It’s a shame in many ways, but especially when you look back to 2019 when a title called Mortal Kombat 11 hit. And what a glorious period it was.

Maybe it was at The Game Awards 2018 when the first trailer hit and we watched Dark Raiden battling Scorpion, the former absolutely demolishing the latter after a bone-crunching duel. Then a new challenger appeared and it was…Scorpion? What followed was an extravagant execution and the words, “You’re next” (alongside a teaser for the new big bad).

As it turns out, the story set-up dwarfed anything we had seen in previous Mortal Kombats – more so than stopping Onaga or Shao Kahn. This time, the forces of Earthrealm were up against a Titan, Kronika, who controlled time. Having gone a little too power mad, she decided the time was right to restart the timeline and herald a new era.

Heroes and villains were in a pretty complicated spot. Between Dark Raiden and his machinations, Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Kitana being Revenants, and so on. Kronika further muddled things by bringing their past versions to the present. Johnny Cage had to deal with his past self, which really showcased how far the character has progressed; the original Raiden effectively removed his dark variant from the timeline; the Cyber Lin Kuei was starting back up; and, perhaps best of all, Shao Kahn was back and as brutal as ever.

The highlights only escalated from there, whether it was Liu Kang and Raiden finally reconciling their differences and finding a way to coexist, Kitana overcoming past demons and achieving her destiny, Scorpion and Sub-Zero teaming to dispense the Cyber Lin Kuei, and, of course, the penultimate battle. And who could forget that launch trailer with a modernized version of Techno Syndrome from the first Mortal Kombat? Granted, the boss fight against Kronika wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and she wasn’t the best-written villain per se, but when it was all said and done, it felt like Mortal Kombat had truly culminated years and years of history in epic fashion.

On the gameplay side, there were other issues, specifically with the amount of grinding involved in the Towers of Time and The Krypt. Players quickly realized that they could use an AI version of Noob Saibot with the best moves and leave it to farm the Towers overnight for enough currency. NetherRealm eventually fixed this and reduced the grinding while also revamping some of the Towers’ challenges to feel less frustrating. And it’s a good thing because, as far as unlockables go, the Krypt was simply fantastic, offering an explorable space with secrets, Easter eggs and cool references. Towers also provided some fun single-player content, including the Klassic Towers that mimicked the Arcade Mode of older titles and offered different conclusions depending on who defeated Kronika.

As for the actual combat, opinions remain a bit mixed, leaning towards the positive. Mechanics Fatal Blows worked similarly to X-Ray Moves, though they were more like comeback mechanics, but Krushing Blows added a new degree of brutality to special moves. The overall speed had dropped massively compared to Mortal Kombat X and Breakaway, which allowed for escaping air combos and gaining armor as your character dropped. Depending on who you asked, it was either an annoyance or the worst mechanic in the series to date.

Nevertheless, the overall system is robust enough and offers a good amount of enjoyment once you’ve mastered the fundamentals. Kustom Variation was also a nice system, allowing one to customize move sets for characters to their liking. The fact that this was decoupled from gear also made it significantly better than Injustice 2’s Gear system.

That being said, Mortal Kombat 1 is considered better in terms of actual combat and mechanics, striking a strong balance between speed and combo potential. The Kameo Fighters added some interesting dynamics and extensions, but didn’t exactly light the world on fire. On top of having to master more than one character for fights (because they weren’t optional), they were considered an ill-fitting addition in a series geared towards 1v1 fights.

It is a new era, though – one with new beginnings…sort of. Leaving aside the absolute cluster of the finale, the story itself was received well, and it was nice seeing the world and its characters in a different light. But after the conclusion of Mortal Kombat 11, the stakes weren’t anywhere near as insane (and none of this matters much anyway once the multiverse shenanigans began). The Krypt was also gone, and Invasions felt completely superfluous with its challenges and super armor-touting enemies, despite offering a neat concept.

