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Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 27 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 22 votes
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Game Info
Publisher: Midway
Developer: Midway
Genre(s): Fighting, Action
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release Date: November 18, 2002
Summary
Deadly Alliance features a completely new fighting system. Each warrior has three unique fighting styles including hand-to-hand and deadly-weapon combat adding a whole new strategy to Mortal Kombat fighting. Full 3D movement with extremely realistic fighting effects are included, with ripped clothing, bruises, sweat-dripping and blood. Brutal Fatalities are back with gruesome and bloody detail first time seen on next-generation systems. Character-specific "special attacks" such as Scorpion's deadly spear move are also here. Over 20 new and old favorite characters . Returning: Johnny Cage, Kung Lao, Raiden, Sonya, Scorpion and more. New: Female Sub-Zero, Moloch, Mavado and more. [Midway]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Mortal Kombat: Deception Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central Game Revolution
Also On The Web: Official Game Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Game Informer
With an awesome combat system, sweet graphics, slick characters, a solid one player mode, and gore, what else could you want? [Jan 2003, p.110]
GamerWeb Xbox
The game developers have setup one of the best fighting systems this side of the original Mortal Kombat but the aspect where MK: DA truly excels greater then any fighter that I have played on the Xbox is depth.
Read Full Review >Media and Games Online Network
The controls of Deadly Alliance are done to near perfection, as they are incredibly responsive; pulling off combos is a cinch.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
Voices have always stood out in all the versions of Mortal Kombat. This game may have some of the best voices yet!
Adrenaline Vault
The best arcade fighter on Xbox. It's not as pretty as "Dead or Alive 3," and it lacks the comic book appeal of "X-Men Next Generation," but Deadly Alliance still knocks them both flat.
Read Full Review >Official Xbox Magazine
The controls work extremely well. [Jan 2003, p.60]
GameZone
Savage and wildly entertaining, Deadly Alliance is a high impact fighting game that packs quite a punch.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
The control system is simple enough so you can pick up and be almost immediately proficient, while leaving enough headroom to keep you learning something new every time you play.
Read Full Review >IGN
It's not the perfect fighter and I'd still take "DOA 3" over MK: DA, this is certainly a refreshing change from previous Kombats.
Read Full Review >Gamers' Temple
A pretty enjoyable fighter. A deeper Konquest mode that compelled players to complete it and Xbox Live support would have made this an even better game.
Read Full Review >XGP Gaming
The Mortal Kombat series has had its ups and downs in the past. Whether you’re a long time fan or not, however, there is no denying that Midway has put together an impressive piece of work in Deadly Alliance.
Read Full Review >TeamXbox
Easily one of the better looking fighting games out there and by far the prettiest MK in the series.
Read Full Review >GamingTrend
The high points of great graphics, high fun factor, good sound, and high replay value, outweigh the control issues.
Read Full Review >Cinescape
Deadly Alliance has done the job which was required of it: make the series respectable again.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
This is the over-the-top, pick-up-and-play fighter that's we've been missing for so long. It's far less complex than its top-rated contemporaries, but that's part of the fun.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
An unusual fighting game that does a great job of balancing the classic Mortal Kombat style with enough new additions to draw in people who aren't completely familiar with the rest of the series.
Read Full Review >GamePro
Even with its A.I. problems, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance will restore gamers' faith in the pioneering fight series with its amped-up gameplay and delicious visuals.
Read Full Review >Maxim Online
To hell with lame gunshot wounds and other gang violence. This game’s fatalities include creative beheadings and dismemberments that would make Hannibal green with envy.
Read Full Review >Play Magazine
Unlike any other 3D fighters on the market. Midway has done an exceptional job of creating a brand new MK experience while still maintaining the old-school flavor that so many of us are familiar with. [Jan 2003, p.70]
GameCritics
Creative, unique, accessible, and polished. It comes up lacking in a few areas, but is clearly the most effectively realized version of Mortal Kombat yet.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
And that's the rub: Mortal Kombat may have grown up, but it didn't mature at all. [10 Jan 2003, p.77]
XenGamers
It's still not a very deep gaming experience, but this latest installment is clearly the best since "Mortal Kombat 2," and arguably the best yet.
Read Full Review >All Game Guide
The varied styles of fighting combined with a fresh crop of interesting characters are strong enough to make you want to sample each one.
Read Full Review >Into Liquid Sky
With a so-so game engine, but a ton of stuff to unlock, I suggest Mortal Kombat fans to buy this game. Others may want to pass on this otherwise mediocre title.
Read Full Review >Xbox Nation Magazine
It's just too bad that for every step forward Midway takes with Alliance, it takes two steps back with sloppy gameplay, cheesy, ridiculously gory visuals, and some truly soulless character design. [Winter 2002, p.89]
Gaming Age
With more polish and character balancing, Midway could have crafted one of the best pick up and play fighters in existence – but combo timing issues hurt the overall score and that’s a shame.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 22 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Hanif M. gave it a9:
The coolest fighter of 2002, mk deadly alliance will absorb and entertain you unlike any other installment in the series. featuring the most dynamic sophisticated fighting system in an mk game sharp exquiste 3-D visuals and a countless quantity of unlockables this demands a purchase for any mortal kombat fan.
Paul P. gave it a 3:
The Deadly Alliance for Midway was the development team who built this trash. Aside from a couple of characters and the fatalities, what does it have to do with Mortal Kombat? The fighting system is completely different, the new characters have some cheesy names (i.e. Mavado, the evil guy named after an all black watch). How about the horrible story mode, where it takes a series of carefully planned steps to create a profile and then to sit through 30 sec load times just to dash forward and backwards through a weak tutorial. Garbage! Give me some classic MK!
Frank R. gave it a 10:
This is cool and a fun game.
Uter gave it an 8:
The fighting is more about having simple fun than showing any depth or balance. But MK has never been about depth or balance. This is a great sequel that takes major steps forward, and maintains the series' traditional.
Gabor A. gave it a 3:
Take away the only thing that sperated MK from other fighting games: speed. Now theres no combo system and its still not a defensive counter attack game. So all it is is lathargic button pressing.
Astonmatt gave it a 9:
Best game on earth. period. hee yee!
SpawnKillA! gave it a 10:
Mortal Kombat has always been one of the best fighting games for any system....Mortal Kombat 3 was pretty sick, but DA is the best MK I've seen yet!....Jax Rocks!!
