Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath is an enjoyable and worthwhile addition to Mortal Kombat 11’s story. The new characters and Shang Tsung-oriented story make the package great, and die-hard Mortal Kombat fans especially will find a lot to love in the smaller details.
Mortal Kombat 11 : Aftermath
Developer: Netherrealms Studios
Price: $60
Platforms: PS4 (reviewed), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS4 code for review
I loved Mortal Kombat 11 when it originally released, and have sporadically played it since then as new characters were released. The announcement of new DLC that added to the story and included three new characters was enough to get me to dive back in fully. This largely proved to be worthwhile thanks to the entertaining story and fresh new characters (especially Robocop.)
Aftermath picks up directly as Mortal Kombat 11 ends. Kronika is dead, Liu Kang is now the god of fire and lightning, and he and Raiden plan to recreate the timeline using the all-powerful Hourglass. Suddenly, Shang Tsung appears with Fujin and Nightwolf, warning Liu Kang of dire consequences should he try to alter time without Kronika’s now-destroyed crown. Against their better judgement, Liu Kang and Raiden agree to send Shang Tsung back in time (with Fujin and Nightwolf to supervise him) in order to get the crown back, to ensure the timeline is restored to a better state.
The most fun part of the entire story is, unsurprisingly, the delightfully devious Shang Tsung. Everyone knows he’s going to betray them, but circumstances force everyone to work with him. This leads to betrayal after betrayal, with a lot of good guys getting horribly wounded or killed in surprisingly cruel ways. Time travel shenanigans take away some of the impact, but it’s still pleasantly shocking at times. There are two different endings to Aftermath, depending on who you side with, which is a touch. It’s quick and easy to get both endings, and I like being able to see how things would be if Shang Tsung snuck in one more bit of deception.
“Every attack and cosmetic option reference his source material to the smallest detail, and the fact that Peter Weller came back to voice Robocop is the cherry on top.“
Speaking of which, I have to give some specific praise to the brilliant Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who played Shang Tsung in the glorious 1995 Mortal Kombat movie, as his reprisal of Shang Tsung in Aftermath is as perfect as it could be. The way Cary balances endless charisma with slimy malevolence is a sight to behold, and it makes Shang Tsung the highlight of the new story the whole way through.
Also included in Aftermath are three new characters: Robocop, Fujin, and Sheeva. While I would have preferred Mileena or Havik to Sheeva, Fujin’s long-awaited return and Robocop being present in general makes the group feel like a perfect addition to the roster. And to be fair, Sheeva works well in Aftermath’s stor, and plays in a fairly interesting way, so she still gets a passing grade in my book.
Fujin’s wind-based moveset feels refreshing to use when compared to his brother Raiden’s, and his new redesign is fantastic. I’ve really missed Fujin and what he brings to the story with his lighter and kinder personality, so I’m glad his return is of such high quality. Finally, there’s Robocop. Naturally, Robocop is a fantastic addition, as he’s already one of the coolest characters ever made by mankind. Every attack and cosmetic option reference his source material to the smallest detail, and the fact that Peter Weller came back to voice Robocop is the cherry on top. I’m quite happy with the chosen characters, now if we could only get to the bottom of that Ash Williams rumour…
Though technically released for free alongside Aftermath, the Friendship finishers deserve a shout-out for how creative and silly they are. From the Joker being interrupted by a stray Batarang to Kitana playing patty-cake with the sadly-absent Mileena, there’s a ton of fanservice and straight-up goofy imagery shoved into each Friendship. It’s a good addition to the base game, as I could watch Robocop dance all day. The new versions of the Deadpool and Soul Chamber stages are brilliant as well, though my favorite new stage has to be the Retrocade, which swaps backgrounds every round between a number of classic Mortal Kombat stages.
The Final Word
Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath is a bountiful and fun expansion to the base game. The new storyline is full of cruel and hammy goodness, while the new characters are all unique. Also, you can play as Robocop, so I’m not sure what else one could ask for. Overall, Aftermath is worth grabbing if you enjoyed Mortal Kombat 11, or just want some strong new content for an already great fighting game.
MonsterVine Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