However, perhaps the biggest fundamental difference between the titles is their overall level of polish, at least at launch. Mortal Kombat 1 felt far buggier – the Player 1 advantage was a whole rigmarole unto itself – and the monetization felt excessive. Perhaps because of these reasons, it sold only five million plus copies about two years after its launch.

Mortal Kombat 11 sold over 15 million copies, and to be fair, it was available on more platforms over a longer period. But the sheer hype surrounding the franchise was palpable – fans had waited years for a follow-up, and the concept of progressing through a timeline reset by Liu Kang was intriguing. It had everything in terms of marketing and hype, and while selling over five million copies isn’t terrible, a third of its predecessor’s sales by this point is a significant drop.

Now that both titles have effectively concluded their post-launch support, it’s easy to look back and appreciate just how much better Mortal Kombat 11 really was. It also highlights the perils of making a sequel, especially in such a long-running franchise. You could pack in the greatest graphics, the sleekest gameplay, award-winning voice actors and dozens of hours of content, and still slip up. This can happen to several different franchises, especially as budgets grow and developers attempt to reach the largest possible audience. Very few have the burden of NetherRealm’s Mortal Kombat series, though.

It’s not just a blockbuster triple-A title that millions of people want to play. It’s also an illustrious fighting game series with extensive lore. Even with all the reboots and resets, Mortal Kombat still commands attention in a way that many other fighting games simply can’t. The benefits of being so well known collide with the expectations of constantly one-upping itself in terms of story content. On the other hand, FGC fans can simultaneously have wildly different opinions about what constitutes good gameplay and mechanics while also uniting on truly awful things. Catering to all these different people will always be challenging, and while I don’t think Mortal Kombat 1 ended up a terrible game, it’s definitely a step down from Mortal Kombat 11.

The series has seen a resurgence of sorts, thanks to the latest trailer and details for the Mortal Kombat 2 film, which seems like a massive improvement compared to the 2021 film. In a way, it indicates the long-term appeal of Mortal Kombat – of seeing these characters, presented in different ways but still paying loving homage to the originals. Whether the next game manages to fill that void or not – and judging from the rumors, it’s going to be a while before we find out – here’s hoping that NetherRealm cracks the code and offers a follow-up that both new and long-time players can enjoy.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Speaking to Brazilian entertainment publication Omelete at the 2023 Comic Con Experience in São Paulo, Boon said, “Just like we did with Mortal Kombat 11, we’re going to release a second part with more story, and we have a big surprise after that.” He also affirmed years of support for the title, even longer than for Mortal Kombat 11.

Mortal Kombat 11’s “second part” is Aftermath, a paid expansion which followed the fallout of the base game’s story. It brought back several fan favorite characters and set the stage for many important events in Mortal Kombat 1. When we’ll see story DLC for the reboot and what this “big surprise” could be is unknown, so stay tuned.

Mortal Kombat 1 is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. Its next playable fighter, Quan Chi, arrives on December 21st for all players, while Khameleon, the next Kameo Fighter, launches in January 2024.

https://youtu.be/UpwMQIVl49g?t=22275

Red Dead Redemption 2

Is Red Dead Redemption 2, one of the greatest games of all time, really the best Xbox One and PS4 title? Yes, it is, because even with the hardware limitations, Rockstar Games delivered an excellent open-world action-adventure. The story is fantastic; the characters, especially protagonist Arthur Morgan, are fantastic; and the gameplay, while not for everyone, is realistic and incredibly detailed with a wide range of activities.

New Story, New Universe

Perhaps the biggest distinction between Mortal Kombat 1 and Mortal Kombat 11 is continuity. MK1 isn’t a sequel but a reboot with a new universe with a new plot. Yes, it’s the direct result of MK11’s Aftermath expansion and has familiar characters, but for all intents and purposes, this is a clean slate with new relationships, events and so on. You can see this in Kitana and Jade having a somewhat uneasy relationship, and Kuai Liang (historically the younger Sub-Zero) seemingly being Scorpion instead of Hanzo Hisashi, and much more.

