Mortal Kombat 1: Best Intro Dialogue, Ranked

With Liu Kang resetting history in Mortal Kombat 1, peace seems to have finally settled across the Realms. However, it seems no matter how many times one resets time, certain things never change among the personalities of Mortal Kombat characters, with unrest slowly growing among the ranks of Liu Kang’s supposed agents. Insights towards these developments and relationships between the Mortal Kombat cast are reflected as early as their conversations between Kombat, making the game have some of the quirkiest lines to grace the series.

However, with Mortal Kombat 1 seemingly taking players on a nostalgia trip to an alternate version of the game’s classic titles, even Special Moves and Fatalities seem to reference earlier franchise entries. Eagle-eyed viewers may notice similar tendencies in Mortal Kombat 1 intro dialogues, making some of them more exceptional than others.

10 Obligatory Movie References

It's no surprise that Johnny Cage is once again a recent recruit as one of Earthrealm's champions in this Mortal Kombat reboot. The celebrity returns boasting quite the charm and an ill-fated attempt to flirt with many of the roster's cast. What makes most of Johnny's intro dialogues interesting are the film and series references he often inserts.

Other characters seem to make these pop culture references, too, with Johnny having the most lines. Two statements in particular stand out: one where he tells Kung Lao that his film based on their fights will be called "Mortal Kombat," and another where Raiden and Liu Kang make a reference to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

• (Kung Lao) "So what's the name of your film about us?" | (Johnny Cage) "Mortal. Kombat."
• (Johnny Cage) "This Jax guy you're working with... Is he good people?" | (Kenshi) "He's quite the All-American Hero."
• (Raiden) "Master Kai taught me Crouching Tiger style." | (Liu Kang) "Try it against my Hidden Dragon style."
• (Raiden) "Your laboratory was a chamber of horrors." | (Shang Tsung) "I prefer to think of it as a chamber of secrets."

9 Snappy Quips

It's often to hear fans say, "Ooh, burn!" Should trash talk between two opposing parties come too far, and some lines in Mortal Kombat 1's extensive list of intro dialogue contain quite the sass from various characters. While Shang Tsung remains unsurprisingly unremorseful to his actions, the butt of sassy quips in Mortal Kombat 1 seems to target Kung Lao and Reiko.

The descendant of the Great Kung Lao's failure to secure the championship in the recent tournament made others like Mileena disregard his boastfulness. Meanwhile, returning Reiko may be a soldier, but he's not taken as seriously as he'd expect.

• (Kung Lao) "Had I been champion, the tournament - " | (Mileena) "Since you weren't, your point is moot."
• (Reiko) "Ready to face Outworld's finest soldier?" | (Reptile) "I will be, if he ever gets here."
• (Reptile) "If I had your power, I - " | (Rain) "But you don't. So why speculate?"
• (Liu Kang) "Do you realize your soul stealers destroyed lives?" | (Shang Tsung) "The better question is whether I care."

8 Character References

With the original Mortal Kombat series boasting more than 60 characters in Mortal Kombat Armageddon, it’s unsurprising how a game like Mortal Kombat 1 can’t reasonably contain all of them in a single story. However, NetherRealm Studios did their due diligence in at least hinting at some of their roles in Liu Kang’s timeline. Courtesy of some quotes, fans have some idea of the fate of some Mortal Kombat characters, with some even hinting at future appearances.

• (Reptile) "There are Zaterran Umgadi?" | (Tanya) "Of course. You've not met Khameleon?"
• (Sindel) "Have you any concerns about Kitana's new acquaintance?" | (Tanya) "Countess Jade? Not in the least."
• (Reptile) "I have a message from your cousin - " | (Kitana) "Burn it, Syzoth. He's been banished."

7 The Distaste In Liu Kang

After Kronika’s defeat in Mortal Kombat 11, Liu Kang became the designated Keeper of Time to build a “better timeline.” Unfortunately, the crisis in Mortal Kombat 1 forced the supposedly mere demigod into revealing his true role in the new timeline. This revelation had inadvertently affected Mortal Kombat characters, with quotes hinting at their reaction.

• (Havik) "If Liu Kang's the creator, my life is his fault!" | (Geras) "He is not the architect of your oppression."
• (Sindel) "Until your revelation, I felt in control of my destiny." | (Liu Kang) "You still are, Your Highness."
• (Smoke) "Did you intend for me to be orphaned?" | (Liu Kang) "Some threads must be cut to weave time's fabric."

6 A Refreshing Take On Mileena

While Mileena’s sibling rivalry with Kitana had transformed her into a recurring Mortal Kombat villain, her version in Mortal Kombat 1 begins with a refreshing alteration: a headstrong Outdoor heiress with a surprisingly deep sisterly bond with Kitana. While hints of her growing insecurity towards Kitana are reflected in some dialogue in the recent entry, Mileena’s character development is seen in other quotes, specifically her respect towards people in her inner circle as well as her capacity as a leader.

• (Johnny Cage) "Where I'm from, princesses aren't taught to kick ass." | (Mileena) "What a failure of imagination."
• (Reptile) "You no longer wish me to be your emissary?" | (Mileena) "You've proved ready for even greater things."
• (Tanya) "Can you trust what remains of the army?" | (Mileena) "Now that Kitana commands them, yes."
• (Raiden) "Kombat in your condition can't be good." | (Mileena) "I grow tired of people questioning my choices."
• (Mileena) "Already they pressure me to produce an heir." | (Kitana) "An empress has many duties, Sister."
• (Kitana) "All I want is what's best for you." | (Mileena) "Or do you secretly covet my throne?"

