Summary

  • Takeda Takahashi's backstory has been altered in Mortal Kombat 1.
  • Rather than being Kenshi's son, Takeda is now his cousin, and was raised alongside him in the Yakuza.
  • Takeda is set to be added to Mortal Kombat 1 as a new DLC character on July 23.

Mortal Kombat 1’s rebooted universe has already offered up interesting new takes on classic characters, and now fans know how upcoming DLC character Takeda Takahashi will fit in the new timeline. This kunai-wielding member of Scorpion’s Shirai Ryu clan was first introduced in 2015’s Mortal Kombat 10 as part of the “Kombat Kids,” a group of new heroes related to classic MK protagonists. In Takeda’s case, he was the son of Kenshi Takahashi, the blind swordsman who was included in the base Mortal Kombat 1 roster.

Mortal Kombat 1’s version of Kenshi featured a radically different backstory as part of the new timeline. No longer part of Jax’s Outworld Investigation Agency, Kenshi is instead a former Yakuza hoping to escape his criminal life and restore his family’s honor. This eventually leads him to the Sento, an ancient katana once owned by his ancestors that he uses to fight alongside Liu Kang’s newly formed protectors of Earthrealm. Kenshi’s new history has raised many questions about how Takeda will fit into the altered Mortal Kombat 1 timeline, and now NetherRealm has provided answers ahead of his DLC debut on July 23.

Takeda Takashi’s Mortal Kombat 1 character bio was recently revealed by Eurogamer, and it features several changes to his backstory. According to this new history, Takeda is now Kenshi’s cousin instead of his son, raised alongside him in the Yakuza. However, Mortal Kombat 1's version of Takeda enjoyed his life as a criminal enforcer, and was eventually ordered to kill Kenshi once his cousin went rogue. Takeda was mortally wounded in the resulting battle, but Kenshi wasn’t willing to let his cousin die. Instead, Kenshi took Takeda to Kuai Liang’s newly-formed Shirai Ryu to be healed.

Mortal Kombat 1's Takeda Is Now Kenshi's Ex-Yakuza Cousin

Out of fear that Takeda would be killed for failing his mission, Kenshi refused to let his cousin leave the Shirai Ryu, and Takeda eventually grew inspired by Scorpion's ninja clan and its tireless devotion to protecting Earthrealm. He soon took up a new mission similar to Kenshi’s, setting off to destroy Earthrealm’s criminal underworld from the ground up - though his bio explains that this was easier said than done.

Fans have noted that Takeda’s new Mortal Kombat 1 backstory has parallels to his life in the old timeline, namely that he is still devoted to destroying a criminal organization (the Red Dragon clan in the old MK continuity, the Yakuza in MK 1) with the training he obtained from Scorpion and the Shirai Ryu. The biggest change is that Takeda is now Kenshi’s cousin instead of his son, a twist that was already hinted at in past Mortal Kombat 1 leaks. Now Takeda Takahashi’s new family history is confirmed roughly a week before he is set to become the next Mortal Kombat 1 DLC character.

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8 /10

Mortal Kombat 1
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Fighting
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
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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
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SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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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
Genre(s)
Fighting