NetherRealm Studios’ upcoming fighting game,Mortal Kombat 1, will bring its franchise into a brand-new generation when it launches in just a few months. In the follow-up to 2019’s massively successfulMortal Kombat 11, many fans expected the upcoming reboot to be the 12th numbered entry prior to its announcement as a fresh slate for the series. Having come a long way from its arcade roots,Mortal Kombat 1will likely be one of the highest-fidelity fighting games ever created. Although it has evolved significantly since its inception in the 90s, there is still one major aspect that has somewhat controversially stayed the same.
Several new systems and features are set to accompany the many returning classic elements players have come to associate with NetherRealm’s iconic fighting franchise.Mortal Kombat 1’s Kameo systembrings a layer of depth to the game only previously seen in titles such as the firstMarvel vs. Capcom, allowing a supporting assist character to coordinate with the player during combos. This latest mechanical addition and the removal of the uncompetitive stage hazards of past games paint the picture of a more solidly gameplay-focused experience, but the series also has a deeply rooted connection to the flashy, cinematic violence it has chosen to maintain.
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Mortal Kombat Set the Precedent for Gore in Video Games
Ever since the original release back in 1992 that started it all, the identity ofMortal Kombathas been tied to its ultra-violent depictions of gore. In an era when digitized graphics felt eerily realistic,Mortal Kombatdidn’t have the amazing fighting mechanics of games likeStreet Fighter 2or evenThe Art of Fighting, but it did have the novel spectacle of Sub-Zero ripping his opponent’s spine out.
As the brutal nature of its Fatalities continued to be a primary selling point of the series,Mortal Kombatwould become progressively less shocking throughout its 3D era. Whether due to the changing art style or more light-hearted tone created by the litany of fantasy elements, the series was far from its previous level of edginess by the time ofArmageddon.
NetherRealm would up to the spectacle to new heights withMortal Kombat 9’s “X-ray” super moves, special cinematic attacks that feature the bones and organs of the opponent being damaged in slow-motion during a fight. X-rays, later known asFatal Blows and Krushing Blows, would become a staple as intense gore continued to define subsequent titles all the way intoMortal Kombat 1.
The Violence of Mortal Kombat’s Fatal Blows Can Break Suspension of Disbelief
The flashy appeal and cinematic quality of X-ray moves have been clear sinceMortal Kombat 9in 2011, but the obvious lack of realism under which they operate shares the same distinction. It is undeniably a cool moment when a player sees their opponent’s skull being smashed or ribs being broken as a reward for a properly timed move, but it is equally jarring to see that same opponent get up and continue the fight as if nothing happened.
X-ray moves make perfect sense as actual finishing moves that could signal the complete defeat of one fighter, but they instead share space with Fatalities to create a nonsensical and desensitizing atmosphere. It is also hard to deny the fact thatMortal Kombathas always been meant to not be taken too seriously, as realism has never been a focus in a game with spectral ninjas and gods facing each other.
The primary disconnect is likely that as the series has veered towards its now fantastical levels of gore, it has simultaneously focused on creating a progressively photorealistic presentation. With past claims ofNetherRealm employees being disturbed by gorein the reference material necessary to make such lifelike violence, perhaps it could be time for the series to take a more tasteful approach to the squelching, bloody novelty thatMortal Kombat 1is sure to feature.
Mortal Kombat 1launches on September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
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