Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance

Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, then. A game for the more mature beat 'em up fan, and one that revels in gloriously detailed gore and violence and innovative gameplay, taking the MK series to realms more bloody and viscerally extreme than ever before. Oof!

Veteran developer and publisher Midway have installed a completely new fighting system for Deadly Alliance, one which delivers the most intense combat with three unique fighting styles for each character. Hand-to-hand and deadly weapon combat, combined with progressive physical damage, makes this latest incarnation the most detailed fighting experience in the series. The realism extends to blood, sweat and bruises, and a dollop of good ol' ultraviolence, culminating in the humiliation and taunting of the loser.

There are over 20 characters to choose from this time around. Favourite warriors from the past return, including Kung-Lao, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Johnny Cage and others. New human and supernatural fighters appear too, including Frost, Moloch and Kenshi, each with his/her/its own special attacks. With a selection of game modes such as Arcade Mode, VS Mode, Konquest, Test Your Might and Test Your Sight, and a selection of lovingly rendered environments in which to get to it, only your fingers will grow tired, we reckon.