Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (Xbox, 2005)

this is a mk fanatic's dream come true. i've been a rabid fan since playing mk2 in arcades back in '94, and i'd always fantasized about a mk adventure game where you could fight people like in the game, but on a much GRANDER scale. somehow, midway heard my thoughts ~.O and BAM! one of the most addictive games of all time.
ALL my favorites are here (except rain), but since they put ERMAC in here, i'll let it slide.

from the start, you can play as either lui kang or kung lao. the game takes place between mk1 and mk3 i believe (seeing as how you ... i won't spoil the surprises *coughcoughGOROcoughcoughKABAL​cough*) loads of weapons and new moves and fatalities to learn. YOU HEARD RIGHT! the more people you kill, the more experience points you gain, and the experience points can be used as money to purchase new combo abilities & special moves. in all, i believe there are about nine fatalities (not counting stage fatalities.. ohhhhh the stage fatalitiesssss)

you'll be travelling alllll over the place, from reptiles abode to scorpions lair, to a secret temple with the big E to tha R-M-A-C. lots of weapons to pick up, places to explore, secrets to unlock, a kick-ass two player mode, tournament mode, and a deeper look into the mortal kombat storyline. scorpion & sub zero are unlockable as playable characters, so once you get them you can fight through the game as them! this game has a lot of replay value. the controls are precise, easy to learn & simple.

you'll see LOTS of familiar faces in here, from rayden to ermac... the gangs all here. those floating priest dudes from mk2? they're here. goro? he's here. you're gonna see lots of familiar places too. and what's awesome is seeing how they all fit together! there's also an unlockable mortal kombat 2! just be sure to have some extra controllers handy. my friend broke his controller he got so pissed at the last boss(es). it took probably 60 tries, no exageration.

i don't wanna give away any of the secrets or surprises, so i'll just say if you're a mk fan, this is a MUST HAVE. if you're into fighting games, this is a MUST HAVE. if you're into action/adventure games, this is a MUST HAVE! pick this up at all costs. you will not be disappointed. TWO BONGS UP!

This is a 3D action fighting game from Mortal Kombat. Gone is the one on one fighting style but you are now emersed in a 3D environment similar to that of Double Dragon and Streets of Rage.... but better, cooler and you get to use Mortal Kombat signature moves!



The Good:

* Painstaking recreation of fighting areas

* Seemless fighting with complex moves combined into a button push or two

* Yes there are fatalities

* Use experience to unlock move list

* Faithful Mortal Kombat prior exprience is NOT needed

* Fantastick two player co-op mode

* Hours upon hours of fun unlocking hidden characters and features (like Mortal Kombat II)



The Bad:

* Once you are playing in single mode or co-op mode, you can't change from one to the other.

* Lots of backtracking where you play areas over and over again in order to gain access to areas restricted till future moves are learned.



Overall, this is a great beat them up game that stayed true to Mortal Kombat fans past and future.

This game was fun from start to finish. With really fun gameplay that you can play with a friend. This game strays from the traditional Mortal Kombat fighting system, but it makes it easier for people who don't have the time to memorize intense combos. I like both fighting systems.

The Positives:
-very fun co-op
-really cool moves (Kung Lao's hat is especially fun)
-disgusting "Fatalities"

The Negatives:
-at some parts you have to backtrack, which can get annoying sometimes
-limited variety of moves
-really easy game (which for some could be considered a positive)
-not enough characters (there are only like ten characters in this game)

I still thought that this game topped some of the previous Mortal Kombat games because of the fact that it was so much fun to play and it wasn't the same one-on-one battle the whole time.

This is not like the other mortal kombat games. You only have two players to play, this is more like a fighting adventure game, you wander off in different places. I just didn't find the two characters to play to be interesting and fun. I only played twice and I am hoping to trade it off for Armeggedon, because at least with that game you can create your own character!

I'm not that much into games, so if you're just interested in playing more fighting battles and conquest, get Armeggedon or deception.

MY SON HAS AN XBOX SYSTEM AND HE HAD SEEN THIS GAME WHICH IS NOT SOLD IN STORES ANYMORE. HE ASKED IF HE COULD GET IT FOR CHRITMAS. KNOWING THAT STORES DO NOT HAVE THIS GAME,I THOUGHT TO CHECK ON EBAY. SURE ENOUGH SAW IT,BOUGHT IT,GOT IT. RECEIVED IT JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS MORNING. GOOD PRICE,SEEING THE EXCITMENT ON MY SON'S FACE CHRISTMAS MORNING.....PRICELESS.