10 Most Under-Appreciated Video Games In MAJOR Franchises
8. Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Mortal Kombat spin-offs aren't just bad - they're frequently as atrocious as games can be. The fact MK Mythologies: Sub-Zero and MK: Special Forces are regularly mentioned in the same breath as Superman 64 and Alien Colonial Marines is a strong indication how shoddy they turned out.
With Midway's track record, it seemed logical for them to swear off MK spin-offs for good. Instead, Mortal Kombat co-creator, Ed Boon said, "Hey, let's try again!" and devised a co-op beat 'em up called Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks.
Anyone who was expecting a disaster from this unwanted spin-off (which was pretty much everyone) was blown away by its smooth co-op system, well-balanced moves and combos, and creative finishers (including the new Multalities.)
And yet, Shaolin Monks been left in the dust. Sure, Mortal Kombat 9 was responsible for getting the flagging fighting series back on track, but its best qualities stemmed from Shaolin Monks, including the focus on character development and interweaving the over-arching narrative with combat encounters. In many ways, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is the progenitor to what the franchise has become in recent years.