The Best Story Modes In The Mortal Kombat Franchise

Key Takeaways

Mortal Kombat 1 continues with Khaos Reigns, focusing on a rich story with iconic characters.
Mortal Kombat Special Forces was somewhat of a letdown due to a dull story and spin-off issues.
Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks, a hack-and-slash spin-off, comes with an engaging and interesting story.

As a longtime fan of the Mortal Kombat franchise, I must say that each game has its unique charm and appeal. However, if I were to rank them based on their storytelling and impact on the series, here’s my take:

On September 24, 2024, the narrative of Mortal Kombat 1 resumes with the release of the expansion titled Khaos Reigns, marking the start of Year Two in the game’s lifespan. The story has grown to be a significant aspect of Mortal Kombat lore, encompassing the backstories of numerous characters, the unexpected plot developments these stories undergo, and the mythology woven throughout various mystical realms.

In Mortal Kombat games, the combat is always a major draw, but some players seek out the game for its engaging storylines and memorable characters. Certain narratives have even reached iconic status, standing alongside famous film franchises, while others have been overshadowed by time and community preference.

10 Mortal Kombat: Special Forces

Behind The Scenes Issues Resulted In A Dull Spin-Off

Developer: Midway
System: PlayStation 1
Release Date: June 29, 2000
Genre: Action-Adventure

Due to budget restrictions and key team members departing, including John Tobias who co-created the series, Mortal Kombat: Special Forces ultimately became a disappointing spin-off that many fans reject. The narrative also suffered, as it initially centered on Jax Briggs’ and Sonya Blade’s journey within Earthrealm, but Sonya was removed from the game entirely.

The end result of Mortal Kombat: Special Forces is a straightforward fighting game with a weak narrative. Essentially, Jax fights and eliminates criminals sequentially until he vanquishes the Black Dragon gang, marking the end of the storyline. Despite being enjoyable to play, it’s often criticized as one of the worst Mortal Kombat games due to its lackluster storytelling.

9 Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero

A Side-Scroller That Was Ambitious But Disappointing

Through the use of Full Motion Video cutscenes, the game “Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero” served as the initial installment in the series to present a substantive storyline centered around the character Sub-Zero. Regrettably, this title is often criticized due to its problematic controls and frustrating level of difficulty that frequently pushes players towards exploiting glitches for unlimited lives in order to advance.

Regarding the storyline, it’s evident that the team at Midway was driven and dedicated in their creations, as seen in the elaborate full-motion video scenes. These scenes introduced lore and characters like Quan Chi, which later became staples in subsequent games. Unfortunately, subpar voice acting, the use of green screen, a mediocre script, and challenging gameplay detract from the overall experience of Mortal Kombat Mythologies.

8 Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

The Storyline Suffered From A Forgettable Protagonist

As a devoted Mortal Kombat fan, I was eagerly anticipating “Mortal Kombat: Armageddon” to be the grand finale of sorts, given its roster of every playable character in the franchise at that time. However, contrary to my expectations, the story didn’t delve into any of these iconic characters. Instead, it was Taven, an original character, who took center stage, interacting with various Mortal Kombat characters across the realms.

Experiencing enjoyment abounds, whether it’s discovering various settings or battling numerous adversaries, but the story mode called Konquest in Armageddon frequently encounters criticism. Many find Taven, the protagonist, rather uninteresting and the narrative lacks unexpected twists for the player, with only a few iconic characters showing up for a single chapter.

7 Mortal Kombat: Deception

Unique Tales Of Shujinko Are Held Back By Questionable Voice Acting

As a devoted fan, I’d say Mortal Kombat: Deception was the game that introduced a richly developed storyline for the first time in the main series. The tale revolves around an intriguing original character named Shujinko, who stands out from Taven due to his deep roots within the Mortal Kombat universe. Throughout his life, he interacts with and is mentored by iconic characters, making his storyline a seamless part of the Mortal Kombat narrative.

The game also offered semi-open environments that transitioned between day and night, providing opportunities to acquire or finish side missions at specific times of the day. This not only made the worlds more intriguing to explore, but it was crucial for unlocking characters and skins. Regrettably, even compared to other games from the PS2 era, the voice acting in this Mortal Kombat title falls short.

