Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns [Xbox Series X] | REVIEW

I had a lot of love for Mortal Kombat 1 when it released last year, with my review stating that:

“Mortal Kombat 1 is a glorious fighting experience that offers some of the best combat and storytelling seen across the series.”

It has now been fleshed out with the release of Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns, which expands upon the base game with new story content and characters to play as. Best of all? There’s also a free update that doesn’t only bring back Towers of Time, but also Animalities. What a time to be a Mortal Kombat fan, right?

Check out some screenshots down below:

Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns takes place following the brilliant, timeline-bending finale of the base game, with a more powerful and chaotic form of Havik entering the main story timeline and realising the… uh-hum, KHAOS he can cause. After gathering the necessary relics that allow him to alter time, he builds up a force that’s capable of timeline dominance, forcing both the good guys and the villains to come together as a means to stop him.

It makes for a decent tale that doesn’t quite reach the heights of the base game but will still keep players invested with its extended focus on Havik’s timeline and how his power has seen it build into a realm driven completely by chaos. It maintains the same incredibly high cinematic standards that NetherRealm Studios are known for with their storytelling too, with plenty of brutal yet beautiful sequences seen throughout the tale that’ll keep players on the edge of their seat. It’s not too long (you could easily beat it in under three hours), but it feels substantial enough to tell a worthwhile tale. I absolutely loved Havik’s presentation in the story too – I was worried that he’d feel a little underwhelming compared to the typical big bads of the Mortal Kombat universe, but this fresh (and undoubtedly more psychotic) take on the character certainly fits the role of the antagonist perfectly.

“Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns is a worthwhile expansion that brings with it some fantastic new characters and an engaging narrative that complements the base game.”

Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns also introduces three returning characters: Sektor, Cyrax, and Noob Saibot. Given Mortal Kombat 1’s refresh of the timeline and characters, each of these are given a different backstory than you may remember, which will be evident immediately given that Sektor and Cyrax are both female and that their robotic abilities come in the form of an armour. It’s a cool shift for the characters that does something unique for them, but honestly? I wish more time was spent uncovering their backstory, with their story beats progressing without the depth that would fully explore the characters and their history. I know, I know, this isn’t the Sektor and Cyrax show, but with such a unique shift in their presentation as well as the storied fractures in their relationship, it’s something I would have liked to see more of.

Each of the three characters are fantastic to play as through, with each bringing with them a sense of familiarity that long-time Mortal Kombat fans will certainly appreciate. Sektor and Cyrax have their robotic weaponry to unleash plenty of pain upon enemies, with Sektor’s missiles and Cyrax’s energy net two familiar moves that will NEVER stop bringing a smile to my face. Meanwhile, Noob Saibot is still an absolute beast, with his shadow-based abilities and moves like teleportation slam making him a versatile character that can pull out a threatening combo from nowhere. I also loved his presentation in the story, but that’s better for players to discover themselves.

Of course, there are also guest characters coming in the form of Ghostface, T1000, and Conan the Barbarian, who are included in the package but not available for launch. I’m a Scream fanatic, so having Ghostface in the game is a real treat, whilst T1000 is equally cool and could bring a slick move set with his liquid metal frame. I’m a little less sold on Conan the Barbarian right now, but given NetherRealm Studios’ prowess at bringing their guest characters into the spotlight, I have no doubt that he’s going to bring plenty of brutality with his move set… I can’t wait to check them all out.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Whilst Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns offers a premium content expansion with its new characters and story, all owners of the base game are also getting a free update alongside it that brings with it Animalities. That’s right, Animalities are back, and they’re better than ever, with characters transforming into a myriad of beastly creatures to inflict some bloody brutal (but utterly brilliant) deaths upon their foes. I’ve loved each one, and whilst there are some that stand out more than others (Johnny Cage, Noob Saibot, and Omni-Man were some of my favourites), they’ll all leave players squirming with glee with the sheer grotesqueness of their design. Towers of Time also make a return in this free update, bringing with them fun challenges to complete that complement the other single player modes available in the game.

I’d be remiss not to mention the price of Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns, which launches at £39.99 in the UK. That’s pretty steep, especially since the story is beatable in under three hours and with only six extra characters, so it might leave a sour taste for some. The free content offered in the latest update does soften the blow a bit, but the price is high.

Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Publisher: WB Games
Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC
Website: https://www.mortalkombat.com/en-gb/khaos-reigns