NetherRealm has been navigating the narrative landscape of multiverses, timelines, and multidimensional travel for some odd years now with its most recent fighting game titles, including theMortal Kombatseries and theInjusticeseries, respectively. In bounding through this seemingly endless sandbox of possibility,many changes and adaptions to traditional fighting game modeshave been made to more cohesively incorporate such elements into the structure of NetherRealm’s recent titles. Though the company is not known for shying away from innovating its regular game modes to fit modern expectations (‘The Krypt’, for example, is a recurring mode that allows the player to acquire in-game rewards and has been reworked across variousMortal Kombattitles), one such game mode placed within the newest mainlineMortal Kombatentry has left an off-putting taste in the mouths of some fans.
Introduced inMortal Kombat 1, the invasions game mode has taken the place of the aforementioned Krypt and is the primary mode for players to acquire in-game gear and notable loot. Taking the appearance of a top-down 3D board game, the premise of the Invasions game mode essentially uses the plot point of there being an infinite number of fragmented timelines to purport any number of outlandish and malign scenarios to subject players to. While this objectively translates to a near-unlimited supply of fresh content and new storylines to explore regularly, many have questioned the direction NetherRealm is takingMortal Kombatand fear for the continuum of a mature and long-beloved franchise. However, Invasions are not inherently bad, and they would actually suit the multiverse-filled setting of DC very well.
Injustice Has The Perfect Set Up For an Invasions-Style Game Mode
With the release ofMortal Kombat 1, many characters have had their backstories altered and retconned to align with the theme of timeline manipulation, per the central conflict of the game. These changes were, of course, initially met with criticism and scrutiny, as change often is. However, in case they may have forgotten, NetherRealm already has a series where an excuse to implement the zaniest, most outlandish storylines would go off without a hitch because that is already the bread and butter of the source material. Being an adaptation of a popular DC Comics alternate timeline chronicle,Injusticeis the perfect breeding ground for a game mode like invasions.
Examples of DC Comics major storylines that could be used in an invasions-style game mode:
Injusticehas been on an extended hiatus for roughly 8 years, so any excuse to revitalize the series may be a welcome reprieve regardless, though should the story return with a bang and a litany of new characters, stories, game modes, and customizable gear, all the better. What’s more, should aninvasions-style game mode be introduced into a hypotheticalInjustice 3, NetherRealm already has literal decades of content from the DC Universe to potentially emulate - or even simply base stories upon - to choose from. The matter of designing new gear is as straightforward as ripping pieces straight from stories that already exist and getting a green light from DC for their use.
Beyond this, there are a multitude of villains that could be used to push this idea. An early semblance of this concept was implemented intoInjustice 2with the multiverse mode, which acted in a similar fashion to the invasions mode ofMortal Kombat 1minus the increased and diversified mini-games and board-game style structure. If multiple dimensions can be traversed, and it’s already been preceded within theInjusticecontinuum already, there is hardly any reason time cannot be toyed with as well. Where the invasions game mode left players with a questionable impression withinMortal Kombat,Injusticeis perfectly equipped to accommodate the ideaand push it to its limits in the most positive way. Should gamers be fortunate enough to hear news of anInjustice 3in the near future, a revival would almost certainly come with new twists, and perhaps a spin on this recent NetherRealm mode will be among them.
Mortal Kombat 1
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to a new era of Kombat. NetherRealm Studios ushers in a new era of the iconic fighting franchise with a total reset that changes the entire world as we know it. Following the thrilling climax of Mortal Kombat 11, the all-powerful Fire God Liu Kang has created a New Era in the hope of bringing peace to Earthrealm and beyond. Through the series' most cinematic story mode yet, you’ll be reintroduced to a cast of legendary warriors as you’ve never seen them before. Expect twists on classic friendships and rivalries, as well as new backstories that will change everything you think you know about your favorite Kombatants. Discover a host of new offline and online game modes as you master a revitalized fighting system that boasts bone-crunching Fatal Blows, defensive Breakers and the most creatively vicious Fatalities yet.
