Mortal Kombat’s New Period: The Largest Questions Going Into Mortal Kombat 1

Since its preliminary reveal in Could, a significant promoting level for Mortal Kombat 1 has been the reimagining of the sport’s universe. Due to the newly minted Hearth God Liu Kang’s creation of a brand new universe, whereas each character on the MK1 roster is getting back from a earlier recreation within the franchise–the first time that is ever occurred in a MK game–they all nonetheless really feel contemporary.

Bi Han and Kuai Liang, whereas nonetheless brothers, at the moment are Sub-Zero and Scorpion respectively. Earlier than, Bi Han ultimately grew to become Noob Saibot, and Kuai Liang succeeded him as Sub-Zero. Raiden appears to have switched locations with Liu Kang, changing into Earthrealm’s Champion within the Mortal Kombat event as revealed within the MK1 Outworld trailer. The checklist goes on and on, however there are various questions but to be answered.

We’ll dive deep into a number of the greatest mysteries surrounding this new period of Mortal Kombat as MK1 approaches. Will there be much more acquainted faces showing within the story mode? What different characters is likely to be lurking within the shadows? Will Johnny Cage ever cease being a pompous ass? (Spoiler: no, unlikely). Here is what we’re trying to discover out when Mortal Kombat 1 launches later this month.

Liu Kang and Raiden

In a complete function reversal, Liu Kang is now the god of the realm, and the common-or-garden lightning-channeling Raiden is his champion in Mortal Kombat. Within the earlier universe, the god/champion relationship between the 2 was contentious to say the least, so we’re curious how this new model will play out.

Raiden is described as a humble and type denizen of a village referred to as Fengjian, the place he spends his days within the fields and at Madame Bo’s teahouse. Nevertheless, as we have already seen, the Lin Kuei is shaking down Madame Bo for cash, and Raiden and his pal Kung Lao should defend her enterprise. That can clearly be the catalyst for Raiden’s journey–Liu Kang will be seen watching within the background–but the place issues go stays to be seen.

Bi Han and Kuai Liang

As talked about earlier, the dynamic between Bi Han and Kuai Liang has modified dramatically in Liu Kang’s new period. Beforehand, Bi Han served as Sub-Zero, Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei clan, and Kuai Liang was his youthful brother and eventual successor. After his demise, Bi Han would go on to turn out to be Noob Saibot, and a fierce rivalry between the 2 emerged.

Now, Bi Han and Kuai Liang are nonetheless brothers, however whereas Bi Han is as soon as once more Sub-Zero, Kuai Liang has taken up the mantle of the yellow-clad ninja Scorpion. The 2 combat side-by-side utilizing their mixed may to do the Lin Kuei’s bidding, however their personalities are far totally different than earlier than. Bi Han is headstrong, continuously questioning Liu Kang’s management, whereas Kuai Liang tries to be the voice of purpose and secretly worries he might should problem his brother ultimately. As for the earlier timeline’s Scorpion, Hanzo Hasashi, he’s nowhere to be discovered… but.

The place is Hanzo?

With Kuai Liang changing into Scorpion, we now have one easy query: The place is Hanzo Hasashi? The vengeful ninja who declared conflict in opposition to the Lin Kuei after the homicide of his spouse and baby is lacking in motion in the meanwhile, with nary a point out of his title to be seen. Nevertheless, we expect his disappearance is smoke and mirrors… with an emphasis on the primary half.

Smoke’s identification in Mortal Kombat 1 has but to be revealed, nonetheless his backstory is eerily just like that of the unique Scorpion. His official bio on the Mortal Kombat web site says his household was killed after trespassing on Lin Kuei lands whereas looking, leaving Smoke orphaned. A person’s household killed by the hands of the Lin Kuei sounds awfully acquainted, although right here in MK1 the Lin Kuei took the boy in after feeling embarrassed by its actions. Was this boy a younger Hanzo who was proven mercy as an alternative of fury?

