More than four years after the release of Mortal Kombat 11, the latest in NetherRealm Studios’ critically acclaimed fighting franchise, the company has finally broken their long silence, announcing Mortal Kombat 1 with a new trailer. The game, set to release September 19th of this year, is their first release on new consoles, as well as the latest entry in the Mortal Kombat franchise. The title may seem to imply a reboot for the series, but in actuality, this new story isn’t technically new at all.
Kombatants Beware
Before breaking it down, be aware that spoilers lie ahead for Mortal Kombat 11’s story. This includes the Aftermath DLC, which was the final piece of content released for MK11. In Aftermath, Fire God Liu Kang (that is his canon name), goes head-to-head with the villainous, soul-sucking Shang Tsung in a race to create a new timeline in the wake of Kronika’s (the game’s main villain) death. Ultimately, Liu Kang defeats him, eliminating the final threat and wiping their cursed, long-running timeline once and for all, creating one of his own in it’s wake. According to the trailer, this is where the new game picks up.
The very first lines in the trailer are Liu Kang’s own; he’s narrating over a serene field of green, which lies as the foundation to a small, peaceful village composed of wooden cottages and thriving natural life. The sun floods in through a gap in the surrounding mountains as he states “Time to wake up… to a new reality.” He continues: “… to a blank canvas, that I have painted in warmth and peace.” We see a young, unbothered Kung Lao tending to wheat fields, as well as Raiden.
Their being alive and well implies a total reset, as both Raiden and Kung Lao were posed for eternal suffering in Aftermath. Raiden (as well as Fujin) was set to suffer at the hand of Shang Tsung for eternity after failing to stop him, whereas Kung Lao was thrown into an ocean by Shao Khan to drown and fall infinitely. Shortly after we see them return, Liu Kang’s narration alludes to potential conflict “In my new era, the choice is yours. Whether to live in quiet serenity…or bloody strife.”
A Not Exactly New Threat
This is where things start to pick up, and the details run rampant. A royal parade of sorts is shown dominating the streets of a larger settlement as Kitana looks on from one of the carriages in the street, set across from a vexed Mileena as Liu Kang opines on rivalries in the new age. In the next scene, Hanzo Hasashi (Scorpion) turns to face Kuai Liang (Sub-Zero) as he emerges from the shadows. The pair grip their weapons, seemingly preparing to fight, before turning shoulder to shoulder and looking on together into the distance, where a massive black blotch has eclipsed the sun.
The resulting red ring haunts the new land, with every aforementioned character looking upon it in cautious confusion. The trailer ends with Liu Kang flying down from the heavens, joining Raiden and Kung Lao in standing at the foot of a red portal that is perfectly reminiscent of the eclipse ring, delivering his penultimate line: “For the storm is brewing. And soon you will discover that even in this new era… There is always something worth fighting for.” The final visual sees Shang Tsung walking out of the portal in the same revitalized form that each of our heroes have received.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a Mortal Kombat trailer without vomit-inducing violence, so we’re then given a montage of cinematic fight scenes across the new lands. New, brutal moves and animations are displayed in rapid-fire fashion, all building up to Liu Kang’s final line of the trailer as he unleashes a new fatality onto a defeated Shang Tsung in the field in which we last left them. “You have chosen war with a God.”, he says, as two dragons (made of fire, of course) suspend Tsung in the air for Liu Kang to rise up behind him, splitting him clean down the middle, his entrails falling like rain as Liu Kang lands.
The Shinnok is in the Details
This trailer may be a franchise best. It alludes to a grand new story with familiar characters, showcasing beautiful visuals and the classic violent flare that keeps fans coming back. It looks equal parts fresh and familiar in the best way possible. But beyond the trailer, more details can be found in the video’s description on YouTube.
The game’s new tagline is “It’s on Our Blood”, possibly referencing these characters’ fates to fight regardless of their timeline. Netherrealm also teases an all-new fighting system, game modes, and fatalities. In less than two days, the trailer has already broken an astounding 3 million views, claiming the #1 spot on YouTube in trending for gaming. Fans from all corners have come together to celebrate what seems to be a widely welcomed introduction. Now only four months away from release, we can expect a flurry of news, teases and other kool stuff in the coming weeks.
What did you think of the Mortal Kombat 1 reveal trailer? How does it compare to the infamous, 21 Savage-set reveal of MK11, or that of MK10’s dark, blood in the snow style trailer? Let us know in the comments, or portal over to Twitter and do the same.
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