Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks

Download Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks and embark on an epic adventure in the Mortal Kombat universe! Play as Liu Kang or Kung Lao, unleash powerful moves, and uncover the dark secrets of Outworld. Fight for the fate of Earthrealm and play now!
a game by Midway
Platforms: XBox, Playstation 2 (2005)
Editor Rating: 9.1/10, based on 4 reviews, 3 reviews are shown
User Rating: 7.2/10 - 58 votes
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See also: Download Fighting Games, Games Like Dragon Ball Z, Mortal Kombat Games
Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks
Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks
Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is an action-based beat 'em up game and a spin-off of the classic fighting game franchise, Mortal Kombat. Although Shaolin Monks features familiar characters from the MK series, this game offers a lengthy adventure instead of replayable competitive fighting. While there are several Mortal Kombat spin-offs, few are as fun or entertaining as Shaolin Monks, as it maintains the bloody spirit of the series while also introducing a new genre of gameplay. Using your talented and deadly fighting abilities, you'll battle through numerous fantasy locations as you defend Earthrealm, beating down every enemy who dares to cross your path!

Main Game Features

  • Single-player and cooperative adventure
  • Includes classic Mortal Kombat game content
  • Bloody and exciting combat

Story

Shaolin Monks takes place directly after the events of the original Mortal Kombat, focusing on the two fighters Kung Lao and Liu Kang. At the end of the first Mortal Kombat tournament, pandemonium breaks out as Liu Kang and the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung go head-to-head, ultimately ending in Shang Tsung's retreat. As the building around them begins to collapse, the pair head back to the Wu Shi Academy, led by their mentor and guardian of the Earthrealm, Raiden. Upon arrival, the characters learn that Shang Tsung has begun a proper invasion of Earthrealm, attempting to conquer it despite the outcome of the tournament. In order to stop Shang Tsung and protect the world, Liu Kang and Kung Lao must journey across the land and brave the otherworldly horrors of Outworld.

Gameplay

Although Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is a spin-off title with its unique structure and gameplay, the combat will feel immediately familiar to fans of the series. The game plays similarly to action titles like God of War, with players controlling either Kung Lao or Liu Kang. The game can also be played cooperatively, with certain areas only accessible with two players. Both characters have unique moves and abilities, mirroring their attacks and combos from the mainline Mortal Kombat games. You'll progress through linear levels, spread across both familiar and new locations within the Mortal Kombat universe, smashing through hordes of Shang Tsung's ghoulish army. Fighting baddies feels satisfying and easy-to-learn, so smashing skulls in Shaolin Monks doesn't require too much skill.

That said, you are rewarded with experience points based on how well you fight, so you'll want to keep the combos coming. Experience points can be used to unlock new special moves, such as multiple fireballs for Liu Kang and unique hat-tosses for Kung Lao.

Shaolin Monks wouldn't be much of a Mortal Kombat game without fatalities, so the popular mechanic has been refitted as finishing moves. Finishing off foes with fatalities gains you bonus experience as well, so it's always best to finish the fights as bloody as possible. If you ever grow bored of leveling up in the main adventure, you can also participate in casual versus matches with your friend, thanks to a bonus competitive mode.

9.5

Like the classic fighting games it's based on, Shaolin Monks is a fast-paced, bloody, and consistently enjoyable experience. This lengthy adventure offers plenty of fan-service for Mortal Kombat faithfuls, but delivers a big dose of bloody combat that's fun enough for any action game enthusiast. The fighting feels just like a mainline Mortal Kombat game, with easy-to-learn controls and a deceptively complex combo system. The ability to play through the adventure with a friend elevates this Mortal Kombat spin-off above the rest, making it a thoroughly enjoyable and gruesome game that's worth playing.

Pros

  • Fun upgrade system
  • Stays faithful to the main franchise
  • Great to play with a friend

Cons

  • Underwhelming story
  • Repetitive enemy design

Download Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks

XBox

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Playstation 2

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

Get ready to experience the world's most brutal franchise like never before! Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks brings the franchise's well-known violence and action to an action-packed co-op adventure that won't disappoint fans of the classic beat 'em up experience.

With two playable characters, cooperative gameplay, and plenty of finishing moves, this game is sure to keep you entertained for hours on end. That said, how effective was Mortal Kombat's transition into this entirely different gameplay structure? Does it work, or was there something lost in translation? Let's find out!

