Unlocking the Secrets: Discover Khameleon's Mysterious Journey in Liu Kang's New Universe

Highlights

Li Mei, Ashrah, and Havik, previously considered unpopular characters, have found a new lease of life in Mortal Kombat 1's rebooted timeline. Their integration into the game has been greatly improved, allowing them to shine like never before.

Some previous game characters are returning as Kameo Fighters, including the obscure character Khameleon from Mortal Kombat Trilogy and Armageddon. Due to limited space, this is a compromise instead of bringing back all the old characters. Khameleon may surprise fans with a new design and affiliation with the Umgadi in Mortal Kombat 1's story mode.

The revamped timeline introduced in Mortal Kombat 1 opens up numerous exciting possibilities. One of the most significant opportunities is the chance to revitalize unpopular characters from Mortal Kombat's less successful 3D period. Characters such as Li Mei, Ashrah, and Havik, who originated from this era, seem to have found a more seamless integration into the game than ever before. Even well-established characters are benefiting from this trend, with iconic figures like Scorpion, Baraka, and Raiden taking on refreshing new interpretations in Liu Kang's version of the Mortal Kombat universe.

Unfortunately, not every old character can make a return at the moment. As a compromise, part of Mortal Kombat's roster has been included as cameo fighters. This includes well-known characters like Sub-Zero and Kung Lao, surprising omissions like Sonya Blade and Kano, and even forgotten fighters like Darrius and Sareena. Leaks suggest that alongside the officially announced playable characters of MK1's first Kombat Pack, a similar mix of cameo appearances will also feature. Interestingly, one of the most obscure fighters among them may have a significant role in the game's story.

Mortal Kombat 1 Bringing Khameleon Back Is A Surprise

As part of the San-Diego Comic Con 2023 trailer, several characters tied to the tense political situation in Outworld were introduced. Notable among them were Li Mei and Tanya, former and current members of the Umgadi, a sect of warrior priestesses. It appears that this group's primary duty is to safeguard Outworld royalty, including the ruling sisters Kitana and Mileena. Baraka also made an appearance with a more sympathetic backstory, and there were details provided about other Kameo Fighters like Darrius.

However, one character in particular captured the attention of fans due to their resemblance to an existing fighter. A gray-skinned woman with white eyes could be seen standing behind Tanya as she confronted Li Mei. While this character wore an outfit colored in Umgadi yellow instead of the typical turquoise, gray, or color-shifting attire, she bore a striking resemblance to Khameleon. In previous versions of the game, Khameleon was only known as a nameless female Saurian and served as a bonus character in the Nintendo 64 and Wii ports of Mortal Kombat Trilogy and Armageddon respectively. Both the male Chameleon and female Khameleon mimic the moves and colors of Mortal Kombat's popular male and female ninjas, making it surprising to see these relatively obscure characters referenced at all.

Khameleon Seems To Represent Outworld's Umgadi

With the leaked Kombat Pack 1 information confirming Khameleon's identity, players may now find themselves encountering a Tanya accompanied by an unfinished Khameleon Kameo in the story mode of Mortal Kombat 1. Interestingly, this version of Khameleon is now part of the Umgadi faction rather than being a renegade Saurian. Despite this change, she still possesses an otherworldly appearance, suggesting that she may either be a spiritual entity summoned by the Umgadi or is still in disguise as a lizard-human hybrid. This aligns with the notion that Reptile's flawless human disguise made him an anomaly among his kind, implying that Khameleon represents what a typical Saurian would look like in human form.

Although Khameleon is unlikely to play a significant role in Mortal Kombat 1's rebooted universe, she stands out as one of the few dedicated Kameo Fighters who actively participates in the game's storyline, alongside Sareena. Most other characters who possess Kameo Fighter variations are merely nostalgic renditions of absent characters. However, Khameleon boasts a fresh design and appears to have aligned herself with the Umgadi. In addition to the potential inclusion of Jade as another Umgadi member, Khameleon and Tanya could potentially serve as the primary representatives of this group within the plot. The fate of this new iteration of Khameleon and whether she truly is the original character remains unknown, but fans eagerly anticipate the return of this unique fighter and the possibilities she brings.

Mortal Kombat 1 will be released September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.