Mortal Kombat 11: Kombat Pack 2 (PlayStation 4) Review

Graphically, all three new fighters look absolutely incredible. With Mortal Kombat 11 NetherRealm has written something of a love letter to the franchise, going above and beyond in proving how creative the studio can be with its hottest property. Rain and Mileena both have gorgeous gear and outfits and their move lists are both steeped in nostalgia and innovative in equal measure. Rambo's gear is lacklustre by comparison but he nevertheless has a fantastic kit that promises to entertain whoever wields it.

Rain is up first. The Prince-inspired character (Ed Boon originally based him on the pop star's song "Purple Rain") is similar to Fujin in that he can at first be tough to use. In the right hands, though, he is an indomitable combo machine. Experienced players who are adept at making reads and enjoy a stylish combo or two will thoroughly enjoy his versatility. He is one of MK11's most mobile characters, able to quickly close the distance to his opponent with his noteworthy speed.

While Rain has tools suitable for most situations thanks to his anti-zoning specials and plentiful combo extenders, his versatility comes at the cost of him not truly excelling in any one area at this point. That being said, his vast arsenal contains enough options to keep his opponent guessing, and it's difficult to overlook how stunning he is to watch in action. His animations flow beautifully, doing justice to his name.

Next up is Mileena, everyone's favourite psychotic femme fatale. Her devout fan base has been begging for her return since MK11 first came out. She was absolutely worth the wait. Given that she plays unlike any other character on the roster, she is refreshing to wield and one of the most fun characters to play. Her mixup potential is huge, allowing her to keep her opponent guessing at all times as long as she's in range. Said range is limited, though, causing her to fall short against many of the other fighters at this juncture. It's already clear that she needs some adjustments to her hit boxes and possibly some damage boosts on some of her moves.

That aside, while she may not be the combo queen she was in Mortal Kombat X, she is still very much Mileena. Her fatalities are stomach-churning and cannibalistic in the most glorious way. What exactly gives her her unique, split-faced charm is still unclear, but it's there, no doubt aided by top-notch voice work from the actor.

Finally, there's Rambo, the latest guest fighter to grace the lineup. He fits in snugly alongside Terminator and RoboCop, providing his trademark "down to business" charm and guerrilla capability. Predictably, his pressure game is strong courtesy of the many traps and tricks at his disposal. From Snare Traps to Whip Traps to claymores, Sylvester Stallone's iconic character is as striking here as he is in the original films. Speaking of which, his appearance in MK11 is rammed full of easter eggs. From his move set to his pre-fight banter to his intros and outros, this is a love letter to the films that inspired him, and it helps a great deal that he is voiced by Stallone himself. What a coup for NetherRealm!

Like Mileena, Rambo is a lot of fun to play and is decent at applying pressure. He works best when utilised up-close and personal but has decent zoning skills too. His Hunting Bow in particular is a great fast projectile and he has access to an LMG in one of his variations that he pulls out of a patch of undergrowth that spawns conveniently on the ground below him. He hits hard and brutally as only Rambo can. Some unique gameplay mechanicsm such as the ability to skewer a bug with his knife and eat it for a small health boost, set him apart from the rest of the roster. This feels less like an homage to a beloved character and more like a comprehensive emulation of one.

Across the board, the animations for the new characters are simply excellent. Their appearance is a perfect welcome to next gen for the franchise and alongside the existing characters they slot in well, both lore- and meta-wise, despite needing some balances and adjustments to truly become embedded among their peers. Nevertheless, they're great to play and well worth the purchase for those who want a fresh way to express themselves in Mortal Kombat 11.