When we last left Mortal Kombat 11, Liu Kang saved the world. After receiving godlike powers from Raiden, Liu Kang defeats the time-turning god Kronika, preventing him from recreating the Mortal Kombat universe in his image. Instead, Liu Kang will reshape the timeline, ushering in a world that is kinder and (perhaps) less aggressive. revolving credit.
Or don’t. As Liu Kang prepares to reset the timeline, a warning echoes in Kronika’s room. A portal appears and outcomes Nightwolf, Fujin, and Mortal Kombat’s eternal antagonist, Shang Tsung.
Marty, we have to go back!
There’s no real need for Aftermath. Mortal Kombat 11 tells a brilliant story from start to finish. It balances the fan service of the Mortal Kombat 9 reboot with the development of Mortal Kombat X. It performs well with dozens of storylines and characters while telling one of the most ambitious and entertaining stories in the series.
The original ending to Mortal Kombat 11 gave NetherRealm a clean slate. Erasing the universe. Restart or not. While we’re sure to get more Mortal Kombats in the future, the ending of Mortal Kombat 11 might as well be the end of the entire series. It’s clean, satisfying, and just a few games to match.
When NetherRealm announced Aftermath – well, I was stunned at first. Nobody makes story-based DLC for a fighting game. Hero, of course. Cosmetics, of course. But a campaign extension? Who wants to buy it? And if it were any other fighting game, the answer would be “None.”
Even so, Aftermath seems unjustifiable. Needless to say. Mortal Kombat 11 ends on a high note. The sky is vast; all possibilities are open. Shang Tsung, who appeared right after that and stopped Liu Kang and Raiden in their moment of victory, seemed far-fetched.
On the other hand, Mortal Kombat loves fiction. He likes the tropics. What I love most about Mortal Kombat is that it has the dynamic of a blockbuster thriller, a beach full of superheroes battling each other. If Shang Tsung wants to annoy you, let him.
And it pays off. The episodes are short. That’s five chapters and about three hours, about half the length of Mortal Kombat 11. I don’t usually spend much time breaking down the cost of video games because everyone’s value proposition is different. However, $40 for Aftermath is…a lot. Half a campaign and three new characters – Fujin, Shieva, and guest star Robocop. The math isn’t very reasonable, and that’s if you compare it to Mortal Kombat 11, with its entire campaign and 25 fighters. Or you can get the full base game of Mortal Kombat 11 plus its first bonus character set and Aftermath for only $60. First-year buyers are burning here.
However, if I’m disappointed by the price, it’s only because Aftermath is a fantastic extension. It’s hard to justify buying for those interested only in Mortal Kombat 11’s story, but it’s still one of the funniest campaigns I’ve played this year and the most satisfying.
MacGuffin is the crown of Kronika this time. When Liu Kang defeats Kronika at the end of Mortal Kombat 11, he freezes him, then Roundhouse kicks his ice head, crushing his skull into a million tiny pieces – and his crown. Unfortunately, Shang Tsung appears seconds later and tells Liu Kang that no one can safely reset the timeline without the crown. You must go back and claim the crown, then defeat Kronika again. Otherwise, everything is free.
Like I said last year, stupid on the surface. Aftermath is like its predecessor, packed with enough time-travel banter to make Doc Brown blush. This time, the stakes are higher as Shang Tsung is the perfect cover for Liu Kang and Raiden. He’s betrayed them countless times, but he is an enemy of my enemies. If he offers to help you fight Kronika, can you refuse?
Aftermath’s story includes all of the additional characters from last year – or at least from the original Mortal Kombat. No, RoboCop didn’t suddenly become canon in Mortal Kombat. However, Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, and Sindel were cast, as were newcomers Aftermath, Fujin, and Sheeva. Five classic characters, and with Aftermath, it looks like they’ve been a part of Mortal Kombat 11 all along. Adding them to the campaign somehow legitimizes them.
This also allowed NetherRealm to give a more prosperous final result by smoothing out some of the holes in the original frame. Jax, whose arc felt rushed in Mortal Kombat 11, had a great moment with Fujin in Aftermath. Scorpion and Sub-Zero got one last scene, and so did Johnny Cage. It’s not a big moment. You can stop with the original Mortal Kombat 11 and be very satisfied. Aftermath only thrives.
And most importantly, this reboot trilogy comes full circle. It starts with Shang Tsung. Ended with Shang Tsung. Since Mortal Kombat’s debut in 1992, players have had to wonder about Shang Tsung’s motivations. This is useful, but for what? That’s for you and Raiden to find out.
Like last year, I hate to divulge details. Turns aren’t even “turns,” but Aftermath is fun to watch. NetherRealm has perfected that style, a three-hour cinematic interspersed here and there with moments where you’re playing a fighting game. One of the best action movies I watched in 2020, Aftermath is also a solid fighting game.
I haven’t said much about this aspect yet, because if you read a review of the Mortal Kombat 11 expansion, you’ll know if you’re ready for this type of fighting game. I enjoy Fujin if you’re interested. I’m also looking forward to playing more with RoboCop.
Bottom row
I’m only here to talk about the history of Aftermath. The entry price is high, but damn, I think NetherRealm deserves every penny. This does not apply to everyone, and you must make these calls yourself. $40 for three hours is a lot, especially if you’re not interested in towers, dungeons, or any other peripheral modes in Mortal Kombat 11.
However, there are no layers. No tire spin. Maybe I like it. Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath has story-saving, a sense of pace that you almost never get from video games because they worry too much about wasting 100 hours of your busy time. Aftermath begins with the pedal on the floor and ends with the pedal across the floor. It’s been an incredible journey.
