Mortal Kombat 9

[Andrew]

New all-access preview from G4TV.

[Bruce]

I've always been a fan of MK over SF. But somehow I think SF4 wins this round. I hope the decapitation and gore can win me back. haha

[Jeffx]

More MK 9 news - SWEEEEET!!!!

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/mortal-ko ... here/2770/

[Andrew]

Wonder who they'll use as the Xbox 360 exclusive character.

A rundown of the plot:

Developer Ed Boon describes the game as an altered re-telling of the events of the original first three Mortal Kombat games (MK, MK II, and MK3).

...Raiden is about to be killed by Shao Kahn, and just before he delivers the last blow, he [Raiden] sends a mental message to his earlier self, so the camera rewinds back to Mortal Kombat 1. The Raiden from back then gets a message and he doesn't know what's going on, but he knows something bad's going to happen, and the game spans Mortal Kombat 1, 2, and 3, retelling the story with an enlightened Raiden, and he's changing the course of things, so everything you've seen happen before – Liu Kang winning, the guys turning into cybernetic ninjas, are changed around, so you might see a character become cybernetic who wasn't before, and so you see a different version [of events].

Hector Sanchez later added in a different interview that states it took place after Armageddon:

The story begins with Raiden, just when he is about to be killed by Shao Kahn in the events that happen after Armageddon. In a last effort, he sends a message to himself in the past, in the era of "Mortal Kombat", the first game. The rest of the story follows that Raiden's past and shows him trying to understand the visions and messages he gets from himself in the future and trying to prevent the events that lead to destruction of all realities.

It was revealed that the player would have the ability to play as multiple characters during the course of story. According to the developers, the story will be much longer than the story present in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. The developers have noticed that the story had been ignored in the past in favor for the fighting gameplay "action" and wanted to make a change in that for Mortal Kombat.

Sounds alright to me, somewhat of a reboot without throwing everything out and making some sense of Armageddon's ending. Not that the story is absolutely vital to enjoy Mortal Kombat but since they did bother to flesh it out as the years went by, I'm glad they're still trying to create something in that area.

[Oznogrd]

just read confirmation that Kratos will be a PS3 Exclusive in MK9. Who do yall think the Xbox recipient will be?

[Andrew]

Who are some of the notable characters from 360 exclusive games?

Failing that, they could always bring in an existing MK character as the 360 exclusive that isn't connected to MK9's story.

[JaoSming]

I doubt it would be Master Chief or Marcus Fenix. having the female "spartan" in DOA4 was one thing but I doubt either will show up in MK.

....I really can't think of a non-FPS character

[Oznogrd]

That was my dilemma. As far as Xbox only, the only exclusives are shooters or dont belong in a fighting game (Alan Wake for example)...I just dont feel like that style of fighter would fit an MK Game. I mean i know everyones got projectiles and theres been a cop or two in the past with guns but...they always felt out of place to me.

Also, sad to hear its Kratos because that means there's no way in hell he'll come out as DLC for xbox...*sigh* CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG???

Seriously, i do think its ridiculous in this day and age that the big 3 companies havent just said "we're gonna win based on our console, everybody develop for whoever" I understand the draw of exclusive games. But it still pisses me off.

[JaoSming]

maybe our avatars?

[Andrew]

Seriously, i do think its ridiculous in this day and age that the big 3 companies havent just said "we're gonna win based on our console, everybody develop for whoever" I understand the draw of exclusive games. But it still pisses me off.

That'd be ideal for the consumer but there's too much money it for game developers and those three companies not to work out deals for some exclusives. The first and second party games are always going to be exclusive too, there's no way Microsoft wants Nintendo or Sony profiting from Halo, nor any chance Nintendo shares the wealth with its iconic Mario and Zelda franchises.

[Andrew]

G4TV posted an article discussing some of the possibilities: Marcus Fenix, Master Chief, Alan Wake, Xbox Live Avatars and Joanna Dark.

[Oznogrd]

Thats actually where i got the news. But like I said: none of those options are known for their beating prowess. They're more about sniping/chainsaws. And Alan Wake? Just..no, unless i missed something about that game where he's an unbeatable badass.

[Andrew]

I guess it doesn't really matter for a bonus character that presumably won't be involved in the storyline at all. MK characters aren't known for their basketball prowess, but they showed up in the old NBA Jam games.

[Oznogrd]

Shame they're not in the genesis version.

Was about to turn off this episode of mst3k and play

[[Q]]

yeah it's arcade version only. i remember playing as jax & rayden after looking up the codes as a kid in one of those code books. fucking spoiled kids nowadays can look it up on the internet

[Andrew]

Same goes for the movelists. These days they're available in the pause menu but back in the day, you had to get your hands on a strategy guide or wait for a magazine to publish a guide with all the moves and fatalities.

[[Q]]

you know, that was part of the reason why i hated MK as a kid. well, i grew up on SF but MK didn't tell you their moves that fatalities and that was the obvious draw for the game. and then now i can look them up and they're still pretty hard to do.

[Andrew]

Some are easier than others. The ones that involve pressing up are traditionally the hardest in my opinion.

[shadowgrin]

You jump and quickly press the directions (including any Up presses) while the character is in the air, timing your button presses so that when you press the last button to initiate the Fatality your character is already on the ground and do some serious hurt.

you know, that was part of the reason why i hated MK as a kid. well, i grew up on SF but MK didn't tell you their moves that fatalities and that was the obvious draw for the game. and then now i can look them up and they're still pretty hard to do.

Going to the arcade, watching those who know the moves do it, takes about 2-3 tries/observation, play against those same older people that you watched, getting a WTF expression on their faces when you defeat and do the moves to them.
Good times.
The first character was Sub-Zero btw.

[Andrew]

I know, but like I said I always found those tricky to pull off compared to something like Down-Forward-Forward-Forward-High Punch. Although I recall in the original MK, Scorpion's Toasty fatality was pretty easy as you could hold block while pressing Up-Up.

[Andrew]

Jade And Goro Confirmed For Upcoming Mortal Kombat

Sub-boss Goro and secret character Jade are the latest characters to be added to Mortal Kombat's roster of fighters. Surprisingly I think both characters wear the same amount of clothing. They were confirmed by the series co-creator Ed Boon in the current issue of Game Informer magazine. In the interview Ed also touches upon having an Xbox 360 exclusive character to counter the PS3 exclusive Kratos. More after the break.

Good stuff.

Also, a compilation of fatalities that have been revealed so far. Consider this a spoiler alert if you want to see them for the first time when the game comes out.

phpBB [video]

[kibaxx7]

I ain't gonna see it... I'm still praying every day for a PC version.

[Andrew]

Story of the PC platform when it comes to these old titles that always used to get a PC release at some point.

[deihatein]

Kratos has been appearing as a exclusive special character as of late.

[Andrew]

That news has been out for a while, and noted again in the article I posted today.