XBN reviews MK:D and gives it... a 5/10?
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posted10/02/2004 03:03 AM (UTC)by
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Tenoska
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[Aka : UltraMegaChicken (BBB), Sony Entertainment (GFaqs)]

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09/10/2004 02:38 PM (UTC)
Taken from a GFaqs topic...

Here's the pic the guy posted :
http://tinypic.com/as1eh

Here's the article he posted :

"Don’t Be Deceived.
Mortal Kombat defies the criticism. From the series humble beginnings as a Street Fighter clone more than a decade ago, Kombat’s appeal to the lowest common denominator has persevered. No doubt the game’s populist approach, with it’s gaudy spray of ketchup gore and spandex superhero character designs, has led to massive commercial success, giving the series instant tenability as a good fighting game. After all, a million fanatics can’t be wrong-can they? (Hint: Yes they can)
Strip away all the bonus activity in Mortal Kombat: Deception, the latest chapter in the series’ convoluted saga, and what you get is a 3D fighting amalgamation that’s no better than the sum of it’s borrowed parts. Gameplay, for the most part feels like it’s predecessor, Deadly Alliance. Unlike More subtle fighters such as Soul Calibur, where even seemingly simple moves serve great strategic purpose, winning matches here is simply a matter of watching for openings in your opponent’s defense (usually after he throws out a string of missed hits) and then unleashing a six-to-eight hit combo string. As a result, and consistent with the long lineage of Kombat titles, Deception’s melee feels more canned than intuitive-stilted rather than fluid.

As with the previous game, you’re afforded the three distinct styles of fighting per character, yet with next to zero background interaction (save for the occasional death trap you shove your opponents into) there’s little motivation to switch styles or context as to when you should alter the fighting techniques. Spend any time with the game and you’ll soon realize there are only a handful of useful moves any skilled player will need time and again to be effective. So what’s the point of memorizing attacks from all 3 move lists?
If nothing else, these characteristics are just more symptoms of Kombat’s quantity-over quality mentality. To its credit, however, Deception does attempt to evolve the series with new features. The first, a reversal system (called combo breakers) introduces more balance and skill to the proceedings, but sadly, you’re only limited to three uses per match.

Another curiosity is a meter next to your health bar comprised of different colored lights; they’re supposed to tell you when to attack and where to block, but they’re so abstract and tiny, no one but the most ardent Kombat disciple will take notice.
More significantly, Deception brings the series online for the first time. The results are solid, though unspectacular. You get on Xbox Live, set up a game, and let the carnage begin. Yet for all it’s net ambition, Deception half-bakes a lot of little details that would have made the difference between good and merely mediocre. There’s an alarming lack of customization options for both online and offline play, and you can hardly call each of the minigames (see sidebar) stand-alone.

The worst of these bonus modes is the “new and improved” Konquest mode intended to flesh out the Kombat universe through an RPG-like inteface. What you get instead is a shambling mess of an adventure made up of ridiculous fetch quest and crap voice acting.
Deception will undoubtedly please those who are less picky about which venue to hone their skills in. To be sure, fans of the series will once again lap up the hundreds of unlockable items purchased with “koins” earned through playing the game. But if you’re a fan of the fighting genre, there’s nothing here to recommend. Don’t be deceived by the hype. "


I still don't know if i believe it... But meh...
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MoodyShooter
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Dedicated, hopeless...Li Mei fan.

09/30/2004 09:27 PM (UTC)
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I'd say it sounds about right, especially about the fighting engine. Remember, 5/10 is average.
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MrSchpfmut
09/30/2004 09:30 PM (UTC)
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To be 100% honest... That has got to be the most accurate and purely candid review I've seen for the game!

Maybe this will be a wakeup to Ed that he needs to do something or he will lose some fan-base.
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FLSTYLE
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09/30/2004 09:32 PM (UTC)
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If I remember correctly everything this review has said has gone along with what has been said by the "gameplay fans" on this site, almost word by word.

Now no fanboy can call anyone MK haters because we aren't the only ones who realise the truth about the fighting system grin
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kodypowell
09/30/2004 09:34 PM (UTC)
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I agree with them but the thing is that the story and the characters brought back are amazing..
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kaiohx
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'Close your mouth. You have stupidity leaking out.'

09/30/2004 09:35 PM (UTC)
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I suppose thats one person's point of view, but he loses instant credability when he basically states that all Mortal Kombats have been crap. If they were, they would have died off with Primal Rage. Being biased towards something makes for shitty reviews, for good or bad.
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AberzX
09/30/2004 09:37 PM (UTC)
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Tenoska Wrote:
Taken from a GFaqs topic...

