Summary
- Mortal Kombat 1 introduces a balanced roster of iconic and lesser-known fighters, rewarding longtime fans and creatively reintroducing the lesser characters.
- Baraka and Reptile receive surprising upgrades, transforming from henchmen to fleshed out protagonists, setting the stage for other lowly fighters to be given similar treatment.
- Characters like Erron Black, Skarlet, and Moloch have potential for deeper storytelling, exploring their origins and allegiances, providing new layers to their previously one-dimensional personas.
The Mortal Kombat franchise is infamous for having a truly massive amount of fighters. Dozens of different characters have made appearances throughout the years, from iconic names like Scorpion and Sub-Zero, to less established ones like Li Mei and Ashrah. In Mortal Kombat 1, developer NetherRealm Studios created a mostly balanced blend of iconic and obscure kombatants. This makes for a roster that feels rewarding for longtime MK fans, and Mortal Kombat 1 meets the challenge of reintroducing these lesser characters with great creativity.
Mortal Kombat 1 is a new beginning in more ways than one. While Fire God Liu Kang's new era refreshes Mortal Kombat canon, it also gives previously one-note fighters new opportunities. Two of the strongest examples of this change come in the form of Baraka and Reptile, who are upgraded from simple henchmen to fleshed out protagonists. It's a surprising change of pace from how they've been depicted in previous entries, and it opens the door for other lowly MK fighters to receive similar treatment. Perhaps in future MK1 DLC or a sequel, the following kombatants could rise above their station.
Erron Black
Erron Black is a recent addition to Mortal Kombat, first appearing in Mortal Kombat X. This gunslinger's lore is relatively shallow, but it has a strong foundation that could make for some compelling storytelling. Erron is much older than he appears to be, as he was born in the Old West and has resided in Outworld for decades. He typically finds himself at the side of whoever rules Outworld, but NetherRealm could give him much more depth than this. If the developer provided some definitive backstory on how Erron came to live for so long, and gave him stronger allegiances, he could become less of a blank slate.
Skarlet
Skarlet is a similar character to Ermac in that she started out as a rumored glitch in Mortal Kombat 2 that turned Kitana's clothing red. She was first introduced as a playable character in MK9, and MK11 saw her first major involvement in an MK story. Here, she is mostly just a servant of Shao Kahn, who taught her how to use her blood-manipulating abilities. In Liu Kang's new era, she could be much more than this, and perhaps take a similar route to Reptile. Reptile in MK1 is shunned by his people for his ability to shape-shift, and the same conflict could occur with Skarlet and Outworld's people due to her blood magic.
Moloch
Moloch is about as obscure as they come in Mortal Kombat's list of fighters, first appearing in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. This 3D era Mortal Kombat game had Moloch as a mini boss before Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, and very little is done to characterize him. What is known about him is that he's an Oni from the Netherrealm, and he's an underling of Shang Tsung's, but so much more could be done with him. Given his origins in the Netherrealm, Moloch could evolve into a more complex character. He could take a similar route to Ashrah, trying to find a place outside the Netherrealm among the residents of Outworld.
Mortal Kombat 1 demonstrates NetherRealm Studios' ability for innovative, surprising storytelling. Its handling of characters like Baraka and Reptile shows that one-dimensional fighters can be made interesting and sympathetic. The same could be done for many more characters in Mortal Kombat's roster, giving fans more to root for than the same handful of protagonists. It's currently unknown if Mortal Kombat 1 will receive any story DLC, but if it does, it opens up plenty of opportunities for run-of-the-mill henchmen to find a new lease on life.
Mortal Kombat 1 is available now on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
