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How would you revive Mortal Kombat?

That beat em up on the PS2 was fun. Shaolin Monk? something like that. Make it like that. wait, fuck that. Mortal Kombat Mythologies Sub Zero 2
 
I think the direction they were going with Shaolin Monks was good.

Personally, I'd make it an MMO-ish sort game where you create characters, fight for prizes, get bonuses for fatalities, buy new equipment and learn new moves, enter tournaments, and so on.
 
Make a retro HD version that goes back to using sprites based on live actors and the backgrounds could also be based on live or realistically rendered images but with a 3D floor. Make it cheesy, dark, bloody and funny with a goofy story that doesn't make any sense and crazy new characters. That's what I think set Mortal Kombat apart from other fighters. To me, it just doesn't belong in 3D all semi-serious, next to games like Soul Calibur or whatever. It's like a comic book or something and it's time to bring it back to it's roots.
 
Above all, the series needs to have a sense of humor again. Recognize that playing as a ninja shooting harpoons or a tall guy in S&M gear is pretty dumb, and have fun with it. MK2 & MK3 were pretty good at balancing the stupid with the badass, but then the Mortal Kombat games starting trying way too hard to be 'cool.'
 
I think just smoother fighting would be ideal for me in Mortal Kombat. The MK games have always had this very stiff kind of robotic feel to them - to the point where Mortal Kombat Armageddon felt deliberately stiff.

(On the other hand, you could say that "stiffness" is what defines how Mortal Kombat feels and helps separate it from just being "Street Fighter but really bloody").

TheEastonator said:
Above all, the series needs to have a sense of humor again. Recognize that playing as a ninja shooting harpoons or a tall guy in S&M gear is pretty dumb, and have fun with it. MK2 & MK3 were pretty good at balancing the stupid with the badass, but then the Mortal Kombat games starting trying way too hard to be 'cool.'
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I dunno. What about Meat and Mokap? Those are pretty dumb characters - in a good way.
 
Change "kombat" to "Combat," fill the line-up with characters from the Coen brothers films, make the violence less fantastical, inject a little bit of humor and take environments from a bunch of the Coens films. Once you beat the campaign with every character, you get details on a refund for the ten dollars you spent to see The Ladykillers.

Either that or a quasi-violent cel-shaded Looney Tunes fighter.
 
MKIII killed it for me. Run button? Techno ninjas? Also, I found MK2 fatalities to be more "belieable" or something (I know, some are mad, but I really loved Jax's arm tearing one... I don't need animalities, or blowing the opponent away). And I like my fighting games without combos (but if they have them, to be the focus of the game like KI). Not sure if it changed later, but having a block and run button is nonsense when the stick is enough for that. I always thought MK was "slow" compared to other fighting games, too (maybe that is why they added the run button?). Also, I find the characters dull, none is interesting enough for me (even if fighting characters are usually dull).

I would go back to MKII and start from there (just like Street Fighter did). Interesting is the fact that both series sold virtually the same amount of copies, so there is market for both.
 
I echo the sentiment of taking it back to the roots and building from there. I think using the base from either 2 or UMK3/Trilogy and just doing everything from scratch would be perfect. MK really tried to get 3D right with 4-Armageddon but I just felt it was out of place for the series but I enjoyed them though. There are some things that can adapt to the 3-D jump and some that suffer and lose the heart and soul and MK happens to be one of those series. I have hope that they can get it right with whatever they come with next. I will admit Puzzle Kombat was the crack though.
 
I could never imagine them going with 2D sprites again, certainly not if they want it to sell as well as their later games still do.

The first thing they can do is to bring back all the characters from Mortal Kombat 1 and 2, keeping their more iconic designs (particularly Sub Zero, Scorpion and Reptile) - if they're going to make them 3D I demand them to look as close to those motion captured original sprites as possible, like I'm playing them again with 3D glasses. Of course new characters and bosses should be included but they too have to tie in well with these designs.

