Summary
Mortal Kombat 1is one of the premier fighting games of the current generation of consoles, and while it has had a rocky start to its life, constant updates, support, new content and the receptiveness of the developers have slowly crafted an incredible game.Khaos Reignshas garnered tons of excitement for both its new expansion seemingly centered around Bi-Han and Titan Havik, as well as the new characters included in the expansion.
While fans know little about how most of these characters will play and what their design philosophy will be like,they have seen some snippets, and each of the new characters being introduced so far has fostered tons of anticipation.
6Conan
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Barbarian Hero
Conan the Barbarian is an interesting guest character option, with tons of films, comics, and appearances in other media. However, his mainstream appeal has since dissipated. The Conan inKhaos Reignsis all but confirmed to beArnold Schwarzenegger’s versionfrom the 1982 film. While most fans of theMortal Kombatfranchise, and fighting games in general, may not be too excited about Conan, if he is incorporated well within theMK1design philosophy, his induction could be a sleeper hit.
The idea of seeing the 1980s Conan swinging around a greatsword and tearing through foes is appealing, as are the numerous possibilities Netherealm Studios have for his Fatal Blow and Fatalities. Moreover, it would be interesting to see his interactions with Outworld Warriors such as General Shao, Tanya, and Reiko. While he might not be eagerly anticipated, givenMortal Kombat’sgreat track record with guest characters, fans should definitely be somewhat excited.
5T-1000
Robert Patrick’s Masterpiece In The New Era
Terminator 2is lauded as one of the best action movies of all time and has been embedded in the memories of countless avid moviegoers. The movie’s success was in part due to the incredible villain, the T-1000 masterfully portrayed by Robert Patrick. While T-1000’s inclusion inMK1’snew expansion pack fits with the theme of most recent guest characters (RoboCop, Terminator, Rambo), the anticipation around his release has been somewhat muted.
This is primarily due to some of the other shocking revelations theKhaos Reignsreveals have made, and partly due to the inclusion of Terminator in just the previous game. While a wildly popular inclusion, some fans were disappointed with how slow the Terminator was, and his rival may follow suit. T-1000 could be an exciting, slick new addition, and, if executed well, may become a fan favorite. The only thing against him is how anticipated some of the other releases have been.
4Cyrax & Sektor
Two Classic Ninjas With A Twist
It’s fitting to include Cyrax and Sektor together in one entry as they have nearly always been two peas in a pod. While the duo had a story appearance inMK11, and have been thriving as Kameos in this game thus far, fans have been clamoring for them to be fully integrated into the roster for a while now. While their redesignsdid raise some eyebrows, fans should be excited about their inclusion.
The best part about their inclusion is that fans will be excited to see where each character’s allegiances lie in Lui Kang’s new era, and how the Cyber Lin Kuei initiative progresses. With a Bi-Han-focused story, it will be fun to see how his dynamic with the two cyber initiative trailblazers develops, whether Cyrax or Sektor ally with him, whether there is any internal strife, and how they deal with the crisis in the Lin Kuei.
3Ghostface
Highly Anticipated Horror Legend
Ghostface, from the hit horror franchiseScream,is one of themost recognizable villains in film. With theScreamfranchise garnering attention again, his entry into Liu Kang’s era comes at the best time. While his inclusion has been a surprise for casual fans of the franchise, long-time fans may have been wondering if he’d show up ever since the horror-focused DLC inMKX.
Ghostface’s interactions with the rest of theMK1cast and his tower ending are going to be interesting to see. Even more so is how the developers bring to life his gameplay loop and what fatalities and brutalities he may have. No one has any idea what a character like Ghostface would be like in a fighting game. The possibilities are nearly endless and consequently, he has to be one of the most anticipated DLC characters out there.
2Havik
Khaos Is A Ladder
TheMortal Kombatfranchise has a history of some great and memorable villains, including but not limited to Quan Chi, Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn, and Onaga. However, with over a dozen games in the series, some fans might feel that some other characters deserve the spotlight. While the introduction of Kronika and Cetrion was a solid idea, the series still lacks new threats to keep the narrative fresh and compelling.
Havik has been shaped to be exactly that ever since the days of theMKXcomics where he serves as the primary antagonist. While his storyline in the comics was incredible, his re-introduction inMK1was a bit underwhelming. Therefore, with thenew trailers and reveals, Titan Havik’s positioning as the primary antagonist of the franchise has the potential to be incredible, especially if it fleshes out the lore and characters of some of the other realms, and uses the Kamidogou daggers. Even the idea of a chaotic, maniacal, and wicked villain in modernMortal Kombatis certainly enticing.
1Noob Saibot
The Rise And Fall Of Bi-Han
Noob Saibot has always been one of the most popular characters inMortal Kombat.His recent appearance inMK11,while not very plot-relevant, was exciting to see nonetheless. He had some of the coolest visuals in the game, and a unique, slow-paced keep-away moveset.
With Liu Kang’s new era, and Bi-Han returning as Sub-Zero, while his younger brother Kuai Liang has the Scorpion mantle, it will be interesting to see how Noob’s story progresses. Clips from the trailer show Bi-Han’s prominence inKhaos Reignsand one of the most exciting parts about it is seeing how his character develops in the expansion’s story. Iffan-favorite Bi-Hansuccumbs to the darkness and becomes Noob Saibot again, what happens to Sub-Zero, and how his relationships with Kuai Liang and Smoke progress, will be incredible to see.
