Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Genre: Fighting
Release Date: April 23, 2019
Mortal Kombat 11 is a fighting game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive entertainment. It is the eleventh main instalment in the Mortal Kombat franchise, and the third since the series was rebooted and revived by NetherRealm Studios with Mortal Kombat (2011).
Development
Mortal Kombat 11 was officially announced after a lot of anticipation and speculation in December 2018 at The Game Awards. It was confirmed that the game would be launching on April 23 the following year, and that it wouldn’t be launching only on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but also simultaneously on the Nintendo Switch.
Mortal Kombat 11 uses an enhanced version of the graphics engine that was used in Mortal Kombat X. NetherRealm Studios have also confirmed that the Nintendo Switch version of the game uses lower geometry, so that it can achieve parity with all the other versions in terms of frame rate (that being 60 frames per second).
The developers have also stated that they will be looking to have an improved PC port of the game as opposed to its predecessor. For this purpose, NetherRealm Studios are teaming up with QLOC, who also handled the PC version of Mortal Kombat XL, which was regarded to be a significant improvement over the PC version of Mortal Kombat X.
Creative director and head of NetherRealm Studios, Ed Boon, has also talked about how the development team found it challenging to render the new slow motion Fatalities in the game, owing to the time and effort they had to spend on perfecting the slow down effect and the effects of the blood spatter in slow motion.
Mortal Kombat 11 also sees the removal of several voice actors who have portrayed characters in the series in the past, including the likes of Patrick Seitz (the voice actor for Scorpion) and Vic Chao (who has voiced Goro, Kenshi, and Triborg). Scorpion is portrayed by Ron Yuan, while his in-battle voice clips are recorded by Ed Boon, the director of the game. Jennifer Hale voices new character Kronika, while Ronda Rousey voices Sonya Blade, replacing Tricia Helfer from Mortal Kombat X.
Other voice actors include Troy Baker (returning to portray Shinnok), Steven Blum (reprising his role as Sub-Zero, while also portraying Baraka), and Richard Epcar (who is portraying Raiden once again, as he has done since Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe). Jamieson Price does the voice of the announcer, as he has done since Mortal Kombat (2011).
Story
Mortal Kombat 11 serves as a direct successor to Mortal Kombat X, with Shinnok having been defeated. Raiden has now been corrupted, and is looking to protect Earthrealm by destroying all its enemies. Meanwhile, Kronika, the Keeper of Time, seeks to bring order to all the realms by any means necessary, and sets out against the defiant Earthrealm, while also harbouring a vendetta against Raiden due to him having tampered with the balance of time.
Gameplay
Mortal Kombat 11 introduces some new mechanics to add to the foundations of its predecessors. When the player is at health below 30 per cent, they can deal a special move to deal deadly amounts of damage, called the Fatal Blow- this move can only be used once per match. Another new mechanic is Flawless Block, which grants the player a window for a comeback if they execute a block on an incoming attack with precise timing. Some special moves also have a special cinematic variation called Krushing Blow, which can only be triggered once certain requirements are met, depending on the move.
Mortal Kombat 11 has a roster of 25 playable characters (with six more to be added on after release as DLC). Of these, 13 have been revealed so far, with 12 of them being returning characters. The returning characters are: Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Johnny Cage, D’Vorah, Kabal, Jade, Sonya Blade, Baraka, Kano, Skarlet, and Shao Kahn. Shao Kahn is a pre-order exclusive character.
The new playable character confirmed is Geras, who is the right hand man of Kronika, the Keeper of Time. Geras has the ability to manipulate time, and can use sand-based attacks. Kronika is also a newly introduced character, and the first female boss character in the history of the Mortal Kombat franchise. However, she is not a playable character.
Mortal Kombat 11 also has a character customization system, which allowst the player to personalize existing characters and customize their movesets, weapons, and outfits. The game also includes collectible and unlockable gear, however it has been confirmed that all gear will be cosmetic only and will not have stats tied to it at all. Gear will be purchasable through microtransactions, but there will be no loot boxes.
While gear doesn’t affect gameplay, the player can get augments, which do. Augments can modify gameplay in certain ways, such as how moves work, or how recovery windows work. For instance, Skarlet can get an augment to make her get even more life from blood. Using different gear and augments, players can customize their characters. Customized characters can also be used in competitive play online- but while cosmetic customizations through gear will carry over to online play, any changes made to stats through augments will not be considered.
Note: This wiki will be updated once we have more information about the game.
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