From there the pieces should fall into place. The best game in the series, No. 2, was still a competent fighter but kept the gore and the ludicrous Fatalaties above everything else... Which is cool brah. Add some more elements to the fighting to make it a little deeper but don't fool yourself into thinking that the series' highlights were anything more than a delicious and satisfying parade of eviscerated bodyparts and decapitations.
 
Keep Li Mei, most fluid character I played in the 3d games. I would like to see how a Japanese Developer would make a MK and see how different it would be.
 
Honestly, I wouldn't.

Everything about Mortal Kombat is just stupid. It was really a representation of the early 90's era of video games where games had to be 'radical' appeal to 13 year old boys to be really successful. It was never a quality fighting game series and its only claim to fame was it's over-the-top gore which isn't really a rarity anymore.

Just let it die.
 
Besides revamping the gameplay to make it less stilted, they really need to improve their animations. The fatalities in the MK vs DC game were just pathetic, and the lack of gore isn't the only reason, considering attacks with preset animations in other games (PS2/PS3 Naruto, SC4, most SF4 Ultras) looked much better than those.
 
They need to do a total reboot and go back to 2D.

Going back to digitized actors would be cool, but it wouldn't work in this day and age in HD. There's a reason nobody does that anymore.

Seeing as UMK3 is the oldest fighting game still played competitively that's not Super Turbo, they obviously did something right with that title. So they should draw heavy inspiration from that.

But considering that Ed Boon said on his Twitter that they're doing mocap for MK8, they're probably not going back to 2d and it's gonna be another 3d pile of mediocreness.
 
Warner should go to Disney and beg and plead to license Marvel characters. Then have Galactus appear and swallow the stupid Mortal Kombat Earth. The end.
 
Sinatar said:
Follow SF4's footsteps and go back to basics. 2.5D, fuck this 3D shit. Shorten the move lists (Tekken style dial-a-combos are not a good mix with MK), and just focus on making it a solid tight playing game.
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This. There are enough good 3d fighting games out there already ( SCIV, Tekken 6 for example )
 
Fuck that!

Mortal Kombat has and always will be shit.

This is like asking for four more years of Bush, building a time machine to save Hitler, and cloning raptors to be Kintergarten playground wranglers.
 
Change the art to more cel-shaded look
Make it a download only title
Tons of characters old and new
Make it team based (ala Marvel vs Capcom) with crazy assists/specials
As someone mentioned above - some sort of unique progressive online tournament of sorts

With all that stated, I wouldnt buy it for more than 800 MS points.
 
Vomiaouaf said:
If you had to revive the Mortal Kombat franchise and make it relevant again, how would you do it?
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Deluxe XBLA and PSN release first, followed a month later by a disc release for the backwards.

It would be a classic, 2D MK that returns to the roots of MK2 (mostly) and 3. They would go back to the digitized characters but this time it would be HD and the animation would be incredibly smooth. There was an XB Indie game (can't think of the name) that proved to me this could be done well in the right hands.

Of course, all new fatalities and such would be a must, and they'd rate an M for sure.

MK simply doesn't work as well in 3D
 
Total reboot and bring it back to it's 2d roots.

12 characters - Scorpion, Sub Zero, Sonya, Raiden, Lui Kang, Reptile, Johnny Cage, Kung Lao, Kano, Goro, Shang Tsung and a new character.

None of the "stances" from the recent games.

2 fatalities per character. One for close range and one for outside of sweep range. No friendships or any of that shit.

Shao Khan for the boss fight.

Or just make Shaolin Monks 2. The first one was the shit. I got so much shit from my friends because I played SM in co-op for weeks and after playing that I couldn't bring myself to play more than 3 levels in God of War.
 
Vomiaouaf said:
Seems like the game was such a cultural step in gaming history and sadly became irrelevant when it failed to properly transition in 3D (or just keep up with other fighting games...).

