As someone who has been following the Mortal Kombat series since its arcade days, I must admit that I was quite disappointed with Mortal Kombat 1 (MK1). Coming from the high standards set by previous games, MK1 felt like a step back in terms of storytelling and gameplay.
Among gaming franchises, Warner Bros. can usually count on Mortal Kombat to perform exceptionally well. Despite experiencing some highs and lows throughout its history, this fighting series has solidified itself as a significant player in the gaming world, consistently delivering top-notch, groundbreaking fighting games for over three decades. The past 15 years or so could be considered a sort of second renaissance for Mortal Kombat, starting with its reboot in 2009. Since then, it has garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success with each new release.
In contrast to expectations, Mortal Kombat 1 appears to be following a unique path. Following the release of Mortal Kombat 11, which received extensive post-launch support and concluded its narrative arc, many presumed that Mortal Kombat might take a break for some time. However, it’s important to note that Mortal Kombat is one of Warner Bros’ major gaming franchises, so the idea that Mortal Kombat 11 marked the end of the series was never seriously considered. Yet, instead of immediately jumping back into the Injustice series with Injustice 3 as many assumed NetherRealm Studios might do while working on two active franchises at once, they’ve chosen a different direction with Mortal Kombat 1.
After surpassing a year since its release, it’s evident that Mortal Kombat 1 has marked a slight dip in the series’ performance. This doesn’t imply the game was universally panned or struggled financially – at least not when considering overall reviews and sales figures. On the surface, with a Metacritic score of around 85 and over 4 million units sold by August, Mortal Kombat 1 might appear to be far from a flop. However, it’s hard to ignore that its performance pales in comparison to where the franchise stood not so long ago. For example, Mortal Kombat 11 had managed to sell 8 million units within about a year and a half of its launch, which suggests that Mortal Kombat 1 is selling at a considerably slower pace.
It appears that Mortal Kombat 1 is not selling as well as expected, leading WB Games to consider significant changes. Despite NetherRealm Studios providing ample post-launch content for the game, including a dozen DLC characters, several additional fighters known as Kameo, and an expansion titled Khaos Reigns, it looks like this is all that will be provided. A reputable Mortal Kombat insider named FateUnknown has suggested that, initially, NetherRealm had intended to release another year’s worth of DLC characters and a second story expansion for Mortal Kombat 1. However, the poor performance of the Khaos Reigns expansion may have caused WB Games to reconsider these plans.
It’s apparent that the enthusiasm for Mortal Kombat is unusually low, and after examining Mortal Kombat 1 and related elements, it’s easy to see why. This isn’t only due to the possibility that multiple releases of Mortal Kombat might have been too much for some fans (without considering the post-launch content of both games).
A frequent complaint about this fresh take on Mortal Kombat revolves around its narrative, as it appears yet another example of a multiverse story trying to capitalize on a trend that audiences seem tired of. Over time, the idea of a multiverse story has lost its charm (largely due to Marvel and the numerous imitators they’ve spawned), so finding Mortal Kombat following suit is disheartening for many. The storytelling in both Mortal Kombat 1 and Khaos Reigns has received significant criticism, ranging from the writing coming off as too fanservice-oriented or key plot points appearing rushed and poorly developed to a general lack of tension (due to an endless supply of character clones), and this is only scratching the surface.
Moreover, it’s worth noting that Khaos Reigns has garnered significant backlash from Mortal Kombat enthusiasts for multiple aspects, in addition to its storyline flaws, which we have previously discussed. The expansion is criticized for being too brief, overpriced given the amount of content provided, and overall lacking the comprehensive feel that was expected, especially after fans were initially dissatisfied with the main game itself.
It’s no shock that the monetization strategies of Mortal Kombat 1 have not been well-received. We discussed the expensive Khaos Reigns expansion, but it’s also been criticized due to the pricing of Fatalities, the use of alternate skins and announcer packs as nickel-and-dime tactics, and the exploitation of fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) which is prevalent in many games. While aggressive monetization is a widespread problem in the gaming industry, particularly in fighting games, such excessive monetization practices are harder to overlook when a game already has other issues. As a result, Mortal Kombat 1 is facing this predicament.
As a dedicated Mortal Kombat fan, I must admit that the game itself boasts several commendable aspects. The high-quality production values and stunning visuals are simply top-notch, while the fighting mechanics, Kameo system, and more make for an enjoyable experience. However, the bar is often set quite high for Mortal Kombat games, and this latest installment, Mortal Kombat 1, unfortunately didn’t meet those expectations. The situation worsened with the release of the Khaos Reigns expansion, which didn’t do the game any favors. If it underperformed and led to the cancellation of future post-launch plans for MK1, I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
The question on everyone’s mind is: What will the future hold for Mortal Kombat? Given that Warner Bros. Games has recently announced a shift in focus towards a smaller number of key gaming franchises, including Mortal Kombat, it’s safe to say that we can expect more Mortal Kombat games in the years to come.
It’s intriguing to ponder what shape the next Mortal Kombat game will take, as it appears that Mortal Kombat 1 has reached its peak of popularity, possibly hinting at an early release of a new installment. How NetherRealm Studios plans to tackle the major narrative criticisms levied against Mortal Kombat 1 and its expansion is yet unknown, but it’s clear they have some work cut out for them. Could this ‘something’ involve taking a break from the series, developing Injustice 3, and then returning to Mortal Kombat later? I for one wouldn’t object at all – in fact, I’d welcome it wholeheartedly. We’ve had a consistent stream of Mortal Kombat activity for several years now, so perhaps a brief respite is in order to prevent fatigue and ensure that something fresh can take center stage for a while.
Please keep in mind that the opinions shared within this article are solely those of the writer. They do not reflect the perspectives or official stance of GamingBolt as a whole.
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2024-12-11 20:41