Info about Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Expansion:

Official game description:
Req. Mortal Kombat 11. New players can buy MK11 Ultimate, which incl. MK11, Kombat Pack 1, Aftermath Expansion & Kombat Pack 2.  
Experience Mortal Kombat's first-ever major expansion. Aftermath features a brand-new cinematic story centered around trust and deceit. Fire God Liu Kang, the new keeper of time and protector of Earthrealm, looks to secure the future he envisions. In order to do so, he is forced to enlist the help of some unlikely allies & familiar foes. Players will have to decide who they can trust and who they must defeat with fate on the line. Forge a new history.  
Includes:  
• All-New Cinematic Story  
• 3 New Playable Fighters - Sheeva, Fujin & guest RoboCop  
• 3 New Skin Packs, to be released over time  
New Stages, Stage Fatalities & Friendships included in a FREE UPDATE for MK11 owners.

Release date: May 26, 2020

Categories: Fighting Game, Single-player Story, Multiple Endings, Character-based Combat, Cinematic Narrative, DLC, Gore-focused Combat

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair; summary: The reviews focus on the high price of the DLC expansion, which is a one-time purchase. There is no evidence of microtransactions, pay-to-win, gacha, or loot boxes. The main complaints are about the DLC's cost relative to its content and the bundling strategy. A few positive reviews indicate satisfaction with the content. Overall, the monetization is fair, with no predatory practices.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $40.00 - $50.00
  - Reasoning: The community references the base game price at $49.99 and considers it fair for new players, while criticizing the DLC pricing. This suggests the base game is seen as reasonably priced, with a fair range around $40-50.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: 3.5h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews explicitly report the story campaign length of the Aftermath DLC, ranging from 2-3 hours to 4-5 hours, with several citing around 3 hours. The most common estimates cluster around 3-4 hours, so storyCompletion is set to 3.5 hours as a central value. No evidence supports total game completion time, typical session length, or endgame playtime, so those metrics remain null.
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-Driven Campaigner (sale)
    - Motivation: Completing the story and experiencing the narrative continuation.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on single-player campaign, minimal online or competitive play.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Mortal Kombat 11
  - Value-Conscious Deal Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Getting the best value for money and avoiding overpaying.
    - Playstyle: Researches deals, compares editions, and waits for sales before purchasing.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Mortal Kombat 11
  - Character & Mechanics Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Mastering new characters and expanding gameplay depth.
    - Playstyle: Practices with new fighters, explores combos and krushing blows, engages in competitive play.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Series Loyalist (buy)
    - Motivation: Supporting the franchise and experiencing all Mortal Kombat content.
    - Playstyle: Completes all story modes, collects characters, and engages with the series' lore.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: fan of MK series
    - Reference games: Mortal Kombat


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Story praised as engaging (weight 0.69): Multiple reviews highlight the story as good, fun, and satisfying, with a continuation that is well-received. The narrative is described as entertaining and pleasant to follow.
- New characters well-received (weight 0.57): The addition of Fujin, Sheeva, and RoboCop is consistently praised, with reviewers noting they blend nostalgia with fresh mechanics and are well-designed. These characters are seen as a great addition to the roster.
- Expansion content enjoyable (weight 0.4): The expansion is described as fun, good, and pleasant to play through, with high-quality story DLC that is cinematic and engaging. Reviewers appreciate the overall expansion experience.
- Story continuation after ending (weight 0.33): The DLC continues the story directly after the main game's ending, providing a satisfying follow-up with twists and turns. This continuation is seen as a strong addition to the base game's narrative.
- Tagawa's performance outstanding (weight 0.24): Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa's portrayal of Shang Tsung is highlighted as incredible, charismatic, and better than in the movie. His performance elevates the story and is heavily featured.
- Fujin fun to play (weight 0.2): Fujin is specifically noted as fun to play, with his crossbow and fully revealed character adding to the enjoyment. Reviewers find him the most fun to try out among the new characters.
- Friendships and stage fatalities (weight 0.17): The return of friendships and the addition of stage fatalities are positively received. These features add nostalgic and entertaining elements to the gameplay.
- RoboCop nostalgic and enjoyable (weight 0.14): RoboCop is praised for his good looks, enjoyable brutality, and nostalgic appeal. His inclusion is seen as a positive addition to the game.
- New stages added (weight 0.13): The expansion adds new stages, which are appreciated by reviewers. These stages contribute to the overall content and variety of the game.
- Skins and gear included (weight 0.13): New skins and gear are included in the expansion, with reviewers noting they are nice additions. This cosmetic content enhances the customization options for players.
- Story expansion enriches lore (weight 0.09): The expansion develops the story and enriches the game's history and entertainment value, helping players understand the lore better. This is seen as a valuable addition.
- Surprising plot twists (weight 0.09): The story features surprising endings and unexpected plot twists, which are highlighted as engaging elements. These twists add to the overall enjoyment of the narrative.
- Shang Tsung standout character (weight 0.09): Shang Tsung is described as one of the coolest sorcerer characters in the franchise and the most well-thought-out in the MK universe. His inclusion is highly praised.
- Five new story chapters (weight 0.09): The expansion includes a story expansion with five new chapters, providing a decent amount of content. This is seen as a good amount for an expansion.