Here's the pic the guy posted :
http://tinypic.com/as1eh

Here's the article he posted :

"The first, a reversal system (called combo breakers) introduces more balance and skill to the proceedings, but sadly, you’re only limited to three uses per match.


What the fuck? ONLY 3? If there were infinite combo breakers, the rounds would always end by time! I swear to God some idiots don't know what the hell they're saying, words just flow out without even thinking.
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FLSTYLE
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09/30/2004 09:38 PM (UTC)
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kodypowell Wrote:
I agree with them but the thing is that the story and the characters brought back are amazing..


As with this review hopefully you'll realise that a game's story has nothing to do with the game's quality and the characters only matter to the fans who know them.

This review is about the game, for general gamers.
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sushix
09/30/2004 09:39 PM (UTC)
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I agree with everything said in the review.
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NinjaHellSpawn
09/30/2004 09:39 PM (UTC)
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I think theres 2 types of MK game reviews. MK fan boys and MK haters. This guy is obviously an MK hater. Anyone who says all the MKs before this were crap has to be. I'll agree with a lot of what he said about the engine etc but 5 out of 10 is harsh. Since this game is an upgrade of MKDA that would mean that MKDA is a sub standard game and I for one think it delivered pretty damn well. It may not be the absolute most in depth stratigic fighting game out but it's definatly more than a 5.
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mkfan116
09/30/2004 09:41 PM (UTC)
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it think it's a bit ,low, but if they're comparing it to other elite fighters out there, they are right. I don't think anyone can argue that the SC2, VF4, and Tekken fighting engines are far better than MK's. This doesn't bother me much, though. Yes the elites may be "better" fighting games, MK has my vote for the most fun.
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FLSTYLE
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09/30/2004 09:41 PM (UTC)
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AberzX Wrote:

Tenoska Wrote:
Taken from a GFaqs topic...

Here's the pic the guy posted :
http://tinypic.com/as1eh

Here's the article he posted :

"The first, a reversal system (called combo breakers) introduces more balance and skill to the proceedings, but sadly, you’re only limited to three uses per match.

What the fuck? ONLY 3? If there were infinite combo breakers, the rounds would always end by time! I swear to God some idiots don't know what the hell they're saying, words just flow out without even thinking.


whereas instead, after using 3 CB's, you have to resort back to MK:DA tactics.
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SoulEdge316
09/30/2004 09:45 PM (UTC)
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The review is real, but the reviewer is a self admitted MK hater.

A few weeks ago in another forum the GI score for Deception was brought up and he said his score would be much lower and well deserved for a crappy franchise like MK.

So bottom line, if you like Mortal Kombat, you know what you're getting and you'll be happy with the game. Think about that before throwing fits and having a heart attack.
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smaddy
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-Smaddy
If anyone at Rare is reading this, Where is Killer Instinct 3 already

09/30/2004 09:52 PM (UTC)
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I think it's definitely a bit critical/biased. He's on point with saying the fighting system is bit rock/paper/scissors like, however i have no doubt the game will be fun. While the game has evolved to 3d, the basic MK strategy is there. Play defensive and wait for your opening, which as a formula compared to Tekken, VF or SC can seem meek in comparison, do the to level of mastery of these games far exceeding MK. I think the fact the fact that MK is fairly easy to pick up makes it a fun game, or more accessible, which can make it open to a broader audience. He also went on a tirade about Konquest, which in general I expected to be kinda dumb, its comaparable to the ridiculous unlockable path in SC2, which is also retarded. I think he hits alot of points that are very true, but he's definitely got some MK Jadedness in em, which is why it comes off as mostly negative, in turn im an mk fan so this comes off as mostly positive. I think the most important factor of a game is, am I having fun playing this, not how does it stack up to the top tier games, and I personally have no doubt I'll be having fun playing it. just my .02 cents.

-Smaddy

(at least I havent heard the name Sektor once in this thread, *breathes sigh of relief*)
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balistic49
09/30/2004 09:54 PM (UTC)
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Having just three or infinite combo breakers wouldn't do anything. The breaker system they have is rushed and needs to be completely redone in my opinion. I'd rather have MK:DA tactics instead of the htree combo breakers "gimmick" myself but that's just me.
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AngryNailbunny
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Melodic Death Metal PWNS ALL

Your favorite band SUCKS.