The character of Smoke has at all times been tied to the saga of Bi Han and Kuai Liang, simply as Hanzo has. Official lore states Smoke joined Sub-Zero in Outworld again in Mortal Kombat 2, after which hunted him in MK3. Additionally, the character was sure with Noob in MK: Deception, which created Noob-Smoke. Hanzo, in the meantime, sought vengeance in opposition to the Lin Kuei, realized he was being deceived by Quan Chi, and in the end befriended Kuai Liang.

Now, we nonetheless see Smoke preventing alongside Bi Han and Kuai Liang, solely below totally different circumstances. Is Hanzo now preventing as Smoke? We’ll have to attend and discover out. Nevertheless, there’s a couple of clues hidden up to now which could seal the deal. For instance, Smoke first appeared in Mortal Kombat II as a non-playable hidden fighter. Whose moveset did he possess in that recreation? Scorpion’s. Additionally, of the cybernetic robots in Mortal Kombat 3, which one had the spear-like assault? Smoke. We do not know if Hanzo will find yourself being Smoke, however it could make sense if he did.

Outworld, the Royal Household, and the Umgadi

Very like the ninja brothers, Kitana and Mileena’s story has seen a couple of main adjustments on this new period. Moderately than Mileena being a genetic experiment Kitana clone like earlier than, Kitana and Mileena are precise twin sisters. Additionally, in maybe a extra attention-grabbing twist, it is Mileena who’s subsequent in line for the Outworld throne at present held by their mom Sindel, as she is the older twin. Kitana serves as loyal counsel and guardian of her sister, and from what we have seen to this point, she takes this place very severely.

Regardless of this now-legitimate lineage, Mileena continues to be with a monstrous aspect, solely now it is half of a bigger contagion: Tarkat. Moderately than being their very own race, Tarkatans like Baraka in Mortal Kombat 1 at the moment are former Outworlders who’re with a severe illness that mutates their physique and, ultimately, turns them into feral savages. It is unknown how Mileena contracted the illness, although we marvel if the “horrible tragedy” that value Li Mei her place among the many Umgadi–the all-female defenders of Outworld’s royal family–is associated. Additionally, ought to Mileena flip feral, it could be as much as her sister Kitana to cease her, loyalty be damned.

Talking of the Umgadi, below Tanya’s biography on the sport’s official web site, they’re described as “sworn to piety and chastity,” however that this oath would “trigger a scandal” if Tanya’s “bond with Princess Mileena” was publicly recognized. It appears we now have a star-crossed lovers state of affairs brewing below the floor as effectively, and it stays to be seen how Tanya and Mileena’s relationship will complicate issues for them.

Normal Shao

With Sindel on the throne of Outworld, the place does that go away Shao Kahn, the earlier timeline’s ruler? Whereas he isn’t a Kahn anymore, he nonetheless serves the realm as its most prolific army officer. Normal Shao’s bio says that, because of a incapacity at delivery, his father harshly educated him to be a “bodily colossus” with an “iron will” who serves Sindel within the Outworld military.

Nevertheless, the Outworld trailer has already proven disagreements between empress and common, notably in terms of the brand new god Liu Kang. Shao desires to guard Outworld in any respect prices, even when it means conflict, and he’d do that “fairly than [be] Liu Kang’s lap canine.” Sindel doesn’t agree, and the 2 appear to be at an deadlock.

Does Normal Shao have aspirations to the Outworld throne? His bio additionally says that “although Normal Shao is sworn to serve the empress, his loyalty is to Outworld. If Sindel’s rule ever endangers Outworld, he would be the first to attempt to finish it.” It also needs to be famous that within the trailer the place he is launched, he is defeating feminine warriors… are they Umgadi? In that case, that doesn’t bode effectively for the already frayed relationship between Sindel and Shao, and it appears there could also be a mutiny afoot ought to one thing catastrophic happen, like, say, Mileena’s affliction turns into uncovered.

