Summary
- Mortal Kombat 1 introduces a new era with revised character origins and potential for unique stories.
- Fans could see the return of Sonya Blade, Kano, and Jax as full fighters in Mortal Kombat 2 when it releases.
- MK2 could revitalize forgotten 3D era fighters, updating their personalities and move sets.
When a franchise has been around as long as Mortal Kombat, there comes a time when it attempts to reinvent itself. Mortal Kombat 1 has proven to be a thorough reinvention of the popular fighting series, as developer NetherRealm Studios' narrative reboot has given many kombatants a new lease on life. In Fire God Liu Kang's new era, everyone from Johnny Cage to Reptile has had their origins revised, with some finding brand-new characterizations and others repeating history in unfortunate ways. By the time the credits roll on Mortal Kombat 1, it's clear this new era has the potential to create unique stories for quite some time.
In keeping with the spirit of this new era, MK1's roster made a point to focus on previously established fighters. Icons like Raiden and Sub-Zero are included, as they have been in nearly every MK game, and even more obscure names like Nitara and Havik have been part of the franchise for almost 20 years. Now that this new era has been cemented, however, a potential Mortal Kombat 2 opens up opportunities to revise MK1's roster. Whenever the time comes for the newest MK entry to get a sequel, there's more than a few things NetherRealm can do to give it another MK roster worth remembering.
Bring Back Sonya Blade, Kano & Jax In MK2
Mortal Kombat 1 made a point to include some of the series' most beloved names, but there were still a few kombatants who got left on the cutting room floor. Chief among them are Sonya Blade, Kano, and Jax, who have been an essential part of the MK franchise since the first two games. While they were still able to get in on the fun as Kameo fighters, MK2 could make a lot of fans happy by bringing them back as full fighters. Kenshi's MK1 tower ending heavily featured Jax in particular, so NetherRealm may already be alluding to the return of at least one of them in MK2.
Add More 3D Era Fighters In MK2
MK's 3D era isn't marked by an overwhelming amount of success, but it is noted for its tremendous number of new kombatants. MK1 included a small handful of these characters, Li Mei and Ashrah among them, revitalizing their personalities and making them less one-dimensional than they were in the past. MK2 could do the same for other MK fighters forgotten in the 3D era, recontextualizing them for Liu Kang's new era and updating their move sets to match the genre's current standards.
By the time the credits roll on Mortal Kombat 1, it's clear this new era has the potential to create unique stories for quite some time.
Cut MK Fighters On The Fringes
While each of MK1's fighters has their benefits for using them, not all of them bear the same importance in terms of overall popularity. Whether it's their competitive viability or standing in the overarching narrative, certain kombatants are more likely to get cut in the future than others. MK2 shouldn't be afraid to recognize who these fighters are and swap them with those who were absent from MK1. This could help ensure players don't feel worn out by using most of the same fighters, and it could give MK2 many more opportunities to flesh out its narrative from MK1's foundation.
MK1's roster featured several strong spots, and NetherRealm has a chance to strengthen this new era even further with its MK2 roster. Several classic kombatants still have yet to make their appearance in Liu Kang's new timeline, and it seems now more than ever that just about every 3D fighter is on the table. As MK1's DLC continues to release over the coming months, the game's final roster will continue to take shape. When DLC support has concluded, eager fans could have a better idea of which absent fighters could return in a potential MK2.
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
- Metascore
- 84
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
