Hot off the heels of Mortal Kombat 1’s launch, NetherRealm is already exploring new corners of the Mortal Kombat universe with a new mobile title, Mortal Kombat: Onslaught. This hero collection, squad-based RPG lets you create teams of legendary fighters from Mortal Kombat history to take on a variety of challenges. Ahead of its launch today, we had a chance to see the game in action to get an idea of ​​what to expect from this new take on the long-running series.
Invasion expands the Mortal Kombat universe into real-time squad-based combat. Players can bring various, character-specific abilities (including targeted special attacks and, yes, some controllable kills) to bear on the hordes of enemies they’ll encounter in four modes. Story Mode brings an all-new narrative from key Mortal Kombat figureheads Ed Boone and Dominic Cianciolo. Boone has obviously been with the franchise since the beginning, while Cianciolo has worked on the franchise’s storyline since before the series’ 2011 reboot.
The story follows Scorpion, Johnny Cage, Sonia Blade, and other characters on a quest to stop Shinnok. Story Mode features full-motion cinematics and tells a story set in its own universe completely separate from the events in the mainline games. The main invasion story is set to wrap up through post-launch plans sometime in 2024, and by the end of the content release plan, the game will feature over 300 story battles.
Outside of the story, players can participate in Arena PvP battles, boss tower fights against powerful characters, and Chasm, a mode that offers you unique combat scenarios that you won’t find anywhere else in the game. such as fighting against six versions of Johnny Cage. A mod called Khronicles will also introduce post-launch story beats and allow players to temporarily try out new characters.
Players can build their team from an ever-growing roster of characters from the Mortal Kombat universe, with more than 50 characters available at launch and an ambitious post-launch release plan. Each character has a class/role that can vary based on the character’s version and level. All of these fighters have distinct abilities, such as Raiden’s area-of-effect lightning strike or Goro’s powerful stomping on the enemy. A three-star katana might be ranged, while a five-star version might be melee-based. Finding the right balance for your team composition will be crucial as more characters with different attributes are added to your roster.
In one example, we see a Scorpion who is a Warrior class, meaning he will be one of the primary damage dealers on the field, while a Defender class Shao Kahn aims to draw attention and protect his allies. . Meanwhile, an Assassin-class Jade can sneak past enemy fighters and guards to take out support or snipers from behind but is vulnerable due to low health and defense stats. You should consider all of these as you consider options for building an all-out offensive team, a more tactical squad, or a defensive-minded group.
As with many hero collectibles like Marvel Strike Force and Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, the core loop outside of the gameplay focuses on an ever-growing lineup of characters that will keep you constantly updated with the latest additions. pursues and empowers them. You can enhance your characters by improving 14 different stat categories through the Gear system. You can also equip relics, which can synergize with the fighter. Some rare artifacts even unlock kills for characters. NetherRealm tells me that despite the studio’s tendency toward power creep, the studio will try to keep the game balanced by updating older characters as new characters arrive.
NetherRealm claims this will be the most ambitious post-launch, live content project in the studio’s mobile history. The developer promises a steady stream of new game modes as well as additional characters. Players can also expect console and licensed guest characters to join the roster through this live content plan.
If that sounds up your alley, you luckily don’t have to wait, as Mortal Kombat: Onslaught is available today on iOS and Android. If you’re looking for a more basic Mortal Kombat experience, be sure to check out our Mortal Kombat 1 review right here.