6 Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe

A Silly Crossover That Walked So Future Games Could Run

Although not boasting the finest gameplay among its series counterparts, Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe introduced several elements that have since become common in subsequent games. For instance, character-specific chapters were first introduced in this eighth installment and have been a standard feature ever since. Moreover, it paved the way for the creation of the Injustice series by DC.

As a gamer diving into the world of Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and disappointment. The game presents an epic clash between my beloved Mortal Kombat characters and the DC universe heroes, which sounds like a dream come true, right? But somehow, it feels half-baked.

5 Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks

Tells An Interesting Story Set Before And During The Second Game

Switching from a conventional fighting game to a God of War-style hack-and-slash game was an audacious decision for Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, yet it paved the way for them to venture into something novel. It was the initial spin-off to gain positive reviews and has since become a cherished addition to the series, not only due to its gameplay, but also its captivating storyline.

In “Shaolin Monks,” the action unfolds between the first two Mortal Kombat games, focusing on Liu Kang and Kung Lao as main characters. This narrative provides a bridge to the events of Mortal Kombat II, offering an alternate perspective on its storyline. Despite some over-the-top dialogue delivery, the tale generally succeeded in filling in the gaps between the two games.

4 Mortal Kombat X

The Next Generation Of Mortal Kombat Heroes And Villains

Following the groundbreaking changes to the timeline in Mortal Kombat 9, it was Mortal Kombat X’s turn to chart its own course, and boy, did it seize the opportunity! The game leaped forward two decades, paving the way for a fresh crop of characters such as Cassie Cage, Takeda Takahashi, Kotal Kahn, and D’Vorah. Yet, it didn’t forget its roots, keeping many iconic figures in the mix as well.

In my gaming world, Mortal Kombat X really stood out with its blend of fresh and familiar faces. The ever-changing alliances among these characters kept the storylines for each installment gripping, filled with unexpected surprises and turns. Yet, it’s the main narrative about Lord Shinnok’s comeback that didn’t quite live up to the hype surrounding this top-notch Mortal Kombat title.

3 Mortal Kombat (2011)

Rebooted The Games And Saved The Franchise With Its Story

The debut title developed by Netherrealm Studios was a shift in direction following fan disappointment with Armageddon. Utilizing time travel, Mortal Kombat, also known as Mortal Kombat 9, traveled back to the story’s beginning in the timeline of the initial three Mortal Kombat games. It introduced fresh surprises and plot twists, creating a revised timeline in the process.

Mortal Kombat 9 stands as a testament to “quality over quantity,” featuring a compact character lineup of legendary figures, a streamlined narrative, and a reversion to the traditional 2D combat style following the experimentation with 3D movement in prior games. This was the inaugural instance where the Mortal Kombat storyline felt like an engaging cinematic experience, with each chapter centering on distinct characters. It garnered acclaim for its character development and ability to immerse players within the universe.

2 Mortal Kombat 1

Liu Kang’s New Era Is Off To A Strong Start

In Mortal Kombat 1, Liu Kang takes on the role of the Time Keeper. This allows him to reset everything from the very beginnings of time, creating a fresh narrative and timeline. There’s a delightful blend of what fans cherish, such as Johnny Cage’s humorous antics, the enigmatic allure of Outworld and Earthrealm, and novel elements to keep things exciting.

In contrast to some criticisms leveled at it, Mortal Kombat 1 is generally lauded for its storytelling, particularly for its daring moves such as portraying Scorpion and Sub-Zero as brothers or giving prominence to less-developed characters. The series’ use of a multiverse concept, which can be overly familiar, is handled exceptionally well in Mortal Kombat 1, with intriguing twists and turns that pay tribute to more than three decades of Mortal Kombat games and films.

1 Mortal Kombat 11

The Grand Finale That Brought About The End Of An Era

With the addition of its Aftermath expansion, Mortal Kombat 11 takes time travel to a whole new level, causing past and future to intersect. This brings about traditional characters, fresh faces, and modified legacy characters crossing paths and engaging in combat, occasionally teaming up or going against each other, culminating in an epic conclusion for the trilogy’s finale.

Just like Mortal Kombat 9 and Mortal Kombat X did, the eleventh installment carries on expanding its lore and introducing new characters. Additionally, it offers a dash of nostalgia with Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa reprising his role as Shang Tsung. In essence, Mortal Kombat 11 brought together two timelines, leading to an epic conclusion filled with action, drama, fantasy, sci-fi, and multiple other genres.

2024-09-22 08:05