I’m old enough that I remember the moral panic, or should I say PANIK, over the original Mortal Kombat. Oh how things have changed.

This is a franchise that has been going since the 90’s, it’s given us a dozen main games, not including rereleases, multiple spin offs, two TV series, three movies and one of the best movie Theme Tunes ever recorded. And even with more than a few bumps in the road this year is a franchise that can still surprise us. Take the newest game Mortal Kombat 1, not only does it look visually beautiful but it has managed to reset continuity – without disregarding the old games, it brought us a compelling story and still has those epic Fatalities that the fund adore.

If like me you have been out of the loop for a few games let me give you the elevator pitch:

In Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Shang Tsung, the “your soul is mine” guy from the first movie, defeating a character who had the ability to alter and control time. Ordinarily this would be a problem but Liu Kang, original franchise hero, does a reversal and defeats Shang Tsung, leaving Kang with the time altering powers.

Lui Kang uses these powers, and his abilities as the current God of Fire, to go back in time, save his friends and train the hero Kung Lao. Thus creating a Mortal Kombat game that will be for new players and old.

Now you don’t really need to know all the lore, though it will still be available and you can see many of the original characters again. Plus apparently there is going to be a Kameo system of characters, whatever that means. All I know is that I am pretty pumped for this game and look forward to playing it.