Gameplay-wise, the Mortal Kombat demo is loaded with special attacks, combos, juggles, and ultra-powerful X-ray attacks that will leave your opponents reeling (and your stomach heaving). If you’re not wearing glasses, the 3D backgrounds will look a bit blurry but the characters will appear crisp and clean. This is a handy detail if you’re playing with a group on a 3D TV and find yourself short of 3D glasses - everyone will be able to play and watch whether they wear 3D glasses or not. “Our 3D implementation makes the characters pop from the background a little more, and helps you focus on them.” By rendering the fighters in 2D for its stereoscopic 3D mode, Mortal Kombat’s action remains visible even if you’re not wearing 3D glasses. “We didn’t want 3D to change the basic mechanics or complicate things needlessly,” Mortal Kombat creative director and series co-creator Ed Boon told me. Stereoscopic 3D lends an impressive sense of grandeur and scope - the environments seem to stretch on into infinity but don’t distract from the fighting.

Mortal Kombat’s stereoscopic 3D viewing mode is exclusive to the PS3, and I was lucky enough to try it on a massive 60’’ 3D Sony Bravia. You’ll also get two environments: The Living Forest and The Pit, complete with its gruesome stage fatality. Hollywood prima donna Johnny Cage hits below the belt, and sai-wielding mutant assassin Mileena makes no effort to hide her gleaming five-inch fangs. Fan-favorite Scorpion is nastier than ever, packing his trademark throwing spear (“Get over here!”) and a wicked new sword, while rival ninja Sub-Zero forges weapons from ice and shatters internal organs with a touch. The demo comes with four playable fighters: Johnny Cage, Mileena, Scorpion, and Sub-Zero. All other PSN users will be able to download the demo on Tuesday, March 15th. PlayStation Plus subscribers are getting early access this coming Tuesday, March 8th ( March 9th in the EU) and it’ll be delivered directly to your PS3 as long as you enable Automatic Downloads in your XMB settings.

Comprised of four characters and two stages, the demo is a meaty preview of what to expect when the full game hits PS3 on April 19th (April 21st in the EU). I have played the Mortal Kombat PSN demo, and it is good. The sickening crunch of Scorpion stomping your rib cage while an X-ray view displays the internal damage in real time. The smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Sometimes, life is about the simple pleasures.

Stereoscopic 3d mortal kombat x pc