The much-anticipated "Mortal Kombat 1" is showcasing its bloodiness and depth more than ever before.
Tom Kerkhof, a die-hard fan of retro and horror games, shares his views on the latest 12th installment in the "Mortal Kombat" series.
This version, seen as a 'soft reboot,' presents both a sequel and a fresh start to the franchise, picking up right where "Mortal Kombat 11" left off. Liu Kang, our godly skilled warrior monk, ascends to a divine being, creating an entirely new timeline with the powers he has attained.

In this altered universe, notorious villains are just meaningless characters, theoretically posing no threat to peaceful existence. However, the plot quickly paves the way for a significant conflict; the inherent evil deep-rooted in Shang Tsung triggers an intense skirmish. Nevertheless, the storyline serves as an amusing supplement for the sequence of bloody battles.

"Mortal Kombat 1" stages animated and humorous cutscenes with intriguing twists. Every character is well-utilized, ensuring variations during gameplay. Although the story pacing feels rushed towards the end, the gaming experience remains engaging.

Players can spend a good amount of time discovering the storyline. Following its course for around seven hours, they can finally see the credits roll down the screen. Apart from the extensive single-player experience, the game also offers "Towers" and "Invasions" modes, the latter mode allowing players to consecutively strengthen their character.

The gameplay's crux lies in its unique feature - the Kameo-fighters - functioning as a sidekick you can summon during a fight to execute special abilities independently. These unique characters offer a whole new level of depth to the already sophisticated gameplay, thereby introducing endless possibilities of engaging combos and lethal moves.

Certain favorite characters, such as Sonya Blade, Kano, or Jax, unfortunately, will not be part of the initial lineup, as they serve as Kameo-fighters. The smaller fighter selection pool might feel unnatural to some fans, a choice made by the NetherRealm Studios.

Despite its shortcomings, "Mortal Kombat 1" establishes its prowess through the accessibility, extravagant characters, and abundance of blood that the series is known for. Its expertly designed Kameo-fighters and their unique ability strengthen the gameplay, making it engaging over a length of time. The game's splendid graphic work and diverse (single-player) content, notably Jean Claude van Damme's inclusion, add to the overall entertainment value, earning it an 8.0 rating.

"Mortal Kombat 1" is available for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X and S. The PlayStation 5 version was used for this review.