Back in 1992,Mortal Kombatdebuted in American arcades as a gory yet surprisingly fun fighting game franchise. Now, over 30 years later, the franchise has swung back around toMortal Kombat 1, a soft reboot that reinterprets the story, characters, and gameplay of what came before it. Following a universal reset inMortal Kombat 11, the newly ascended Fire God Liu Kang is trying to run a more orderly timeline, but that will prove easier said than done. What the driving force behindMortal Kombat 1’s plot is has been kept close to developer NetherRealm Studios' chest, but that should guaranteeMK’s traditional cinematic story mode will be a delightful surprise.
In the meantime, fans will be greeted by the same solid 2DMortal Kombatfighting they are used to, complete with plenty of bloody details and fun character banter. Even thoughMortal Kombat 1presents itself as a reinventionof the franchise, in many ways it evokes theMortal Kombattitles preceding it. With the game being announced so close to its own release, some prospective buyers may still be confused about what exactly is new inMortal Kombat 1. Fortunately, thanks to plenty of trailers, previews, and betas, there is enough information to firmly say what’s what.
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Mortal Kombat 1 Builds a Diverse But Familiar World
First and foremost,Mortal Kombat 1is a franchise reboot that is more keen to remix old ideas than throw them away. This is most evident in its setting and characters, which often resemble the past twoMortal Kombattimelines but have various key differences.MK1’s world is still divided into separate realms, though their numbers appear condensed, and the Mortal Kombat tournament between them is more of a friendly tradition than a way to conquer and merge other realms.
Then, there are the characters. Series mainstays like Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, and Johnny Cage are back alongside several others, though not as they were. Raiden and Liu Kang have traded places as chosen one and patron deity, whileScorpion and Sub-Zero are now brothersinstead of sworn enemies. These backstory twists are common throughout the cast, which also includes several obscure characters associated withMortal Kombat’s 3D era like Li Mei, Ashrah, and Havik.
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The philosophy of bringing irrelevant concepts back into an even playing field is best represented by the Kameo Fighters. Kameos accompanyMK1’s playable roster as useful helpers, and also feed into several other game mechanics. Within their ranks, a mixture of playable characters like the expected Scorpion and Sub-Zero, excluded regulars like Sonya Blade and Jax, and evenmore obscure faces like Darriusand Sareena can be found with their classic looks. With some even possessing story roles, Kameo Fighters have proven to be a smart way of increasing the number of combatants inMortal Kombat 1.
Plenty of Ways To Experience Mortal Kombat 1’s Gameplay Are Present
Mortal Kombat 1does a good job of putting its many characters to work. Another cinematic Story mode, something associated withMortal Kombatsince its successful debut inMortal Kombat 2011, is front and center. Notably, fans still aren’t sure who the antagonist is, with guesses ranging from Queen Sindel and General Shao to Liu Kang himself. Multiple story paths have been another common hypothesis, with more variance than evenMortal Kombat 11 Aftermath’s different endings, so fans may get their own say in how Liu Kang’s universe pans out.
As ever, there are various other singleplayer attractions such as the various Arcade Towers, but where players will likely spend most of their time is in the new Invasions mode. ReplacingMortal Kombat 1’s Krypt, Invasions is a tile-based RPG where players willunlock most ofMortal Kombat 1’s cosmeticsand extras. Complete with a variety of beautiful and ghastly locations from the game’s stage list, players can experience plenty of bonus dialogue fromMK1’s characters while sleuthing out secret treasures and fighting wacky opponents.
CompletingMortal Kombat 1package is the online suite. This has not been extensively detailed as of the pre-release, but it will feature all the modern amenities fighting game players have come to expect. Rollback netcode will keep matches running smoothly, though only time will tell if NetherRealm Studios' work can keep up with its competitors. Some sort of progression system should be present, and players could get bonuses like costumes by engaging with it. Also,Mortal Kombathas had a history of extra online modes likethe 2011MKtrilogy’s King of the Hill, so players not interested in basic ranked, casual, or lobby play may want to try those instead.
Ferocious Fighting Remains At The Heart of Mortal Kombat 1
Of course, a fighting game wouldn’t be much without its fighting.Mortal Kombat 1delivers, featuring a cast that, while made up of returning faces, provides the series' greatest diversity yet. TheVariation system fromMortal Kombat Xand11has been done away with in favor of greater variety in every character’s tools, which pairs well with the return of aerial combo strings to create what may be the flashiestMortal Kombatyet.
Emphasizing that are the Kameo Fighters, which bring their own three or four special moves into play as well as breakers, throws,joint X-Ray supers, and Fatalities. The amount of utility on offer for every character and Kameo combination is staggering, and should give competitive players plenty to sink their teeth into. Casual fans will also enjoy the large roster, as well asMortal Kombat’s traditionally simple special move inputs and basic combo strings. With plenty of Fatalities and other secrets teased for launch, everyone will be able to enjoyMortal Kombat 1in their own way.
Mortal Kombat 1will release September 19th for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
