Gaming review: Mortal Kombat XL (18)

Picture the scene, I am sat in a darkened room with a slight luminous red glow in the background. My opponent is parked next to me focussed on the screen and lost deep within the introduction of 'The Pit' and the choice of characters gracing the screen with their very typical Mortal Kombat eerie presence.

I have decided to choose, Xenomorph from Alien and my opponent has opted for Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Who looks mysteriously creepy).

The fight goes to the final round, I hit an all mighty combo followed by the 'Xeno Strike' which stuns my opponent - "Finish Him" i'm abruptly told, so I hit a sequence of buttons, the screen darkens and Alien pulls apart Leatherface's head and turns his body into what can only be described as "a can of baked beans".

These are just some of the wonderfully, brutal experiences Mortal Kombat XL offers with its new complete edition of the game.

Last year we saw the long awaited release of the most gleaming and best looking Mortal Kombat to date. Introducing an all-new raw theme and plenty of updated gameplay elements, Mortal Kombat X was a great success scoring an impressive 83 on Metacritic. Now Netherrealm Studio's, the developer of the merciless, bludgeoning franchise, are looking to build on the hype with a game of the year style edition of it's ever growing fighter.

Mortal Kombat X colonised a new style of gameplay formula for the new addition of the series. Players could now opt from one of three character modes to suit their playing style. The new formula would not only increase tactical divergency of gameplay, but also added extra depth to each of the characters on offer. Having several unique move sets, that are dependent on the chosen discipline, made the characters seem more like veteran martial arts masters.

Mortal Kombat XL includes several new characters to the already ruthless roster alongside a host of new and improved skins. The skins, while creatively pleasing, are not the real justification for the pack. The newly added characters however are worth every single penny. For the Mortal Kombat X players who missed the last DLC pack, Mortal Kombat XL includes all the new downloadable characters: Xenomorph (From Alien), Jason Voorees, Leatherface, Predator, Tremor, Tanya, Triborg, Goro and the drunken mess that is Bo' Rai Cho.

Each one of these new characters is incredibly exciting, adding new play styles, combos, brutalities and of course, the ever blood-thirsty and entertaining fatalities. New fatalities are not only included for new characters, also available in the pack are new (And very Impressive) fatalities for existing characters such as Sub-Zero for instance.

Pick of the DLC litter definitely has to go to Leatherface. Using his patented chainsaw as a main weapon and his ever violent hammer swings as its backup, (His chain Fatality is especially entertaining as well as gruesome), all these make Leatherface a serious adversary. Netherrealm Studios have captured the true structure of the character with great precision in his animations. His jittery and unnerving movements and demented grunts all elevate the heightened fear factor, not to mention his gruelling mask. Leatherface also has a brutality worthy of the name, viciously beating the opponent to death with repeated hammer blows to the head.

Alien has got some pretty satisfying moves in its arsenal, most enjoyably a brutality that involves a baby Alien (As seen in the movies) spewing from the defeated players stomach.

It is certainly going to be a big hit with horror, fighter and sci-fi fans and it is easy to see why

This ever indulgent nod to the memorable scene in Alien does not feel like a cheap attempt at nostalgia, but will certainly satisfy sci-fi and Mortal Kombat fans alike.

Bo' Rai Cho is the ugly duckling in this cast of beautiful swans. Simply put, there are way too many vulgar bodily functions that rain in during every playing moment.

From all of the fluids spilled during a game of MK, excessive sick is not one that really hits the spot.

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To sum up, Mortal Kombat XL is a fantastic edition. It is certainly going to be a big hit with horror, fighter and sci-fi fans and it is easy to see why.

Plus you can create your own horror movie mash ups with your friends by finding out who would win, if a battle was to be decided.

Alien or Predator? Jason or Leatherface? (We'll leave you to the debate) This is a good reason as any to jump straight into the pit.

By Simon Hill