Khameleon. Although I doubt all the character variations are present (Human Smoke, the different Reptiles, etc).
 
Am I to understand that there are NO character specific fatalities? Not even character-specific mini-fatalities? Somebody clarify this and tell me it isn't so.

I don't mind everybody having the same basic fatalities moves like ripping off an arm or something, but if I'm Reptile I want to be able to finish the guy off by eating his head.

[quote name='elwood731']Who did they leave out?[/quote]
Probably Khameleon. Although I doubt all the character variations are present (Human Smoke, the different Reptiles, etc).
 
[quote name='evilmax17']Am I to understand that there are NO character specific fatalities? Not even character-specific mini-fatalities? Somebody clarify this and tell me it isn't so.

I don't mind everybody having the same basic fatalities moves like ripping off an arm or something, but if I'm Reptile I want to be able to finish the guy off by eating his head.


Probably Khameleon. Although I doubt all the character variations are present (Human Smoke, the different Reptiles, etc).[/QUOTE]

You are correct, there are no character specific fatalities. I still picked up the game (mostly for the art cell, which is very badass) but I'm waiting on some CAG opinions on it before I decide to keep it or not.

I'll admit having every character from every MK ever is still pretty tempting, I just don't know if it's full price (or full credit) tempting.
 
[quote name='evilmax17']Am I to understand that there are NO character specific fatalities? Not even character-specific mini-fatalities? Somebody clarify this and tell me it isn't so.

I don't mind everybody having the same basic fatalities moves like ripping off an arm or something, but if I'm Reptile I want to be able to finish the guy off by eating his head.


Probably Khameleon. Although I doubt all the character variations are present (Human Smoke, the different Reptiles, etc).[/quote]

Khameleon was made into a dude named Chameleon. He's in some of the movies at gamespot.
 
[quote name='evilmax17']Probably Khameleon. Although I doubt all the character variations are present (Human Smoke, the different Reptiles, etc).[/QUOTE]Yeah, you wouldn't believe some of the hissy fits people were throwing on the Midway forums, since they put Chameleon in the game and not Khameleon. The many posts wishing a slow death upon Midway developers were rather amusing, in a sad kind of way.

Whatever, they could just have some weird storyline where both characters got fused into a single being or something (a la Motaro's conspicuous lack of hind legs)... it's not like either one was ever a "real" character to begin with. OMG, no "classic" Sub Zero!!!! Or Hornbuckle!!!!!11
 
[quote name='Kayden']Khameleon was made into a dude named Chameleon. He's in some of the movies at gamespot.[/quote]

Khameleon was in the N64 version of Trilogy.

Chameleon was in the PS1 version of Trilogy.
 
[quote name='Roufuss']You are correct, there are no character specific fatalities. .[/quote]

wtf!! this makes no sense>? how can they have a mk without having characters have their regular unique fatalites

wtf .. they prob should of just made it 2d
 
Just got this today but they were out of the collectors edition. Pretty good so far but I've gotten a tad rusty since deception.

Anyone planning to play this online via ps2?
 
fuck it, character specific fatalities or not I'm keeping mine... no time to play it tonight so I'm going to try to squeeze in some playtime tommorrow.
 
*sigh* I'd love to get this game, especially since the only console I have at the moment is XBox1. But... I'm not paying more than $20 for it.
 
fuck that guy Blaze... I hate bosses where none of your special moves work like they should, the dude has massive damage properties and he's cheap as fuck.

Game was ok until I ran across this impossible boss.
 
[quote name='Roufuss']fuck that guy Blaze... I hate bosses where none of your special moves work like they should, the dude has massive damage properties and he's cheap as fuck.

Game was ok until I ran across this impossible boss.[/quote]

Easier or harder/more frustrating than the Dragon King (what a horrible name, btw) in Deception? If harder/frustrating I'll wait 'til Christmas to get it.
 
