Unearthed Mortal Kombat 1 Daily Challenge Hints at Exciting Cut Feature

Highlights

Mortal Kombat 1's daily challenges reference the Mercy mechanic, which was introduced in Mortal Kombat 3 and made a surprising return in Mortal Kombat 11.

Some players theorize that Mercies were potentially meant to be included in Mortal Kombat 1, but had to be removed due to time limitations. It is also possible that they could be implemented in a later update. This lack of Mercies in the challenges of Mortal Kombat 1, along with the inclusion of non-existent "Titan Battles" in the bonus tasks, can be disheartening for perfectionists.

Players have noticed a mention of Mortal Kombat 1's old feature, the Mercy mechanic, in one of the daily challenges. While the Mortal Kombat series is known for its violent and bloody Fatalities, the games have also introduced less lethal ways to defeat opponents over the years. One of these methods is the Mercy, which was first seen in 1995's Mortal Kombat 3 and has made a surprising return in Mortal Kombat 11.

In contrast to Mortal Kombat 1's Brutalities and Fatalities, performing a Mercy attack extends the match by giving the opponent who is about to be finished off more health after the iconic "Finish Him/Her" phrase appears on the screen. Often, this only postpones the defeated player's defeat, but in Mortal Kombat 3, Mercies were used to unlock the game's shape-shifting Animality finishers. In Mortal Kombat 11, the Mercy feature only rewards players with a trophy and allows them one final chance to defend themselves, adding insult to injury.

The Mercy mechanic has not been present in Mortal Kombat 1. However, a daily challenge in the game suggests that there may have been plans for it. A highlighted achievement offered players 25 Silver Koins for performing two Mercies during a match. Since Mercies don't exist in Mortal Kombat 1, this challenge cannot be completed. This raises the question of why the game references the old Mortal Kombat 3 feature in the first place.

There are several theories to explain this reference. One possibility is that NetherRealm initially intended to include Mercies in Mortal Kombat 1 but had to remove the feature due to time constraints. Another possibility is that Mercies could be added to Mortal Kombat 1 in a future update, similar to how Friendships were introduced in Mortal Kombat 11's story-expanding Aftermath DLC. Evidence supporting this theory can be found in leaked audio for upcoming Mortal Kombat 1 DLC characters, such as Omni-Man, who mentions the Mercy mechanic in his Announcer voice pack.

Meanwhile, completionists may find it frustrating to be unable to finish all the daily challenges in Mortal Kombat 1. They have also noticed a mention of "Titan Battles" in the game's list of bonus tasks, even though such battles do not exist. There is speculation that these battles and the ability to perform Mercies will be included in a future update for Mortal Kombat. At this moment, however, nothing is confirmed.

Mortal Kombat 1 can currently be played on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.

Source: The Gamer