Common complaints:
- Content not worth price (weight 0.88): The amount of content provided is seen as insufficient for the price. The expansion is short and offers limited new features, making it feel overpriced.
- Expansion too costly (weight 0.65): The expansion is particularly overpriced for those who already bought the premium edition. It adds little content for the high cost.
- Story has plot holes (weight 0.65): The story is criticized for having numerous plot holes and logic issues. It fails to match the quality of the base game's story.
- Server connection issues (weight 0.42): Many players experience server connection problems, preventing access to online features, towers, and customization. This is a widespread technical issue.
- Base price too high (weight 0.41): Multiple reviews state the base game price is excessive, especially considering the amount of content. The $40 price point is frequently cited as too steep.
- Content locked behind purchases (weight 0.33): Some content is locked behind additional purchases, even for those who bought premium editions. This is seen as unfair.
- Sheeva is weak character (weight 0.18): Sheeva is considered a weak and useless character, with poor gameplay and design. She is seen as a waste of a DLC slot.
- Poor technical support (weight 0.17): Technical support is unresponsive and fails to resolve issues. Players report being ignored and unable to get refunds.
- Game crashes and bugs (weight 0.17): The game has various bugs, including crashes in story mode and when selecting certain characters. These issues are not fixed by updates.
- Sindel character changes forced (weight 0.17): Sindel's character changes are seen as forced and illogical, ruining her character. This is a major story complaint.
- Character customization bug (weight 0.1): A bug in the character customizer prevents access to custom options for the three new characters. This is a significant technical issue.
- Repetitive cutscenes (weight 0.09): The story reuses cutscene fragments from the original, which is annoying and feels lazy.
- No new achievements (weight 0.05): The expansion adds no new achievements, which is a disappointment for completionists.
- Dark Raiden missing (weight 0.05): Dark Raiden is on the cover but does not appear in the expansion, which is misleading.
- Unlocking process tedious (weight 0.05): The unlocking process is tedious and not fun, making it harder to enjoy the new content.
- Localization issues (weight 0.04): There are some French localization missteps, which can affect the experience for French-speaking players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Story DLC adds campaign (weight 0.31): The DLC includes a story mode of up to 5 hours, adding a few extra hours of campaign with a brand new story. It continues the main campaign and is primarily story-oriented.
- Story involves time travel (weight 0.27): The story involves time travel and time manipulation, with Shang Tsung attempting to reset the timeline and a confrontation between Liu Kang and Shang Tsung. It offers a new take on the multiple timeline story and involves changing history.
- Multiple endings available (weight 0.23): The expansion offers a choice between two endings, allowing players to see the real ending by choosing. Choices affect the ending, including seeing the conclusion from the antagonist's perspective, and some chapters control only the villains.
- New skins and stages (weight 0.22): The DLC includes 3 new skin packs and adds stage fatalities and friendships. Friendships are friendly finishing moves, and stage fatalities exist as new finishing options.
- Fujin is agile aerial fighter (weight 0.18): Fujin has air control, air dashes, tornadoes, air parrying, unusual normals, and a crossbow, allowing him to control almost the whole arena. His playstyle is agile, involving pushing and pulling enemies with both close and ranged moves.
- Story chapters and cutscenes (weight 0.17): The story adds 6 chapters with lots of cutscenes, and chapters allow choosing which character to control for the upcoming fight. The story features seamless transitions between cutscenes and battles, and is part CG-movie interlaced with 1-on-1 battles.
- Returning characters featured (weight 0.16): The story features returning characters like Sindel and Shao Kahn, and focuses more on villains. Sheeva was present in MK9 and Fujin debuted in MK4, adding nostalgia for long-time fans.
- RoboCop is a zoner (weight 0.14): RoboCop is a zoner focused on ranged attacks, using pistol and rifle shots, rockets, bombs, and projectiles. He also has a shield that can parry attacks and absorb projectiles without using meter, and is quite mobile.
- Sheeva is a grappler (weight 0.14): Sheeva is a grappler with a wake-up grab, many throws, a classic jump, and projectiles that push back the whole screen when enhanced. She has good distance control, a shield, and slow jumps, with gameplay similar to her previous appearances and to Goro in Mortal Kombat X.
- Story length and pacing (weight 0.09): The story campaign lasts around 4 to 5 hours including battles and cinematics, and is about 2/3 the length of the base game's story. Some players find the story DLC a bit slow.
- Story split into parts (weight 0.08): The DLC splits the story into two parts, and the story adds some characters. This structure may affect how players experience the narrative.
- Gameplay balancing changes (weight 0.05): Some balancing was done and new properties were added to some moves, such as armor breaks. This affects the overall gameplay experience beyond just the new characters.
- Brutality trigger issues (weight 0.05): Brutalities can fail to trigger even when conditions are met, which is a technical issue that may frustrate players. This is a specific bug reported in the expansion.
- Over-the-top action (weight 0.05): The DLC is described as over-the-top in its action, which fits the Mortal Kombat style. This is a general positive note about the expansion's presentation.
- Dozens of characters mentioned (weight 0.04): One review mentions the DLC includes dozens of characters with distinct traits, though this may be an exaggeration. It highlights the variety of fighters available.

