There are also significant changes in the underlying controls, changing the pace of the fights quite noticeably. Of course ,the game's iconic violent finishing moves, aka “fatalities”, remain as creative and brutal as ever.

A deep focus on the character unlocking system, however, might end up being its double-edged sword, trying to add depth to the franchise's single player experience but instead feeling like a grind. 

Mortal Kombat 11's main narrative features the major appearance of an alternate timeline courtesy of the new main baddie Kronika, providing the game with opportunities to do interesting things such as time-hopping into older Mortal Kombat lore and meeting with past versions of characters.

This is especially fun for gamers who have been fans of the franchise since 1992 and not unlike Marvel's recent callback to its own legacy in Endgame. It's impossible not to delight in Johnny Cage trading fists and wisecracks with past versions of himself.

The story itself remains engaging and continues the reboot-of-sorts that began with 2011's Mortal Kombat, the game's ninth installment. There's some poignant moments for the characters, mostly old favorites such as Jax and Kitana, though the main thread still rests dependably on Liu Kang and Raiden, characters who have been there since day one.

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