'Deception' offers more than just regular 'Kombat'

By TOM HAM
SPECIAL TO WASHINGTON POST
The sixth title in the seemingly endless "Mortal Kombat" franchise -- 12 years and counting -- is about much more than blood-soaked, hand-to-hand fighting. Yes, Chess Kombat is now a reality: This mode plays just like chess, except when two pieces meet on the same square, they have to battle it out.
That's not the only departure from "Mortal Kombat" tradition. In the light-hearted, habit-forming Puzzle Kombat, you score points for connecting multiple blocks of the same color. There's also an attempt at a third-party adventure game, Konquest; it would be a waste if completing it didn't unlock characters and weapons you can use later on.
"Mortal Kombat: Deception's" core fighting game sticks with the last title's system, in which each of 24 fighters can switch among four fighting styles (three martial arts, one armed) during a match. But Combo Breakers can now stop an opponent from overpowering you with a combo move. You get only three per match, so use them wisely. Fatalities are depicted in more gruesome detail than ever, which will certainly earn this game some friends in Congress.
Better yet, the action now spans the Internet: On both the PlayStation 2 or the Xbox, you can jump online and fight people from across the country, with minimal lag over the required broadband connection. (Puzzle Kombat and Chess Kombat can also be played online.)
X"Mortal Kombat: Deception," by Midway, is available for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.