Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (PlayStation 4) Review

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate includes Mortal Kombat 11, the Kombat Pack 1, Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, the Kombat Pack 2 and a large haul of additional fighter skins. This is without a doubt the ultimate collection of content for NetherRealm's latest entry in the long-running Mortal Kombat franchise. The fact that one purchase of Ultimate is good for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 is a bonus.

The support for MK11 from the developers since launch has been exceptional. NetherRealm has never shied away from community feedback and has struck a fine balance between listening to fans and not being afraid to take risks with the meta. This approach has culminated in a fighting experience that feels fresh and perpetually fine-tuned. Even all these months later, the appeal of the gaming world's goriest fighting title has yet to fade.

When MK11 first launched, Cubed3 gave it an 8 out of 10, saying that it more than met the hype in its gameplay and innovated upon the series' unmistakable personality in exciting ways. The sheer love and attention to detail that was poured into crafting each character makes this the most refined Mortal Kombat title to date. C3 initially criticised the convoluted gear system but noted that NetherRealm would likely improve upon it as time went on, which they certainly have. New gear is now highlighted in each character's inventory to make it easy to sift through, and the requirements for finding each cosmetic have been made more apparent. The Towers of Time have also been expanded and given more form, so players looking for a solo experience have a viable outlet through which to get their fix.

As far as Aftermath is concerned, the story content is obviously the same as it was when the DLC dropped, but the three additional characters - namely Sheeva, Fujin and RoboCop - have received some vital tweaks to give them parity with the rest of the roster. The Kombat Pack 2, which includes the latest batch of new fighters, is included in the bundle but also available separately, thankfully. These three new fighters - Mileena, Rambo and Rain - are some of the most exciting and affectionately crafted in the entire experience.

Given NetherRealm's great track record with Mortal Kombat 11, it's a safe assumption that the title will continue to go from strength to strength. Its appeal has seemed only to expand as the months have worn on. New reasons to dive back into the experience keep being given, such as the recently added support for custom variations in competitive modes like the Kombat League. While some special moves are still prohibited in competitive matches, this shakes up the meta considerably. The developers at NetherRealm are constantly willing to make things harder for themselves and more interesting for players, and have yet to truly make a mess of the changes they wreak. This contributes to MK11 being not only a downright fantastic fighter, but a truly epic ode to gaming on almost every level.