The online beta for Mortal Kombat 11 has concluded after its five-day run. Developers, NetherRealm Studios opened the gates for fans of which pre-ordered the upcoming title.
During the beta, players got to try out two separate modes and test out five of the 11 announced fighters. Players had a chance to get their hands on Scorpion, Skarlet, Baraka, Jade, and Kabal. Each fighter came with their three variations and full move list so players could try out each of their eye-gouging combos in preparations for launch.
While Training Mode was unavailable, the single-player Towers of Time proved to a worthy supplement to get accustomed to the fundamentals before heading online. Choosing any of the available five fighters in the demo, players could face off against five AI opponents one after another while “climbing” the tower. As Towers of Time offered a difficulty scale, it became a great chance to go through and ease my way back into playing the well-polished fighting franchise.
Playing on easy offered very little challenge. Primarily playing as the Splash Damage variant of Skarlet, a fighter I had very little experience using, easy mode gave me a chance to slowly learn her moves. Mortal Kombat 11 seems to have streamlined and boiled down the combo selection into lists that were easy to read and comprehend. After a successful run in Tower of Time on easy, I decided to give the medium and harder settings a try. Medium is a fantastic, balanced option where you are expected to understand the basics in order to hold your own. Moving past medium settings, it’s a lot more advanced and will really test your mettle if you are not ingrained in the fighting game genre.
Moving into the second available mode, the standard Mortal Kombat online fair could be tested. Acting as a bit of a stress-test, the online multiplayer mode was jammed packed with faithful Mortal Kombat fans ready to obliterate any opponent they faced. From the small taste I experienced during the beta, it was apparent that Mortal Kombat 11 will likely be a successful platform for the FGC and surrounding enthusiasts of the genre.
The biggest change in mechanics seen in the beta was the implemented dual-meter system. Unlike previous iterations, Mortal Kombat 11 broke the EX meter into two separate charge bars. While some enhanced moves will use both meters, they are primarily used to pull off specialized offensive and defensive moves. Managing the two bars, relative to the duration of each match is interesting as it requires each player to manage their meters accordingly as they refill.
While playing online on an Xbox One X, Mortal Kombat 11 really shined bright. While Mortal Kombat X was widely acclaimed, NetherRealm seems to be doubling down and refining the franchise once again.
Visually, the game looks stunning. The bloodshed and carnage have never looked better. Fighters move fluidly although there were some expected frame rate drops online. Each stage is detailed and the character models pop on screen.
The sounds of each hit are more visceral. The crunch of broken bones and clanging of metal go a long way to sell the brutality Mortal Kombat 11 has to offer. Visuals as you would expect, are obscene and over the top as ever! Each successful Fatality, Brutality, and Fatal Blow showcases the mutilation every Mortal Kombat fan cheers for. Baraka, in particular, has a Fatality up his sleeve that you will want to check out. Mortal Kombat 11, from what it seems, has enough variety built into the moveset of each fighter to keep it fresh. After playing more than a dozen online matches, the surprises kept coming. Pulling off a fatality felt easier and more intuitive. Fatal Blows, which are the new X-Ray attacks used when an opponent is low on health feels very satisfying when executed.
Moving away from the combat, the beta also gave us a look at the Kustomize menu. Without having to unlock any skins during the beta, I was able to mix and match weapon and fighter gear to my heart’s content. With different skins for each fighter, opening up the possibility to make set your main apart from the rest will be a huge draw for many.
The Kustomize menu gave a sneak peek at the ability to unlock and use new finishers and intros. Although none were included in the beta, it goes without saying that the launch product is going to have an ample amount of content to digest and enjoy.
Mortal Kombat 11’s beta was just what I needed to rev up for the game’s launch. Getting a small slice of the finished product, I can confidently say that NetherRealm Studios is following up Injustice 2 with another hit. Mortal Kombat 11 looks gorgeous, the combat is smooth and fairly balanced in its complexity. With many new modes available at launch, there will be a lot to sink your teeth (or sword) into.
Mortal Kombat 11 will launch on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch on April 23rd.
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