Common Sense Media Review
Martial arts combat at its bloodiest; adults only.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say it's a fun yet challenging game that features graphic violence and gore, typical of the franchise, with options to adjust the blood settings. While some believe it's fine for older children when blood is turned off, others caution against younger players due to the intense themes and scary elements.
- fun gameplay
- graphic violence
- adjustable settings
- age recommendations
- playable for older kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
MORTAL KOMBAT: DECEPTION has four basic modes of play: Kombat, Chess Kombat, Puzzle Kombat, and Konquest. Kombat allows the player to fight one-on-one rounds of combat with increasingly difficult opponents. Chess Kombat is played similarly to chess; however, when a piece takes another piece they fight for the space, allowing the defender to potentially win and keep the spot. Puzzle Kombat is a variation of Tetris.
Konquest contains the storyline element of the game. The player explores six 3-D worlds, talking to characters, accomplishing quests, and training, primarily under the tutelage of Mortal Kombat character Bo' Rai Cho. The Konquest portion primarily focuses on combat sequences and side quests. Many of the combat sequences are similar to training and are focused on learning combinations of keys to enact blocks, attacks, special moves, etc.
Is It Any Good?
Mortal Kombat: Deception ratchets up the blood and gore in a series long known to push the boundaries. Some of the minor quests in Konquest mode entail good deeds, but most involve violence. In Konquest mode, the character begins as a young boy and ages to an old man -- but even as a child, he is involved in violent and bloody missions. The character of Bo'Rai Cho, the "guide" for most of the game, uses a secret move, referred to as "puke puddle," to spew a pool of vomit on the floor, causing the opponent to slip.
Perhaps the greatest concern for parents, however, is the amount of very graphic violence. Gruesome deaths are a highlight and the goal of the "best" players. Even the background images are disturbing: In one level, for example, several corpses dangle from rope, their necks broken, and they swing into the way of the battle when they're bumped. No kid should play this game for any reason -- this is strictly adult fare.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this game is different from others in the series. Is the over-the-top violence one of the reasons this game is so popular?
How does playing a violent video game affect you?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 2 , Xbox
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Midway
- Release date : January 10, 2005
- Genre : Fighting
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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