Month: May 2020

The story of Mortal Kombat 11 isn’t quite finished just yet.

Netherrealm just announced Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, an expansion that will add brand-new story content that takes place right where Mortal Kombat 11 left off, along with three new characters: Fujin, Sheeva, and RoboCop. That’s not all, though, because in addition to the content offered in the paid expansion there will also be a free update on May 26 for all players that will add new stages, stage fatalities, and most importantly, friendships!

Here’s everything we know so far about Aftermath:

What is The Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Story About?

The story of Aftermath picks up right at the conclusion of Mortal Kombat 11, so if you haven’t beaten it yet, consider this your spoiler warning.

From what little we’ve seen of Aftermath, it seems to almost exclusively follow the DLC characters: Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, Fujin, Sheeva, and Sindel. That’s great, because their parts in the main MK11 story were practically non-existent aside from a few short scenes with Sheeva.

After defeating Kronika, Raiden and the now literally godlike Liu Kang are about to create a brand-new timeline of their own making… only to be interrupted by Shang Tsung, who had been captured by Kronika (along with Fujin and Nightwolf) and was freed upon her defeat.

Shang Tsung warns that if Liu Kang creates a new timeline he will destroy all the realms because, in the process of defeating Kronika, he destroyed her crown. The crown essentially acted as the key to make Kronika’s hourglass work, and trying to use the hourglass without it would only invite disaster. And so, their only option is to send Shang Tsung, Fujin, and Nightwolf back in time in order to retrieve Kronika’s crown before she’s able to obtain it.

What Are The New Stages and Stage Fatalities in Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath?

There are two confirmed new stages: The Dead Pool and the Soul Chamber, both of which are classic Mortal Kombat stages. The Dead Pool originated in Mortal Kombat 2 in 1992 and the Soul Chamber debuted in Mortal Kombat 3 in 1995. Stage Fatalities are making a comeback as well, and we got our first taste of the Dead Pool stage fatality in the reveal trailer, where Sub-Zero uppercuts Scorpion onto a hook and is then lowered into a pool of acid.

The Return of Friendships in Mortal Kombat

Friendships have been missing in Mortal Kombat ever since 1996’s Mortal Kombat Trilogy, but they’re finally making a comeback in Aftermath. We’ve seen three so far: Scorpion spearing a huge teddy bear for a big ol’ hug, Noob Saibot using his clones to jump some rope, and Kano putting another shrimp on the barbie.

Which Characters Come in Kombat Pack 2?

Rather than release characters one by one, we’re getting three DLC characters up front as part of Kombat Pack 2:

• The Shokan queen Sheeva

• Raiden’s brother and the god of wind, Fujin

• RoboCop

Sheeva’s last playable appearance in a Mortal Kombat game was Mortal Kombat 9 in 2011, though she did have a brief part to play in the MK11 story. Sheeva’s gameplay style is described as a grappler, with throws to cover every situation. Low grapple, overhead grapple, anti-air grapple, and of course, her unblockable teleport slam.

Fujin hasn’t been a playable character in Mortal Kombat since Mortal Kombat Armageddon way back in 2006, but he has been present in Mortal Kombat lore since then, notably fighting alongside his brother in 2015’s Mortal Kombat X. His fighting style revolves around a sword, a crossbow, and his wind powers, the latter of which he uses to manipulate both his weapons and his enemies.

And then there’s Robocop, who features both the iconic voice and likeness of Peter Weller, who of course played Alex Murphy in the original RoboCop 1 and 2. RoboCop is described as a character who excels at keeping his opponents at bay with his Auto-9 pistol, flamethrower, riot shield, and shoulder cannon that can be loaded with various types of ammo.

Along with the three new characters, there will also be three new character skin packs that will be released over time.

How Much Will Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Cost?

There are three options when it comes to pre-ordering or purchasing Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath when it’s released on May 26. For those who own MK11 and the first Kombat Pack already, there’s a $39.99 upgrade pass that gets you all of the new content in Aftermath: both the story DLC and the Kombat Pack 2 characters.

If you have MK11, but not the first Kombat Pack, there’s a bundle containing Aftermath and Kombat Pack 1 that costs $49.99.

And finally, if you’re completely new to MK11 and want everything, there’s the Aftermath Kollection, which contains vanilla MK11, Kombat Pack 1, and the Aftermath expansion, all for the cost of $59.99. Physical versions will be available in June (for the Americas only).

It’s also important to emphasize that Friendships, the new stages, and stage fatalities are not part of Aftermath. They will all be part of a free update that will be available to all players.

