Mortal Kombat: Deception

 Xbox
  • Publisher: Midway
  • Release Date: Oct 4, 2004
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 38 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
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  1. Uter
    Oct 10, 2004
    9
    While the gameplay isn't hugely different from deadly alliance, the gore level has been nicely increased. The new modes and unlockables are also awesome.
  2. ArmandoD.
    Sep 5, 2005
    8
    This is good fighting game... specially if you are MortalKombat fan. The puzzles etc... are nice extras. Konquest mode is very good idea, bit it kinda sucks.
  3. LuisA.
    Nov 26, 2004
    10
    Mortal kombat deception is the best fighting game ever to hit stores.
  4. RedRose
    Oct 7, 2004
    5
    Once again a second-rate PS2 port for the xbox. Yawn...
  5. JS
    Jan 27, 2005
    6
    Game suffers from predictability. Balance on traditional fighting game is relatively solid. Graphics are ok. Puzzle fighter is fun. Everything else, especially story mode, is tedious and not fun.
  6. RobertG.
    Feb 10, 2005
    9
    The only thing is i dont like the fact that the people are in konquest mode but not playable in the arcade version.
  7. IliyasI.
    Mar 6, 2005
    6
    I think the combo system is the Significant drawback in this game. Would you believe I would have to pull off crazy controller codes, as long as the NES Contra Code for 30 lives to get a combo off !!? Not the best Fighting Engine around.
  8. [Anonymous]
    Nov 7, 2004
    10
    This game is the best fighting game out there. Different fighting modes for each player, awesome combos, even the Konquest is enjoyable.
  9. MarcusM.
    Jan 29, 2005
    10
    It's the best game.
  10. ShaneS.
    Sep 12, 2006
    10
    After playing DOA4 I must give this game a ten. Mortal Kombat has nice simple controls that anybody can pickup and use. The dial-a-combo system seems a bit dated but it's simple and easy to use in comparison to the overly complex button mashing of DOA4. Twice a match you get to use a button called the "breaker button". Whilst your opponent is unleashing a devestating combo on you, After playing DOA4 I must give this game a ten. Mortal Kombat has nice simple controls that anybody can pickup and use. The dial-a-combo system seems a bit dated but it's simple and easy to use in comparison to the overly complex button mashing of DOA4. Twice a match you get to use a button called the "breaker button". Whilst your opponent is unleashing a devestating combo on you, you can hit this button to intterupt his combo and start your own. The game offers a plethora of different characters. Some characters are combo machines. Some are weapon oreinted. Some are special moves users. A lot of them are hybrids. The opponents face each other side to side, just like any oldschool game, yet you can still move around, and dodge. The greatest part about this game is that is sticks with what works. It's simple and easy to pick up, and play. Also killing your opponent via Fatality is always fun. Xbox live works like a dream too. Almost all characters are viable. There's no single pwnage character. Well anyway anybody that's sick of the complexities of DOA, Tekken, Soul Calibre, etc. will love this game. Anybody that likes Tekken, or DOA will hate this game.… Expand
  11. WilnesseD.
    Nov 16, 2004
    9
    The blood, fatalities, traps, make this game a 9.
  12. Weirdo180
    Apr 21, 2005
    10
    Man this game is fun!!!!! If you dont like it, well then your weird like me.
  13. DanwiseG.
    Nov 23, 2004
    5
    This is a series that has definitely run its course. After playing this game I really feel like they either need to abandon the franchise or take a serious look at what makes this type of game fun. But let's start first with the sound and graphics. The sounds is average at best. The tunes go from inspiring electronic tracks to I want the ability to put my own music on this game using This is a series that has definitely run its course. After playing this game I really feel like they either need to abandon the franchise or take a serious look at what makes this type of game fun. But let's start first with the sound and graphics. The sounds is average at best. The tunes go from inspiring electronic tracks to I want the ability to put my own music on this game using the xbox's under used customizable soundtrack feature. The graphics go from WOW to UGH. Some of the locations are just beautiful but they quicky are destoryed by the Konquest graphics and the levels you fight on can run the gambit as well. The gameplay is fluid unless you go and up the skill levels. Even on easy I found myself just using my weapon way too much and forgetting the button memorizing flustrating combos. The tetris/dr. mario game is fun but gets a little old after a while and the chess kombat is sorta stupid meaning your will just make a run for the "king" and the game's over, little in the way of strategy. Also the Kombat mode could use a task list to help you remember what quests you have to complete. The story is uninspiring and very short. The Kombat transformation of Sujinko is interesting but has little in the way of emotion or story. If you're going to add that RPG element to a fighting game you need to go all the way and actually make it interesting. The character endings are short and leave you wondering why I even care and what happens now. This goes back to replayablity. For a game to play with others I think you can have fun with this issue of Mortal Kombat, but for a game to play by yourself at home without XBOX Live, I would say stick to renting this bad boy or maybe checking out soul caliber. Overall this game is a replay of the last mortal kombat and gives little in the way of progress, I give this game a 5 out of 10.… Expand
  14. Untitled94
    Jul 15, 2021
    8
    Great fighting game with a decent story. This game has so much variety to it with a lot of modes and collectables in the form of pictures, music and videos. They put so much into this game, I wish some of the later games would've had as much content as this game did. In terms of the regular gameplay, I prefer the 2011 MK over this one, but it's still fun.
  15. evolution98
    Oct 8, 2017
    9
    My favorite Mortal Kombat game.

