Warning: Minor spoilers ahead for Mortal Kombat 1.In the lead-up to its release, much of the marketing for Mortal Kombat 1 focused closely on Kameo fighters. Considering that this is the big new feature of the latest Mortal Kombat title, this was understandable. While some Kameo fighters have come under fire for being overpowered when they are paired with certain other characters, most fans seem to be loving the system, as it allows them to utilize extra fatalities and extend combos via their choice of ally. However, NetherRealm may have snuck in the gimmick of its next game right under fans’ noses, and that mechanic could hint at a major part of Injustice 3.
As players ascend the tower to defeat the final boss of Mortal Kombat 1, they will encounter some wildly entertaining hybrid fighters along the way. Mime and female versions of Johnny Cage both stand out, as well as a cross between Kung Lao and Scorpion. Running into these weird combinations will surely make any fan smile, and because of their existence, fans believe that Mortal Kombat 13 could let players combine two fighters’ movesets together as its main gimmick. However, Injustice 3 could take things one step further, letting fans create their own superheroes.
Comparing Hogwarts Legacy's Switch Graphics to Mortal Kombat 1's
With Hogwarts Legacy releasing soon on Nintendo Switch, recent screenshots show how the gameplay might compare to Mortal Kombat 1 on the same console.
MK1’s Hybrid Fighters Could Be a Stepping Stone to Custom Heroes in Injustice 3
To be clear, with Injustice 3 not confirmed to be in development, the idea that it could feature player-made fighters is entirely hypothetical. Still, it does feel like a natural fit for a superhero game and a logical next step for NetherRealm. Superhero titles like DC Universe Online have already let players design their own characters to great success, as have successful fighting games like Street Fighter 6. Additionally, fully custom fighters feels exactly like what would follow two existing fighters being merged together, as players would be getting full instead of partial control over their fighters.
It is easy to imagine a premise for such a system, as players could choose who they trained under to determine their base fighting style. Picking Batman as a mentor could see them choosing moves from all the agile, technology-based characters. Wonder Woman could be the move for powerhouses that value super strength above all else, while Green Lantern could teach those who want to wield a ring and The Flash could show speedsters the ropes. Once players have crafted their moveset, they could move on to their character’s appearance.
Injustice 2 and the newer Mortal Kombat games’ gear systems are another stepping stone toward player-created characters. It is easy to imagine a scenario where players combine pieces of a Batman set with items from Deathstroke’s gear to craft a unique armored hero. Alternatively, players could become a regal Kryptonian by merging gear from Wonder Woman and Superman. The unlockable gear pieces and skins in Mortal Kombat 1 could be hugely beneficial for this feature, as players could unlock new gear pieces by beating established characters or via in-game currency.
Once players have built their Injustice 2 character to their liking, they could then use them within the story mode. Perhaps this character will be faced with a choice early on that has them deciding between Batman or Superman. Whichever side players choose could then determine the rest of the Injustice 3 story mode, adding replayability through unique good and evil playthroughs. While the chapter structure where players switch between several fighters has worked well from NetherRealm lately, sticking with a player-made fighter for a full story could be a nice change of pace, especially since it would move away from yet another Batman versus Superman finale.
Perhaps the most entertaining possibility that comes with this mechanic is using player-made fighters online. Street Fighter 6’s strange character creations have proven to be hugely entertaining, and while NetherRealm might not let players get quite as wacky with its own hypothetical character creator, it would still be fun to see the potential homages and original designs that fans come up with. Hopefully, Injustice 3 embraces the idea of players making their own hero, as it feels like a perfect opportunity for the franchise.
Mortal Kombat 1 is available now on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X.
