Can Mortal Kombat 1 Handle the Intensity of Omni-Man and Homelander?

Rumors of Mortal Kombat 1's DLC characters started circulating online shortly after the game's initial reveal. It's not uncommon for the franchise to include unconventional characters in its DLC offerings, a trend that started with the reboot released in 2011. The latest installment looks to continue this pattern, and if the recent leaks are accurate, NetherRealm has a significant challenge ahead. Amazon leaked the DLC characters not long after the game's first trailer and release date announcement. Although there has been no official confirmation, the leak included two Superman parodies from popular media: Invincible's Omni-Man and The Boys' Homelander. If these characters do make it to the game, NetherRealm will have to figure out how to depict them accurately.

Omni-Man and Homelander's Roles in Invincible and The Boys

Homelander and Omni-Man are both twisted versions of Superman in their respective franchises. Unlike the idealistic and morally upright Man of Steel, these characters embody the worst aspects of power and privilege. Homelander, in particular, is a ruthless and self-serving individual who has no qualms about committing atrocities to get what he wants. The challenge for NetherRealm lies in finding ways to differentiate their powers, as their personalities are already distinct from each other.

Having Omni-Man and Homelander in Mortal Kombat 1 Presents a Problem

Having both Omni-Man and Homelander in Mortal Kombat poses a challenge as they possess very similar powers such as flying, super speed and strength, making them both their world's version of Superman. Even if their powers were scaled down in the game, it would still be difficult to differentiate the two characters and provide a unique gameplay experience. However, NetherRealm has tackled this issue before and may have a solution.

In the game Injustice, General Zod was introduced as DLC in 2013 with abilities similar to Superman's. However, NetherRealm decided to differentiate him by giving him weapon-based special abilities. Similarly, rumors suggest that Mortal Kombat 1's DLC characters may also have unique abilities. While it's uncertain if Homelander or Omni-Man will be included in the game, the first gameplay footage set to release in June may provide some answers. It remains to be seen if NetherRealm can successfully make each character distinct from one another.

Mortal Kombat 1 releases September 19 on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.