A much improved strategy guide, BradyGames has released the what they're calling "Issue 2" of their Mortal Kombat: Deception strategy guide. The Mortal Kombat: Deception Kode Book features a more complete Konquest guide, Koffin list for the Krypt, all the Fatalities and Hara Kiris in one dedicated section, and even an arena guide, complete with a listing of all the death traps and stage weapons (with their combos) available to that particular stage. If you haven't gotten a strategy guide yet, this is the one to get - available in supermarkets and video game stores across the U.S.A. now!

Nintendo Power is covering the GameCube version of Mortal Kombat: Deception in their February 2005 issue, and in this issue, they interview Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon. In the interview, the identity of the extra characters in the GameCube are revealed; the extra characters are none other than the Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn and the Shokan prince Goro! From the interview:

NP: What led to the inclusion of Goro and Shao Kahn as exclusive characters?
EB: Since the Nintendo GameCube version is coming out after the other versions, we wanted to add something exclusive and special to set it apart. People have always wanted to control the boss characters in MK, and now we are giving them the chance to control two of the biggest, baddest bosses from any MK game!

NP: What do Goro and Shao Kahn bring to the Mortal Kombat universe?
EB: They are going to bring big, massive power moves. With their size, players are going to expect them to be power characters, and that's exactly what they will be. They will also have some brutal fatality moves.

The article also has a render of Shao Kahn, complete with glowing red eyes, battle armor, and brown cape. As always, we are unable to provide scans of the article due to copyright reasons. However, the issue should be on newsstands soon, or available via subscription. We'll be keeping an eye on this story, so keep checking back with us!

Our thanks to forum member Syclone for the heads-up on this breaking news story!

GameSpot has named their picks for the top games of 2004 in a feature called GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2004. Among their picks, GameSpot has chosen Midway's Mortal Kombat: Deception as the Best Fighting Game for 2004! From the article:

The game's online component is easy to jump right into, and with the additional Archon-like chess mode, you can drop the game's fighting engine into something a little bit deeper. The game's characters use a wide variety of fighting styles, and have special moves that need to be feared and respected, especially because many of them open you up to the game's combo system, which can be very damaging. But the game balances these combos out pretty nicely with an intuitive combo-breaker system that gives you three "get out of jail free cards" per match, letting you get out of a combo or juggle before things get too serious.

The quality of the characters is always a big part of a fighting game's appeal, and Mortal Kombat: Deception does a really great job here. From returning favorites like Raiden, Nightwolf, and Ermac, to newer inclusions like Kobra, Ashrah, and Kira, MK: Deception's roster is another one of its high points. Did we mention that Liu Kang is a crazy zombie with chains on his wrists and fireballs at the ready? Great character design is a large part of what makes Deception such a memorable fighting game.

We at Mortal Kombat Online would like to congratulate the Mortal Kombat design team for another well-deserved win. To read the entry in its entirety, click here.

Our thanks to forum member thedogg for the heads-up on this news story!

A recent issue of RedEye Chicago featured a story concerning the Illinois Retail Merchants Association criticizing a decision by the governor of Illinois concerning the sale of M-rated video games to minors. Included in this story was an image from Mortal Kombat: Deception that had not been seen before and has since caused some controversy. It showed Mileena facing off against none other than Shao Kahn himself, in the nighttime portion of the Yin-Yang Arena. After some checking, we have learned that this image is NOT fake; it is a legitimate screenshot. In the image, Kahn looks about the same as he always does, save the addition of a brown cape similar to that worn in the MK3 concept sketches drawn by John Tobias.

The exact origin of the image is as yet unknown, however, we believe that it could very well be from the GameCube version of the game, possibly meaning that Shao Kahn could be one of the extra characters included to make up for the lack of online play. However, we have yet to get confirmation either way.

We are not posting the scans for copyright reasons, as always. Stay tuned to MK Online, as we'll be keeping a close eye on this story as it develops!

Our thanks to the several people who wrote in to let us know about this important news story!

Miami, Florida is where the latest OtakuCon convention was held. Though mostly an anime/manga convention, there was a pretty good gaming element to this year's show. There were tournaments for several games, including but not limited to Mortal Kombat: Deception. (Other games included Super Smash Bros Melee, Tekken 4, Capcom vs. SNK, Guilty Gear: Isuka, Soul Calibur II, and Halo 2.) Though scheduling conflicts didn't allow direct participation in the MK:D tournament held there, it was alright as the only prizes given out were bags full of anime books/DVD's/figurines. Anyhow, enjoy these pics of the show floor and be amazed as Mortal Kombat infiltrates the whole "Otaku" subculture. Also of interest are the crazy costumed characters (note the alliteration) and the adult-only Street Fighter comics for sale there. Special thanks to ]{0MBAT's Girlfriend for notifying MKO about the convention, as well attending the show with us!