Mortal Kombat X wants to make things easy for you … but it comes at a price.
NetherRealm Studios’ iconic fighting sequel released yesterday on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, but not everyone’s happy with it. The game has a $30 downloadable content season pass of questionable value given that it only unlocks four additional characters and a selection of character skins. You can also spend $20 to bypass some grinding and unlock stuff early on.
What’s really riled the gaming community, though, is the inclusion of paid-for easy fatalities — simplified versions of the tricky and gruesome finishing moves that the series is famous for.
Mortal Kombat X starts you off with some easy-fatality tokens — which mean you can pull off the moves without mastering the necessary button inputs — and you can earn more by playing. If you want, though, you can also pay a dollar to buy five easy fatalities or spend $5 for 30. This idea hasn’t gone down well with the gaming community, particularly as the game costs $60 upfront.
Popular YouTuber Boogie2998 said, “This is the exact same model we see in free-to-play games … it certainly has no place in a triple-A, $60 title.”
Meanwhile, Twitter users have been equal parts perplexed and angered by NetherRealm’s move, as you can see in the comments gathered below.
I feel compelled to say something on the "Easy Fatalities" in Mortal Kombat X: They are bullshit. Don't give them your money for that.
— Luke Lohr (@MLSReserves) April 14, 2015
You can buy 'packs' of easy fatalities in the new Mortal Kombat game. Micro-transactions have officially jumped the shark.
— Scott Grant (@ScottTypesWords) April 14, 2015
Paying for easy Fatalities in a Mortal Kombat game is the single stupidest thing I've ever heard of.
— Dan (@DanHand1984) April 14, 2015
"That'll be another five dollars since you suck" – Mortal Kombat X team on selling easy fatalities
— Dave Pedrick (@Dave_Pedrick) April 14, 2015
What. The. Fuck? You can purchase a limited amount of "Easy" fatalities in the new Mortal Kombat game? This is #HorseArmor all over again
— Woody (@ubadojw1) April 14, 2015
Thats weak!! RT @mrpittman: U can buy fatalities in the new Mortal Kombat?! Man the game has changed.
— Van Wilder (@Reacey23) April 14, 2015
Christ, that Mortal Kombat X 'Easy Fatalities DLC' thing reads like bad parody.
— Nick H (@nickh_101) April 14, 2015
So, in Mortal Kombat X you can buy (with real money) 1 time use "easy fatalities"? Pure corporate BS right there.
— Joe Moore (@Joe_Toyark) April 14, 2015
"30 Easy Fatalities"? Oh, Mortal Kombat X. Just when you were getting such good reviews, you do something like this…
— PixelPodium (@PixelPodium) April 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/IAmOwnedByCats/status/587962553235476481