[quote name='2Fast']Easier or harder/more frustrating than the Dragon King (what a horrible name, btw) in Deception? If harder/frustrating I'll wait 'til Christmas to get it.[/quote]

unaga? (sp?) yea he was kinda annoying.. but wtf. atleast its a challenge
 
[quote name='evanft']Sooooo....how's the gameplay and konquest mode?[/QUOTE]

To be honest, the gameplay feels a little half ass. I don't know, taking it down to two styles seems to have made it more simplistic, in my opinion.

Konquest mode is like a nerfed Shaolin Monks (you can't even jump) but it's still alot better than Deception's konquest mode.

To be honest, I'm not really feeling the game too much, it's like Ed Boon completely half assed this one because he knew the fans (like myself) would buy it. Right now, I'm more inclined to agree with Gamespot's score than IGN's.

I finally beat Blaze but I had to completely cheap out to do it.

It's like, the create a fatality is ok, the stage fatalities are pretty awesome, but the novelty of it all wears out after awhile. I mean, there are 62 characters yea, but it feels like they went for quantity over quality so far.

Pros -

- 62 characters is awesome
- Konquest mode is improved
- Stage fatalities are awesome
- Air combat is cool

Cons -

- No character specific fatalities suck
- Graphics are showing their age
- Gameplay seems more simplistic
- Game feels really half assed, for some reason
- Endings all suck

I'd say wait for $20 on this one. I will probably dump mine on Ebay soon.
 
Oh yeah, another thing, the crypt is fucking worthless because ALL the alt costumes and arenas and music can be found playing through konquest mode.

Lately I've heard people saying "Oh, they couldn't program fatalities for every character, that's too many" but they did it for Mortal Kombat Trilogy back in the day, I don't see why they couldn't have done it here.

It just seems like ALOT of corners were cut to get this game out before the next gen completely took over, and it shows. It just dosen't have a layer of polish at all.

Konquest is fun, but ultimately it just makes me want to play MK Shaolin Monks.
 
[quote name='Roufuss']To be honest, the gameplay feels a little half ass. I don't know, taking it down to two styles seems to have made it more simplistic, in my opinion.

Konquest mode is like a nerfed Shaolin Monks (you can't even jump) but it's still alot better than Deception's konquest mode.

To be honest, I'm not really feeling the game too much, it's like Ed Boon completely half assed this one because he knew the fans (like myself) would buy it. Right now, I'm more inclined to agree with Gamespot's score than IGN's.

I finally beat Blaze but I had to completely cheap out to do it.

It's like, the create a fatality is ok, the stage fatalities are pretty awesome, but the novelty of it all wears out after awhile. I mean, there are 62 characters yea, but it feels like they went for quantity over quality so far.

Pros -

- 62 characters is awesome
- Konquest mode is improved
- Stage fatalities are awesome
- Air combat is cool

Cons -

- No character specific fatalities suck
- Graphics are showing their age
- Gameplay seems more simplistic
- Game feels really half assed, for some reason
- Endings all suck

I'd say wait for $20 on this one. I will probably dump mine on Ebay soon.[/QUOTE]

I disagree a little bit here. Personally I think other additions to the fighting engine such as wake-ups, air kombat, and parries are worth more than the extra fighting style. I also think that the two fighting styles makes the game easier for anyone to pick it up and play, even though switching between three styles was what set the other MK games apart from the other current gen fighters.

However even with everyone having a different fighting style and various special moves, generally every style have similar button combos for pop-ups, sweeps and etc which makes a lot of the fighters feel the same, but with different move animations.

I agree with Konquest feeling like a nerfed Shaolin Monks, but I like it sooooo much more than Konquest mode in Deception. It moves along quickly and you're always unlocking something.

Kreate a Kharacter is fun, though kinda limited. I wish they had included a wider selection of special moves to outfit your created guy with, and that you could have more than one guy per profile.

The dial-a-Fatality system I like, but I would like it a LOT more if there were character specific ending moves. Still I have friends who've never done a fatality figure out how to rip a guys arms off and beat another character with them without needing to check a guide or a faq to do so.

Motor Kombat is fun for a short time. The AI feels kinda cheap in that mode however.

Personally I like Armageddon, it feels like they've taken a lot of the good things from the current gen group of games and streamlined it all into one big fan service of a game.
 