    The graphics are great. The character models, battle damage and blood look better than Deadly Alliance. The soundtrack is good but I like Deadly Alliance more. The sound is reused from Deadly Alliance but the voice acting and sound effects sound way better. The gameplay has been improved with the combo breaker mechanic, death traps, Hara Kiri's and the    My favorite Mortal Kombat game.

    The graphics are great. The character models, battle damage and blood look better than Deadly Alliance. The soundtrack is good but I like Deadly Alliance more. The sound is reused from Deadly Alliance but the voice acting and sound effects sound way better. The gameplay has been improved with the combo breaker mechanic, death traps, Hara Kiri's and the classic two fatalities system. I love the way that they brought back classic stages from the original Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2 and Deadly Alliance. I also love that they brought back classic characters like they did with Deadly Alliance.

    The only thing I don't like is the Konquest Mode. It is a good mode but it's too short and the emphasis on finding collectible chests in which some of them are really hard to find and to unlock most of the extras, team photos, stages, costumes and fighters that are in the Krypt can get really irritating. I hate the way if you wanted to learn moves and battle classic characters you had to find them, then practice their moveset then go to a different area and fight someone else and unlock items which I found to be very time consuming as you already have practice mode to use and you can buy unlockables in the krypt. The ending is bad and Shujinko is dumb. They should have stayed with the Deadly Alliance version of Konquest mode as it was easier to earn money and you could buy the things you wanted in the Krypt.

    Another thing I didn't like is that some of the new characters and their fatalities are bad but not as terrible as Deadly Alliance. Most of the new and classic characters used recycled win animations which was a cheap thing to do. The game's arcade mode is WAY too short with only 6 fights as Deadly Alliance had much more and I think the Hara Kiri's were a waste of time.

    Overall, A great Mortal Kombat game. Buy it.    … Expand
  16. shootingstars99
    Aug 13, 2019
    6
    Mortal Kombat's jump to the 3D fighter world was as fun, yet extremely awkward. The movement is nowhere near the level that games like Virtua Fighter, Dead or Alive and Tekken are at. The combos, even the more intricate juggles were all easy to figure out within a few hours of having the game, and some characters just feel stronger than others. Mileena can do a 9 hit combo that involvesMortal Kombat's jump to the 3D fighter world was as fun, yet extremely awkward. The movement is nowhere near the level that games like Virtua Fighter, Dead or Alive and Tekken are at. The combos, even the more intricate juggles were all easy to figure out within a few hours of having the game, and some characters just feel stronger than others. Mileena can do a 9 hit combo that involves juggling and popping back up enemies for 30% damage, while Kobra and Scorpion can get that in a 4 or 5 hit BnB combo. Most of us know by now Mortal Kombat is not the most intricate and execution heavy fighters around, and the main draw isn't the fighting at all, but the fatalities after the fact, because even if your brains are gone, you can probably still play Mortal Kombat. The game is a decent attempt at a 3D fighter, and is certainly fun, but ultimately is overshadowed by its 3D fighter contemporaries.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best Xbox Game of 2004
27
#27 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2004
58
#58 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2004

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 53 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 53
  3. Negative: 0 out of 53
  1. AceGamez
    90
    Whilst Deception is much better than "Deadly Alliance" and the inclusion of online play is done flawlessly and is great fun, the main single player attraction is just so dumbed-down and chore-like that it's not a whole lot of fun and I couldn't imagine ever going through it again.
  2. GMR Magazine
    80
    Deception is excellent, and its online play and hundreds of unlockable secrets give it more longevity than most fighters. [Dec 2004, p.112]
  3. Eurogamer
    80
    Deception throws in an extremely polished Konquest mode, the fun Chess and Tetris modes, plus online play.
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