Topic: Mortal Kombat X | OT

As it is almost time I thought it's nice to have a place discuss all things MK. Unfortunately in today's day and age everyone seems the urge to spoil everything, like they do with the Fatalities. That they are no longer a secret button combo you need to find out yourself - i understand that - but showcasing most of them prior to the release? Takes away lots of the sense of discovery and grossness when you have the game yourself. At least thats my point of view.

Lets start with sharing your MK-origin story so to say. Since when are you with the franchise, what fond memories do you have?

I go first:
I was about 10 years old, standing in an arcade in italy and Street Fighter was the shiz. Then I saw that arcade cabinet, I remember it like it was yesterday, red and yellow with Johnny Cage on one side and Raide on the other. I heard a weird scream coming from that general direction, so I headed towards the cabinet. It was in demo mode. I saw them for the first time, the digitized, life-like-looking chars duking it out. I was hooked immediately as I never got into the cartoonish Street Fighter. I spend HOURS in that same arcade, day after day when coming back from the beach with my parents. I think I spent well above 200 euro (of today's money) in just a few days on that game. When I saw my first Fatality, I was shocked - and in love. I loved the "no bullshit" approach MK had. When I came home from my vacation and was back in school, I told all my friends about it. "You can rip off people's head, with the spine still dangling from it" and "there's a stage, where you can throw your opponent down onto some spikes to impale him...". No one believed me. They called me a bigmouth and a liar and that was that. A year later every idiot was playing the very game I was telling them of on their PC and SNES. Grr. Back at the day I was also playing it on SNES and was really angry because of the censored blood. So we played at a friends house, on his Genesis (Mega Drive) - ah those days. Me and my 2 best friends (we basically all had the same first name too, lol) spent weekend after weekend playing small tournaments of Mortal Kombat (up to MK 3 Ultimate).

2 Years later I again was on vacation in Italy and yes, I've heard about MK2 in video game magazines, but there it was, same arcade like MK 1, now had MK 2. Same story. I was hooked immediately. But this time, I took pictures with my crappy compact camera of the cabinet, the fighters an the fatalities. Because I knew, people wouldn't believe me. When I was back in school I had stories to tell, about babalities, friendships and that every character had TWO fatalities. Oh and that secret character Reptile from the first game, he joined the roster permanently. YAY. Bullshit they called it. But this time, I had the pictures to prove it and prior to the widespread availability of photoshop (aww, those days) they just had to believe me. A few months later we were all playing again. And I was a happy kid, as MK2 wasn't censored on my SNES. Awesome. It went on like this up to and including MK3 Ultimate. After that we had a few bouts of MK Trilogy here and there but with MK4 the widespread interest wained. I still played each and every MK (loved Shaolin Monks) that came out but it was never the same again.

Until MK9, it ignited the fire in many of us and we came back together for some sessions (not in the extent like when we were kids, you know, real life and stuff, ...) and now we are all eagerly awaiting MKX. I really hope to be able to pick one or even two toons I can get really good with, at least "above average" good. Let's see how my 33 year old reflexes will hold up! As on which characters I want to choose as my mains, no idea yet. Probably Scorpion (as you can never go wrong with scorpion) but I'd love to have a new guy as well, none of them are TOO interesting yet though. Maybe Kotal Kahn as I have a thing for ancient cultures.

So... whats your story?

PS: Yes I started playing Mortal Kombat with TEN and yes my parents were okay with it as I was never one of those kids mixing up reality with entertainment, I haven't turned suicidal maniac or postal-dude yet and doubt that will ever happen. IF it ever happens though I'm pretty sure it's not because of MK but my tendency to listen to Marilyn Manson hours on end... Ha!

My first time actually playing MK was probably around 1995 (I was well aware of the series beforehand from the arcades and commercial spots).

I had to get my appendacitis removed, and while I was layed up in the hospital, once I found out that the staff had a SNES avaliable, I drove the nurse crazy with my nonstop insistence on having it my room (which now in retrospecton, was probably a bit selfish).

I eventually got the SNES in my room with Super Mario World and Mortal Kombat 1......yes, this was before society became a collective social justice warrior, so the medical staff allowed a 9 year old to have Mortal Kombat (albeit censored on the SNES).

