Mortal Kombat: Deception [GC]

We do have to note, though, that the same problem we've had with every recent Mortal Kombat game is the problem we have with Deception as well -- and that's the enemy AI. Cheap, cheesy, and inconsistent, it follows the same pattern of starting off completely weak only to become a brutal, uncontrollable, A-hole by the time you reach the Goro of this effort, The Dragon King. Honestly, we don't think we've ever sworn so much in our lives as we did when playing against Onaga on the hard setting (that flying, baby-eating True Ogre wannabe bastard!).

The GameCube Difference
Unfortunately, the GameCube version of Mortal Kombat: Deception has arrived both five months after its PlayStation 2 and Xbox counterparts and without an online version. That's definitely disappointing when you consider that the technology is in place to sustain an online for Nintendo's console. Sega did it years ago with Phantasy Star Online.

The good news, however, is that GameCube owners do at least get a very competent port with a couple of unique exclusives. Not only are all the main modes and Kontent extras perfectly intact, but the GCN build also boasts two new extras sure to please Mortal Kombat fans. Franchise characters Goro and Shao Kahn are unlocked and fully playable from the start. The fighters come to GameCube complete with unique fatalities and Hara Kiris, and they look better than ever thanks to realistic 3D modeling and animation.

Graphically Deception isn't much of an improvement over the last Mortal Kombat offering, but it does maintain the franchise's style rather well. To its credit, it's managed to look a little less plastic this time around, but the blood and puking effects are still completely ridiculous and far from believable. Instead of going the brutal Manhunt route and making things as gruesome as possible, the over the top representation of guts and gore is at times downright laughable.

Speaking of ripping heads off, the fatalities in Deception have been given a much stronger attention in comparison to Deadly Alliance. Jade's entertaining spear finisher, Kobra's heart rip, Nightwolf's axe throw, and Sub-Zero's body-smashing ice decapitation are just a few of the 50 different fatalities that can be uncovered and abused. And as a neat little idea for losing players, you can even perform suicide fatalities on yourself. Called Hara Kiris, they're pulled off just like a normal finisher is, except that it happens after you've been defeated -- not after you've won. It's a nice way to steal your opponent's thunder and another excuse to drop a few more buckets of blood before you turn the power off. We do think that the level of creativity this year isn't as strong as it's been in year's past, though.