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Mortal Kombat is back again. After some story reboots, thanks to certain in-game events that happened since Mortal Kombat 9, Mortal Kombat 1 brings with it a fresh start for a franchise as iconic as its ESRB rating. While the beta only featured a couple of modes and six playable characters, it offered a chance to discover some minor technical issues and leave me wanting more.
Image via NetherRealm Studios
While many games in the franchise include several mechanics and additions that may only appear for a couple of titles, Mortal Kombat 1 feels like a trip back memory lane. The beta showed hints of a back-to-basics journey, but with some outstanding graphics and gore. MK1 fighting felt like it revolved around the player’s skill more than ever before in the test. In that way, MK1 felt for me like what MK9 did for the franchise back in 2011. Moreover, both Mortal Kombat games feature a reboot of the MK story.
Image via NetherRealm Studios
NetherRealm provided us with six main characters, along with four Kameo fighters, in the Mortal Kombat 1 beta. We got to play as Johnny Cage, Kenshi, Kitana, Li Mei, Liu Kang, and Sub-Zero. Frost, Jax, Kano, and Sonya were in the Kameo fighter lineup. We were able to fight at both Johnny Cage’s Mansion and the Teahouse. Out of these characters, Liu Kang and Sub-Zero stood out to me as great options for those who want an entry-level option. They both felt very easy to pick up and play! However, with how the game is designed and presented, the focus on connecting combos made Li Mei a force to be reckoned with.
Kameo characters seemed like a promising nice addition in terms of both character preservation and combat interactions. Both Frost and Sonya Cage stole the show, saving me a couple of times from certain death by Fatality. Summon them whenever necessary, but be mindful that after you invoke your Kameo character once, a cooldown keeps you from using that ability immediately again.
Image via NetherRealm Studios
What I did miss during Towers mode in the beta was the character banter at the beginning of the fight. Yes, maybe I’m a sucker for past entries and Injustice 2, but getting to see my favorite characters flirt, insult, or even have a nice chat before bludgeoning and destroying each othe was nice, relaxing, and even heartwarming. I did see a bit of it during Versus mode, though. Also while the close-up interactions might have be a bit overwhelming during this test, I did enjoy it. However, the experience was slightly overshadowed by some frame rate issues. (Not to mention my complete incompetence while facing veteran Mortal Kombat players.)
Image Via NetherRealm Studios
Overall, the Mortal Kombat 1 suggests that the hype may be justified. Let’s hope that the online issues–which were, arguably, minimal during the test–are solved and that both the characters and Kameo fighters continue to provide fun and gory combat. I can’t wait to fully play this game and discover what course the story will take.
Mortal Kombat 1 will release on September 19, 2023 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
