One thing that Mortal Kombat fans will really appreciate about this title is its look and feel. The game's control mimics the four-button arcade feel almost exactly, and anyone who played Mortal Kombat 3 in an arcade setting will find that all the old fatalities and special moves that they knew on the arcade version are completely intact. Although, for those of us who are a little rusty on all the fancy button mashing, the DS' upper screen provides a "cheat sheet" of sorts with some of the more complex moves and fatalities.

Another facet that was left completely intact was the visuals. While some would have argued for an upgraded visual scheme, I think the entire point of Ultimate Mortal Kombat was to give fans an arcade experience that they could play online. And this vintage experience would have been severely hampered by a graphical upgrade. The old-school graphics really help give the game its classic feel, and it's a really great experience for fans of the series.

In addition to the old-school graphics and controls, the original score is also in tact. Even when playing in the new online modes, you will still get that old school theme music, and it really just adds to the entire experience. All the old voice acting snippets are in the game as well, so you'll feel like you're back in the nineties reliving Mortal Kombat arcade glory.

Ultimate Mortal Kombat is essentially an online-only title. It doesn't have much in the way of single player modes, or in the way of new content. But for fans of Mortal Kombat, and fans of arcade-style fighters, this one is a sure-win. It has all of the ingredients that made the original games such a success, and has the ability to extend these elements so you can take your game further, without losing all your quarters! Ultimate Mortal Kombat is really a fan's delight, and is sure to appeal to those who feel the need for Kombat everywhere!

By Amanda Kondolojy
CCC Freelance Writer

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