If you had to revive the Mortal Kombat franchise and make it relevant again, how would you do it?
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I think a lot of people sadly have not played the MK series beyond MK4 or MK Deadly Alliance. IMO the series was never more vibrant than around the time that Deception and Shaolin Monks were released. Shaolin Monks still remains to date as my favourite beat 'em up of all time and did an amazing job at exploring the worlds of MK1 & MK2. I'm not tournament level fighter but I enjoyed the depth of Deception immensely. I think the Puzzle Kombat and Chess were great additions. They had some great new additions to the fighting roster. The Konquest mode was well done-- again, it was great to see some of the worlds of MK fully realized and some of the challenges in there were fun.

So I don't think MK failed to properly transition to 3D, I just think people didn't play the entries I mentioned. Armageddon and MK vs DC were also good, but I think Deception was one of the cases were they went the extra mile to make it a great package. Like I said before, I'm not a tournament level player, I enjoy playing fighting games casually, so having all of that extra content in Deception made it one of the best bangs for the buck when it comes to fighting games. (I resisted buying SF4 because it didn't have the extra content I craved, but looking at SSF4, it looks like they are taking it to a Deception-level in terms of stuff outside of the core fighting game).

Ed Boon has hinted at something like Shaolin Monks as being part of what they are doing for MK9 on twitter so I'm eagerly anticipating what they are going to come up with. I also wouldn't mind if they went away from their overly muscular fighters and tried to do realistic proportions to give it a more realistic look.
 
Linkzg said:
That beat em up on the PS2 was fun. Shaolin Monk? something like that. Make it like that. wait, fuck that. Mortal Kombat Mythologies Sub Zero 2
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Yes.

All over me.

I hope the first one is a PSone Classic soon... I'm gonna start the petition.
 
Zefah said:
Honestly, I wouldn't.

Everything about Mortal Kombat is just stupid. It was really a representation of the early 90's era of video games where games had to be 'radical' appeal to 13 year old boys to be really successful. It was never a quality fighting game series and its only claim to fame was it's over-the-top gore which isn't really a rarity anymore.

Just let it die.
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In 10 years from now, we will look at the moe animu garbage that plagues japanese games the same way. But then again, the backlash is already happening.. Also, about fatalities, if they resorted to simplier fatalities, like the ones in MK1, people would say they are rushed and basic.

And after 7 games, it's kinda hard to come up with something that hasnt been done!
 
I'd take it back to the basics. Back to what made the old school games fun, like what they did with Street Fighter IV.

I'd bring back the realistic graphics mixed with over the top action. I'd also scan real actors for the 3D models and their textures. Just to make to make it look different from most other games and more like a Mortal Kombat game.

I'd also remove the fixed dial-a-combo system from modern MK games. And move back to the old flexible combos.

I'd make the fatality button presses easier to remember and to execute.
...
 
I'd go back to the beginning and remake MK1/2 in 3D. Forget the action figure look and sped-up animations of their past 3d games and make a gritty, realistic and dark 3d MK instead.

But the characters should be more than dudes in costumes. Raiden can keep his trademark hat but needs a get-up worthy of a god. The ninjas need to be less colorful and be unique instead of palette swaps. I'd like to see Reptile with a human physique with a mask that hides everything but what's in his mouth: razor-sharp teeth, a lizard tongue and the ability to spit venom. Maybe an alt. outfit can be a bit more like MK4's human-but-scaly look.

As for fatalities.... I'd like to see a feature where you can use a non-fatal (lol) fatality when your opponent is at 20% or less health that is a high risk move which leaves you open if you fail. This fatality alters your opponent's performance. A limb can be hacked off limiting movement and movesets, bones can be poking out changing a character's stance and speed etc. I think it could add to some fun gameplay instead of just inputting buttons after a character is defeated to see the carnage.
 
Make it a Kill Bill-esque love letter to 70's Kung Fu movies, which is the vibe I kind of got from MK 1&2. And 80's mullet fashion.

Oh, and having a solid game under said aesthetic would be a nice bonus, although hell, it was never a requisite before now.

