Highlights
- Mortal Kombat 1 introduces the Kameo Fighter system, an assist feature that adds depth to gameplay and allows players to experiment with different fighting styles based on each fighter's unique special moves.
- The Kameo system already offers a lot of depth, but there is potential for further expansion and improvement in the future. New Kameo Fighters being added through DLC packs is a good start, but NetherRealm shouldn't stop there.
- It would be a missed opportunity if NetherRealm doesn't eventually make all Kameo Fighters fully playable, as the character models and special moves are already in the game. All that would need to be added are some basic combo moves, as many assets already exist for the Kameo characters.
Mortal Kombat 1 has finally hit early access, meaning that those who have shelled out for the game's Premium or Collector's Edition can now begin their journey into this new rebooted universe. And while early adopters will find all the usual day-one Mortal Kombat content like a strong story mode, and an expansive online and local Versus mode, there are plenty of new features for fans to jump into as well, including a brand-new Invasion board game-like mode.
But by far the most intriguing new feature of Mortal Kombat 1 is its Kameo Fighter system, something that's appeared front and center of every piece of Mortal Kombat 1 marketing released in the last few months. Essentially an assist system, Mortal Kombat 1's Kameo Fighters are used across all of its modes, from Invasion to story to Versus, and while there's already a great deal of depth there for players to explore, there's even more potential just waiting to be seized.
Mortal Kombat 1's Kameos Could Become Full Fighters In The Future
Generally speaking, Mortal Kombat 1's Kameo Fighters are a great new addition to the franchise. With 15 Kameo Fighters available right from the get-go, Mortal Kombat 1 gives fans plenty to experiment with right off the bat. Each Kameo Fighter has four unique special moves, and this moveset determines what type of fighting style the Kameo is classed as. For instance, Frost is a more defensive Kameo, while Jax is an opportunist, and Kano is all about offense. This means that players not only need to find the perfect match for the character they're playing as, but also an ideal match for their own specific playstyle.
There's already more than enough depth to Mortal Kombat 1's Kameo system, and fans will likely be spending the next few weeks tirelessly testing each and every combination to find the best ones. But there's nothing wrong with wanting more. It's clear that NetherRealm is very passionate about this new Kameo system, and it would only make sense that the developer would want to continue expanding on it over time, as there's plenty of room for further improvements and features.
Of course, new Kameo Fighters are being added with each new Mortal Kombat 1 DLC pack. Kombat Pack 1 is set to include five new Kameo Fighters, including fan-favorite characters like Johnny Cage, and some long-awaited returns like Khameleon. While these additions will undoubtedly be great, and they continue to celebrate the franchise's entire 30-year history, NetherRealm could take things one big step further and eventually make all its Kameo Fighters fully playable.
Right now, all Mortal Kombat 1's Kameo Fighters can do is pop in and perform a quick attack or special move, and they're limited to just four. This works perfectly in the context of Mortal Kombat 1, but there's still an opportunity there to take things further and eventually integrate these characters into the regular roster. The character models have already been made, and with four special moves already in the game, all Mortal Kombat 1's Kameo Fighters need to be fully playable is a set of basic attack combos. Of course, talking about it is infinitely easier than actually doing it, but NetherRealm does have the potential to elevate these Kameo Fighters later down the line. If it doesn't end up happening, then many fans are going to feel like it was a big missed opportunity, with some of their favorite characters being just out of reach.
Mortal Kombat 1 is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
