Highlights
- Mortal Kombat 1 introduces a bold new direction for the franchise, with Fire God Liu Kang as the architect of a whole new era.
- The last chapter of Mortal Kombat 1 features an epic battle between Kombatants from different timelines, including creative fusions of other fighters.
- Character fusions like Stung Lao, Quantum-Chi, Screen Demon, Red Dragon, and John Kahner add a unique and entertaining twist to the game.
Spoilers Ahead for Mortal Kombat 1
NetherRealm Studios has never been afraid to do something unexpected with the Mortal Kombat franchise. Over ten years after the series' canon rebooted with 2011's Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 1 restarts the ongoing narrative once again. Fire God Liu Kang is now the architect of a whole new era, where iconic names now have all-new origins. It's a bold new direction for the franchise and gives MK fans young and old something to enjoy. While Mortal Kombat 1's campaign is full of surprises, it saves its best for last.
Mortal Kombat 1's last chapter culminates in an epic battle between Kombatants from dozens of timelines. In a sequence reminiscent of Mortal Kombat Armageddon, players take on a gauntlet of opponents before they eventually reach the final battle against Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. What stands out with these opponents, however, is how many of them are creative fusions of other fighters. They share the movesets of two Kombatants and have their own unique names and appearances that demonstrate NetherRealm's attention to detail. While there are 23 in total, a few truly stand apart from the rest.
Stung Lao
Many of MK1's character fusions take advantage of clever pun opportunities, and Stung Lao is no exception. This fighter is a mix of Scorpion and Kung Lao, whose humor comes from his simplicity. Stung Lao is simply Scorpion's standard character model wearing a yellow version of Kung Lao's hat, with the fighter able to use the abilities of both. So if players are unfortunate enough to get caught by Stung Lao's spear, they may be met with his bladed hat immediately after.
Quantum-Chi
Quan Chi and Geras are both formidable fighters on their own, and Quantum-Chi asks how powerful one fighter with their abilities could be. With Quan Chi's head on Geras' body, and a color palette evoking the evil sorcerer, Quantum-Chi can be a considerable challenge for players making their way to the villainous Shang Tsung.
Screen Demon
Screen Demon begs the question of what would happen if Ashrah pursued a career in Hollywood. The answer is a dangerous combination of Ashrah and Johnny Cage's abilities that can overwhelm players with rapid-fire attacks. Screen Demon looks the part as well, sporting a stylish haircut along with some gaudy sunglasses.
Red Dragon
Kano isn't featured in Mortal Kombat 1's roster, but he nonetheless leaves his mark on the game's ending. Red Dragon is a fusion of Kano and Fire God Liu Kang, dressed in the latter's attire and sporting the former's signature cybernetic eye. This fighter is also an Easter egg for longtime MK fans, as the name Red Dragon is a classic Mortal Kombat lore reference to the crime syndicate that often clashes with Kano's Black Dragon clan.
John Kahner
John Kahner is the perfect blend of everything that makes MK1's character fusions great. The moveset combination itself is unexpected, as it merges Johnny Cage with General Shao. He's also visually striking, as Johnny Cage's character model dons a large fur coat and dress pants, and humorously maintains Shao's horns and helmet. John Kahner's name is also a clever pun on the part of NetherRealm, as it sounds similar to John Connor from the Terminator franchise.
Mortal Kombat 1 is filled with some shocking revelations and NetherRealm Studios surely saves the best for last. These character fusions are emblematic of what MK has always been about, providing a sensational experience for players to remember for years to come. Fatalities have always been the star of the show, and the new Kameo system does well to shake up gameplay, but these unique fighters are a real treat from Ed Boon and company.
Mortal Kombat 1 is available now on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
