Mortal Kombat X (2015) (PC) (NetherRealm Studios)
0The concept of a story-oriented fighting game still feels refreshingly odd, and it's clear that NetherRealm Studios was only beginning to tap into the potential of a cutscene-heavy campaign when the developer launched its much-appreciated reboot of Mortal Kombat in 2011. Especially after having played through both MK9 and MK10 for the first time in rapid succession, the 2015 release comes off as a much more assured and evenly paced singleplayer experience. After an admittedly convoluted beginning chapter and some rushed character introductions, MK10's story mode flows seamlessly between action-packed set pieces with none of the tedious filler fights which artificially extended the length of the previous campaign. For a total Saibot (Noob, that is), it's still hard to make sense of long-standing character arcs such as the rivalry between Sub Zero and Scorpion - and the fact that a substantial part of the Mortal Kombat roster were turned into undead servants after the last game sure doesn't help. But thanks to snappy dialogue and focused cinematography, it all feels less like cheesy pretense for yet another fight scene and more like a cohesive narrative with a beginning, middle and end.