Introduction
Mortal Kombat is responsible for many things. While some are good and some are bad, the series has always been popular for being very unpopular with parents. The excessive violence and gore featured in the game have frequently been the focus of many debates between parents and sometimes even the government. Through all this, kids and adults have played the series of games without a care of what was going on outside in the real world with that very same game. There have been many sequels to the series and many special editions of those sequels. It started out as one of the most popular fighting game franchises and has now turned into one of the most loathed series by reviewers. So in continuing the Mortal Kombat tradition, Midway brings yet another incarnation of their love/hate series. This time though it is on the Game Boy Advance. The gameplay has stayed true to the series despite lacking many of the special moves from the other versions and the fact that good light sources are hard to come by with this naturally dark game. The problem with this game is, that its gameplay has stayed way too intact. The series has been frequently bashed for presenting nothing new to both the series and the genre. Midway also keeps to that tradition in making this game highly dull and repetitive. Sometimes the same formula will not please the same crowd over and over again.


Gameplay
The sound is average as well. The music is repetitive and the sound effects are completely laughable. The voice and sound bits are clear and understandable. The constant grunts of the characters as they are hit becomes so annoying that it may make some gamers turn the sound all the way down. The music is not varied at all and even though the tracks are different, it seems as if you've heard it far too many times. Overall the graphics are average and there really isn't much more to say about them except I think more should have been done.


Story
The graphics are average at best. The backgrounds are scaled down blurry versions of the series more powerful counterparts. The character animations are the visuals saving grace as they are fluid and decent to look at. The character models were made to look like real humans and it shows but when they start moving that illusion falls into the depths of the devils realm. The movement is sluggish and choppy. The special effects are nice to look at as they are to watch and the fatalities are as gruesome as ever. Overall the graphics do not test the Game Boy Advance's power let alone any gamers appeal. They do the job in presenting a fighting game style and nothing more.


Graphics
The gameplay is all Mortal Kombat. Due to the limited buttons the combos and special moves have been simplified to a degree. Some combos unfortunately consist of a painstaking effort to mash buttons. That makes the controls more plodding than they have to be. The fighting is simple and basic and that can be good or bad. If you look for a game with a complex fighting system then you are out of luck. On the other hand if you want a simply fighter than you can easily pick up and play, then this is for you. The fatalities will keep the gamers interest in the game for a while but do not expect the single player mode to do much for you. The game is a rental if you must have it. Mortal Kombat is a game series that refuses to evolve. The consequences of that are, Midway losing a lot of fans. So lets all hope that the new Mk game will provide a better experience.