It's very odd going back to Mortal Kombat 9, after three other games in the series (and two Injustices) have refined the modern Netherealm fighter to a razor-sharp point. The core gameplay is there. The wonderful approach to a story mode is there, highlighting several characters across its many chapters. The look is... well, miles off, actually. It's juvenile with so much of our cast's designs, in a way not uncharacteristic for the franchise, but that stands out compared to the other games in this trilogy (quadrilogy? MK1 occupies a weird space that makes this a difficult call). Sonya in particular is a cartoonish pair of fake breasts beneath some sort of generic military sleeveless jacket deal, like if Ash Ketchum fucked.

It's just all not quite there yet. The studio has to grow into a true industry leader position, with a... I won't say maturity, but more maturity than this. The gameplay has to become more fluid and less prone to cheap fucking around (and gets there quick in MKX), and that absurd level of visual polish the series is now known for has to actually happen.

But it is good. The story is good. It's a hoot to play. If I'd ever finished up with it when it came out it would have a higher score. But knowing that it only gets better makes it that much harder to score above a 3. Worth it if you want the whole story, but maybe just breeze through on lower difficulties so you can move on to the sequels.