I agree that there is a learning curve, but disagree that there’s no fun to be had if you just want to play a few matches with friends, or hit up a single player tower. That’s the great thing about NRS games. The depth is there if you wish to explore.

I’d say taking that step back is really unnecessary. If they ever wish to revisit remastering the original trilogy, I’d be down for that. But the future games should absolutely keep building on the current formula.

RasAlGhul, I also miss the digitized sprites but the game engine in these last MKs is way better.
So they could make an MK with this new engine and digitize the whole game..
That would be awesome I think.

They should go fully 3D with MK11.

The series has come a long way since 1992. Back then the digitized graphics were really something else. Not a lot of games did it, but the ones that did were always memorable. Mortal Kombat of course was always the most memorable for me, and the simplistic, easy-to-pick up gameplay meant that anyone could come along and get good within a few hours of play.

But no. Absolutely not. The series has come too far. Gaming, in general, has come too far for something so simplistic. As a diehard fan of the series since the arcade days, who loves Mk1 and MK2 more than any other MK even still, there is a limit to nostalgia and throwback factor. Today's market is not one for simplified games. Games are challenging, require a learning curve, and they are immersive. There's a lot to take in, and a lot is given in return. I'd love an updated version of MK1 or MK2, but would never want to see a brand new entry in the MK series so simplified. Nor would I ever want to see it go back to the 3d realm.

MK has returned to its roots, and is firmly in its niche. There's no need for a drastic change like that