I'm not bothered by Cyrax, Sektor and Smoke not getting more than one variation.

The one thing that annoyed me with the variation system was seeing some characters have their tools spread. I'm a big fan of Kano and I used to be able to stab, choke and laser beam my opponents(at least in MK3). Now I gotta choose which one I prefer. Cutthroath is my favorite but I wish I'd have the beam and the choke.

Now when I play as Cyrax I won't have to watch my tools get spread across 3 variations. I'll bomb, net and saw people into dust.

Most characters have their iconic specials across all variations. Even for a character like Kano, In one variation, you sill have way more tools at your disposal counting normals/strings ect. than the basic movesets of the old school games. In MK9 it wasn't even possible to shoot lazers with Kano, at all.

I totally approve of the variation system, It definitely pushed the designers to think creatively. Now, they'll have a bigger pool of moves to choose from come next game, even if the variation system doesn't return.

Cybernetic Kano ca throw knife and grenades to the opponent, and has cool grapples and combos as well. Plus, the lasers. It's the most complete variation of Kano.


Sonya has a stupid variation distinction. She can use her drone just to throw grenades OR lasers to the opponent, why not the both of simultaneously?

It would be cheap if she did. The combo potential of the grenades and the pressure/spacing/mixups of the drone? That is stupid.

Personally I am a big fan of the variation system. It certainly adds variety, and it's better to try to keep working at a good idea than to simply abandon it. Depending on what kind of game MK11 is, I'd like to see it make a return.

I used to share the same thoughts. But now after characters get robbed of their moves just so other characters can have a variation. I'm not a fan. Plus I do prefer the MK9 way of just having one complete moveset.

Variations make it seem like you're getting 3 characters and it's more varied, but actually each variation is a toned down version of the full character.

No, it is not. Each variation is a way to play the character depending on the tools of the variation. If some characters had all the tools available to them from every variation they would be incredibly godlike.

For example Pyromancer is a variation based on spacing. Kobu-Jutsu is a variation that is based on extreme pressue. Dragon Naginata is based on mobility and mixups. If Tanya had all the tools available she would be unstoppable. There is no situation where she would be at a disadvantadge.

Each variation of Tanya is better than every Tanya from any previous Mortal Kombat.

I agree but NRS has always been lazy and reused assets

I don't care the pit was practically copy and pasted. We just need more stages. It'll be a total waste if theres no stage fatality with it. I think the lack of klassic fatalities and skins really hurts this pack from selling well. I think if they added 2 fatality packs,2 skin packs and a few more stages from MK9 with stage fatalities then it would be worth it. Right now, it's definitely not worth $30,if its the same price as the last pack and to include dlc already released is a big F.U. to the fans who already bought all the dlc. Not impressed by NRS effort with this pack. They should at least release Fujin after this or with it to make up for it.

Yes! Well said.

The notion that the characters aren't "full" with the variation sytsem is not true. Even within one single varition, the characters still have more movesets and tools in MKX than they did in previous MKs.

All the stuff you could previously do in the past MKs are all mostly available across all variations, and the few exceptions are due to balance and replaced with some other new stuff anyways.

The characters have never been this fleshed out.

But still! Fuck the variation gimmick! Instead variations give us more fighters. That way all of us will be happy, because we'll have our favs every game.

Fair enough. I'm just thrifty, I guess.

That would be true...for some characters. But sadly not every character benefits from the variation system as well as, let's say Tanya since you mentioned her. Some characters got the end of the stick here. And I'd say if you can't do it great for all of them then don't do it at all. It's more balanced and fair that way.

Agree to disagree I guess, but for me variations are taking away from the experience. Like someone said, I'd take more characters over extra work on variations. X-rays can leave as well.

The variation system is a gimmick.

A variation is not a character.

The overhype is again messing with fans' heads. Lets wait it out till reality kicks in.

Some characters always get the short of end of the stick. That is called a lower tier character.

No, it is not more balanced that way because with variations you are giving each character three chances to become viable or higher tier.

Sounds like you're fangasming real hard. I mean really, we've seen failures with the variation system and we've seen some great work.

Obviously, Triborg is going to have shared moves across all three variations and then some variation specific, how do you reckon' that Cyrax/Sektor/Smoke are not going to be limited in some capacity?

As was previously stated, they wont have their own fatalities, they wont have their own dialogue, we won't be playing as Cyrax/Sektor/Smoke. How is that in itself already not limiting?

You based your argument on someone not seeing the full gameplay, but you yourself have only seen the same 2 minutes everyone else did, you just have a different opinion....

because it is by far the best version of it.

How? If devs can't come up with variations that can compete, how do they have three chances to be viable?

If anything its obviously, 'damn, we have to come up with two more variations' for some characters.

I think people are missing the point of variations. They're not a balancing mechanic. They're there to give stylistic freedom to the player (and if your favorite character was randomly turned into a zoner in another fighting game, you'd all understand how important that is). It didn't work for every character, but there's not a single variation in the game that doesn't offer interesting options or provide a refreshing take on the character.

If you want a more balanced game, then you need better testing for it. There's no silver bullet for bad balance.

For that part, YAS.

Remember, though: you can't blame the mechanic itself for not being implemented properly by the developers. That's on NRS. On principle, variations shouldn't create any additional problems.

I think variations have done way more good than bad. One reason why MKX is more balanced than MK9 is because the developers didn't have to reconcile special moves together that didn't syngergize well. Compartmentalizing moves meant they could separate them by style. Would someone (other than Brady) want a Sub with Cryo's damage and Grandmaster's spacing options?

I have to say that that was definitely the trailer for Kombat Pack 2. It definitely featured the characters contained in this next Kombat Pack. Leatherface is confirmed to use a chainsaw in combat. Good show