WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD for Mortal Kombat 1's Story Mode. Proceed at your own risk.
Highlights
- Mortal Kombat 1's story mode follows the franchise's tradition of providing an epic, cinematic experience with unexpected twists and character interactions.
- The game introduces alternate versions of classic Mortal Kombat characters, including Janet Cage, who joins Liu Kang's army to battle Shang Tsung's forces.
- Janet Cage is just one of many interesting and often humorous variations players encounter in the final chapter, showcasing the potential for more alternate timelines and character variations in future Mortal Kombat content.
Mortal Kombat 1 follows NetherRealm Studios' formula of providing a grand, cinematic story mode featuring surprising twists and character interactions. As with Mortal Kombat games of the past, MK1's story mode is littered with secrets and, in this case, a few interesting character reveals towards the end of the game. Among several other playful new additions to the Mortal Kombat universe, a character called Janet Cage was introduced.
Mortal Kombat 1 is set after the events of Mortal Kombat 11's Aftermath DLC where Liu Kang and Shang Tsung battled for control of the Titan Kronika's hourglass, the celestial device that controls time and space in the MK universe. At the start of MK1, it is revealed that Liu Kang has managed to take control of the hourglass to restart history and reestablish the characters of the Mortal Kombat universe. The story of Mortal Kombat 1 then plays out in Lord Liu Kang's new era which has been crafted by him to be a universe of peace and balance -- but that peace wasn't meant to last.
Mortal Kombat 1's Timeline Allows for New Versions Of Characters
As the events of Mortal Kombat 1's story mode unfold, new versions of many classic Mortal Kombat characters are shown, most with slightly different takes on their storyline. Scorpion and Sub-Zero are now brothers, Raiden is a humble farmer, Baraka is an infected merchant, and so on. Toward the end of the game, the differences become more stark. Liu Kang and his champions realize that, in order to win their battle against Shang Tsung and his forces of evil, they must enlist the aid of champions from other timelines. This is where Janet Cage comes in.
Janet Cage was first shown briefly in the opening cutscene of Act 4 Chapter 15: Armageddon. She enters the scene by pushing Johnny Cage to the side to take a position in front of him amidst the army of fighters amassed by Liu Kang to combat Shang Tsung's forces. She's seen wearing athletic attire, sunglasses, and a golden chain necklace with the letter "J" as a pendant. The name "Janet" can be seen tattooed on her left side near the ribs. Janet Cage is shown again in a cutscene as players progress through the final chapter of Mortal Kombat 1's Story Mode fighting a Goro variant wielding four large hammers alongside Johnny Cage and an alternate Johnny Cage called Ninja Mime. The group successfully knocks Goro into an abyss but is shortly after pulled in as well.
Janet Cage is one of the alternate reality versions of the familiar Mortal Kombat combatants brought into the fray from a parallel timeline. She is among many interesting and often humorous variants that players must face in battle as they progress through the final chapter of the game. These other variations include a Sub-Zero/Nitara hybrid called Frostbite, a Sindel-meets-Reptile called Lizard Queen, and a blend of General Shao and Johnny Cage called John Kahner, among many others. There are also female versions of characters such as Reptile, Sub-Zero, and Ermac that players can face.
With the introduction of alternate timelines in the Mortal Kombat universe all happening simultaneously, there is an opportunity to see more variations on traditional characters such as those shown in the final chapter of Mortal Kombat 1. With Mortal Kombat 1 expected to be supported for several years moving forward, it will be interesting to see how this reveal of alternate character variations inspires the content to come.
Mortal Kombat 1 is available now for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X|S.
