After many rumors and much teasing, NetherRealm Studios finally revealed Mortal Kombat 1 last month. As the title implies, the game is somewhat of a return to basics for the series, at least in terms of characters and story, with a focus on old favorites like Liu Kang, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Kung Lao, Kitana, Mileena, Shang Tsung, and Johnny Cage. What we didn’t see during the game’s announcement was any gameplay, with the debut Mortal Kombat 1 trailer being purely cinematic.
Well, today during the big Summer Game Fest 2023 kickoff show, we got a first look at Mortal Kombat 1 in action, and surprise surprise, the game is looking extremely bloody! Like, next-level completely ridiculous bloody. The trailer offers up some classic showdowns, including Kung Lao vs. Sub-Zero, Mileena vs. Kitana, and more, as well as a look at the new “Kameo” system. Basically, when you go into a fight, you pick a main character as well as a Kameo backup fighter, which you can call into battle at any time with the push of a single button. In the trailer, we see some characters like Sonya Blade and Sub-Zero in classic outfits, as well as some blasts from the past like Goro and Stryker. Oh, and yes, that is Jean Claude Van Damme voicing Johnny Cage. If you’ve got a strong stomach, you can check out the debut MK1 gameplay, below.
Looking impressive! Between Mortal Kombat 1 and the recently-released Street Fighter 6, fighting game fans are being treated well this generation. Need to know more about Mortal Kombat 1? Here are a quick rundown of the game’s key features:
- It’s in Our Blood – Discover a reborn Mortal Kombat Universe created by the Fire God Liu Kang. Mortal Kombat 1 ushers in a new era of the iconic franchise with a new fighting system, game modes, and fatalities!
- Immersive Story Campaign – Fight through a brand new story featuring your favorite Mortal Kombat characters like you’ve never seen them before.
- Kameo Fighters – Choose from a unique roster of Kameo fighting partners to assist you in battle.
Mortal Kombat 1 launches on PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and Nintendo Switch on September 19.