And that’s everything we know! Let us know what character you’re most excited about in the poll below, and sound off in the comments.

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Ever since 2011’s Mortal Kombat, NetherRealm Studios have made a tradition of including guest characters in the roster for both MK and the Injustice franchises. Tossing in the likes of Kratos and Freddy Krueger in brutal MK universe, the developers has kept up with keeping the fans guessing on which movie, comic-book, or television character will join the fight next. Mortal Kombat 11 already features Spawn, The Joker, and The Terminator, but with the upcoming Aftermath expansion, RoboCop, one of the most popular action-heroes from the 1980s, will join the fray.

RoboCop will arrive in MK11 with Fujin and Sheeva when the Aftermath expansion releases on May 26 for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia. Revealed in the latest trailer, which shows Shang Tsung and his allies taking on a new threat after the conclusion of MK11’s story, RoboCop makes his entrance at the end of the video, showcasing his custom side-arm and well-known dislike for bad guys.

Alongside The Terminator, Predator, and Alien–characters that have also made appearances in the Mortal Kombat franchise–RoboCop is the latest guest character to evoke nostalgia for a particular era of movie pop-culture. In addition to his classic look, NetherRealm Studios and WB Games brought back actor and Ph.D. college professor Peter Weller to reprise his role, making this the first time since 1992’s RoboCop 2 that he’s portrayed the character. Fans of RoboCop will be able to use the cyborg police officer to face off against MK11’s current fighters, most especially The Terminator. With the Aftermath expansion, you’ll be able to see a rematch between the two cyborgs that seems like it’s pulled from the pages of Frank Miller’s cult comic-book series RoboCop Versus The Terminator.

Though details are a bit scarce on RoboCop’s moveset and abilities in battle, NetherRealm devs stated in a chat before the reveal that RoboCop will be able to use his iconic side-arm, along with several other skills and weaponry–including a shoulder-mounted cannon. The devs will no doubt have to take some liberties with the character to have him keep up in a fast-paced battle of Mortal Kombat but, hopefully, RoboCop’s iconic walk and cadence will still translate well to the game.

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath is the first expansion of its kind for the franchise. This DLC will also see the return of classic MK stages Soul Chamber and Dead Pool, along with stage fatalities and Friendships–which have been absent from the series since 1997’s Mortal Kombat Trilogy. Current owners of Mortal Kombat 11 and the original Kombat Pack, can upgrade to the Aftermath expansion for $40 to gain access to the new characters and story mode. Owners of just the base game can purchase the Aftermath + Kombat Pack bundle for $50. Newcomers to the series can purchase the Aftermath Kollection for $60, which includes the base game, all DLC content (characters and skins), and the new expansion.

For more on Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, be sure to check out our breakdown of what’s coming with the new expansion.

NetherRealm Studios’ Mortal Kombat 11 recently celebrated its first anniversary, and the the developers even teased that more content was on the way for the evolving fighting game. Now, Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath has been revealed, and it’s the first expansion of its kind for the franchise. In addition to adding three new fighters–including the next guest character RoboCop–it also includes new stages, stage fatalities and friendships, and, unexpectedly, more story content.

Releasing on May 26 for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and Stadia, Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath will mark the beginning of year two content for NetherRealm’s fighting game. For the first time in the series, Mortal Kombat will see an expansion to the game’s existing main story, which will bring recurring antagonist Shang Tsung to the forefront. Set immediately after MK11’s conclusion, which saw Liu Kang ascend to Godhood and defeat Kronika, he and Raiden seek to create a new and better timeline for all realms. However, Shang Tsung and his allies Nightwolf and Fujin intervene, revealing a greater threat is at play.

The new epilogue storyline for Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath will introduce much of the new content coming to MK11, which includes revisits to classic stages like MK2’s Dead Pool and MK3’s Soul Chamber. In addition, Aftermath will bring back stage fatalities and friendships, which will end grotesque matches on a much lighter note. Friendships have been absent from the series since 1997’s Mortal Kombat Trilogy, so this is the first time in over 20 years that the alternate finishing move has been in a Mortal Kombat game. While these new additions will arrive with Aftermath, the new stages and friendships will be available for all players later as a free update.

Aftermath will also bring back classic fighters like the wind god Fujin and the Shokan warrior Sheeva, who’ve been absent from the roster for quite sometime. While both characters have made brief appearances in the last two games, they’re playable once again in Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath. Each will have a significant role in the new story missions, which will reveal where their allegiances truly lie, and who they’ll come into conflict with.

