I've been a fan of Mortal Kombat from the very second my mom told me I couldn't play it (lol it's my job now). Spike pits, decapitations, and Shaolin monks transforming into cheetahs define my '90s fighting game experience. So ask me to pay $10 for some old school Mortal Kombat and I'm down for it, even if it's a reminder that these games are cheap, frustrating, and dated.

The Klassic Kollection combines the first three Mortal Kombat arcade games into one bargain package. You get the seriously dated and limited (but charming) Mortal Kombat, the arguably best game in the series, Mortal Kombat II, and don't forget the most ridiculous entry in the series, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. For better or worse these games have become classics and they're ported here in all their arcade glory.

Video Review... Fight!

I'm not going to review the collection on the caliber of each fighter. If you're buying this you're a Mortal Kombat fan. For newer Mortal Kombat fans who never played these early games, you get a nice little history lesson on the series' roots (which should feel familiar if you've played the most recent Mortal Kombat). But know that these are the arcade versions of all three games, and as such, you should prepare yourself for one of the cheapest, most frustrating AI experiences of your life. The computer opponents practically cheat, and the bosses are designed to steal every last quarter you have. I shouted more expletives reviewing this game than I did reviewing Def Jam Rapstar, a game ABOUT spewing expletives as fast as possible.

As frustrating a challenge as the games present, my nostalgia still came back in full force. Synapses I haven't fired neurons across in well over a decade whirred back to life, reminding me of all the little strategic minutiae of the games. There's something immensely satisfying about re-figuring out how to beat Shao Kahn after almost 20 years. And when you add a friend to the mix the fun increases exponentially. Mortal Kombat may be a weak fighter compared to other games, but it's one of the most fun multiplayer games around.

The real appeal of the Arcade Kollection is online play, but unfortunately the game stumbles in that department. All three games suffer from lag of various degrees. At times it was passable, but during some matches the lag got so serious that it made playing nearly impossible. The leaderboards are also barebones; all the stats are categorized by individual game , and there's no way to combine them. Also, if you play with friends and decide to hop between MK2 and 3, you have to quit out and rejoin a lobby.

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