09/30/2004 10:05 PM (UTC)
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My two cents:

Simply put, the fighting engine in MK is totally obsolete. While I am, always have been, and likely always will be an MK junkie, it's just NOT anywhere NEAR on-par with technical fighters like Soul Calibur 2, Tekken 4, or VF 4, etc.

Those games are in a totally different league. MK IS simply a "block, retaliate, block" game, and the styles you're given only operate through dial-a-combos, which totally rip apart any sense of intuitive control and truly strategic attack/defense.

While I totally disagree with the review in regards to the extra content, and I do believe this will surpass DA in all respects, I feel that Boon MUST realize that this type of fighter is dead. Period.

It's time to move on, and develop a far more intuitive, SKILL-BASED engine. Technical fighters are a standard not to be ignored, and sooner or later, all of us WILL get bored with this block/attack twitch stuff.

For now, I'm still thrilled with MKD, but if the next game is the same old song and dance, I don't know if Midway will get my attention so easily...
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Games4lynn
09/30/2004 10:06 PM (UTC)
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Does anyone know what score XBN gave Mk: Deadly Alliance. I don't really read that mag often, I'm not even sure they reviewed it.
Thanks
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Dremonius
09/30/2004 10:16 PM (UTC)
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I don't see what everyone has against the fighting engine. I have played Tekken and I hated the controls. I have never played Soul Calibur so I wouldn't know how they compared to that, but regardless, I think the game is designed just about how it should be. MKDA was the the funnest fighting game I have ever played. I had never even played an MK game before that one, its what finally peeked my interest in Mortal Kombat.
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glutony
09/30/2004 10:22 PM (UTC)
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Some have already hit on what MK is about, Fun. I've had all those "technical" fighters and they are all fine and dandy, but guess how many of them I still have, None. I traded them all in, after i got bored, because I wasn't having fun. The word that comes to mind is "Frustrating". Guess what I do still have and do still play, MK:DA, because I enjoy it. I haven't liked Tekken since the PS1 days, and while I enjoyed Soul Caliber 1 on Dreamcast and SC2 on PS2. The fun wears off after my wife, who hates playing games, plays SC2 for a few minutes and whips my ass by randomly mashing a bunch of buttons, or maybe her strategy is just better than mine. Call it a "twitch" game if you will but all of them I've played, "Technical" included, have been twitchy. MK is a fighter I can play and not worry about some noob coming along mashing buttons and winning. I'll take MK over all of them any day. This guy that reviewed MK:D can go back to Barnes and Noble, Sit in his reading chair and read a book that he doesn't intend to buy, sipping his double mocha lauttee with his "Save the Rainforest" shirt and keep pretending that he's too intellectual to do something fun.
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smaddy
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-Smaddy
If anyone at Rare is reading this, Where is Killer Instinct 3 already

09/30/2004 10:24 PM (UTC)
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Glutony, that was priceless man LOL!!

-Smaddy
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MPetrie
09/30/2004 10:26 PM (UTC)
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I personally disagree with him. Sure, he's entitled to his opinions, however, they should have an unbiased critic review it. However, I think this MK will be one of the more strategy based fighters out there. You have to be careful of how you use your combo breakers. You have to keep an eye on your health bar. You have to be careful not to put yourself in danger of an instant death. Even the Yin Yang stage.... be careful being near the water during the night time. We're going to have to be watching for many different things in order to become a great player... that involves strategy and skill. Sure, it's not the deepest fighter around... but it offers the most candy.
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person101
09/30/2004 10:30 PM (UTC)
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Wow...how did this room go from "I can't wait to get this game" to "ya this game is kinda lame." I agree that the fighting engine is not exactly top notch, but the MK series never was based on a great fighting system. I think they were trying to keep the same feel to the series, exept in 3D, while adding a few key elements to the engine to make it a little more in depth. It's more of the story line that makes MK what it is. In my opinion, I think this game will be very fun, with a lot of replay value.
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kodypowell
09/30/2004 10:31 PM (UTC)
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I kno that I'm not stupid.

But what they said was true MKD has more potential. Personally I think Puzzle Kombat and Chess Kombat are creative but they could've thought of something a little better. MKD seems smoothe and I hope it has no glitches.
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DMitch
09/30/2004 10:32 PM (UTC)
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Well, this was pretty harsh. Maybe the gameplay is far from perfect, but that review criticizes absolutely everything in th game? NO BACKGROUND INTERACTION EXCEPT FOR DEATHTRAPS, now that's a fucking lie.
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queve
09/30/2004 10:39 PM (UTC)
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I have to agree with some VERY SMALL parts of that review.

But that person is definitely a Mortal Kombat hater, some things he said really messed his entire review.
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