5 Kitana And Liu Kang Remain A Thing

Among the most heartwarming stories within the Mortal Kombat franchise is the budding romance between Liu Kang and Kitana, which turns out to be a realm-defying love story that transcends even timelines. While Liu Kang has distanced himself from mortal affairs as a new Elder God in Mortal Kombat 1, the game’s events seem to make him and Kitana gravitate yet again toward each other. While Kitana remains duty-bound in her role as Kitana’s military commander, the princess remains perceptive of her predecessor’s relationship with Liu Kang in other timelines.

• (Johnny Cage) "Are you sure Kitana doesn't dig me?" | (Tanya) "She has eyes for another, Earthrealmer."
• (Kitana) "My Titan and Liu Kang have a history, don't they?" | (Geras) "Very observant, Princess."
• (Kitana) "Liu Kang isn't a god in your timeline?" | (Kitana) "A god? He's my consort."

4 Remnants Of The Past

The story of Mortal Kombat being rebooted a couple of times gives an incentive for Mortal Kombat 1 to play with the existing timeline for the benefit of the story. In turn, some intro exchanges hint at events of the past, be it extreme changes or hints of repeating cycles. Some of the dialogue reflects this, such as a Scorpion mirror match pitting Kuai Liang against the original Hanzo Hasashi or a "shadow" falling over Bi-Han, reflecting his eventual transformation into Noob Saibot.

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• (Kuai Liang) "If you're not me, who are you?" | (Scorpion) "I am the original Scorpion!"
• (Kuai Liang) "In prior timelines, I wasn't Scorpion?" | (Liu Kang) "In prior timelines, you were Sub-Zero."
• (Scorpion) "A shadow has fallen over your soul." | (Bi Han) "No, Brother. I've seen the light."
• (Scorpion) "Your thoughts on our new initiate?" | (Smoke) "Hanzo shows great promise."

3 The Previous Meta

While Onaga's involvement in the plot of Mortal Kombat 1 solves the Dragon King's absence in MK11, other dialogue in the recent Mortal Kombat entry references relevant plot points in the past that may still happen in the current timeline. For instance, it was White Lotus member Shujinko's pride that led to the reemergence of Onaga in the realms in MK: Deception, with the same pride leading to Liu Kang sealing his powers in the most recent entry.

• (Kung Lao) "Why did you not heed Raiden's warning?" | (Liu Kang) "I thought I could train Shujinko alone."
• (Liu Kang) "Pass this test and join the Shaolin's inner circle." | (Raiden) "I will prove worthy of the White Lotus."
• (Kitana) "The battle at the pyramid - " | (Geras) " - will hopefully never be repeated."

2 Changes To The Timeline

When Liu Kang took the mantle of Keeper of Time from Kronika in the story of Mortal Kombat 11, his ending cutscene assumes the creation of a kinder world where Kombat became a means to coexist and not conquer. However, as the story of Mortal Kombat 1 eventually shows, some characters in the game seem predisposed to certain personalities. With the eventual revelation of Liu Kang’s creation of their realm, the intro dialogue of some characters shows how they try to make sense of their current condition.

This is especially the case as they’re confronted with the reality that they may have been completely different beings before.

• (Geras) "You are the first ever Kuai Liang Scorpion." | (Scorpion) "Am I also to be the last?"
• (Geras) "Kronika never meant for you to attain absolution." | (Ashrah) "As it would have disrupted her golden balance."
• (Gears) "Would you rather have been excluded from this timeline?" | (Baraka) "Better nonexistence than Tarkat."
• (Mileena) "I gave Kotal Shao's old post." | (Reiko) "That Osh-Tekk could never replace him."

1 A Closer Look Into The Realms

Since the stories of both Mortal Kombat 9 and Mortal Kombat 11 deal with alternate versions of the franchise’s first two to three games, one might expect Mortal Kombat 11 to once again retell the story of Liu Kang’s victory against Shao Kahn.

However, Mortal Kombat 1 switches things up with a martial arts thriller, with intro dialogue showing how the rule of Outworld’s Queen Sindel is at risk of being toppled by multiple threats. It’s up to Liu Kang and Earthrealm’s new champions to stop an Outworld coup, a summoning of an ancient threat, machinations from evil sorcerers, and interference that Liu Kang and Geras could surmise have come only from an outside force.

• (Scorpion) "I've heard about Outworld's palace intrigue." | (Kitana) "It's even worse than what you've been told."
• (Rain) "With Seido devastated, Havik is eyeing Earthrealm." | (Scorpion) "The Shirai Ryu will stand against him."
• (Sindel) "I've always considered Archduke Mahazzem a friend." | (Reptile) "He secretly plots to turn Zaterra against you."
• (Tanya) "You're as evil as the despots of antiquity!" | (Shao) "How dare you compare me to those dark kahns!"
• (Baraka) "Tarkatan souls are not allowed in the Living Forest!" | (Sindel) "We cannot risk infecting the honored dead."