Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance

 Xbox
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
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  1. Game Informer
    95
    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]
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  2. GamerWeb Xbox
    92
    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.
  3. Media and Games Online Network
    91
    The controls of Deadly Alliance are done to near perfection, as they are incredibly responsive; pulling off combos is a cinch.
  5. Adrenaline Vault
    90
    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.
  6. Cheat Code Central
    90
    Voices have always stood out in all the versions of Mortal Kombat. This game may have some of the best voices yet!
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  7. Official Xbox Magazine
    89
    The controls work extremely well. [Jan 2003, p.60]
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  8. GameZone
    87
    Savage and wildly entertaining, Deadly Alliance is a high impact fighting game that packs quite a punch.
  9. Game Over Online
    87
    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.
  10. IGN
    86
    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.
  11. Gamers' Temple
    86
    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.
  12. XGP Gaming
    85
    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.
  13. TeamXbox
    84
    Easily one of the better looking fighting games out there and by far the prettiest MK in the series.
  14. GamingTrend
    83
    The high points of great graphics, high fun factor, good sound, and high replay value, outweigh the control issues.
  15. Game Revolution
    83
    A good fighting game with a great gore factor.
  16. Cinescape
    83
    Deadly Alliance has done the job which was required of it: make the series respectable again.
  17. GameSpot
    81
    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.
  18. GameSpy
    81
    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.
  19. GameCritics
    80
    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.
  20. GamePro
    80
    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.
  21. Maxim Online
    80
    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.
  22. Play Magazine
    80
    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]
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  23. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    And that's the rub: Mortal Kombat may have grown up, but it didn't mature at all. [10 Jan 2003, p.77]
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  24. XenGamers
    75
    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.
  25. All Game Guide
    70
    The varied styles of fighting combined with a fresh crop of interesting characters are strong enough to make you want to sample each one.
  26. Into Liquid Sky
    67
    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.
  27. Xbox Nation Magazine
    60
    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]
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  28. Gaming Age
    58
    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.

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Best Xbox Game of 2002
12
#12 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2002
37
#37 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2002

User Reviews

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User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 2 out of 27
  1. Untitled94
    Jul 15, 2021
    7
    For the start of the 6th generation of game systems, this game is fine. But it is a bit lacking. There's a lot to collect (or kollect, lol)For the start of the 6th generation of game systems, this game is fine. But it is a bit lacking. There's a lot to collect (or kollect, lol) but it has aged a bit. It's better than MK4 and is not at all a bad game, but there are better MK games.… Full Review »
  2. evolution98
    Aug 28, 2017
    8
    This game has not aged well and has divided fans of Mortal Kombat since it was released in 2002.

    Some say it revived the waning series and    This game has not aged well and has divided fans of Mortal Kombat since it was released in 2002.

    Some say it revived the waning series and some say it is disappointing. To be honest I think it did revive the series. Mortal Kombat 4 was a massive failure.

    This was a good game. I like the realistic graphics which show off the character models and battle damage but have not aged well. I love the game's soundtrack. The sound effects for grunts, death-cries, punches, kicks and weapon hits were impressive for the time but really get repetitive and annoying very quickly. The stage design was good.

    The gameplay was refined such as: 2 fighting styles with long chain combos, the use of weapons/ weapon impales, reversals, no running meter and moving around the arena. There was no stage fatalities in this game like in the previous Mortal Kombat games but I think it's better without it.

    Some of the best classic characters from the series return and a few mini games return too. There are many game modes that can be played. I love the Crypt concept and how it continued on through the series. Best "shop" for buying characters, costumes, stages, biographies and more. 667 coffins to open. This gives the game so much replayability. I also love the Konquest mode which was a great mode to learn how to play with each character and learn their move-set.

    The main flaws with the game are the cataclysmic fatalities we were given for certain fighters although 8 of them were really decent, the omission of stage fatalities was met with criticism by fans, some stages background music are reused for other stages, win animations are recycled for every fighter, the new fighters added had no depth or likability, the story was uninteresting, some of the classic and new characters, stages and costumes were very expensive to buy in the crypt, the voice acting gets very repetitive and annoying and that each fighter could only have 1 fatality.

    I'm glad that Ed Boon broke away from the old school style to a more realistic approach for the later games up to Mortal Kombat 9.

    It has many notable flaws but overall it is not a bad Mortal Kombat game. I would recommend it.    … Full Review »
  3. Faceless2015
    Feb 16, 2015
    8
    This games is not the 2d game that we all know and love. But it still has the Mk blood in its soul. Sub -zero fan for life and this makes meThis games is not the 2d game that we all know and love. But it still has the Mk blood in its soul. Sub -zero fan for life and this makes me love him more. I would reply this if I had the chance.… Full Review »
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