PS2 New Games

MORTAL KOMBAT Deadly Alliance

The classic arcade and 16-bit hit erupts onto the PS2 with a great new look, mood and exciting prospect of becoming THE fighting game by which the rest will be measured. Quan Chi has escaped the Nether Realm and forged an alliance with Shang Tsung - they defeat Shao Kahn and enter Earth Realm via a portal, destroying Liu Kang and absorbing his energy. Their goal is to resurrect the Dragon King's undefeatable army and conquer all the worlds. Rayden returns to earth to take up battle against this deadly alliance. 20 fighters include new and classic characters. Shang Tsung, Bo' Rai Cho, Quan Chi, Scorpion, Li Mei, Kenshi, Mavado, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Kung Lao, Kano, Sub Zero - expect others like Jax to appear when unlocking begins. In the Krypt you can buy characters and arenas with kurrency kollected as you face many opponents on your travels in the Konquest stage. Areas include palaces, tombs, temples, the Wu Shi Academy, drum arena, acid bath and more. Modes include Arcade, VS and practice (if you want to perfect those deadly moves). Holding with the game's tradition, the blood and damage factor is pretty high with each character having access to three fighting styles, including a deadly weapon (slish-slash-splat!) - the defeated fighter getting up without any between stage cuts. The detail is amazing and violence intense with vivid progressive damage, the fatalities extreme. Thus, to be expected, the gore drew an 18 restriction. In between some stages you also get to test your might. With many game modes this baby will keep you entertained for quite some time. Bonus DVD features include Mortal Kombat history and the making of the game with interviews and comments by the originators, key programmers and developers like head honcho Ed Boon. Other extras include concept art and a music video by nu-Metal lads Adema. From the mere 4 guys who made the very first groundbreaking MK arcade game in '92, through MKII ('93), MK3 ('95) and MK4 ('97) to a team of over 50 for this latest outing, the advances are far beyond merely noticeable. Forget about the movie spin-offs, this is where it's at.

6 / A
- PB