Mortal Kombat 1 is rapidly approaching its release date, with news and public tests dropping for it all the time. Already, a sizable portion of the playable characters and Kameo Fighters available at launch have been revealed. Trailers have pulled back the curtain on Mortal Kombat 1's new Fire God Liu Kang-made universe, and while the driving force of the story is still unclear, the status of Earthrealm and Outworld is becoming apparent. Peace reigns for now, but warriors from all realms are gathering for some major event, potentially a new Mortal Kombat tournament.

In the meantime, plenty of side plots and shifted story details are moving into place. As detailed in the San Diego Comic-Con 2023 trailer, Outworld may be more peaceful than ever thanks to MK1's Edenian elements, but it faces danger on all sides thanks to a Tarkat plague and a rival militant faction. Parts of this were foreshadowed in the previous Lin Kuei-focused trailer, which introduced Rain as an Outworld sorcerer instead of an Edenian prince and the purple color ninja. The Lin Kuei themselves also look different, and although this is reflected in their standard representative Sub-Zero, a better measure for their changes can be found with Smoke.

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MK1 Smoke Paints The Lin Kuei In A Better Light

Smoke and the Lin Kuei share a lot of built-up history, and contrasting that to where they stand in Mortal Kombat 1 emphasizes the differences between the new and old universes. In both prior timelines, Smoke was a supernaturally-gifted individual who was always part of the Lin Kuei, and the unknowing host of the smoke demon Enenra in MK9. He was forcibly drafted into the Cyber Lin Kuei program in both timelines, signaling the ninja organization's gradual shift toward villainy.

In Mortal Kombat 1, things have changed. Outside the non-canon Kameo Fighters, the Cyber Lin Kuei may not exist. This is a big step-up for the organization, though its dubious morality remains, proven by orphaning Smoke as part of a misunderstanding. Sub-Zero is Bi-Han again, the sinister ninja who eventually became Noob Saibot, while Scorpion is his heroic brother Kuai Liang instead of their clan's sworn enemy Hanzo Hasashi. This Smoke could have easily filled Scorpion's old role, but the Lin Kuei Grandmaster chose to raise Smoke himself alongside his sons Bi-Han and Liang. Their camaraderie, and the Grandmaster's attempt to uphold the Lin Kuei's honor, implies that MK1's Lin Kuei might have finally cleaned up its act.

Smoke Emphasizes The Mundane Side Of The Lin Kuei

Smoke also reflects a very different state for the rebooted Lin Kuei's abilities, as he is, by current information, a regular human. Enenra is nowhere in sight, and Smoke has replaced many of his old moves with tool-based approximations. After decades of ninja magic and futuristic technology, portraying a Lin Kuei character as nothing more than an expert assassin feels novel. This synergizes with how certain other characters like Johnny Cage are portrayed, maintaining the flash of their past selves with none of the magic.

Now, it feels like the Lin Kuei actually fit into Earthrealm's modern setting. There are still plenty of clearly supernatural inhabitants like Raiden and Kenshi, but even without the more plain Special Forces characters being introduced, Earth's mundane side is still present. In this context, the Lin Kuei are still a nebulous and fantastical organization, but at least it makes sense for them to both exist and assist Liu Kang in Earthrealm's defense. Even with Scorpion and Sub-Zero in the spotlight, Smoke stays relevant by demonstrating the subtle changes Mortal Kombat 1 has made to its setting.

Mortal Kombat 1 launches September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.

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