So Mortal Kombat, we meet again! I thought I finished you off the last time we met on PS2... but I see you are back and this time you've brought your secret weapon. WAGGLE!

If you read my review of the [review=91]Playstation 2 version of this title[/news] back in February, you might remember I gave it a respectable 8/10. I felt that whilst the game didn't perfect the series, it was a welcome newcomer, that was a worthy addition due to its immense character roster.

Apart from the overall improved graphics over the PS2 version (nothing to blow away your rival Next Gen owning buddies, but everything always looks much nicer in 480p), there are 3 main changes to the Wii version.

The most significant change, the one that has had fan boys drooling with each video demonstration to leak on to the net, is the implementation of the Wii's motion sensing capabilities. This both makes the game easier and consequently harder. No longer are special moves denoted by a button combination, they are now instead performed by different motions of the Wii-mote. Unfortunately whilst the demonstrated controls, such as a back-forward motion for Scorpion's spear, seemed logical enough, all special moves for all characters are bound to the same motions, whilst punches, kicks and grabs are denoted to the face buttons on the Wii-mote. This pretty much makes it easy to just spam the special moves as you waggle your hands wildly and chances are you won't get your arse handed to you. Whilst this might seem refreshing for people who hate to memorise combos or play with a move sheet at their side, it ultimately removes a lot of the challenge. If you wish to use the Wii-mote and play with actual structure and skill, you will find it's ultimately not all that easy. I found in my time with the Wii-mote that it ultimately lacked a lot of the precision of a stick or controller. Moves wouldn't work first time every time, sometimes I'd do back-forward and it'd perform the forward-back move and ultimately I just found it easier to waggle the controller wildly.

Fortunately, you do have the option to use either the classic controller or the Gamecube controller and I assure you, if you're a diehard fan of the series, you will be pining for one of these after five minutes of Wii-mote play. It's worth noting that Motor Kombat on the other hand plays quite nicely with the Wii-mote.

The next addition is a significant one for fans of the series. The Playstation 2 version toted a complete roster of every character from the previous Mortal Kombat games except for one character. Khameleon. Finally, the female shape-shifting ninja who appeared only in the N64 version of Mortal Kombat Trilogy makes her return to round off the roster. Her addition completes the line up and is a welcome addition if you are fan of characters like Kitana or Jade, but ultimately truth be told, with 62 characters at your disposal, there were more than enough characters to begin with and Khameleon is certainly not the most memorable character in the series. If you're a completist though, you'll certainly get a kick out of seeing her there.

The last change to the Wii version unfortunately acts to the Wii's detriment: the loss of online play. For anyone who played the PS2 version, you will know that this was a significant part of the game. It not only allowed you to take any one of the 62 characters online, but also allowed you to take your custom characters into battle with fighters all over the world. Its loss is obviously quite detrimental to the gameplay and lifespan. I really wish Nintendo would hurry up with the addition of online multiplayer as standard.

So with all the changes that have been made in the port to the Wii, is it worth your money? Yes and no. If you were expecting the motion controls to be a perfect representation of your character's attacks, I think you'll be disappointed. If you're a Mortal Kombat fan who had been holding off for the complete roster of characters, it doesn't mean that there still isn't still a solid game beneath if you wish to go back to a traditional pad.

Perhaps try it before you buy. For hardcore fighter fans, the motion controls will be a mockery, but for casual players you might find it refreshing and a lot more fun.