Mortal Kombat - PS Vita Game Review

Mortal Kombat - PS Vita Game Review

A look at the handheld version of the famous Mortal Kombat series

Platform: PS Vita
Released by Warner Bros Games

There's just something about a handheld fighting game where gore is the aim of the game and the gameplay is pretty simple.

So it is with Mortal Kombat, the latest one on one smack them in the face until they bleed/ are knocked out fighters series.

Making its way from the console version of the series to the handheld would always be a smart move for the series - and the developers have realised that before they began - and decided the best way to get the best experience would be to include all the DLC characters and have them unlocked from the get go. Characters include Kratos from God of War, Skarlet, Kenshi, Rain and Freddy Kruger as well as the usual MK bunch.

Bringing with it as well, the story mode and the Challenge Tower mode (wherein you have to fight your way through 10 rounds of bloody, gory beatdowns to face the final big bad) as well as tag team mode, there's certainly a lot of portable bite size playing to be had. Plus add in five levels of difficulty and this powerhouse punchup can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be.

In terms of graphics, this is simply luscious stuff - the VITA's OLED screen gives crystal clear imagery and while that may sound like a stupid thing to say given that's one of the basics of the VITA, it really does add to the sharpness of game play. Each crunch and crack of the character is beautifully portrayed onscreen and is never blurred; something which you'd hope for in a fast paced one on one game.

A smartly responsive D pad and buttons mean you're not frustrated in the fights and can engage with the characters right away, as well as expect that your attempts to beat down your opponent will not suffer from freezing or minor control issues. Granted, you can't pull together as many combos as other games, so some of the more devastating moves will take a while to master, but it's worth the time and effort. Throw in some touch screen technology as well for some other games and short of using the PS VITA camera for inserting your own face onto your fighter, this game utilises the best of what the tech has to offer.

With a wealth of challenges, a gallon of gore and blood and a beautifully visual feast, Mortal Kombat has set the bar for the fighting games on the VITA - it's shown you can have a glut of bitesize content as well as a whole cluster of fun.


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