Highlights
- Mortal Kombat 1's rebooted timeline allows for the reintroduction of unpopular characters, including Li Mei, Ashrah, and Havik, who are being better integrated than ever before.
- Some characters from the previous games are being brought back as Kameo Fighters as a compromise due to limited space for all the old characters to return, and Khameleon seems poised to fill this role.
- Khameleon, an obscure character from Mortal Kombat Trilogy and Armageddon, may make a surprise appearance in Mortal Kombat 1's story mode as a member of the Umgadi, with a new design and affiliation with the group. Fans are excited for her potential return.
The rebooted timeline premiering in Mortal Kombat 1 presents countless new possibilities. One of the biggest is the opportunity to reinvent unpopular characters from Mortal Kombat's awkward 3D era. Several notable characters in Mortal Kombat 1's roster, including Li Mei, Ashrah, and Havik all hail from this time, and look to be better integrated than ever before. Even established characters are getting in on this trend, with classic faces like Scorpion, Baraka, and Raiden getting new leases on life in Liu Kang's take on MK's universe.
There isn't space for every old character to return just yet, so a compromise was made by integrating part of Mortal Kombat's cast as Kameo Fighters. So far, this has been a catch-all for both characters on the main roster like Sub-Zero and Kung Lao, surprise exclusions like Sonya Blade and Kano, and other largely forgotten characters like Darrius and Sareena. Leaks have indicated that a similar mixture of Kameos is coming alongside the announced playable characters of MK1's first Kombat Pack, but one of the most obscure fighters among them may actually have a place in the game's story.
Mortal Kombat 1 Bringing Khameleon Back Is A Surprise
As part of the San-Diego Comic Con 2023 trailer, several characters involved with the new Outworld's tense political situation were introduced. The most prominent of these were Li Mei and Tanya, former and current members of a sect of warrior priestesses called the Umgadi. It seems this group is chiefly employed to protect Outworld royalty, in this case the ruling sisters Kitana and Mileena. Baraka was also introduced with a more sympathetic backstory, and a few Kameo Fighters like Darrius were detailed as well.
However, a particular character caught fans' eyes due to their similarity to an existing fighter. A gray-skinned woman with white eyes could be seen behind Tanya as she confronted Li Mei. Besides wearing an outfit colored Umgadi yellow instead of turquoise, gray, or color-shifting attire, this being is the spitting image of Khameleon. She is only named female Saurian, and a bonus character included in Nintendo 64 and Wii ports of Mortal Kombat Trilogy and Armageddon, respectively. The male Chameleon and female Khameleon both copy moves and colors from Mortal Kombat's popular male and female ninjas, but it's still a surprise to see these obscure characters referenced at all.
Khameleon Seems To Represent Outworld's Umgadi
With the Kombat Pack 1 Kameo Fighter leak supporting Khameleon's identity, players could end up facing Tanya backed by an incomplete Khameleon Kameo in MK1's story mode. Seemingly, this version of Khameleon is now a member of the Umgadi instead of a rogue Saurian. That being said, she still looks inhuman, suggesting that she is either some sort of spirit summoned by the Umgadi or is still a disguised lizard-person. Corroborating that Reptile's perfect human disguise made him a freak among his people, Khameleon may be what it looks like when a typical Saurian takes human form.
Khameleon probably won't have a major role in Mortal Kombat 1's rebooted universe, but, apart from Sareena, she's one of the few instances of a dedicated Kameo Fighter still participating in MK1's story. Most are just nostalgic versions of absent characters, while Khameleon sports a new design and apparent affiliation with the Umgadi. Aside from the possibility of Jade appearing as another Umgadi, Khameleon and Tanya could serve as two of the group's main representatives in the plot. What will become of this new Khameleon, and whether this actually is Khameleon remains to be seen, but fans are looking forward to this exotic fighter's potential return.
Mortal Kombat 1 will be released September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