Returning Fighters

Mortal Kombat 11 introduced Geras, Cetrion, Kollector and Kronika (who wasn’t playable but still) in addition to several returning fighters like Liu Kang, Kitana, Kung Lao, Raiden, Jax and Jacqui Briggs, and more.

On the other hand, Mortal Kombat 1 is bringing back fighters that weren’t in the previous title, including Li Mei, Reptile, Smoke, Tanya, Ashrah and Havik, each with different looks and some new abilities. The recent trailer also confirms the return of Sindel and General Shao, aka Shao Kahn before he attained the title, and wielding a battle axe instead of a warhammer.

Movement

If you played Mortal Kombat 11, you would have noticed how it’s comparatively slower than Mortal Kombat 9 or X. Players reported some issues with Mortal Kombat 1’s movement in its stress test. After EVO 2023 attendees went hands-on with the latest build, it was confirmed to be much better. You can even use MK9’s dash block, according to pro player SonicFox.

Kameo Fighters

Another major new addition to Mortal Kombat 1 is the Kameo Fighter system. It allows for assigning a non-playable character to each core fighter and calling them in during battle for assists (with a cooldown for the same). Interestingly, Kameo Fighters are based on classic versions of established characters. Sonya Blade is her younger self; Frost is in her original, non-cyber form; and so on. Characters like Goro, Cyrax, Sektor, Stryker, Motaro and even classic Sub-Zero and Scorpion appear.

Kameo Fighter Special Moves, Throws, and Breakers

Kameo Fighters can use Special Moves like projectiles and throws, which help extend combos through different means. Some require enemies to be in the air to work, so some timing is required to pull them off. You can even enhance their moves by sacrificing a bar of the Super meter or delay certain moves (like Kano’s spinning attack). However, they also have Breakers, which can disrupt a combo.

Fatalities and Kameo Fighter Fatalities

It’s Mortal Kombat, so of course, there will be Fatalities. Based on the trailers thus far, there are some particularly gruesome ones, as is tradition. However, Kameo Fighters also have Fatalities. So you can call in Frost to freeze an opponent and punch away their flesh and organs, leaving their skeleton to fall to the ground or use Kano’s classic Heart Ripper to tear an opponent’s heart out of their chest.

Custom Character Variations

With the introduction of the Kameo Fighter System, custom character variations are no longer a thing. Introduced in Mortal Kombat X and featured again in Mortal Kombat 11, they allowed for assigning different moves to each character. Mortal Kombat 1 does away with them in favor of a single set for each core fighter, so figuring out how to mix in a Kameo Fighter’s skills with their combos is the real challenge.

Towers

While Mortal Kombat 11 featured a suite of modes outside of the story, including the Towers of Time and The Krypt, there’s a lot we don’t know about those in Mortal Kombat 1. Thus far, NetherRealm has only showcased the Klassic Towers, where you fight a series of opponents and their Kameo Fighters in a sequence. It’s tried and true, but something tells us more is in store. The return of Konquest, perhaps? Time will tell.

Invasions vs The Krypt

The Krypt was a major part of Mortal Kombat 11 – a full 3D-rendered location that could be explored from third person. You opened chests, solved puzzles and unlocked new outfits, Brutalities, Konsumables and much more. Though you could earn Koins, Hearts and Soul Fragments from The Krypt to open chests, completing Daily Challenges and grinding Towers is your main source of currency.

Mortal Kombat 1 does away with this, instead opting for a new mode called Invasions. You assemble a party of characters and venture across a board game-style map, battling Invaders from other dimensions (including alternate versions of Kitana and Scorpion). There are different unlockables including concept art and in-game Kurrency to earn, but each carries unique challenges to overcome.

Mini-Games

Historically, the Mortal Kombat series had its share of mini-games, from kart racing in Motor Kombat to Test Your Might and Test Your Sight. Emphasis on had because Mortal Kombat 11 had almost none (unless you count Endurance).

