GameSpy has one of the first mostly negative reviews of Mortal Kombat: Deception. They rate it a 2.5/5. The reviewer has some choice words about the fighting mechanics. Here's a sample.
At its best, the core fighting mechanic behind Deception is amusing, and deep-seeming. It's amusing because of the stilted, almost vulgar way in which it's all choreographed. It's definitely a product of its legacy -- the deliberate way in which all the fighters move hearken back to the older MK games, stylistically.
