The Bold Evolution: Why Mortal Kombat 1 Should Embrace a Break from Tradition

Highlights

In the past few Mortal Kombat games, the inclusion of comic book guest characters has been a prevalent trend, but it may now be reaching a point of repetitiveness.

Rather than focusing solely on characters from comic books, Mortal Kombat should consider incorporating a broader selection of popular culture icons from movies, TV shows, and other video game franchises.

Over the past 31 years, the Mortal Kombat franchise has established a number of its own customs. Many of these customs are well-known throughout the gaming world, such as the inclusion of the Fatality mechanic at the end of each match, Scorpion's iconic line "Get over here," and the occasional cameo appearance by series sound designer Dan Forden shouting "Toasty." However, there are also some more subtle traditions unique to Mortal Kombat that may go unnoticed by players who are not devoted fans of the series. Given its intention to be a celebration of the entire franchise, it is likely that Mortal Kombat 1 will feature a plethora of these series traditions.

While most of these franchise traditions are pleasant moments of fan-service that do not interfere with the standard player experience, there are a few Mortal Kombat traditions that significantly affect the game's overall reception. When considering which traditions to incorporate in Mortal Kombat 1, it might be wise to reconsider one particular recent trend.

Mortal Kombat Might Want to Drop Comic Book Guest Characters Moving Forward

As Mortal Kombat 1's first Kombat Pack is set to be released, comic book characters have played a significant role in the game's guest character lineup in recent years. They have appeared just as frequently as characters from horror movies. Mortal Kombat 11 initiated this trend by introducing Spawn and The Joker as DLC characters. If the rumors hold true, Mortal Kombat 1 will continue to embrace this trend by adding DC's Peacemaker, The Boys' Homelander, and Invincible's Omni-Man to its roster.

While these comic book characters make great additions to the Mortal Kombat roster, they do come with some drawbacks. One major criticism that may arise when Mortal Kombat 1's DLC is released is that many of these comic book characters have similar playstyles. Although Peacemaker's gunslinging moveset will likely be well-received, Homelander and Omni-Man possess similar abilities in their source material, potentially resulting in gameplay that is quite similar to Mortal Kombat 11's Spawn.

While it is exciting to incorporate more pop-culture icons into the Mortal Kombat universe, it may be wise for Mortal Kombat 1 and future entries in the series to reduce the focus on characters from comic books. If NetherRealm Studios wishes to continue honoring comic book pop-culture, their Injustice series would be a more suitable platform. The Injustice series is already deeply rooted in the DC universe and has featured other popular comic book characters like Hellboy and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Injustice 2.

When it comes to Mortal Kombat, NetherRealm's flagship franchise, it's wise to embrace a wide range of pop-culture references that align with the game's mature tone. Introducing renowned action heroes like Terminator and Rambo in Mortal Kombat 11 was a brilliant move, and the series should continue this trend by incorporating characters from various genres and popular franchises.

In the realm of movies, there are countless iconic action heroes, adventurers, and horror monsters that would be well-suited for Mortal Kombat. The same applies to beloved TV characters. Additionally, exploring the possibility of including guest characters from other video game franchises, such as Ellie from The Last of Us, Sweet Tooth from Twisted Metal, or Geralt from The Witcher, would be an exciting direction for Mortal Kombat. The options are truly limitless, and Mortal Kombat should feel liberated to expand its DLC offerings beyond just comic book characters.

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