Highlights

  • John Wick as a DLC character in MK1 seems unlikely due to past issues with gun-based zoners in NRS titles.
  • NetherRealm may shift away from comic book guest characters in the next Kombat Pack, potentially exploring horror and action films.
  • John Wick's diverse combat skills in the film series could have added depth to MK1's roster, lacking gun users before Peacemaker.

As the end of Mortal Kombat 1's first season of DLC characters approaches, fans have begun to speculate on whether a seemingly unlikely addition to the game could end up getting included after all. Given their popularity in recent entries, it's almost certain that the next Kombat Pack will feature more guest characters. John Wick has remained one of the most persistently requested following the appearances of action movie characters in MK11, but the iconic vengeful assassin's addition to the series has also been disavowed by the very actor who plays him. Regardless of the pushback he might have faced as a guest in Mortal Kombat 1, inspiration from the continued saga of the John Wick films could have made for a more multifaceted DLC fighter than a simple gun user.

While comic book origins seem to have been the theme for guest characters of the first Kombat Pack, it's unknown if NetherRealm will continue this trend with the next batch of DLC. Rumors of Kombat Pack 2's roster have extended back into horror and action movie territory, and it's not like comics are a new source material to the studio that previously featured Spawn and made Injustice. There's still a chance that John Wick could make it into the game in the future, but his inclusion in the initial wave of MK1's additional characters could have been a natural fit with a unique niche in the roster.

ed boon mortal kombat
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The Challenges of Implementing John Wick's Zoner Style

John Wick's Gameplay in Mortal Kombat Seems Relatively Predictable

Enthusiasm regarding John Wick in MK has always been somewhat mixed due to the reputation of gun-based zoners in the developer's past releases. The power of fighters like Erron Black and Deadshot from across the screen in past NRS titles was so dominant that it could define tournament-winning strategies, leading some players to feel frustrated with what could be perceived as overly streamlined and imbalanced combat. While there's certainly a case to be made that Mortal Kombat 1 is better without John Wick when considering that he could fall into the same category, the source material of his film series doesn't limit itself to simple gunplay.

Making John Wick Feel Interesting in Mortal Kombat Would Have Been a Difficult but Worthwhile Task

John Wick Has Used Far More Than Just Firearms

It's true that guns are his primary weapon as a trained assassin in the world of the High Table's authority, but John Wick has been in a multitude of situations that showcased his prowess in several other disciplines of combat. Apart from also being an expert hand-to-hand fighter and having been shown using throwing knives just like some of MK1's cast, John Wick's creative action sequences have led the character to use anything from a katana to a pencil to dispatch countless goons.

Scenes that feature him sword fighting while riding a motorcycle or escaping other assassins while riding a horse are examples of iconic visuals that could easily have inspired Fatal Blows and Fatalities in Mortal Kombat 1 while establishing a distinct identity for John Wick, but his usage of guns in this context would also have been more novel than it initially seems.

MK1 Lacks Gun Users Apart From Peacemaker

Before the addition of Peacemaker to MK1, the game set itself apart from other NRS releases in the past few years through its lack of guns. With Stryker restricted to a Kameo that doesn't fully focus on shooting, Peacemaker's pistol use is special, but his other important special moves and the dominance of other projectiles still balance out the presence of guns at all. John Wick joining Mortal Kombat 1 with his signature "gun fu" could have allowed the archetype to return with more style, and faithfully depicting the character's adaptable nature might have made for a fighter that requires a lot more skill from the player than the average zoner.