I just remember finding the game to be bit clunky, difficult, and underwhelming.......I had a Genesis at the time, along with Street Fighter 2: Turbo, and at that age I found SF to be the mechanically superior, more interesting game.

I never really touched the Mortal Kombat franchise again save the rare arcade session and playing MK3: Ultimate? on a friends N64......I've always been more fond of Street Fighter, SoulCalibur, and DOA..........with that being said, I really enjoyed Injustice, so MK X will be a day one purchase for me.

I'm really looking forward to this game. I've never been particularly good at fighting games, and especially not Mortal Kombat, but I enjoy all of the extra effort that NetherRealm tends to put in. Loved the story mode in MK9 and Injustice, so can't wait for this.

I was a street fighter 2 mega fan at the time - MK came out and my mum wouldn't let me have it (but I had sf2 championship edition with s 6 button pad on mega drive) my mate brought it around and I sat there for about 4 hours none stop on a bright sunmerz day with my curtains closed so the light wouldn't shine on the screen. We swopped games I lent him mega games 3 and I borrowed MK. It was a bit different and the "toasty" and witch in the background things I can remember looking into but cant remember why.

That's how I have always felt. The only fighting game I have been really good at was Tekken. Street Fighter and MK I play to see the endings and that's really it. Tekken I will play against others.

This yells "PushSquare MK Tournament" doesn't it?
writing down a note
"Reeks of fun, Tournament is effective!"

So... has PRELOAD started for anyone yet?

I used to play Mortal Kombat in the arcade years ago too, the game was definitely pushing boundaries at the time with its finishing moves. The graphics where also amazing for its time I remember thinking they where amazing, I also loved Street Fighter & also played it to death with my mates.

The block button has had me uncommitted, and I'm more of a Street Fighter (Alpha 3) bloke anyway, but as Sammy said NetherRealm really does do great work. MK9 and Injustice are stellar games, so I'll probably pick this up tomorrow with the Kombat pack as I have £75 ish credit on a Game gift card.

A few photos that @BenTarrant took from the UK launch event:

More on our Instagram: http://instagram.com/pushsquare

You can buy them together for a combined price, or individually, each pack comes with one "Kharacter" and a few skins.

I wanna "unlock" that live Kitana there...

Am I missing something or are "stage fatalities" gone in favor of "stage interaction"?

Well, I went for it and I'm perfectly glad that I did. NetherRealm has once again crafted a superb, accessible yet deep fighter with tons of Kontent (ho ho). Allow the great stuff from 9 and Injustice has been chucked in too.
Gorgeous, lightning fast and stable as a horse house online.

I also think that NetherRealm have hit the nail squarely on the head with its choice of microtransaction. You can if you wish buy 'easy fatalities', hold r2, press either square or triangle, used a couple of free ones you get and you can unlock them in the Krypt. Or you can just learn what the are, or have a cheat sheet or whatever. Importantly, it's not pay to win, it doesn't change any outcome of a fight.

Also, the Kombat Pack is just a season pass. I don't think it's been advertised very well to be honest.

Don't we all...

Having played the game a ton for a few days now, it's just what I wanted it to be. Looks great, plays even better and though it's cheesey as hell just like MK 9's, I enjoy the story mode a lot. Only disappointment I have is they took Jade out. I always look for a third character to use aside from Scorpion and Sub-Zero and she was the other one I used the most in MK 9. I'm hoping if they add more characters after the kombat pack ones that she'll be included. Other than that, no complaints about the game at all, at least offline. Haven't tried much online play yet.

It looks fun but I'm going to wait for a price drop. I like fighting games but I don't love them. I never play them online because I don't stand a chance as a causal fighting game fan. I just can't justify paying full price only to play the story mode and maybe Tower Mode.

That's I pretty much feel, besides I'm on a retro kick now so if I want to play an MK game I have plenty of them to play.

The online set-up's actually really cool. As in previous MK games, you join lobbies, where you can challenge people, etc. If you have friends playing, it's quite neat to create your own room, and play with them. But nah, I get what you're saying. If you're not planning to invest an enormous amount of time multiplayer, it's best to wait for the price to drop.