Fortunately, it seems Mortal Kombat 1 is going in the other direction. The new Invasions Mode will feature the return of Arcade Towers and mini-games like Test Your Might. That age rating by the Infocomm Media Development Authority in Singapore indicated that you destroy a decapitated head during a mini-game – it’s possible this could be for Test Your Might. Regardless, it’s good to finally see it back.

RPG Mechanics

Like Injustice 2, Mortal Kombat 11 featured a Gear System, where characters could equip three different pieces to change their appearance. They also granted the use of Augments for use in Towers of Time and AI Battles by leveling them up. It wasn’t too crazy, but there was a grind of sorts, especially when trying to earn more for The Krypt’s unlockables.

Mortal Kombat 1’s Invasions mode sees you leveling up characters and also equipping them with different loot, though further explanation of these mechanics is still pending. Thus far, we’ve seen different stats for characters like Liu Kang and an Inventory screen, potentially for Konsumables. Time will tell how it all works, but there are random encounters in the Invasions map and keys to use.

DLC Characters

Regarding DLC characters, Mortal Kombat 1 offers some unique choices. While it still features returning fighters like Quan-Chi, Ermac and Takeda, you also have special guests like Homelander from The Boys, Omni Man from Invincible and Peacekeeper from DC Universe. Additional Kameo Fighters are also coming, though they have yet to be officially revealed.

On the other end is Mortal Kombat 11, which featured several guests like the Terminator T-800, The Joker, Spawn, Rambo and Robo-Cop. Of course, we also had returning fighters like Sheeva, Sindel, Rain, Shang Tsung, and Mileena, several of which are now on the base roster for MK1. What the future holds for the latter in terms of support remains to be seen, but its DLC characters are already quite intriguing.

PC and Nintendo Switch Ports

QLOC and Shiver Entertainment did a good job developing the PC and Nintendo Switch ports for Mortal Kombat 11. Both return in the same roles for Mortal Kombat 1, but Saber Interactive is also assisting on the Nintendo Switch version. We’ve yet to see extensive footage for the Switch version or learn more about the requirements for running the game in 4K on PC.

System Requirements

Speaking of system requirements, Mortal Kombat 1 is a more demanding game than its predecessor. It requires an Intel Core i5-6600, an AMD Ryzen 3 3100 or a Ryzen 5 2600, 8 GB RAM and an Nvidia GTX 980, AMD RX 470 or Intel Arc A750 at the very minimum. On the other hand, Mortal Kombat 11 could run on an Intel Core i5-750, an AMD Phenom 2 X4 965 or a Ryzen 3 1200 with 8 GB and a GeForce GTX 670, GTX 1050, AMD Radeon HD 7950 or a Radeon R9 270 at the minimum.

Recommended settings for MK1 include an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, 8 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, Radeon RX 5700 XT or Intel Arc A770. Mortal Kombat 11 requires a Core i5-2300, AMD FX-6300, or AMD Ryzen 5 1400, 8 GB of RAM and a GeForce GTX 780, GeForce GTX 1060, AMD Radeon R9 290 or an RX 570. Also, while MK11 could run on DirectX 11, Mortal Kombat 1 requires DirectX 12.

Launch Price

When Mortal Kombat 11 first launched, it was priced at $60, which makes sense since it was released in 2019 – one year before the infamous $70 price structure started for triple-A titles. Even Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, which included Aftermath and both Kombat Packs, costs $60. Mortal Kombat 1 embraces the new pricing structure, costing $70 from launch for the base version.

