After a five-year hiatus the Mortal Kombat video game franchise is back with Mortal Kombat 1. This is not a re-release of the first game but a total reboot of the series.
“We are victims of Tarkat, it disfigures and debilitates.” growls longtime Mortal Kombat veteran Baraka. The character has slicing forearm blades that are as sharp as his shark-like teeth.
“Death is our only release.”
Making Mortal Kombat 1 a reboot is the most interesting aspect of the video game. Some characters underwent minimal alterations, while others were subject to total reinterpretations.
For example, perpetual big bad character Shang Tsung was nerfed from a powerful sorcerer to a mere huckster. Tsung is now just a snake-oil salesman who is routinely humiliated.
Another character, Shao Kahn, previously the emperor, was also demoted to being just a general. His redesign looks the best out of all the characters aside from Reptile’s.
Reptile has a fantastic look and is also now a hero. Originally, a villainous ninja who first appeared in the second Mortal Kombat video game, the character de-evolved to resemble a reptilian humanoid through the years.
Mortal Kombat 1 gives Reptile the ability to morph between forms, offering the best of both sides of the fighter. This character change reflects the 1995 film adaptation, showing both his ninja and creature forms throughout.
Other heroic characters were also not spared being stripped of their powers. Martial arts movie star Johnny Cage, the heroic comedic relief from 1991’s original game, no longer has his green energy projections. So, no more emerald force balls for the goofball.
There are a few impressive fighting arenas like the Corrupted Forest, or the Tony Stark inspired beachfront Cage Mansion, although Mortal Kombat 11 offers more.
Optically magnetic, Mortal Kombat 1 is beautiful. Watch any fight and see a broad spectrum of colors and powers. Be it the lavender tinted magic lion of Lei Mei or the scorching orange glow of Scorpion’s summoned hellfire, there is a wide selection of eclectic fighters to choose from.
The Mortal Kombat franchise has always produced some of the most interesting fighting games, with a wealth of characters and storylines to follow. What really stands out for the last three titles, including Mortal Kombat 1, is the story mode.
The developers were generous when it came to the story and the results are satisfying, averaging over seven hours to complete. Adding long-lost characters from previous titles was also refreshing, although there are no new additions to the canon roster.
Kameo mode is a new addition where players select a main character then also a secondary character that can be summoned mid-match to assist the first character. The secondary characters aid in attack and defense, while also adding flamboyant flair to the matches.
Mortal Kombat 1 planned for the future. There will be downloadable characters from other mediums that will join in the fun. Omni-Man from the animated “Invincible” show and Homelander from “The Boys” are included. DCs antihero Peacemaker also made the cut, portrayed by John Cena.
A new game mode called Invasions has replaced the Krypt from Mortal Kombat 11 as a means for collecting character gear and extras. Invasions is an upgrade to the Krypt because it allows the player to explore three-dimensional maps of the fighting arenas. The linear fashion is also easy to follow as the Krypt was disorienting and induced motion sickness.
Mortal Kombat 1 was adapted for multiple gaming consoles: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Windows. The PS5 version looks good, although the graphics and characters lack the depth and texture brought to the previous installment.
Mortal Kombat 1 is a blast, although it fails to live up to the game’s predecessor. The previous game, Mortal Kombat 11, benefitted from five years of multiple game patches, fixes, updates and new levels and characters. Time will be the deciding factor if Mortal Kombat 1 will ever surpass Mortal Kombat 11.