[quote name='Roufuss']fuck that guy Blaze... I hate bosses where none of your special moves work like they should, the dude has massive damage properties and he's cheap as fuck.

Game was ok until I ran across this impossible boss.[/quote]
Yeeep, check post #98 I predicted it
 
IMO, Mortal Kombat Armageddon is trying to do much and it dosen't really succeed on any level.

I would had them drop Konquest and definitely drop Motor Kombat and focus all of that wasted energy into the fighting game. You're right, alot of characters DO feel the same (Goro and Kintaro) and it seems like there is 31 unique characters and then just some that swap special moves and such.

It's just obvious, to me, they spent too much time on motor kombat (Which is fun, but again feels half assed, would be cool to make it its own game) and konquest and not enough time polishing up the core gameplay.

I'm hoping when MK "reinvents" itself for the next gen they can make a fighting game, and not cram 3 different genres into one package. That's where I feel that the whole thing fails. I mean, Motor Kombat isn't even aligned anywhere near being a cool mini game... you just pick a stage, have a race, that's it, no bonuses for 1st place or anything, or any sort of structure to it.

I mean, I'm playing Konquest, but honestly all it makes me want to do is go play a real brawler, one where I can actually jump, or hell, MK Shaolin Monks. They just need to drop all this extra garabge, imo.

If they want to make a MK Shaolin Monks type game they should just go make MK:SM 2.
 
The game is decent. But we all know we shouldn't compare fighting games as pointless arguments will ensue.

I don't have the PS2 version, I have the Xbox version, but I do have to comment that the game looks nicer and more polished than Mortal Kombat: Deception.
 
To be fair though, a lot of the problems Armageddon has aren't new to the series. Characters not feeling unique enough has been a problem since the first one up till Deception (no Johnny Cage, but a guy that plays nearly the same as him from Deadly Alliance for example), and the fighting engine has always felt slightly incomplete, which is why I'm glad to see parries, etc in Armageddon even though they really should've included these kind of things in the last game.

I will agree on wishing that they had spent less of their resources on Motor Kombat and more on either Konquest (which I like a lot in the game) or the main game. I'd rather just have had an update of Puzzle Kombat personally because Mario Kart it ain't.

I'm hoping when/if they start from scratch they'll completely revamp the fighting engine. I'd rather have a blowaway game with 12 characters than a decent one with 62. Still, as a fan service I'm enjoying Armageddon a bunch. I wouldn't score it over a 7.5 though.
 
[quote name='whiptcracker']To be fair though, a lot of the problems Armageddon has aren't new to the series. Characters not feeling unique enough has been a problem since the first one up till Deception (no Johnny Cage, but a guy that plays nearly the same as him from Deadly Alliance for example), and the fighting engine has always felt slightly incomplete, which is why I'm glad to see parries, etc in Armageddon even though they really should've included these kind of things in the last game.

I will agree on wishing that they had spent less of their resources on Motor Kombat and more on either Konquest (which I like a lot in the game) or the main game. I'd rather just have had an update of Puzzle Kombat personally because Mario Kart it ain't.

I'm hoping when/if they start from scratch they'll completely revamp the fighting engine. I'd rather have a blowaway game with 12 characters than a decent one with 62. Still, as a fan service I'm enjoying Armageddon a bunch. I wouldn't score it over a 7.5 though.[/QUOTE]

Yea, I totally agree with you. I think Gamespot was pretty dead on on their scoring of this one. I mean, to be honest I'd rather they take Konquest out completely and just make another 3D brawler... the development is obviously really skilled at it, I would LOVE another MK: Shaolin Monks game, as that was probably the best Mortal Kombat game in years.

Ed Boon has already stated the next one will be from scratch and that he's getting rid of almost everybody, so I have faith in that.

I just can't shake the feeling that Boon and company basacially phoned it in and rushed the game out of the door. I just can't help but feel that taking away character specfic fatalities really crippled this game, As others have said, the game is nowhere near on the level of other fighters, so fatalities were the one thing that really made it stand out.

