After years of near-silence,Mortal Kombat 1suddenly appeared to NetherRealm Studios' fanbase. The game is only a few months away now, and will receive its first gameplay demonstration as part of the 2023 Summer Game Fest.Mortal Kombat 1’s name came as a surprise to those who had been anticipating aMortal Kombat 12, but its nature as a reboot was expected.Mortal Kombat 11, and its Aftermath story expansion, ended in a place where it would be difficult to do anything other than explore a brand newMortal Kombattimeline, courtesy of the newly ascended Fire God Liu Kang.
However, just because fans knew one ofMortal Kombat 1’s core concepts doesn’t mean they know the whole picture yet. Aside fromMortal Kombat 1introducing Kameo Fighters, details on the game are scarce. Seeing it in action will reveal a lot, and could soothe or justify fans' fears for the title.MK1is built on the backs of two of its franchise’s biggest games, and understanding the pros and cons ofMortal Kombat XandMortal Kombat 11could help the latest entry excel.
RELATED:Mortal Kombat 11 Set a High Bar for MK12
Mortal Kombat 1 Shouldn’t Go Crazy With Currencies
One of the biggest mistakes thatMortal Kombat 11made came in its efforts to adopt live-service elements. This isn’t unheard of for fighting games, butMortal Kombat 11was uncharacteristically clumsy in its execution. Instead of simply having a free currency and a premium currency,MK11went overboard with many currencies. Most had nothing to do with premium items, and what did could actually be earned in-game. As long asMortal Kombat 1streamlines the system, it could get away with a similar setup.
Players Love Options in Mortal Kombat
Part ofMK11’s currency confusion is tied to the sheer number of items players could obtain. Skins, now including color palettes, and specific pieces of armor, could be used to customize player characters. This was an extension of the revamped Variation system, which was upgraded fromMKX’s three Variations to many potential custom ones. Developer statements have implied thatVariations will not return inMK1, but players should still be able to customize their fighters and Kameo partners' appearance, if not more.
Keep Alternate Finishers Around in MK1
A major draw forMortal Kombatis its Fatalities, but there have historically been more finishing moves than that. Just inMortal Kombat Xand11, there are Brutalities, Stage Brutalities, Stage Fatalities, Quitalities,Faction Kills inMKX, and Friendships inMK11. Their variety helps keep things fresh, provides alternative gameplay goals to get Brutalities and Friendships, rewards online participation with Faction Kills, and even discourages bad behavior through Quitalities. Regressing to basic Fatalities again is out of the question, andMK1could try additional finishers like Animalities and Kameo Fatalities.
Do Something Interesting With Mortal Kombat’s Krypt
Mortal Kombat’s regular single-player attractions include a story mode and Arcade Towers, but a more understated staple is the Krypt. Used to unlock content with resources acquired elsewhere,MKXandMK11had especially ambitious Krypts.MKXfeatured a first-person adventure mode, whileMK11surprised fans with a 3D action-adventureset in the classic Shang Tsung’s IslandfromMK’s early days. Exciting as that was,MKX’s quick time events andMK11’s use of repopulating random rewards made them lose momentum.
It’s tough to say whatMK1could do with its Krypt, but NetherRealm Studios should come up with something new and exciting while avoiding the pitfalls of the past. If any or all of these concerns are considered and implemented,Mortal Kombat 1could turn out to be a pretty special experience for fans of the franchise.
Mortal Kombat 1will be released on September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Mortal Kombat 1’s Johnny Cage Has the Most to Lose in a Reborn Universe
