“Cease your magic, before the hourglass shatters!”
[Note: This is a review of an expansion. Expect spoilers. Like, in the very next sentence.]
When final we left Mortal Kombat 11, Liu Kang had saved the world. Having been granted the powers of a god by Raiden himself, Liu Kang defeated the time-bending deity Kronika and prevented her from remaking the Mortal Kombat universe in her personal picture. It could be Liu Kang who reshaped the timeline as an alternative, ushering in a kinder and (maybe) much less kombat-filled world. Roll credit.
Or don’t. It’s on this second, as Liu Kang prepares to reset the timeline, {that a} warning reverberates by Kronika’s chamber. A portal seems, and out walks Nightwolf, Fujin, and perennial Mortal Kombat antagonist Shang Tsung.
Mortal Kombat 11 wanted an after-credits stinger, and it will get one with this week’s Aftermath expansion. A 3-hour after-credits stinger.
Marty, now we have to return!
There was no actual want for Aftermath. Mortal Kombat 11 advised an excellent story, begin to end. Balancing the fan service of the Mortal Kombat 9 reboot with the advances from Mortal Kombat X, it made good on dozens of plot threads and characters—all whereas telling one of the crucial formidable and entertaining tales within the collection.
Hell, one of the crucial formidable and entertaining tales I’ve ever seen in a combating recreation. As I wrote final 12 months in our overview:
“It’s proof as soon as once more that partaking storytelling stems from characters. Mortal Kombat’s supply materials is surface-level dumb, completely. This is a collection about individuals drafted right into a mystical battle membership to guard Earth from demonic invasion. It’s undeniably silly. But NetherRealm’s spent almost three many years—almost a decade with this trilogy alone—constructing these characters and their relationships, and it pays off right here.”
The authentic ending(s) of Mortal Kombat 11 gave NetherRealm a clear slate. Wipe the universe. Start over, or don’t. While we are going to undoubtedly get extra Mortal Kombat sooner or later, the ending of Mortal Kombat 11 may’ve simply as simply been an ending for all the collection. It felt clear and satisfying and tidy in a manner that few video games ever accomplish.
When NetherRealm introduced Aftermath—effectively, initially I used to be surprised. Nobody makes story-centric DLC for combating video games. Characters, positive. Cosmetics, completely. But an growth to the marketing campaign? Who would even purchase that? And if this had been most every other combating recreation, the reply could be “Nobody.”
Still, Aftermath appeared unwarranted. Unnecessary, on the very least. Mortal Kombat 11 ended on a excessive observe. Big sky nation, each risk open. Having Shang Tsung seem proper after and cease Liu Kang and Raiden of their second of triumph appeared contrived.
Then once more, Mortal Kombat loves contrived. It loves tropes. What I really like most about Mortal Kombat is it has the momentum of a dimestore thriller, a seaside learn stuffed with superheroes beating the spines out of one another. If Shang Tsung desires to interrupt, let him.
And it pays off. Aftermath is brief. It’s 5 chapters and round three hours, about half the size of Mortal Kombat 11 correct. I don’t normally spend a number of time breaking down prices for video video games, as a result of the worth proposition is totally different for everybody. That mentioned, $40 for Aftermath is…quite a bit. Half a marketing campaign, and three new characters—Fujin, Sheeva, and visitor star RoboCop. The math doesn’t actually add up, and that’s if we examine it to Mortal Kombat 11 alone, with its full-length marketing campaign and 25 combatants. Or the very fact you may get the total Mortal Kombat 11 base recreation plus its first run of add-on characters and Aftermath for simply $60. First-year consumers are getting burned right here.
If I’m dissatisfied on the value although, it’s solely as a result of Aftermath is such a improbable growth. It’s laborious to justify the acquisition for many who are merely eager about Mortal Kombat 11’s story, and but it’s each one of the crucial entertaining campaigns I’ve performed this 12 months, and essentially the most satisfying.
The MacGuffin this time is Kronika’s crown. When Liu Kang bested Kronika on the finish of Mortal Kombat 11 he froze her in place, then roundhouse kicked her icy head off, shattering her cranium into one million tiny items—and her crown. Unfortunately Shang Tsung seems mere seconds later and informs Liu Kang that no person can reset the timeline safely with out the crown. They’ll have to return in time once more and retrieve the crown, then defeat Kronika as soon as extra. Otherwise, it’s all for nought.
As I mentioned final 12 months, surface-level dumb. Aftermath may be very a lot within the vein of its predecessor, filled with sufficient time journey shenanigans to make Doc Brown blush. The stakes are even increased this time although, with Shang Tsung the right foil for Liu Kang and Raiden. He’s betrayed them so many occasions earlier than, however the enemy of my enemy and all that. If he’s providing to help them in opposition to Kronika, can they actually refuse?
Aftermath’s story manages to weave in the entire add-on characters from this previous 12 months—or the unique Mortal Kombat ones, a minimum of. No, RoboCop isn’t immediately Mortal Kombat canon. Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, and Sindel all play a task although, as do Aftermath additions Fujin and Sheeva. Five traditional characters, and with Aftermath it’s as in the event that they had been a part of Mortal Kombat 11 all alongside. Adding them to the marketing campaign legitimizes them, in a manner.
It additionally permits NetherRealm to ship a richer ending although, smoothing over a number of holes within the authentic framework. Jax, whose arc felt a bit rushed in Mortal Kombat 11, will get a fantastic second with Fujin in Aftermath. Scorpion and Sub-Zero additionally get one final scene, as does Johnny Cage. They’re not important moments. You may cease with the unique Mortal Kombat 11 and be completely happy. Aftermath merely places a flourish on it.
And most significantly, it brings this reboot trilogy full circle. It began with Shang Tsung. It ends with Shang Tsung. The villain ever since Mortal Kombat debuted in 1992, right here the participant is left to marvel about Shang Tsung’s motivations. He’s useful, however to what finish? That’s for you and Raiden to seek out out.
Like final 12 months I’m detest to spoil the specifics. The twists aren’t even “twists” per se, but it surely’s immensely entertaining to observe Aftermath play out. NetherRealm has perfected this model, the three-hour cinematic punctuated right here and there with moments the place you truly play a combating recreation. Aftermath is likely one of the finest motion films I’ve watched in 2020, and a stable combating recreation as effectively.
I haven’t talked as a lot about that side as a result of, effectively, in case you’re studying a overview of a Mortal Kombat 11 growth you undoubtedly know whether or not you’re up for that type of combating recreation. I’m having fun with Fujin although, in case you’re curious. I’m additionally trying ahead to taking part in extra with RoboCop.
Bottom line
Really I’m simply right here to speak about Aftermath’s story although. The price of admission is steep, however rattling it, NetherRealm earned each penny in my view. That gained’t maintain true for everybody, and also you’ll should make that decision your self. $40 for 3 hours is quite a bit, particularly when you have zero curiosity within the Towers or the Krypt or any of the opposite peripheral Mortal Kombat 11 modes.
There isn’t any padding although. No spinning the tires. Maybe that’s what I like. There’s an financial system of storytelling in Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, a way of pacing, that you just virtually by no means get from video video games as a result of they’re too anxious about taking on 100 hours of your time with busywork. Aftermath begins with the pedal to the ground and ends with the pedal by the ground. It’s one hell of a journey.