Fighting and Platforming

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks takes a unique approach to the Mortal Kombat series by incorporating platforming and puzzle-solving elements into its gameplay. This mix of genres creates an experience that feels fresh and exciting, and the game's levels are full of hidden areas and secrets that make exploring each stage a treat.

For those of you who played the dismal Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, fear not: Midway has clearly learned from its mistakes with this one. Shaolin Monks features fast-paced combat and responsive controls that work flawlessly to explore the game's varied environments.

The series' "soul" is still very much present in Shaolin Monks. Liu Kang and Kung Lao control quite similarly to how they do in games like Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, so fighting game fans will have no problem adapting to Shaolin Monks' gameplay.

Kooperative Kombat

One of the standout features of Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is its cooperative mode, which allows two players to play through the story together locally. This mode adds a new dimension to the game, and it's great fun to team up with a friend to take on the game's levels and bosses.

The game also includes a versus mode that lets players battle it out against each other, adding even more replay value to an already entertaining game. It might not be as feature-rich as the standalone Mortal Kombat games, but it provides a diversion from the game's beat 'em up gameplay.

Finish Them!

Mortal Kombat is known for its brutal and gory finishing moves, and this game doesn't disappoint in that regard. The game's Fatalities are some of the most gruesome in the series, and they're a blast to perform on defeated enemies.

The game also includes Brutalities, which are quicker finishing moves that can be performed mid-combo. These finishing moves are a staple of the Mortal Kombat series and are sure to satisfy fans of the series.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to play Streets of Rage with the option of brutalizing your defeated enemies, then Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is the game you've always wanted.

10

With its new and ingenious twist on a classic formula, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is a blast to play solo or co-op.

Pros

  • Unique blend of fighting, platforming, and puzzle-solving gameplay
  • The cooperative mode adds a lot of replay value
  • Gruesome fatalities

Cons

  • The camera can sometimes get in the way of the action, especially in busy scenes

The world of gaming's most exciting fighting game series is greatly expanded in this awesome spin-off adventure! In Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks, you'll suit up as one of the franchise's most admirable heroes, battling to save Earthrealm from certain doom. This inventive change for the series pays off well, as Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks is a visceral beat em up that's lots of fun. Whether you're a diehard fan or just want to smash some buttons, this is one action game you won't want to miss!

Main Game Features

  • Combo-rich fighting system
  • Solo and two-player cooperative modes
  • Easily perform fatalities and other finishing moves

Story

The story of Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks takes place after the original Mortal Kombat, with the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung declaring war on Earthrealm. Fighting through seas of enemies, two Shaolin fighters, Liu Kang and Kung Lao, must make it back to their training ground. There, the conspiracy grows, with more allies and villains entering the fray. As Shang Tsung's evil plan starts to take form, it comes down to Liu Kang and Kung Lao to save Earthrealm from falling into Tsung's hands.

Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks presents some cool concepts for the existing universe, even where others fall flat. It even shows some alternative points of view during key moments in Mortal Kombat II, which fans of the franchise will enjoy. While the story does a good job of keeping you motivated to continue fighting, it eventually gets too complicated toward the end. Mortal Kombat fans will appreciate the lore, but casual players will probably stop caring long before the end.

Gameplay

Playing Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks feels very much like playing a classic Mortal Kombat game, but crossed with a beat em up like God of War. At the start, you can choose between Liu Kang or Kung Lao, and each fighter has a unique set of moves and attacks to learn. As you make your way through each of the game's levels, you'll beat up common enemies and throw down in boss fights, often against other memorable fighters. Health can be gained by collecting green orbs that spew from defeated enemies and you can also pick up weapons off the floor to throw at unsuspecting bad guys.

What makes Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks really fun is its in-depth fighting system, which lets you pull off huge combos and devastating fatalities with ease. Enemies can be rather tough and require several attacks to take down, but whether you're gleefully spamming attacks or executing long combos, the end result is always enjoyable. You'll also pick up experience points depending on how well you fight, which can be spent to learn even more combos and abilities.

Conclusion

Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks takes the bloody style of the classic arcade fighting series and perfectly translates it into a 3D beat em up adventure. The fighting is simple enough for any player to feel confident during battles and there's more than enough depth to satisfy the loyal fans.

8

Excitingly violent and playable either solo or with a friend, Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks is a super cool spin-off that you should play.

Pros

  • Fighting feels brutal
  • Multiple playable characters
  • Violent and gory fatalities

Cons

  • Blurry low-res graphics
  • Enemies and bosses are rather difficult
  • Lots of backtracking

Snapshots and Media

XBox Screenshots

Playstation 2 Screenshots

See Also

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