Metareview - Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (PS2)

by Blake Snow { Oct 10th 2006 at 11:30AM }

Midway released its seventh Mortal Kombat fighter (excluding special editions) this week; Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. The game features over 60 characters from just about every MK game you can think of, create a fighter mode, create a fatality mode, only play, and story modes. Though I haven't been a fan of the series since MKII (seems like it took a dive starting with MKIII), Armageddon is getting some solid initial reviews with an average Meta Critic score of 86/100. Here's a sampling of reviews:

Games Radar 90% - "It may or may not be the blood-soaked ending to the franchise, but it's easily one of the most enjoyable games in the series and one of the most unapologetically fun games of the season."
IGN 85% - "The inclusion of 62 total warriors is a massive achievement. Throw in a fun, albeit short Konquest mode, a diversionary mini-game, a new fatality system, and perhaps one of the largest character creation modes we've seen, and you have a great title that will keep Mortal Kombat fans busy for months."
Game Informer 83% - "The Mortal Kombat series has had its ups and downs, and this sequel embodies it all. The immense roster is a glorious thing, but by altering the sacred Fatality, the action just isn't up to the series' standards or what fans expect."

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon retails for $40. An Xbox edition hits next week with a Wii version expected sometime in early 2007.

A shot of the massive character selection screen.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

crono141 @ Oct 10th 2006 11:21AM

First news story of the day is at 11:18? Must be a real slow news day.

I wonder how many EB/Gamestops have already pre-ordered all their PS3s. Too bad I don't have their number and press connections to find that out and write a blog about it... *wink wink* :)

DocWho @ Oct 10th 2006 11:39AM

I would prefer a meta-review of Bubble Bobble Revolution for the DS, thanks any way.

FSK405K @ Oct 10th 2006 11:37AM

uh, how about a news story: "Every EB/Gamestop telephone to be ignored today"?

Patrick @ Oct 10th 2006 11:39AM

I was there today. Phone calls were low. But as reported earlier each EB had 8 or 16 to sell. At my mall they were sold out within 30 mins. And those who did get them, had been there probably an hour to two before the mall even opened.

FSK405K @ Oct 10th 2006 11:48AM

While I was waiting for mine (arrived 9:40 for 10:00 store opening), the phone did not stop ringing. They mostly let the phone ring but sometimes said either "you'll have to come in and wait" or "we've already sold all our preorders." Twenty minutes before opening, and #10 of 14 available...it's great living in an area where there are a lot of EB's within a few miles.

Erik Novak @ Oct 10th 2006 11:53AM

Every EB and Gamestop was sold out of PS3 orders at the time they opened. There were about 30 people in line at every one and I was #20, but they only had 14 at my location. I underestimated the demand because I visit Joystiq too often. :)

Seriously though, I wish this was backwards compatible on the 360, because ps2's online is pretty bare bones. Oh well, still looks like a fun romp.

Vincent @ Oct 10th 2006 11:54AM

"3. I would prefer a meta-review of Bubble Bobble Revolution for the DS, thanks any way."

Okay, here you go:

I pre-ordered the game paid in full two months ago, but didn't get it until 3 days after it came out due to some shipping error, my local EB (which I used to work for) didn't get them in time. Anyway...

Pros:
-Includes original Arcade mode, with wireless multi-card play.
-New "Revolutionized" Bubble Bobble gameplay is great. The new features including the Charge Bubble add a new level of strategy to the game.
-Lengthy gameplay & great replayability.
-Multiplayer is just like the good old days.
-Other new powerups add whole new ways to play, the Ghost Bubble is pretty sweet.

Cons:
-Multi-card play instead of single-card download play.
-Difficult Single-player mode, since there are the same amount of baddies, and bosses take same amount of hits.
-$60 for two completely different Bubble Bobble games with multiplayer = disappointing, but not terribly so.
-Wifi woulda OWNED th is game left and right.

FSK405K @ Oct 10th 2006 11:58AM

"backwards compatible on the 360" ? You mean play 360 games on PS3?

murph @ Oct 10th 2006 11:56AM

"Though I haven't been a fan of the series since MKII (seems like it took a dive starting with MKIII)"

amen brother. which is why it sucks that UMK3 is coming to XBox Live Arcade and not MK2.

Daniel @ Oct 10th 2006 11:58AM

Is it just me or are IGN's reviews WAY too long? I'm not an illiterate 13-year-old who suffers from ADD, but c'mon, four pages is just ridiculous!

Jason W @ Oct 10th 2006 12:59PM

I got my preorder. Im still not sold on the PS3 but i figured I would throw it down today or miss out for the next 8 or so months. So far only two games im remotely interested in for it right now (and about 11 for the 360 they are releasing some great ones right now) but this game will play so I guess thats good. I may eng up getting call of duty for the PS3 and the Tom Clancy games if their online stacks up and I can wait a extra week or so to play them.

reguy @ Oct 10th 2006 12:17PM

watch the xbox version look better than the wii mk

stop right there ndf, its just a joke, little joke

Pal @ Oct 10th 2006 12:47PM

Sigh. I still miss the older designs before they went 3D. It looks too cartoony now.

Lou D @ Oct 10th 2006 1:54PM

I think all these Wii games that were supposed to launch that are now delayed are such so as to add online play.

I thought MK:Deception was really good. Loved the Konquest mode there.

I guess all the creativity and story should have ended there(hence the need for a new generation of MK), but Midway needs to make some money and they made this version light on story(Konquest) and big on roster as sort of fan service and sort of "we need cash" because the real "next gen of MK" won't be ready for a while...

I'll probably get it when it goes Player's Choice.

Batzarro @ Nov 9th 2006 10:53AM

It's cool. Specially Karacter making. I made Deathstrike. At times if feels like Captain Planet works at Midway, cause they sure love recycling. I wonder, then, why they didn't add CERTAIN things to this mode that were obviously already there: Stick weapon style, some other special moves etc. But It's good enought, and fighting isn't as stiff as the other games. Reader Review: 7.9.

Ps: I love these create-a-modes.I was making Venom and Joker in WWF: attitude back in the day!