A slight change of pace could have you screaming FINISH HIM before this game’s conclusion.
The avalanche of titles we were inundated with at last week’s E3 was a virtual sensory overload. Mortal Kombat was certainly on my list of most anticipated. We were promised new gameplay (after the Scorpion/Sub-Zero teaser from a few weeks back) and NetherRealm Studios did deliver as promised. The new footage gave us a further glimpse into the bone-breaking, blood spewing world that is MKX ! While not exactly the Mortal Kombat story we’d anticipated, co-creator Ed Boon confirmed the game will pick up from the previous installments conclusion. However, after that, we veer off into a completely different direction, covering a span of up to 5, 10 and even 25 years into the future!
But with this new direction, comes a very different approach to the roster. One that long-time fans might be less than enthused about.
While the game itself looks to take dramatic leaps forward (utilizing the power of the next-gen), NetherRealm Studios has taken a serious hardline on one particular issue: our cast of returning characters. Now, when I say “returning,” I mean that in the most limited sense of the word. Right now, of the entire 20+ choices, Scorps and Suby are our only confirmed. Of course I’m sure we’ll see a few more sprinkled in here and there before the final game’s release (Boone recently confirmed a fighter from MK4 ) it looks as if the team will be dumping everyone for a group of fresh new faces. To date, we’ve confirmed Cassie Cage and Kotal Kahn (which are our ties to the originals) while the likes of D’Vorah and Ferra/Torr represent the first entrants into the new class. Naturally, MK has never been a series that is short on hidden gems, so it’s very likely that cameos from those in the game’s past will pop up (including our final boss). Overall all, expect the select screen of MKX to look VERY different.
And ladies and gentleman, that’s a good thing!
This could single handedly be the reason that many give up on this series and walk away. The fact that they won’t be able to crack skulls with their “go-to” fighters could be such a bummer, they refuse to even give it a chance. Other fighters have lost some of its core fan base with similar moves in the past, so is Mortal Kombat X destined to endure the same loss?
I certainly hope not, but it’s very likely. That is why I’d like to make a plea to all those that have already written this game off. Come back to the flock my little lost sheep, because you are forgetting your roots. What if I told you that MKX dumping its tried and true names for this sequel is more in-keeping with tradition than the last two in the series combined? Both Mortal Kombat: Armageddon and Mortal Kombat 9 spoiled us a bit, by nostalgically bringing us access to all our “greatest hits” at once. Instead, you should think back to the days of the arcade. In the ‘90s, Mortal Kombat games would regularly introduce a myriad of new, never before seen characters. One of the biggest excitements leading up to a new MK ’s release was the who’s who of playable characters. In fact, many of the rehashed entries from the previous games were the last to get picked when people dropped their quarters into the machine.
So you see, we should be excited that Mortal Kombat X will introduce us to such a large variety of fighters. With them come revamped play-styles, back-stories and more that we’ve not yet seen in the series. Plus, after the last game’s ending…how could they not? Needless to say, it would be pretty lame if they just kept going back to that “every character can be resurrected” mentality. Without a doubt, Mortal Kombat X will be an innovative experience from a technological stand point, but the new roster is what will help bridge the gap between old MK and the franchises’ future.
Very soon, Kombat will begin again. Are you prepared my friends? I know I am.