Mortal Kombat may be able to thrive through an unusual move inspired by one of its spinoffs. Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is one of the more unusual entries in the series, almost entirely due to its shift in genre. Despite the change, the game still performed rather well, serving as a blueprint for what the Mortal Kombat franchise may be able to do outside its usual one-on-one combat. It's possible that Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks could provide some inspiration for Mortal Kombat's near future, especially following the game-changing ending of Mortal Kombat 11.
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is a Mortal Kombat spinoff, and with Ed Boon considering remastering Shaolin Monks, it feels like a topic worth discussing. Unlike the main Mortal Kombat series, which focuses on one-on-one fights, Shaolin Monks' primary gameplay is a beat 'em up where players fight their way through various stages, doing battle with hordes of enemies rather than a single opponent. The game also included a versus mode for players to battle each other, although mechanical differences made it a different experience from usual Mortal Kombat fights. Even with all the differences, Shaolin Monks was ultimately well-received.
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks' Gameplay Could Be Revisited
The beat 'em up gameplay of Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks was an excellent fit for the series. The iconic characters of Mortal Kombat are supposed to be the strongest fighters in their universe, martial arts masters and supernatural warriors without peer. Shaolin Monks saw Liu Kang and Kung Lao fighting off several fighters at once, adding legitimacy to their reputation. Although Shaolin Monks changes the usual formula of the Mortal Kombat games, it works to the benefit of the characters. With the protagonists able to defeat multiple foes effortlessly and only face a real challenge against other roster members, their strength is on full display.
One of the flaws of Shaolin Monks is that only four players were playable in the Story Mode. Mortal Kombat has a large cast, including many Mortal Kombat fighters that missed MK11, and only having four available feels disappointing, even considering limitations at the time. However, with the advancements at the developers' disposal, it's possible that a new Mortal Kombat game in Shaolin Monks' mold could let much more of the cast show off the skills that make them top-class fighters even against multiple opponents. It could even be an opportunity to experiment with some characters' abilities in such an environment.
A particular point in favor of a new Mortal Kombat game following the inspiration of Shaolin Monks is that it would not be the first fighting game to experiment in such a way. Street Fighter 6's upcoming World Tour mode is another experiment by an iconic fighting game series to mix up its usual formula. Another such example is Tekken's Tekken Force, The Devil Within, and Scenario Campaign modes, all of which added a beat 'em up mode with a story alongside the usual game. It's nothing unusual for fighting games to try new things, and it could be time for Mortal Kombat to try again.
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks may not be the most popular game in the series, but it had some ideas that would be worth trying again in a later game, especially with Mortal Kombat's expanded cast. While Mortal Kombat 12 is already in development, a side mode or future title featuring the cast in a beat 'em up could be a great addition. Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks was fun, and some polishing of that game's formula could be a great route for Netherrealm to pursue. Mortal Kombat's future could be brighter if the series takes Shaolin Monks as inspiration.
Mortal Kombat 12 is in development.