More blood featured in new Mortal Kombat

Fighting fans have longed to hear the booming cry of "Finish Him" emanate from their next-gen consoles. The spine-ripping and blood-spilling legacy set by the controversial "Mortal Kombat" had waned with countless sequels and retreads. "Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance" is a pleasant surprise. With a new fighting engine, impressive graphics, and hardcore fatalities, "MK:DA" returns the series to its gory glory.\nThe Mortal Kombat formula of massive violence and easy controls continue here, but a new fighting system makes the game much more intricate. Each character has 3 different fighting styles that can be switched at any time. These styles emulate real world martial arts and include weapons as well. The changes add much more strategy and complex combos. The finishing moves for each character are easier to perform than ever. The finishing moves are a return to form, shaking off all the silliness of the latter MK games in favor of extreme bloodshed.\nThe compelling characters have always been the backbone of the MK series, and thankfully many of them return. Fan favorites like Scorpion and Raiden return, while the newer characters include a vampire and a drunken fighting master. The story surrounding these characters is the basic good versus evil shtick.\nThe graphics and sound are excellent, with lush backgrounds, solid character designs, and the usual grunts and groans set to unobtrusive tunes. The transition to a fully 3-D design vastly improves all visual aspects of the game.\nThe only failing of "MK: DA" is the frustrating currency system. Every winning match earns coins that can be redeemed for extra features such as hidden art, characters, and arenas. \nDespite the lame currency system, "MK: DA" is a must-buy for fans of the series as well as those longing for some serious violence. Sharpen your spear and get ready for some serious bloodletting, because the Mortal Kombat series is back with a vengeance.