Gameplay
The normal blows have changed a lot. Instead of having a few punches and kicks divided between high and low, there's now a button for each limb: front arm, front leg, back arm, and back leg. This combines with most martial arts techniques. The player can also execute many special moves with little effort. Also new are intro and outro animations. Each character will have a different intro and outro, depending if they decided to do a Fatality or not.
The controls also refer a lot to Mortal Kombat 3, with the clash limited to a single plane, the fastest pace of struggle. Many attacks will throw the opponent into the air, and several others that take advantage of aerial combat. The "run" button is no longer in, but there is quick dash the player can use to inflict even more damage to their opponent if they're quick in getting their combo. Also out is the infamous system "Dial-a-Kombo", which was introduced in MK3 and used pre-defined sequences of buttons to execute "ready" combos. The combos are more akin to those found in MK and MKII, consisting largely of chaining regular attacks and special moves together. In the words of Ed Boon: "You're making your own combos. We aren't programming them in as much". This brings a lot of freedom to play and with the speed of return, as it is very easy to improvise a few effective beatings.
Another welcome return are the "real" Fatalities. Mortal Kombat: Armageddon used the infamous Kreate-a-Fatality and Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe used toned down versions of the finishers. Now violence is back with great pride. This time, the team began creating the game for Fatalities, an element that was before the end of the development cycle. From this process emerged ideas on how to combine fatalities. "Before, Kung Laohad a fatality in which he cut a guy in half and another in which he beheaded a person, now he has one where he does both", claimsEd Boon in an interview with Giant Bomb. Surprisingly, Babalitieshave also returned from MK3.
One new feature that has drawn much attention and keeps very well the climate of brutality is the introduction of X-Ray Moves. With them, the player can see the internal damage caused by the blows on the opponent. The player must wait until their special bar is full before they can use such moves. Players can also use their special bar to execute combo breakers or to enhance their special attacks. There is also distinct damage done to the characters during the matches.
The game features three different single player modes: Story Mode, in which the player assumes the role of several different pre-designated characters and the main plot is told; a tournament ladder reminiscent of the earlier MK games which features a sub-boss, boss, and an animated ending for each character; and a training mode which allows players to hone their skills with their chosen character.
Mortal Kombat (2011) also includes several mini-games, like the classic Test Your Might, and Test Your Sight, as well as the new Test Your Strike and Test Your Luck. The game also includes a massive 300 mission challenge in a new mode called The Challenge Tower.
Another new feature is the Fatality Practice Mode, where the button combinations for the Fatality are shown above, and a green square on the ground indicates the correct distance for the Fatality to work. If the player moves away from the square, it turns red, indicating that the Fatality will not be executed.





Playable Characters

• Scorpion
• Liu Kang
• Kung Lao
• Sub-Zero
• Sindel
• Ermac
• Reptile
• Kitana
• Johnny Cage
• Jade
• Mileena
• Nightwolf
• Cyrax
• Noob Saibot
• Smoke
• Sektor
• Sonya Blade
• Jax Briggs
• Kano
• Kurtis Stryker
• Shang Tsung
• Baraka
• Kabal
• Raiden
• Cyber Sub-Zero (Story Mode Unlockable)
• Sheeva
• Quan Chi (Story Mode Unlockable)
• Skarlet (Once a rumored red ninja from Mortal Kombat II. She is now a new DLC playable character.)
• Kenshi
• Rain
• Freddy Krueger
• Kratos (Playable in PlayStation 3 and Playstation Vita version)