Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks for PlayStation 2, rating: 78%
Shaolin Monks takes the long-running Mortal Kombat series into the action adventure genre, while maintaining fighting elements from previous installments. The game features both single- and multiplayer modes.
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks review:
I'm a huge fan of the first two Mortal Kombat arcade games. After part II, the series started deteriorating rapidly and everything since has been a mediocre attempt at cashing in on a successful franchise. One of the later attempts, Deadly Alliance, faired alright and the series looked to be heading in the right direction until Deception came along, which was basically the same game as Deadly Alliance only somehow screwed up even worse instead of becoming further refined. And that butchered timeline of events brings us to Shaolin Monks, taking the series in a new direction, for the better. This is easily the best Mortal Kombat since the arcade version of MKII, quite possibly because it's set in the MKII timeline, before everything went to shit.
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks review:
It is, after all, just another third-person action beat 'em up. That's not the point. If you don't understand Mortal Kombat, this isn't the game for you. But if you do get it, especially if you loved the first two arcade games, this IS the game for you. That goes double if you can convince a friend to join-in on the second controller.
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks review:
In the end, MK Shaolin Monks isn’t perfect, but it is enjoyable. The story is weak, boss fights are hard, but the action is extremely enjoyable and in a game where the main focus is the action, which is all that counts. -- Brian Peterson
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks review:
For others who are new to the series, the lack of nostalgia will make Shaolin Monks seem like a straightforward brawler with a convoluted story. Either way, Shaolin Monks is a very entertaining game that every fan of the series – no matter how casual – should play.
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks review:
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is an action/adventure title driven by both intense single and multi-player action. Similar to the recently released Mortal Kombat: Deception, background interactions (i.e., acid pits, living trees, spiked ceilings, etc.), multiple new fatalities, and action-based puzzles will also play an important role in the player’s quest for an “outstanding” victory.
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks walkthrough: