Highlights
- Mortal Kombat 1 delivers a satisfying experience with tight gameplay, innovative combos, and stunning graphics, showcasing NetherRealm Studios' understanding of the franchise's appeal.
- The first DLC for MK1, Kombat Pack 1, features six characters, including Quan Chi and Ermac. The campaign cleverly integrates these fighters, building hype and giving players a preview of their abilities.
- By incorporating Quan Chi and Ermac into the story, NetherRealm makes Kombat Pack 1 even more tempting for fans, providing insight into their gameplay before making a decision about purchasing the DLC.
Mortal Kombat 1 has just recently been unleashed on the world, and so far it's provided fans with an all-around satisfying experience. Gameplay is tight and rewards innovative combos, Mortal Kombat 1's rebooted narrative is full of twists and turns, and the franchise has never looked better from a graphical standpoint. NetherRealm Studios has once again showcased its deep understanding of what makes the MK franchise so intoxicating, while still finding new ways to innovate on a tried and true formula. For especially eager fans, it's now time to see how the developer expands on the experience with DLC.
MK1 fans luckily don't have to wait to find out what the first DLC will be, as Kombat Pack 1 had already been announced. Six characters are included, three of which are established MK alumni. Franchise staples Quan Chi and Ermac are among them, as well as Takeda, who was introduced in Mortal Kombat X. While NetherRealm could have simply dropped these characters into the roster without any preamble, it appears to have made a calculated decision for Quan Chi and Ermac in particular. MK1's campaign prominently features these fighters, giving players a preview of how they'll work while building hype for the DLC.
MK1's Campaign Gives a Taste of Quan Chi, Ermac
Mortal Kombat 1's campaign soft reboots the franchise's canon, but as players learn throughout the story, the more things change the more they also stay the same. Things begin to unravel for Liu Kang's new era as Shang Tsung and Quan Chi are elevated from their lowly status back to skilled sorcerers, and the two begin to make trouble for the game's protagonists. Their conspiring harkens back to various aspects of previous MK lore, including the game Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, with one part of their plan including the manipulation of souls.
Toward the middle of MK1's campaign, the protagonists discover Quan Chi is harvesting souls in what fan-favorite Johnny Cage refers to as a "soulnado." This is a reference to a classic bit of MK lore, but what's most important about this sequence is that players actually get to fight Quan Chi and Ermac. Each character is fully realized, with Quan Chi using his iconic sorcery and Ermac throwing players around with his telekinesis. Even though they only serve as opponents, it's a nice way of keeping said opponents from getting stale throughout the story, while also serving as a smart bit of marketing for Kombat Pack 1.
The fighters in Kombat Pack 1 have been common knowledge for some time, and by making Quan Chi and Ermac prominent fixtures of the campaign, NetherRealm is making the DLC all the more tantalizing. For players who were on the fence about getting Kombat Pack 1, actually getting to see how Quan Chi and Ermac play could serve to sway them towards making that purchase. Although it may not be a hands-on demonstration, it nonetheless gives players an idea of how they'll work before they make a decision with their wallet. It's also a nice change of pace from MK DLC fighters who rarely factor into the story at all.
Despite Mortal Kombat 1's abysmal Switch version, the game has come out to a relatively strong start. Its impressive story is made stronger by the inclusion of some surprise battles, including those between unexpected characters like Quan Chi and Ermac. Many fans have already been excited about Kombat Pack 1 for some time, and the inclusion of these fighters as opponents just adds to the excitement. Time will tell if their appearances in MK1's campaign drives previously reluctant fans to purchase the upcoming DLC.
Mortal Kombat 1 is available now on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