Performance notes:
- Frequent crashes after DLC (weight 0.07): Players report that the game crashes frequently after installing the DLC, making it unstable. This issue is highlighted in Cluster 1.
- Crashes at story start (weight 0.07): The game crashes to desktop within seconds of starting the story, preventing players from progressing. This is noted in Cluster 2.

Recommendations:
- Buy on sale (weight 0.82): Many reviewers advise waiting for a sale before purchasing the DLC, noting that the base price is excessive and it frequently drops to steep discounts. This sentiment appears across multiple clusters, indicating a strong consensus that the content is not worth full price.
- Must-have for MK11 fans (weight 0.69): Reviewers who are fans of Mortal Kombat 11 consider the Aftermath Expansion indispensable, especially for those who enjoyed the base game's story. It is seen as completing the MK11 experience with new story content, characters, and gameplay additions.
- Consider alternative bundles (weight 0.26): Some reviewers recommend buying the DLC as part of a bundle like MK11: Ultimate or the Aftermath Kollection, especially if you haven't played the main game yet. This can offer better value than purchasing the expansion separately.
- Not for casual players (weight 0.23): Some reviewers caution that the DLC is only worth buying for dedicated MK fans or those with disposable income. Casual players or those not heavily invested in the series may find it overpriced or unnecessary.
- Buy characters individually (weight 0.13): A few reviewers suggest that if you only want the new characters, it's better to purchase them individually rather than the full expansion. This is particularly relevant for players who don't care about the story content.
- Avoid or not worth price (weight 0.13): A minority of reviewers explicitly advise against buying the DLC, stating it is not worth the price tag. Some also mention waiting for patches before considering a purchase.
- Necessary for completion (weight 0.05): One reviewer mentions that the DLC is necessary to say you have finished the game, implying it adds essential content for completionists.

