Mortal Kombat 1, Invasion impressions, a single player mode that looks like a board game

NetherRealm Studios is not working on just any installment of its star fighting game. The developer has set itself the goal of making Mortal Kombat 1 a complete title, both for those who play with friends and compete online, and for those who prefer the single-player modes. During Gamescom, Warner Bros. Games invited us to experience the story mode. They also announced a new single-player mode, Invasion, which we were able to get our hands on.

In Invasion mode, defined as an RPG action adventure with combat, we must choose a fighter from the roster and a Kameo, a kind of support warrior that we can use in battle (we can change it at any time). The game’s interface is similar to a board game, as the character moves square by square in the different directions that are enabled. There are no dice or turns as such, we move towards a circle, one at a time: each one hides a battle, a mini-game or other activities.

How Mortal Kombat 1′s Invasion Mode works?

Our game only lasted a few minutes, so we didn’t have time to explore all the possibilities. We were not even able to experiment with the mini-games, even though the studio showed us an activity in the preview that consisted of chopping firewood. The first few minutes of the game are reserved for various battles in the boxes, which will give us the opportunity to progress, receive various rewards, and level up (with the consequent improvement of stats). According to NetherRealm, Invasion will feature six-week seasons that will introduce new content and challenges.

Invasion retains the narrative side but in a much simpler way than in Story mode. There are no long cinematic scenes in this mode, as the dialog is presented in text boxes. From what we have seen, this single-player mode introduces in-game tutorials in the middle of battles, so we learn the basics as we progress. Other than that, the battles play out the same way as in the other game modes. The aforementioned Kameo intervenes at the touch of a button, an invaluable aid that we can use before a fatality or when we spot an opponent’s vulnerability.

Pending further testing, NetherRealm Studios has outlined a mode that is sure to keep us at the controls for hours.

How is the story mode of Mortal Kombat 1?

As if that was not enough, the test session continued with the story mode, one of the strong points of Mortal Kombat 12. The developer put a lot of time and effort into this single-player mode, which is accompanied by extensive cinematics that looks really good.

Shang Tsung claims to have the cure for all ills, a powerful elixir that is very expensive to produce. It is soon discovered that his magic is a fraud, just like his own person. Tsung wears the disguise of an old man when he is actually a young man, deceiving the villagers and keeping their money. That same night, he receives an unexpected visit and is offered to become a real sorcerer. Thus begins Story Mode, with a smile from the trickster and a change of scenery: the action shifts to a peaceful village, where friends and rivals Kung Lao and Raiden plow the field.

Madam Bo has trained them in martial arts, so they regularly compete to see who is the best. They start fighting in the middle of the restaurant, and we control Kung Lao in the fight. We defeat Raiden, but disaster strikes. The Lin Kuei group attacks Madam Bo’s restaurant and Kung Lao confronts Smoke, their leader.

This is the end of our Mortal Kombat 1 hands-on. Although we only tested a small part of the game, the overall feeling is quite good, although it remains to be seen whether the long cinematics will slow down the pace.

Mortal Kombat 1 will be released on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, and PC on September 19th.