The Mortal Kombat franchise is one of the most well known properties in the history of video games. From the original arcade violence to the “Genesis has blood, the SNES doesn’t” debate, to the RPG-esque later versions of the game, the MK series has adapted to the changing video game world. With MK: Armageddon, Midway has brought over last year’s popular Xbox title to the Wii.

Let me stop you right here if you already own the Xbox or PlayStation 2 version of the game: unless you absolutely positively have to have the Wii-mote motion controls, there’s not much point in going any further. Yes, there is an enhanced endurance mode and a new character, but that’s not really worth $50.

For the rest of us who have never played an Armageddon title, the depth of the game is impressive. There’s a “Kreate A Fighter” mode, sixty fighters from all of the old MK games and heck, you can even “Kreate” your own fatality! Also, for those of you in the past that said “fighting is great, but wouldn’t it be even cooler if there was a Mario Kart like racing game in the MK universe,” your prayers have been answered with “Motor Kombat!” What’s not to like???

Uh, well, since this game is on the Wii, Midway had to go and add motion sensitive controls. You would think that motion controls in a fighting game would be fun, but not so much here. You’ll need the nunchuck to move around, but instead of waving your hands in the air to attack, you use the Wiimote d-pad. Yup, the d-pad. Doesn’t that sound like fun? The motion controls are instead used to setup special attacks. Remember how Sub Zero would shoot ice by pressing up, down and attack on the old games? Well now, you wave the Wii mote up, then down and then press the attack button. The problem with this is that all these moves are based on precise controls and timing. If the Wii mote thinks you’re going diagonally rather than straight up, no special move for you. If you don’t do the two moves fast, you also will not get the special move. The Wii controls were very frustrating.

There is some good news however: if you don’t like the Wii mote controls, that’s ok. You can use the Classic Controller or even a GameCube controller to play the game. If you remember playing the game on the SNES you should have no problem at all getting the basic combat controls down with the classic controller. The only difference here is that for the first time on the Wii, the Z-left and Z-right buttons are used. Exciting, isn’t it? All of the combos you remember from 15 (!) years ago work on the classic controller. All you need is some Right Said Fred and a dorm room and you’ll be whisked back in time.

While the graphics are better than 1992, they don’t look like 2007, either. The game does run widescreen but the blood looks just as lame as it did all those years ago. It would definitely make for a very pretty Xbox game, but that was about six years ago. The graphics don’t detract from the game, but you aren’t thinking to yourself “wow” either. There isn’t much to say about the audio – it’s also pretty much the same soundtrack you love or hate. The usual amount of grunts and groans by the fighters are thrown in for good measure.

The gameplay is the tried and true Mortal Kombat we all know and love, with multiple fighting arenas that you can access while in a single battle (you know the “you throw your opponent down a flight of stairs or up a level in a building” type). This time around, the fatalities are much easier to do - not that there’s anything wrong with that. As always, this game is rated M, so it’s definitely not for the kids, but that’s quite alright also.