Play Mortal Kombat - Deadly Alliance (e)(independent) Online

I picked up Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance for the Game Boy Advance back in 2002, a time when getting a solid fighting game on a handheld felt like a real event. It was developed by Midway, the same team behind the console versions, and it was one of the more ambitious attempts to bring that kind of detailed combat to a small screen. For a GBA title, it stood out simply because it tried to replicate the core experience without too many compromises.

You control one of several fighters, each with their own unique backstory and motivations, navigating a series of menus and static backgrounds to select your battles. The main objective is to fight your way through a ladder of opponents in the arcade mode, ultimately confronting the deadly alliance of Quan Chi and Shang Tsung. The signature mechanics are the two fighting styles you can switch between mid fight, which changes your character's moveset, and the weapon based style that can be activated for powerful attacks. The game is challenging; the AI can be punishing, and learning the timing for combos and special moves is essential. It feels surprisingly complete to play, a condensed but functional version of its bigger siblings that demands your full attention.