Other player notes:
- DLC overpriced compared to base game (weight 0.52): Multiple reviewers note the DLC price is nearly as high as the base game, with some citing $40. This is seen as excessive, especially for the amount of content provided.
- Story quality praised (weight 0.46): Several reviewers consider the expansion's story better than the main game's, describing it as high caliber and a direct continuation. It is seen as necessary for following the franchise's narrative.
- Short gameplay duration (weight 0.35): The story campaign is reported to last only 2-5 hours, with most estimates around 3 hours. This is considered too short for the price point.
- Three characters included (weight 0.31): The DLC adds three new characters (Fujin, Sheeva, RoboCop) and a story expansion. Some reviewers note these characters can be purchased individually for a lower price.
- Poor value for existing owners (weight 0.24): Players who already own the base game and Kombat Pack feel they overpay for the DLC, as much of the content (friendships, stages) is free for everyone. The price is considered good only for new players.
- Characters sold separately (weight 0.24): The three characters can be purchased individually, which may be a cheaper option for players who only want specific fighters. This is seen as a potential alternative to the full DLC.
- Price varies by region (weight 0.17): The price is $40 in many regions, but cheaper in Turkey and China. This regional pricing inconsistency is noted as a factor in the value assessment.
- Free update adds content (weight 0.16): The free update includes four new arenas, Friendship finishers, Stage Fatality, balance changes, and a reworked augment system. This is praised as rich and cool, but it reduces the DLC's exclusive value.
- Skins promised later (weight 0.13): Three costume packs will arrive over time for DLC owners, and some skins are promised in the future. This adds long-term value but is not immediate.
- Story compared to movies (weight 0.12): The story is compared to 'Back to the Future' and the latest 'Avengers', with some praising the twists and returning characters. However, one reviewer finds it simple and predictable.
- PC version broken (weight 0.09): One reviewer reports that the DLC breaks a large part of the game on PC, while another notes server issues were fixed for some players. This technical problem affects the experience.
- Actor performance praised (weight 0.09): Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa's performance as Shang Tsung is heavily featured and evokes the 1995 movie. This is a highlight for fans of the franchise.
- Not included in Kombat Pack (weight 0.05): The DLC is not part of the Kombat Pack, requiring an additional purchase. This is a point of frustration for players who expected it to be included.
- Shao Kahn not included (weight 0.05): Shao Kahn is not included in the DLC, which is a disappointment for some players who expected his inclusion.
- Story reveals series secret (weight 0.05): The DLC reveals a long-standing secret about Shao Kahn's conquest of Edenia, which is significant for lore enthusiasts.
- Wishlist for new fighters (weight 0.04): One reviewer lists desired new fighters, which are wishlists and not actual content. This indicates a desire for more characters beyond the three included.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.24): Players are disappointed because the story DLC is short, overpriced, and reuses content, failing to justify its high cost. The narrative also undermines the base game's plot and leaves beloved characters poorly handled, with technical issues and missing characters adding to the letdown.
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Frustration stems from persistent technical problems such as crashes, server connection issues, and broken features, alongside the high price of the DLC and its content not matching the cost. The story's contradictions and character changes also irritate players, as do tedious unlock processes and difficult stage fatalities.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players feel satisfied with the expansion's overall value, praising the story, new characters, and gameplay additions. The narrative quality is considered superior to the main game, with a surprising ending and well-integrated new content that enhances the experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Enjoyment comes from the entertaining story campaigns, fun gameplay with new characters like Fujin and RoboCop, and the engaging action-movie feel. The choice between two endings and the inclusion of familiar faces add to the positive experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Excitement is driven by the cinematic story, plot twists, and the return of Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Shang Tsung, along with the addition of cool characters like Fujin and RoboCop. The DLC's dramatic presentation and changes to the main story generate high anticipation and enthusiasm.
- Anger (weight 0.04): Anger is fueled by constant crashes after installing the DLC, poor tech support, and refusal of refunds, combined with the high price and perceived scamming by the developers. The illogical changes to Sindel's character also provoke strong negative reactions.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Appreciation is expressed for the well-designed and distinctive characters, high-quality animations, and the engaging story continuation. Players value the new additions and consider the narrative among the best in the series.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is directed at Shang Tsung as a cool sorcerer, Sindel's portrayal as an evil queen, and the well-crafted story details that rival a good movie. The expansion is seen as wonderful and high-quality.
- Approval (weight 0.02): Approval is given for the expansion's contribution to the story, lore, and entertainment value, with excellent new characters and skins. The Terminator vs RoboCop fight is a highlight that fulfills fan dreams.
- Concern (weight 0.02): Concern arises from the high cost of the expansion, especially for premium edition buyers, and the excessive $40 price in some regions. Players feel the price is too steep for the content offered.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance is caused by Dark Raiden being on the cover but absent from the expansion, and the repetition of cutscene fragments from the original game. These elements feel misleading and lazy.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement is derived from Shang Tsung's humorous portrayal and the fun, varied friendships that add entertainment value to the game.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion stems from the Scorpion MK9 skin not appearing as expected, leaving players unsure how to obtain it, and from the story's logic being unclear and hard to follow.
- Amazement (weight 0.01): Amazement is sparked by Shang Tsung's actor's dedicated performance in cutscenes and the unexpected exploration of different timelines and new scenes not seen in the main story.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is high because the story mode add-on is considered much better than the base game's story, and the continuation is highly recommended to players.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Interest is piqued by Sheeva's unique fighting style and Shang Tsung being the most well-thought-out character, making players want to explore their mechanics.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation is felt for the next season and the continuation of the storyline, with players eager to see new heroes and developments.
- Ripped off (weight 0.01): Players feel ripped off because the DLC is priced similarly to a complete DLC package, making the cost seem unjustified for the content provided.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is triggered by the actor's performance, which takes players back to the 1995 movie and evokes fond memories.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise is expressed at the story adding six more chapters, which was unexpected and adds more content than anticipated.}