Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Review

I can say without a doubt that one of my favorite games of 2019 was Mortal Kombat 11. Yes, I did get some issues here and there, but Mortal Kombat had just never been put together so deliciously! The game plays very well, the cast was unique, and the story was certainly entertaining. So you can imagine that when NetherRealm Studios announced their latest Aftermath DLC, I was dying to get started as soon as possible.

I certainly enjoyed myself with Mortal Kombat 11’s first Kombat Pack, but now they came up with something really unique for a fighting game. A cinematic extension to the story of the original game. How does it work out? Hopefully you’re ready for some soul-eating, tornado blows, and heavy punches. Here is my review of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath on Xbox One.

YOUR SOUL IS MINE!

The Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath story begins immediately after the current storyline ends. Liu Kang, who has since been promoted to a god, and Raiden is about to create a new timeline. However, they are stopped by none other than Shang Tsung, accompanied by Fujin and Nightwolf. The sorcerer says that without the crown of Kronika it is not possible to reset the timeline.

So the good guys and bad guys work together to ensure that they are not all completely removed from time and space. Can I already give a digital applause to Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa? He plays Shang Tsung so well and he was entertainment gold from the moment the evil wizard entered the screen. His charm splashed off the screen and every line was full of typical Shang Tsung traits.

Yes, Aftermath doesn’t give you a story you might be used to. It even looks a bit like a fan story, but very professionally worked out. The bad guys take over a large part of the spotlight. I’m not going to reveal anything, rest assured. But certain scenes put a huge smile on my Mortal Kombat fanboy face. It is unexpected and in terms of story they also fixed some issues that the original story of Mortal Kombat 11 had.

For example, characters like Erron Black and Baraka get a bit more screen time, since they didn’t get that in the base game. Certain power levels between characters were frankly bullshit, but there is some improvement here and there. You have the classic fights, but you also fight against two characters at the same time, and you sometimes get assists from the fighters who are usually watching during the cutscenes.

I noticed in my review for Xbox One, that cinematically you get more material than most films. Over two hours of cutscenes are part of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath on Xbox One, and these are by no means boring conversations between the main characters. There are large-scale battles, your favorite characters that deliver big blows, and beautiful shots of the worlds you are in.

KONTENT WITH A K

In addition to the brand new additions to the story, Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath also spoils the players with tons of content. Let’s start with the three stars of the show. Fujin is the wind god, with artful and unique moves. He uses the wind element to make the player spin completely.

He can be tricky to pick up in the beginning, but Raiden’s brother certainly has potential. Sheeva, the Shokan Queen, is a real brawler and shows superior strength to make it difficult for her opponents. It also helps that she has four arms and can therefore do very cool things with her grapple moves. Finally, we have RoboCop, the man of steel.

He brings an entire arsenal of explosive weapons, and his gear is exceptionally good. Peter Weller returns for the iconic role and it’s great to see the authentic character in the game. Yes, you can have fun with the new characters. However, that’s not all that is added to the fighting game from NetherRealm Studios. Fan favorites like Dead Pool, Soul Chamber, and even a Retrocade are playable for all players.

Friendships also return, and they are all very entertaining. Mortal Kombat 11 is starting to look more and more like the ultimate Mortal Kombat game. So many classic stages, finishers and characters return, and little remains of what they possibly can add from the past. However, there is a slight problem.

I noticed in my review for Xbox One, that the Aftermath update brings a lot of fun, but are you willing to pay 40 bucks for the campaign, the three new fighters, and some skins? That is very expensive, even if the quality is of high class. It is certainly a bit unfair for those who have bought the Ultimate Edition, because they still have to pay a large sum.

If you do not have Mortal Kombat 11 and want the full experience, you need to get the base game, the first Kombat Pack, and Aftermath. This all sounds like a very good deal, but one that may not be completely fair to the loyal fan base that supported the game from day one.

CONCLUSION

New characters Fujin and Sheeva bring some unique additions to the cast of Mortal Kombat, while RoboCop lets you keep the ultimate ’80s battles against the Terminator. The Aftermath story gives a unique spin to Mortal Kombat 11. The bad guys finally get their chance to stand out, but Shang Tsung steals the show.

The character has never been so entertaining and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa’s performance of the sorcerer is truly sublime. To me the DLC is quite expensive, but it all depends on what you see as expensive. However, NetherRealm Studios proves that Mortal Kombat is at the top of the fighting game genre and I can’t wait to see where the series takes its next steps.

Do you want to try NetherRealm Studios’ Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath? What do you think of my review on Xbox One? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Are you interested in more action packed fighting games? Check out our reviews for Mortal Kombat X, Tekken 7, SoulCalibur V, and Street Fighter X Tekken.