Honestly, if you fire up Mortal Kombat X PS4 today, the first thing that hits you isn't the gore. It’s the speed. This game is fast. Like, "blink and you're in a 40% combo" fast.
While the newer games in the series have moved toward a more methodical, footsie-heavy style, MKX remains the king of the "run" button. It’s aggressive. It’s chaotic. It’s arguably the most expressive the series has ever been on a Sony console.
The Running Man Meta
You've got a stamina bar. It sits right under your health. Most people forget it’s there until they try to dash and realize they’re out of gas. But in Mortal Kombat X PS4, that bar is your lifeblood.
Unlike Mortal Kombat 11 or the newer Mortal Kombat 1, this game lets you cancel moves into a full-on sprint. It creates this "vortex" gameplay where once an expert player gets you in the corner, you’re basically guessing for your life. High? Low? Overhead? If you guess wrong, you’re eating a full combo.
Some people hate this. They say it’s "unbalanced" or "scrubby." But there’s a reason the competitive scene still revisits this title. The freedom of movement feels incredible compared to the slightly stiffer feel of later entries.
Variations: The Good and the Weird
NetherRealm introduced the Variation System here. Every character has three distinct styles.
- Scorpion has Ninjutsu (swords), Hellfire (fireballs), and Inferno (minions).
- Sub-Zero can be a Grandmaster (ice clones) or Unbreakable (defensive shields).
It was a bold move. Basically, it meant you weren't just learning a character; you were learning a specific version of them. In the long run, most players figured out which one was "meta," but for casual couch play, it’s still fun to flip between them and see what sticks.
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Does it Still Look Good?
Short answer: Kinda.
Long answer: The art direction in MKX is... dark. Everything is grey, brown, and wet. It was that mid-2010s "gritty" aesthetic that every developer was obsessed with. If you put it next to the vibrant, colorful stages of Mortal Kombat 1, it looks a bit depressing.
However, the technical performance on PS4 is rock solid. It runs at a crisp 1080p and 60fps. Even in 2026, those 60 frames matter more than the resolution. The animations are fluid, even if the character models look a bit like they’re made of shiny plastic compared to the photorealistic faces we have now.
The "Kombat Pack" Legacy
If you’re playing the base version, you’re missing out. You really need Mortal Kombat XL. That’s the version that includes all the DLC, and honestly, the guest characters are the best the series has ever seen.
- Jason Voorhees: He’s a tank. Literally walks through hits.
- The Predator: Uses thermal vision and traps. Super satisfying.
- Leatherface: Has a literal chainsaw stance. It’s terrifying.
- The Alien (Xenomorph): It actually uses Baraka’s DNA, so it fights with arm blades.
Seeing the Alien fight the Predator on a PS4 is still a highlight of the generation. It’s pure fan service done right.
The Roster Gamble
MKX took a huge risk by skipping a lot of fan favorites to introduce the "Kombat Kids." You’ve got Cassie Cage, Jacqui Briggs, Takeda, and Kung Jin.
Basically, they’re the next generation.
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A lot of fans missed Noob Saibot and Cyrax, but the new additions brought some fresh mechanics. Takeda’s whips, for instance, have a reach that’s totally unique to this game. It made the story feel like a real progression instead of just another reboot.
Online Play in 2026
You might be wondering if anyone is still playing this online.
Surprisingly, yeah.
The Mortal Kombat X PS4 community is small but dedicated. You won't find a match in three seconds like you would in the newest title, but the "Rooms" feature is usually active with veterans.
A word of warning: If you jump into a room today, you will get destroyed. The people still playing this game have been practicing their Ermac resets since 2015. They don’t drop combos.
The netcode was actually patched to use rollback (GGPO-style) late in its life cycle, which was a massive deal. It means even if you’re playing someone halfway across the country, the lag is manageable. It’s way better than the delay-based systems used in older fighting games.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's a common myth that MKX is "just about spamming."
That’s not really true.
While you can definitely get far by just throwing Sub-Zero’s ice ball, the high-level game is about meter management. Do you use your bar for an X-Ray? Usually, the answer is no. You save it for "Breakers" to stop a combo or for "EX moves" that give you armor.
Knowing when to spend that bar is the difference between a win and a 20-hit loss.
The Krypt
We have to talk about the Krypt. In MKX, it’s a first-person dungeon crawler. It’s actually pretty spooky. There are jump scares (looking at you, wolf) and puzzles to solve.
It’s way more interactive than just clicking a menu. You’re actually walking through the Graveyard or the Spider Tunnels to unlock fatalities and concept art. It’s a bit of a grind, but it feels like a real part of the world.
Actionable Tips for Revisiting MKX
If you’re dusting off your copy or picking it up on a sale, here’s how to actually enjoy it without getting frustrated.
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- Turn off Negative Edge: Go into the controller settings and turn off "Release Check." It’s a setting that triggers a move when you let go of a button. For most people, it just causes accidental moves and ruins combos.
- Learn a BnB (Bread and Butter): Don't try to learn the 50-hit flashy stuff. Find a simple 25% damage combo you can do 10 times in a row without failing. Consistency beats flashiness every time.
- Use the Environment: Press R1 near background objects. Throwing a hammer or jumping off a wall can get you out of a corner when you're trapped.
- Finish the Story: It’s short—about 4 to 5 hours. It’s cheesy, sure, but it’s the best way to get a feel for the different characters before you commit to a "main."
Mortal Kombat X PS4 isn't just a relic. It’s a specific flavor of fighting game that NetherRealm hasn't really revisited since. It’s grimy, it’s loud, and it moves at breakneck speed. Even with two sequels out, it holds its own as a unique chapter in the franchise.
To get the most out of your experience, check your PSN store for the XL Upgrade specifically; it's often bundled for less than the cost of a single DLC character these days.