I'm getting sick of the create a fatality mode already as it's pretty sparse, and there's only so much generic arm ripping and head knocking off I can take.

What's worse is that only sword users get weapon fatalities? I would have loved to have seen a giant hammer fatality.

I want to love the game, I'm going to give it until tonight to see if something clicks, but right now I'm just not feeling it at all, which is deeply upsetting to me as I've gotten and played the shit out of every Mortal Kombat ever.

I mean, I played Goro, he was awesome, then I go to play Kintaro and they are pretty much clones, right down to their weapons and throws, only their specials distinguish them.

Plus, no character bios in this one? And the information descriptions in the crypt are HORRIBLE, one of them is like "My boy Jim made this track, I thought the beats were tight, it really is awesome!" I mean, damn, give me a break, at least make character bio's like the last two games, so we can see WHY fighters have come back and which Deception ending was canon.

It's just things like that, that made me think Boon cut corners this time to get the game out... it's nothing major the game is missing, it's just alot of touches that, to me, made mortal kombat the game it is.
 
[quote name='Roufuss']
Plus, no character bios in this one? And the information descriptions in the crypt are HORRIBLE, one of them is like "My boy Jim made this track, I thought the beats were tight, it really is awesome!" I mean, damn, give me a break, at least make character bio's like the last two games, so we can see WHY fighters have come back and which Deception ending was canon.[/QUOTE]

I agree re: bios. After all, the series excels at backstory. Maybe Midway just felt that it was redundant.

My review isn't up on Yahoo yet, but I gave the game a 4 out of 5. It's kind of business as usual for MK, but I really liked Konquest mode this year and it's still got a lot of stuff to do. Its gameplay has just been stagnant for too long.
 
[quote name='ViolentLee']I agree re: bios. After all, the series excels at backstory. Maybe Midway just felt that it was redundant.

My review isn't up on Yahoo yet, but I gave the game a 4 out of 5. It's kind of business as usual for MK, but I really liked Konquest mode this year and it's still got a lot of stuff to do. Its gameplay has just been stagnant for too long.[/QUOTE]

Yea, I got a bit farther into Konquest mode and they start mixing it up a bit with weapons and traps, so it's not as stale as it was.

I don't know why Midway would have felt bios were redundant... I mean, they need to explain what happened after Deception, why characters have returned after not being in the series for years, stuff like that. This game is canon, not just some kind of dream match, and it feels like the ball was dropped in that regard.

One thing I really don't like is the new Krypt... I wish they would have kept the unlockables OUT of Konquest mode, because I've gotten most of the costumes / music already, and I don't care about sketches or any of that.

Chameleon is an awesome character, though. Too bad I don't know why he's back :(

It's starting to grow on me, but I don't know, I guess I let the Boon hype get to me. I think character fatalities would have easily have pushed this game into a 9 + out of 10.

How long is Konquest anyways? I'm at
the netherrealm
, how much further do I have to go?
 
I tried out the game, beat Konquest and played the game for a while after that.

I wasn't too impressed. I'd personally give it a 5/10.

I like the fighting a bit more than the previous one, more focus on timing and countering, but the timing of the combos seems a bit off.

Konquest was too easy, I beat it in about 5-6 hours and almost got everything on my first time through. It's an uninspired Shaolin Monks mixed with normal Mortal Kombat. Most enemies can be easily killed with super moves and then you get back most of your magic power after using the super moves. The only real way to get killed is to get hit by the instant death traps.

Motor Kombat? It's a cheap knockoff of Mario Kart, simple as that. They should have left in Chess and Puzzle combat. Chess combat was fun because it combined strategy and MK gameplay.

No character specific fatalities? Yawn. Everyone pretty much has the same fatalities now and that's boring. They could have at least had taken the time and given everyone 1 character specific fatality and still had the "Dial a Fatality" in.

It still seems that some of the characters are unbalanced such as Moloch. He does up to 35% damage on simple combos, takes less damage from combos and is knocked down by very few moves.

And as for the endings...

They consist of your character doing some kata while a couple of sentences show up, that's it. How lame.

Not worth a purchase and barely worth a rental.
 
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