Onaga

One fast change in Normal Shao’s look are his huge horns, which someway make him much more intimidating than earlier than. Nevertheless, these horns additionally look just like one other main villain within the earlier Mortal Kombat arc, and one we have not seen because the days of the PlayStation 2.

Onaga, the Dragon King, served as the ultimate boss of Mortal Kombat: Deception, and he lower an imposing picture with huge wings and two large horns on his head. We hear loads about Shao’s father in his backstory, however we have but to see him in motion… May Shao be the son of the Dragon King?

Whether or not or not Onaga and Shao are associated, we suspect the previous Dragon King can have some affect over the storyline in Mortal Kombat 1. In a pre-match dialogue between two Liu Kangs, one requested the opposite, “Does Onaga exist in your timeline?” The opposite Kang responds, “Exist in it? He guidelines it.” This looks as if the kind of tease that will point out the return of the (dragon) king, however we’ll have to attend and see.

Kronika and Shang Tsung

A current preview occasion for Mortal Kombat 1 at NetherRealm Studios in Chicago showcased the primary 20 minutes of this new period’s marketing campaign, and already we have been thrown a large curveball. Kronika, the earlier Keeper Of Time and the primary villain of MK11, exists on this new universe, and he or she already has her sights set on Shang Tsung, who has been lowered to utilizing his shapeshifting powers in his touring salesman endeavors.

It is a transient interplay, however the seeds of partnership between Kronika and Shang Tsung are clearly sown. Additionally, it appears Kronika has some data of what occurred within the franchise’s previous, as she mentions how folks have been conspiring in opposition to Shang since his delivery. How did she retain that data? We marvel if Geras, her guardian within the earlier recreation who now serves Liu Kang, is appearing as a double agent of kinds.

And far, rather more…

These are the primary storylines we’re seeing to this point, however there are a couple of juicy parts to additionally keep watch over. Kenshi is attempting to reclaim Sento, his household’s prized sword, however that appears to be hanging over the mantle in Johnny Cage’s oceanside penthouse. Ashrah, a reformed Netherrealm demon, is attempting to purify her soul with a sacred weapon, however Nitara is attempting to say it for herself. With Shang Tsung not Outworld’s high sorcerer, that function appears to have been handed on to Rain.

The checklist goes on, however we will not assist however discover a through-line with all of those tales. There’s an overarching theme right here in these separate plots, one we suspect might play a significant function within the marketing campaign: The extra issues change, the extra they keep the identical.

Liu Kang has created a wholly new universe, and but:

• Bi Han and Kuai Liang nonetheless appear destined to battle one another, because of Bi Han’s aggressiveness and Kuai Liang’s uncertainty.
• If Smoke is certainly Hanzo, he nonetheless finds himself intertwined with Bi Han and Kuai Liang.
• Liu Kang and Raiden are nonetheless partnered and targeted on the Mortal Kombat event, even when the roles are reversed.
• Mileena continues to be coping with a monstrous Tarkatan model of herself, and Kitana should still should be the one to face her in the long run.
• Shao, although a common, nonetheless appears to have aspirations for the Outworld throne, as his personal bio says has no qualms about defending Outworld at any value.
• Onaga nonetheless looms as a large risk, though we do not know the total nature of it but.
• Kronika and Shang Tsung nonetheless conspire in opposition to Liu Kang and his warriors, even when they want to take action from the shadows.

The common reset was seemingly finished to stop these kinds of happenings, and but, primarily based on what’s been proven to this point, we’re unsure Liu Kang succeeded. If it seems he did not, maybe we’ll see historical past repeat itself yet one more time, and it is going to be Liu Kang who turns into a vengeful, evil model of an Elder God, as his predecessor did earlier than him.

We’ll discover out for certain when Mortal Kombat 1 launches September 19 on Xbox Sequence X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Change, and PC. In the event you preordered any deluxe editions–physical or digital–you can bounce in 5 days early on September 14.