LEGO Mortal Kombat Announced
by IrishSiren, HSM team writer
Hot on the heels of the latest LEGO Star Wars release, NetherRealm Studios and LEGO have announced the upcoming LEGO Mortal Kombat title for PlayStation 3, XBox 360, and PC.
“We feel this is an excellent opportunity to show that the LEGO brand isn’t just for kids,” says Ed Boon, NetherRealm’s Creative Director. “By creating an M-rated LEGO title, we are confident that in addition to taking the Mortal Kombat franchise in a new direction, we can help reintroduce LEGOs to the core demographic of video game purchasers who are now in their thirties and forties.”
LEGO CEO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp agrees. “The Mortal Kombat series is a perfect fit for the LEGO video game format,” he tells HSM. “After the success of our LEGO Ninjago line, it became clear that we could creatively venture into territory which promises to yield significant revenue gains during the upcoming 2011 holiday season.”
In terms of game mechanics, there are two basic modes: Story and Arcade.
Taja
Story mode plays very much like previous LEGO video games, such as LEGO Star Wars III or LEGO Harry Potter. Nearly everything in each setting can be manipulated or destroyed, and certain areas are only unlockable with the aid of a second player (similar to Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks).
In Story mode, you follow Kung Lao on his quest to defeat Shao Kahn and Outworld army from taking over the realm of Earth; the second playable character is, interestingly enough, Taja from the Mortal Kombat: Konquest TV series. Details of how she fits into the story are vague, but evidently it has to do with a quest for vengeance against Shang Tsung.
(Rumors suggest that both Paolo Montalbán and Kristanna Loken have lent their voice talents to their respective characters, but we cannot confirm this yet.)
Story mode (Kung Lao in alternate costume)
Of particular note, once Story mode is completed, the levels can be played through with any unlocked character. In addition, a second quest (albeit shorter) can be unlocked, in which you play as Shang Tsung or Quan Chi attempting to fully unlock Earthrealm for Shao Kahn’s invasion. This quest evidently ends with a duel against Onaga, although the game’s developers are keeping mum as to the details.
Arcade mode, on the other hand, is classic Mortal Kombat, albeit with a LEGO twist. In an era in which video games strive to bring ever more realistic graphics, there is something wonderfully amusing about performing a blocky LEGO Fatality. And yes, there are Fatalities and Brutalities galore; skulls are decapitated with their spinal columns still dangling, vivisection is as common as seeing Angelina Jolie adopt a child, and fountains of red blocks pour from severed limbs.
The control interface is surprisingly robust and multifaceted. A typical LEGO video game has a very simple interface — one button for all the attacks, and the other for magic/Force abilities — whereas LEGO Mortal Kombat has taken great pains to emulate many of the complicated kombos and abilities of the various kombatants. While the game makes little use of the Sixaxis motion sensitivity, we can confirm that this game is in fact compatible with the Move.
Also, in a welcome tip of the hat, we can confirm that a LEGO version of Dan Forden does indeed pop up onto the screen and shout “Toasty!” whenever you perform a particularly vicious series of moves finished with an uppercut.
Toasty!
While my playing time with LEGO Mortal Kombat was limited, and I was only exposed to an unfinished demo, I can tell you that the game does have a rather unique (if unorthodox) charm to it. At first glance, the idea of combining two wildly different franchises like LEGO and Mortal Kombat would seem laughable — and it is, because this is an April Fools Day article — but it’s a bold and adventurous move which will hopefully be copied by other developers and publishers worldwide.
April 1st, 2011 by IrishSiren | 5 comments
IrishSiren is a former casual Home user who enjoyed Loco Roco island, Dragon's Green, Conspiracy, and ModNation Racers. In real life she is addicted to scuba diving, Grumpy Cat and reality TV. She lives in Hawaii.
Toasty indeed, cant wait till the demo comes out.
All I can say is “If only…”
I can see why they keep most of you HSM folks on an island.
LOL FINISH HIM / HER!
Cant wait to see the Lego version of a Stop Motion GORO.
Wow, im reading this a year later (for the 1st time) and its still funny, good job