Summary
- Some Mortal Kombat 1 fans feel the new Deception skin for Mileena falls short compared to the original.
- Mileena's cosmetics have previously faced criticism for not aligning with the character's background.
- NetherRealm Studios faced backlash over the weaker narrative in the Khaos Reigns expansion.
NetherRealm Studios’ new Deception skin for Mortal Kombat 1’s Mileena has only been in the shop for a few days, and some veteran fans were quick to air their resentment towards the addition. The cosmetic is based on the character’s appearance in the 2004 game Mortal Kombat: Deception, a sequel to 2002’s Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, and several franchise loyalists are tearing the Mortal Kombat 1 garment to shreds.
Released in 2023, the 12th main game in the series serves as a second reboot after the franchise’s 2011 resurrection, alongside being a sequel to 2019’s Mortal Kombat 11. Following the Aftermath expansion's conclusion, the story takes place in Liu Kang’s new timeline, where the Fire God gathers fighters for the latest titular tournament while opposing Shang Tsung’s alliance. Mortal Kombat 1 received a new update for October 2024, fixing various UI and visual issues on PC and Switch, alongside introducing a new points system in Invasions mode.
Mileena’s Deception skin carries the character’s traditional pink and black colorway, sporting flared sleeves, knee-high boots, and a mask covering the lower half of her face. However, there’s a catch in obtaining the skin, as the cosmetic is locked behind a paywall asking 500 Dragon Krystals to purchase. Sadly, some Mortal Kombat fans think the new skin pales in comparison to the 2004 version. One Twitter user said, “Stop modifying the OG skins/outfits... Give us the real deal,” despite the main difference being the lighter-colored fabric. There’s no forgetting Mileena’s fierce moves and combos in Mortal Kombat 1, or her razor-sharp teeth, and some fans aren’t convinced the skins are doing the character justice.
Mortal Kombat 1's Deception Mileena Skin Receives Backlash and 500-Krystal Paywall
This isn’t the first time the antagonist’s cosmetics have received backlash. A variant of Mileena’s Mortal Kombat 1 Earthrealm skin was criticized for being too modern because the street-wear style didn’t match that of an Edenian princess. Thankfully, an army of players jumped to defend Mileena’s Deception skin, celebrating its long-awaited arrival after quietly hoping for the iconic outfit to be added. Fans of the cosmetic shared several screenshots on social media within appreciation posts, which quickly overwhelmed the naysayers.
According to fans, the real disappointment lies in September's expansion. Mortal Kombat 1’s Khaos Reigns narrative is lackluster in the opinion of many, with a weak, open-ended finale and a lack of consistency being the main takeaways. NetherRealm boss Ed Boon previously insisted support for Mortal Kombat 1 content would continue, while work on the studio’s next project increases. However, fans of the franchise demand stronger storytelling going forward.
Mortal Kombat 1
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- September 19, 2023
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- NetherRealm Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Brothers Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to a new era of Kombat. NetherRealm Studios ushers in a new era of the iconic fighting franchise with a total reset that changes the entire world as we know it. Following the thrilling climax of Mortal Kombat 11, the all-powerful Fire God Liu Kang has created a New Era in the hope of bringing peace to Earthrealm and beyond. Through the series' most cinematic story mode yet, you'll be reintroduced to a cast of legendary warriors as you've never seen them before. Expect twists on classic friendships and rivalries, as well as new backstories that will change everything you think you know about your favorite Kombatants. Discover a host of new offline and online game modes as you master a revitalized fighting system that boasts bone-crunching Fatal Blows, defensive Breakers and the most creatively vicious Fatalities yet.
- Franchise
- Mortal Kombat
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- How Long To Beat
- 7 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
