NetherRealm Studios’ first trailer forMortal Kombat 1made it immediately clear that the balance of power in theMortal Kombatuniverse has shifted dramatically. The debut trailer showed that the game picks up where thecanon ending forMortal Kombat 11left off, with Liu Kang having been transformed into the powerful Fire God Liu Kang and setting out to reshape the world into a radically changed New Era. Although Fire God Liu Kang’s intentions were ostensibly peaceful, the ripple effects of his actions could lead to drastic changes to the status quo for someMortal Kombat 1characters.
While long-timeMortal Kombatnemesis Shang Tsung makes an appearance towards the end of the teaser trailer, NetherRealm hasn’t yet revealed whoMortal Kombat 1’smain villainwill be. One intriguing choice would be to use the restructured universe to flip the script on some long-established character roles. With Fire God Liu Kang now having access to virtually limitless power, it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine that power going to his head and creating the conditions for some classicMortal Kombatvillains to join the forces of good to take down the now-despotic deity.
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Liu Kang’s Pursuit of Peace Could Be the Cause of Mortal Kombat 1’s Chaos
Fire God Liu Kang’s reshaping of the world followingMortal Kombat 11is likely to have had unexpected ripple effects that will come to the surface inMortal Kombat 1. While his actions were meant to bring peace, Fire God Liu Kang’s intentions may not be as noble as they first appear. Allowing unchecked violence and bloodshed to continue in his new world could be the first sign of Fire God Liu Kang’s transformation into the same sort of villain he once fought against, setting the stage for a long-overdueredemption arc forMortal Kombat 1’s combatants.
Recent statements from NetherRealm Studios creative director Ed Boon indicated that players should expect some changes to series lore withMortal Kombat 1, so a heel turn for Fire God Liu Kang wouldn’t be entirely unexpected. Boon teased that some characters could receivenew origin stories forMortal Kombat 1, potentially paving the way for former villains to ally themselves with the forces of good. This could open the door to some powerful and unexpected alliances inMortal Kombat 1.
The Reshaped World of Mortal Kombat 1 Could Give Rise to Unexpected Alliances
In the face of a new threat posed by Fire God Liu Kang, some former enemies may have to put aside their differences to take him down and save theMortal Kombatuniverse. Forcing former enemies into uneasy alliances would be a good way to flesh out and potentially resolve some of the franchise’s long-running rivalries, even affecting the gameplay. Using the newKameo fighter system inMortal Kombat 1, players could see sworn enemies like Sub-Zero and Scorpion teaming up mid-match to take down Fire God Liu Kang and his minions.
Depending on howMortal Kombat 1’s story plays out, even stalwart series villain Shang Tsung could see himself eventually allying with the heroes. Seeing the powerful sorcerer working with the originalMortal Kombatcharacters to battle against Fire God Liu Kang would be an unexpected and thrilling reversal of the series’ usual status quo. Not only would this shake up the franchise’s traditional formula, but it would lay the ground forMortal Kombat 1sequels and expansions in a reshaped world.
Having Fire God Liu Kang turn towards tyranny in his pursuit of a better world is a bold move for the franchise that fits perfectly with the reimagined timeline ofMortal Kombat 1. Shaking up the series’ status quo in this manner would not only allow for some thrilling team-ups between former foes, but also establishMortal Kombat 1as the beginning of a whole new era for the storied franchise.
Mortal Kombat 1launches September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X.
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