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain 

Kojima Productions delivered an excellent game with Metal Gear Solid 5, which stands tall as one of the most dynamic sandboxes of recent memory. It’s chock full of varied content that can keep you busy for dozens of hours, but there’s nothing wrong with trying to veer away from the intended experience with a few fun mods. Developed by MXMSTR, the Metal Gear Solid 5 first-person mod turns this third person stealth game into a first person adventure which is a completely fresh experience. Sure, it has a few rough edges thanks to clipping issues, but it makes for a fun time regardless. It’s available on NexusMods, and needs the Snakebite mod manager.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Prosthetic Tool

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice starts off pretty simple with the protagonist Wolf being tasked to rescue his master from the clutches of Genichiro Ashina, but that fight leaves our wolf handicapped with one severed arm. Thanks to the help of the titular Sculptor, you get a prosthetic tool in replacement which not only allows you to get back into the fight but also increases your versatility in combat. You can attach different weapons to this tool which helps you give an edge over certain enemies. For instance, the loaded axe can be used to break down enemy shields while the firecrackers can be used to distract enemies or you could use the flame vent to dish out some fire damage instead. On top of these capabilities, this prosthetic arm also allows you to close huge gaps through the use of an attached grappling hook – making it the most important part of your arsenal.

Sonya Blade

If you’re going to have a Mortal Kombat title with Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, Scorpion and Johnny Cage – the classics that defined an entire era of fighting games – then Sonya Blade has to be there. It would also make sense from a narrative perspective: Sonya sacrificed herself heroically in Mortal Kombat 11 and was absent for most of the story (not counting her younger, past self). Bringing her back, especially in an era of peace when she’s fought for so long, feels poetic.

Kano

Of course, if you’re going to have Sonya, then there’s no way Kano can’t be present. Aside from his fun fighting style, which incorporates knives, lasers and grappling, his personality has always provided some much-needed humor. The question, now, is how his story intertwines with Sonya’s, if at all, and whether he’s on the straight and narrow or up to no good in the New Era.

Reptile

It feels less like we should ask if Reptile will be in Mortal Kombat 1 and more like we should ask, “Which version?” The Saurian has adapted both human and reptilian appearances throughout the years, though he’s always worked at the behest of Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn. Still, his invisibility and acid spit helped him stand out amid the other ninjas and could make an excellent addition to the reboot’s roster.

Ermac

Ermac has had a long and storied history with the franchise, whether it’s being controlled by Shao Kahn or working with Kotal Kahn for the betterment of Outworld. His sheer range of abilities has always been great, using teleportation and telekinesis to overwhelm opponents. Again, how his fate will play out in the reboot remains to be seen, but if Outworld does become involved, it wouldn’t be odd to see him step up to the plate.

Shao Kahn

It’s unknown if Shao Kahn would come back – we could maybe see Liu Kang reviving Shang Tsung for laughs, but Shao Kahn? The all-conquering and cruel ruler of Outworld? Given the state of Edenia and its relative peace, he either doesn’t exist in Mortal Kombat 1 or hasn’t invaded it yet. Nevertheless, his status is iconic, and even if his entire history is different, it wouldn’t be a Mortal Kombat title without him.

Goro

Goro was last seen in Mortal Kombat 11 on his throne in the Krypt. The last time we saw him alive was in Mortal Kombat X, where he served as a DLC character who wasn’t involved in the main story. Given all the time resetting shenanigans, surely he would appear in some capacity, right? He’s about as iconic as Shang Tsung or Shao Kahn when it comes to villains, after all.

Kenshi

Debuting in Deadly Alliance, Kenshi has always been a cool character. A blindfold-wearing fighter with heightened senses who fights on the side of good and has a sword? Who could resist? His role in the Shirai Ryu, with his son being trained by Hanzo Hasashi, and freeing Ermac from Shao Kahn, may be completely different if he ever returned in the reboot. Heck, he may not even be blind anymore. Regardless, we’d like to see him return.

Kintaro

If Goro felt shafted post-Mortal Kombat 9, spare a thought for poor Kintaro. He debuted in Mortal Kombat 2 and returned in Deception and Armageddon. While he had a decent role in Mortal Kombat 9, he was defeated by Stryker, of all people. Even if he didn’t figure in Mortal Kombat X, his heroic death in the comic series warrants some resurrection – and reparation – in the reboot.

