When NetherRealm’s debut trailer forMortal Kombat 1introduced a reimagined version of the universe it had established in recent games, it was clear that the studio was trying something bold with the latest entry in its iconic fighting franchise. What makes this twelfth mainline entry in the series so unique is thatMortal Kombat 1is a rebootand also a continuation of the existing plot, allowing NetherRealm to shake up theMortal Kombatuniverse like never before. And ifMortal Kombat 1is meant to be a return to the franchise’s past, one obvious place to start would be paring down its number of playable characters.
WhileMortal Kombat’s expanding roster of charactershas become a staple of the series over the past several years, even bringing pop culture icons like RoboCop into the fray, the best option forMortal Kombat 1may be to keep the character list small, at least initially. WithMortal Kombat 1representing a new beginning for the franchise, it makes sense to return to the early games’ more manageable cast of combatants. Limiting the size of the roster would not only let NetherRealm flesh out each character’s story more but also add more depth to their individual movesets.
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Mortal Kombat 1 Should Fully Explore Classic Characters Before Adding New Ones
The debut trailer forMortal Kombat 1made it clear that Fire God Liu Kang’s reshaped universe has drastically changed the lives of many of the game’s combatants, paving the way for NetherRealm to revisit and reshape the history and motivations of some of its most iconic characters. With the rebootedMortal Kombattimeline changing the status quo for heroes and villains alike, NetherRealm should focusMortal Kombat 1’s campaign on exploring the drastically reshaped lives of the franchise’s core combatants before flooding the roster with new fighters.
Sticking with a smaller roster forMortal Kombat 1’s initial release would also mean that every character could play a significant role in the game’s storyline, helping to shape the future of the reborn universe. Although the story mode in recentMortal Kombatgames made sure to give nearly every fighter some time in the spotlight, the increasingly padded-out cast of characters resulted in campaign modes that sometimes felt more like a series of quick cuts and cameos than a proper story. A smaller roster wouldn’t just help makeMortal Kombat 1’s narrative feel more fleshed out, it could also result in a better-feeling fighting game.
What Mortal Kombat 1’s Roster Lacks in Quantity, It Should Make Up for in Quality
Another way thatMortal Kombat 1could benefit from releasing with a smaller roster compared to recent franchise entries would be by introducing more depth to how each character plays. What the game lacks in quantity of playable characters it could make up for in quality, retoolingMortal Kombat 1’s gameplayaround combatants with a broad moveset that encourages players to learn each fighter’s nuances. KeepingMortal Kombat 1’s starting lineup small doesn’t mean that some fan-favorite fighters can’t make guest appearances, though.
UsingMortal Kombat 1’s Kameo system, fighters who don’t make the launch roster could still appear mid-match to offer assistance. Given the restructured state of theMortal Kombat1timeline, even lifelong enemies may now find themselves fighting side-by-side against new threats. Tracking which Kameo fighters are the most popular with players could also allow NetherRealm to determine which fighters to bring back to the game with future DLC and expansions.
By embracing a pared-down character list for the game’s release and adding greater depth to the combat NetherRealm can ensure thatMortal Kombat 1is the rebirth the franchise deserves, even if it means players may have to wait for an expansion before taking control of second-tier fighters likeOfficer Kurtis Strykeragain.
Mortal Kombat 1launches on September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
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