Hot off the heels of Mortal Kombat Vs DC Universe (formerly planned as Street Fighter Vs Mortal Kombat Super Bloodthirst Turbo Alpha Edition HD) comes Mortal Kombat: Harmonious Liberation for the XBox 360 and PS3. This new game marks a drastic new direction for the series. Co-creator Ed Boon dishes out the details.
Ed Boon: “Mortal Kombat has always been known for its over the top violence, anger, and rage. This always felt stripped, flat, and two-dimensional. This time we want players to truly delve into the psyche and emotions that a cold blooded killer experiences, and what changes go on to help them grow and persevere through such devastating horrors they both witness and commit. It really is a game about personal growth and cultivation for not only the MK characters, but for the players themselves.”
Boon then went on to describe the new gameplay elements and modes.
EB: “In versus mode, after each match in MK: HL the game pauses and gives the victor a series of questions to ask the other player such as ‘How does your loss make you feel, and what can you do constructively to bring you peace of mind?’, or ‘How has this battle made you grow as a person?’, and “Does Sheeva make you feel sexually threatened? If so, how?’ After that, the screen then shows a single candle and silence, where the player must meditate and fixate on the candle for 20 minutes while reflecting on what they’ve done. Our new game has already proven to be a hit when we show it to parents who before criticized us for our over the top violence. This time gamers will have their traditional bloody kombat, but also grow as human beings.”
A story mode is also planned where players learn more about characters and their emotional strife.
EB: “Originally, Cyrax was planned to have strong feelings for Sonya Blade, and vice versa. Being a cyborg, he was never able to fully express those feelings, and Sonya just didn’t know how to approach Cyrax about hers, either. We were never able to get this across well in past games. With the power of next gen consoles we can finally do that. Now players can discover what it truly feels like to be a machine, never to feel the warmth of a loving embrace or to understand what torment Scorpion faced when in hell…it was very lonely down there. This game will truly bring Harmonious Liberation to all players, and that is something all of us at Midway Games can all be proud of.”
Mortal Kombat: Harmonious Liberation is koming to the XBox 360 and Playstation 3 this fall.