Kollector

The Kollector was always a curious character, using a variety of weapons and tools to dismantle fighters. Still, despite his obsession with, well, collecting, he has a creepy vibe that’s almost somewhat endearing. If the major villains in Mortal Kombat 1 need a henchman just running around, collecting body parts, Kollector could be an option, especially since he only really appeared in MK11.

Jax Briggs

Even if he didn’t debut in the first game with Sonya and Kano, Jax’s fate feels intertwined with the two. Regardless, given the horrors he went through in Mortal Kombat X, and his alliance with Kronika in MK11 before returning to the side of good, it feels like Jax is ready for a new story. Besides, his style of punching things with metal arms is still appealing.

Jade

While the relationship between Mileena and Kitana as sisters has always been complicated, Jade’s motives have usually been clearer. She may have been loyal to Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat 9 but always cared for Kitana and tried to protect her. On seeing the latter suffer from her actions, Jade sought to make amends, even remarking to Mileena how she was more of a sister to Kitana. So it’s more than a little odd to see Mileena and not Jade opposite Kitana in the reboot. It doesn’t mean she’s completely absent, but her inclusion seems a given.

Motaro

Despite being somewhat of a boss (albeit not the final boss) in Mortal Kombat 3, Motaro has always felt even less appreciated throughout the franchise than Kintaro. He was summarily disposed of by Raiden in Mortal Kombat 9 and hasn’t been seen since. If ever there was a time to bring the Centaurian back and start with a clean slate, the New Era would be it.

Nightwolf

Even if his character design has had mixed opinions throughout the franchise’s history, Nightwolf did play a central role in Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath. Not only did he reject Kronika, but tried to stop Shang Tsung when his deception became clear. To that end, it feels like he has unfinished business with the sorcerer. The question now is whether he’s popular enough to get in over everyone else.

Havik

Of the many characters who never really made the jump to the previous timeline’s video games (not including the MKX comics), Havik has always felt underappreciated. Hailing from Chaosrealm, he’s an agent of chaos above all else, which plays into his erratic fighting style. Who else in the reboot could claim to snap their neck and then back to restore health? He could be an unexpected wild card in the new story.

Kabal

Besides looking cool, there are plenty of reasons to bring back Kabal. He’s always had a fun fighting style which mixes speedy attacks and grapples with his hook swords in awesome ways. Even if he was on Kronika’s side throughout Mortal Kombat 11, his connection to Kano could see him return in the reboot, one way or another. Whether that’s part of the Black Dragon or with Earthrealm and the side of good remains to be seen.

In its announcement press release for Mortal Kombat 1, WB Games announced that NetherRealm Studios’ series has now collectively sold over 80 million units worldwide across all platforms since its debut over 30 years ago.

Interestingly enough, as pointed out by TweakTown, that also means Mortal Kombat is the highest selling fighting series of all time, with Super Smash Bros. coming in at second place with a little over 72 million units sold.

Mortal Kombat 1 is set to launch on September 19 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. You can check out its PC requirements through here. Recently, the contents of the game’s post-launch character pass were also leaked via Amazon Italy- read more on that through here.

Prototype

Radical Entertainment’s Prototype might be the most obvious candidate for such a list, and with good reason. The game sees players assuming the role of Alex Mercer, who has been inflicted with a deadly virus that has given him a plethora of superpowers ranging from the ability to consume and disguise anyone to jumping across buildings and gliding through cityscapes and many more. Using these powers, you can make short work of almost anything and everything that comes in your way – and it feels really empowering to say the least.

No More Time Travel

While time travel was one of the main reasons that Mortal Kombat 11’s plot was so interesting, we’d be perfectly comfortable not seeing it again. Maybe it’s because MK9 already relied on it, with Raiden sending visions to his past self and altering everything leading up to Armageddon. But with MK11 straight-up pushing the reset button, it’d be nice to avoid any more time-related shenanigans for a while. As for how you’d address the Liu Kang-sized elephant in the room, that’s a different matter entirely.