Continuing with the tradition of introducing guest characters–with previous MK11 guests being Spawn, The Joker, and The Terminator–Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath will see the arrival of the first guest character for year two: Detroit’s own cyborg police officer, RoboCop. Originally from the hyper-violent 1987 action-film directed by Paul Verhoeven, RoboCop is a well-armed and immensely powerful action-hero, which makes him an excellent fit for MK. Though details are scarce on how he’ll fight, the original film’s actor Peter Weller will reprise the role for his appearance in MK11, for complete authenticity.

For newcomers looking to jump into Mortal Kombat 11’s new content, an Aftermath Kollection will be available for purchase. This will include all existing DLC characters and skins for $60. Current owners of Mortal Kombat 11 and the original Kombat Pack, can upgrade to the Aftermath expansion for $40, while owners of the base game can purchase the Aftermath + Kombat Pack bundle for $50.

In our review of Mortal Kombat 11, senior editor Edmond Tran stated: “MK11 isn’t just a sequel for series fans and NetherRealm devotees, it’s a gateway into the realm of fighting games for anyone who has a passing interest in watching ruthless warriors beat each other silly. Streamlined mechanics keep the act of fighting furiously exciting no matter what your skill level, and comprehensive tutorials encourage you to dig into the nitty-gritty. There’s a diverse roster of interesting characters and playstyles, and the story mode is an entertaining romp. The randomization of Krypt rewards and the odd issue with the game’s always-online nature can occasionally chip away at your patience, but Mortal Kombat 11 absolutely hits where it matters.”

For more on Mortal Kombat 11 and the Aftermath Expansion, be sure to check back with us at GameSpot.

Gorn, the violent gladiator VR brawler that launched on PC in 2019 to strong reviews, is coming to PlayStation VR. The wait isn’t long, either–it’ll be available on May 19, and it’ll feature a mode that will turn the gore down.

In Gorn, you handle weapons from a first-person perspective and battle rubbery-looking enemies. You can shoot them, stab them, chop them, and also disarm them or use their own weapons against them.

The launch trailer is below, and more details can be read over at the PlayStation Blog.

Also in this version is a pinata mode, which replaces the blood that usually flows from your opponents with candy–making the game a bit less visceral for folks who don’t like blood.

Another big upcoming PSVR game, Marvel’s Iron Man VR, was recently delayed due to COVID-19.

Minecraft Dungeons, which releases on May 26 for Xbox One and PC (through Game Pass), as well as Switch and PlayStation 4, has been a long time coming. The game was originally being developed with the 3DS in mind, and now in a new interview the game’s director has revealed that an entirely different gameplay style was initially planned.

Talking to USGamer, Mojang’s Måns Olson has revealed that the game was originally envisioned as a Zelda-style game. “We wanted to bring a new Minecraft experience to players,” he says. “To make something new, you have to step quite far away from the base game.” This meant designing a dungeon crawling experience close to Nintendo’s beloved series in spirit and gameplay.

However, things changed over time, and Olson says that there is “not as much of that” in the final game. While the game was originally planned as a small single-player experience, during the prototyping phase the developers tested out multiplayer, and found that it made the game more fun.

“If you look at inspirations now, it’s closer in terms of gameplay to games like Diablo, Torchlight, and Gauntlet,” Olson told USGamer. “So absolutely there’s been things that have been either implemented and then changed, or designed on paper, but that never made it into the game,” he added.

Minecraft Dungeons was originally due to release in April, but it’s one of several games delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tetris Effect, Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s stunning take on an old favorite puzzle game, is likely heading to Oculus Quest. Users on Reddit are reporting that the game briefly appeared in the “Coming Soon” section of the device’s store page, and several folks have contacted VR site Upload VR to confirm that they saw it.

While this isn’t absolute confirmation that Tetris Effect is coming to Oculus’ standalone VR device, it seems very likely now. Oculus Quest allows users to play VR games without needing a powerful PC to run them.

The game, which launched on PS4 in 2018 and later released on the Epic Store, was named one of GameSpot’s best games of 2018. It’s a stunner, and hopefully more players will be able to dive into it soon.

Tetris Effect earned a 9/10 in GameSpot’s review. Reviewer Peter Brown praised the game’s VR elements: “The effect of locking into a round of normal Tetris may have this result as well, but it’s the point of Tetris Effect, where the entrancing dance of falling tetrominoes is elevated to new heights with the help of a fantastic soundtrack and awe-inspiring visuals.”