EDIT: Actually, it should be

Kill Bill--->70's Kung Fu cinema

as

MK---> Van Damme
 
I would go along the lines of 2.5 D have a more fluid style of fighting keep the tongue in cheek style/ott blood etc (have either stylised characters or life like characters)

add more enviromental hazards, ott moves/finnishers

online modes , Team Battle etc overall Violent but aware of its on violence and poking fun at itself

failing that option

go a power stone/mad world style route
 
Wormdundee said:
Why would they 'revive' if they don't have to. MK vs DC sold 2 million, there's no push to change if they don't need to.
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You're right that they don't have to overhaul the series. However, it's evident Mortal Kombat has declined in popularity compared to where it was about 15 years ago. I think it's done well enough to remain relevant, but it (and the fighting game genre in general) could use a shot in the arm.

I agree with several earlier comments, that they should take some cues from what Capcom did with Street Fighter IV. The first three games are what are most fondly remembered, so I'd include most of the characters from those three games, along with maybe two or three from later games. 16-20 characters would be good, plus a few unlockable characters as well.

I'm not a "blood and gore" person. I was never very heavy into Mortal Kombat, but when I played it, I played it more to engage in fighting action than to see gruesome death sequences. For that reason, I think the emphasis should be on refining the fighting engine, and not so much on finishing moves. However, the finishing moves (particularly Fatalities) are a trademark of the series, so I wouldn't get rid of them. I'd suggest 2 or 3 Fatalities per character--definitely more than 1, but not much more than that. Throw in a few stage Fatalities for good measure. Mortal Kombat always had a sense of humor, so I'd include Friendships (1 per character) as well. The Fatalities should be fairly realistic looking if they want to have an impact--no over-the-top exaggerated stuff where the victim explodes and you see 5 femur bones on the ground.
 
Either scrap the fatalities, or downplay them immensely.

Mortal Kombat has become a series in which the player seems interested long enough to see the fatalities, then dumps the game. Focus on making the fighting simple, accessible, and fun first and foremost.
 
EXGN said:
Over the last 10 or so years, I think there has been one Mortal Kombat game that has stepped back towards the right direction, and that is Shaolin Monks. Adopting a more casual friendly, Power Stone/Smash Bros-type of play style worked wonderfully. You had you're easy to pick up controls, the brutally awesome fatalities, a fun and surprisingly compelling campaign, pretty much everything that the other MK games did wrong. The next Mortal Kombat game should go that route, with stories for every character(the one thing the series has always done decently well), a 4 player brawl mode, co-op, etc.
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THIS.

To me, the best way to make MK relevant again, would be to go this direction. Make it easier to get into, and have plenty of opportunity to make fun of 70s/80s Wuxia/Shaolin flicks.

Mortal Kombat has no real business trying to fit into the mold of the likes of Street Fighter, or even Dead or Alive/Soul Calibur. The fans don't look for that type of game, so go for something more arena based.
 
* 2D Engine
* 3D Fatalities
* Simple storyline, no adventure mode, just keep it a fighter
* 15 character roster
* 3 Hidden character unlocks
* 2 Bosses
* Steer clear of the Killer Instinct combo system
* Steal Cameron's CGI from Avatar
* 4 Towers to climb: Easy, Normal, Hard, Master
* All new roster, no pallete swaps
 
I always envision a fighter that is probably asking for too much from devs and the consoles they'd be played on.

With MK, I imagine a battle where Scorpion's harpoon can be controlled to chase down the opponent who is fleeing, jumping and dodging every environmental obstacle in their way to escape the spear. The player with the better reflexes wins. If the spear misses, the opponent can grab the rope, and yank Scorpion towards him or her and dish out a combo of their own if Scorpion didn't release the spear first.

Sub-Zero has an "ice gauge" which depletes every time he uses an ice attack. He can freeze objects in a level which the opponent would freeze upon touching. It'll melt over time and as it does, the ice gauge replenishes.

Reptile's spit can corrode parts of the environment to create weak floors and walls to smash your opponent through.

Raiden's can call on a storm that can create lightning which tracks your opponent.

I can go on and on.
 
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