Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath DLC Review 1

Last year's Mortal Kombat 11 was another solid entry in the legendary fighting franchise, but its reliance on unnecessary grinding left us colder than a Sub-Zero fatality. Aftermath, the series' first story-focused DLC, is similarly fun to play but offers a distinct lack of content for the price it charges.

The first thing to note is that Aftermath launches alongside a chunk of content that's free for all players, regardless of whether you pick up the DLC or not. That means you can play the three new stages, and enjoy their stage fatalities for each character, as well as fresh Challenge Towers and Friendships – a way to finish a fight in a comically wholesome manner.

Considering the generosity of the free update, the actual paid content feels steeply priced. Your £34.99/$39.99 investment nets you three characters and less than three hours of new story, as well as new character skins that are unlocked over time. Considering the game's previous six DLC characters cost less than half of that combined, it's a tough pill to swallow.

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Mortal Kombat 11 Spoilers Ahead

Thankfully, Aftermath's story picks up where Mortal Kombat 11 left off both in terms of the storyline it presents and in terms of the quality of its telling. As Liu Kang attempts to rebuild history after Kronika's defeat, Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, and Fujin arrive to explain that the process isn't as easy as first thought.

With Shang Tsung, the villainous sorcerer involved (portrayed by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa with true mystique and power) nothing is ever as it seems, and while the story is over all too quickly it does add some fun choreographed set pieces that rival anything the main game has to offer. Just as before, chapters put you in the shoes of one fighter at a time, pulling from Kontent Pack and Aftermath newcomers alike, meaning this is a great way to be introduced to each.

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Aside from the campaign, Aftermath adds Fuijin, Sheeva, and Robocop to the mix. Of the three, we're disappointed to report that Robocop is the weakest, though. A zoning fighter with a penchant for projectiles, the character's inherently stiff animations simply don't feel like a good fit for Mortal Kombat's weighty but kinetic combat, despite actor Peter Weller reprising his role.

Thankfully, Fujin and Sheeva are both a blast. The former is making his first appearance in the franchise in 14 years, and uses his wind powers for both attacks and movement. Able to slide under ranged attacks or run on air to close the gap on opponents, he actually ends up being the perfect foil for Robocop.

Sheeva, as you might imagine for a warrior with four arms, is quite the grappler, able to use her trademark aerial stomp attacks as well as mix grabs into her standard combos. We're still hoping to see Goro added to the mix one day, and that brings us to a major gripe.

While the game's roster has now grown by ten characters since launch (including pre-order bonus Shao Khan), there are still plenty of fan favourites missing. We're still yet to see Ermac, Smoke, or even Reptile in Mortal Kombat 11, and skirting around some series staples to shoehorn in Robocop, a character that feels out of place, is disappointing.

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If you're looking for more Mortal Kombat, Aftermath will undoubtedly satiate your bloodlust for a short period of time, but it feels overpriced for what it actually offers. Of course, your mileage will vary, but for now it's more of an already excellent fighter – just not much more.

Are you planning to pick up Mortal Kombat 11's new Aftermath expansion at any point? Get over here in the comments section below, and don't forget to check out our Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath guide.