As a longtime fan of Mortal Kombat, I must say that while I appreciate the creativity and innovation in introducing crossover characters to the franchise, I can’t help but feel a bit disoriented by the seemingly random nature of the character choices for Kombat Pack 2.
The long-standing franchise, Mortal Kombat, always generates a buzz when a new edition is unveiled. It’s established itself as a leader in the fighting game genre by consistently pushing boundaries with its visuals and storytelling. Although gameplay plays a crucial role in Mortal Kombat’s popularity, the inclusion of crossover characters has significantly contributed to the allure of recent installments in the series.
Since Freddy Krueger was introduced in 2011’s Mortal Kombat, the game series has consistently added more guest characters to its games. This practice continues with Mortal Kombat 1 (released in 2023), as figures like Omni-Man, Homelander, and Peacemaker were included in the first Kombat Pack. NetherRealm Studios has confirmed that additional guest characters will be added to Mortal Kombat 1 via Kombat Pack 2, but some fans are questioning the thought process behind the collaborations chosen for the Khaos Reigns expansion.
The Handling of Kombat Packs in MK1
Reflecting on the Kombat Packs in Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat 11, each game categorized its characters into distinct thematic groups. Mortal Kombat X drew its characters from classic horror and science fiction films, incorporating figures like Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, the Predator, and the Xenomorph. Subsequently, Mortal Kombat 11 introduced characters from 80s and early-90s action movies, such as Rambo, RoboCop, and the Terminator. Additionally, it introduced darker comic book characters like Spawn and the Joker.
As a devoted fan, I remember the excitement when MK1‘s initial Kombat Pack was unveiled. Many of us anticipated that the pattern from past games would persist, featuring edgy, lethal “heroes” who had recently graced our screens in comic book TV adaptations like Omni-Man, Homelander, and Peacemaker. However, instead of sticking to this familiar theme or introducing a new one, Kombat Pack 2 is shockingly deviating from the norm with its selection of guest characters, taking a path that feels somewhat puzzling to me.
Kombat Pack 2’s Inconsistent Character Choices
As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but express my thoughts on the upcoming roster for MK1’s second batch of guest characters. It seems they’ve got Ghostface from the Scream franchise, the T-1000 from Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Conan the Barbarian lined up. Don’t get me wrong, these characters are undeniably fierce, fitting right in with Mortal Kombat’s brutal style. However, their presence feels a bit unexpected. I mean, the T-1000 and Conan aren’t exactly at the forefront of popular culture today, and it’s hard to find any connections between these newcomers and those from Kombat Pack 1, save for the potential humor surrounding Robert Patrick, who played Ghostface’s dad in Peacemaker, also starring as Peacemaker’s father in the Max streaming series.
In each case, these characters share a common trait: they would have been ideal choices for earlier versions of “Mortal Kombat”. Ghostface fits seamlessly into the roster dominated by serial killers in Mortal Kombat X (MKX), Conan aligns perfectly with the retro action heroes in Mortal Kombat 11, and the T-1000 could potentially be included in either game due to its dual roles as a sci-fi antagonist and another terminator.
The Downside of NetherRealm Breaking with Tradition
In a different rendition of thoughts, continuing Mortal Kombat 1 along the path of intricate comic book characters could have opened up exciting possibilities for the game. Characters like Judge Dredd or The Comedian might have fit flawlessly within Kombat Pack 1 and been effortless to implement from a gameplay standpoint. It’s also been whispered that potential downloadable content (DLC) characters for Mortal Kombat 1 at one time included Harley Quinn and Deathstroke, who would have complemented the game’s theme and provided a satisfying alternative for eager Injustice fans. Despite Kombat Pack 2 diverging from this territory, maintaining a sense of uniformity among its guest characters might have given players a more cohesive experience and made logical sense within the game itself.
Instead of randomly combining disparate pop culture icons, as seen in the selection process for DLC characters by NetherRealm, it tends to simplify their task but diminishes the unique appeal that the Kombat Packs usually offer. The thematic links between guest characters in previous Kombat Packs gave each game a distinctive character and provided players with the excitement of testing controversial match-ups such as RoboCop versus the Terminator, or Omni-Man against Homelander. With the announcement of the Khaos Reigns DLC, Mortal Kombat 1 now seems more reminiscent of Fortnite’s IP extravaganza compared to the carefully crafted experiences presented in MKX and MK11.
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2024-09-12 14:34