PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate on PS5 is a perfect version of a magnificent fighter. The new characters are a great addition to the already beefed-up roster, and the visuals are top notch.

Over a 12 month period, Mortal Kombat 11 elevated itself from a good game, to a great game – and finally settled on being an excellent game. The next-gen upgrade has provided extra gravy to an already generous feast, cementing the title as an exceptionally well made fighting game with a plethora of enjoyable extra content.

Other than the three new characters, the super fast load times and beautiful visuals are about all that Ultimate has to offer. I will say that it’s a shame that just days after Ultimate was released there came word of yet more DLC for the game (the 1995 movie skin and voiceover pack) which is of course not included in Ultimate. I have had some friends lament some frustration over how monetized MK11 is, and I absolutely see where they’re coming from. It’s not a business practice I like to see because we’re used to games having a final, all inclusive edition released and we just don’t have that with MK11. Maybe we’ll see a Komplete Edition like there was with MK9. Regardless, you can’t really go wrong with MK11U if you’re looking for a superb fighting game on current or next-gen.

If you haven’t already invested in Mortal Kombat 11, this Ultimate edition is a steal. For the price of the base game just over a year and a half ago you get the full package, which includes two great story campaigns, 37 customisable fighters and a whole lot more. Its combat might not be as fluid or enjoyable in action as the latest Street Fighter or Tekken, but it makes up for it elsewhere. As fighting games go, none are more generous than Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, especially when it comes to single-player content. None are gorier, either.

Filled with an abundance of content across the two Kombat Packs and Aftermath expansion on top of the base game itself, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is the best way to experience what was already arguably the finest that the long running series has to offer.

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Edition is quite clearly a means of selling the same game to those that have (for whatever reason) not yet taken the gore-filled plunge into NetherRealm's latest fight title. Despite this, the entire package remains a forward-thinking and user-friendly initiative. Essentially, this is a free rebranding that offers an optimized experience (and the option to then purchase the three new fighters) that doesn't force consumers to re-buy the entire game again. Publisher WB Games deserves kudos for applying a much more consumer-friendly, piecemealed rendition of the Street Fighter iterative formula to Mortal Kombat, with a complete package that screams "get over here" to those that have yet to dive in.

Mortal Kombat 11 is a success in every way. NetherRealm takes risks and it pays off. Its gargantuan content, its racy gameplay daring to profoundly change certain historical mechanics, its technical mastery and its sparkling achievement make this Mortal Kombat an example to follow.

In terms of PlayStation 5 upgrades, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate delivers a razor-sharp 4k image, with brief loading times thanks to the power of the new SSD in addition to a consistent and locked high framerate, making it the ideal choice for competitive play outside of perhaps the PC. Like the Switch version of MK11, thanks to the Dualsense controller, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate feels excellent, with each attack and blow accompanied by a satisfying rumble that helps bring the game to life.

The most complete and spectacular edition of one of the best fighting game of the generation.

Mortal Kombat 11’s Ultimate Edition is NetherRealm’s finest hour polished up further for a new console generation. Packed with content, further refined, and open to a wider audience than ever before, Mortal Kombat 11 is still a violent masterpiece that draws first blood with its new roster additions.