Summary
The major stepMortal Kombat 1took by being both a sequel and a reboot could serve as the ideal blueprint forDoctor Who, as the show’s soft relaunch could be the advantage it needs to finally move past its history of hit-and-miss gaming adaptations. Since itholds the accolade as the longest-running sci-fi television show, it’s no surprise thatDoctor Whohas expanded into audiobooks, novelizations, and spin-offs. Despite this,Doctor Who’s video games have seemingly struggled. Recent releases likeThe Lonely Assassinsdid well, while others likeThe Edge of Realitygot a mixed reception.
However, any issues that have plaguedDoctor Whogames are often down to the series' age, as some of its oldest games were developed for the likes of the BBC Micro just before its classic era ended in the 80s. This arguably left the BBC cautious regarding future gaming adaptations, but with Disney now involved asDoctor Whoembarks on a large-scale soft relaunch, it has the chance to better understand and engage with game development. So, just asDoctor Whoattempts to “restart” the series from 2023 onward, it should take inspiration fromMortal Kombat 1’s reboot and do the same withDoctor Whogames.
Doctor Who’s Dedication To Its Relaunch Should Include Its Games
Doctor Who’s Gaming Reboot Could Be Down To Disney
Though it would have little impact on therange of currentDoctor Whogames, the opportunity to both acknowledge and rise above its legacy of bad gaming adaptations shouldn’t be wasted, especially when this could capitalize on the show’s relaunch. For example, in an interview with SFX Magazine, current showrunner Russell T Davies confirmed that Ncuti Gatwa’s upcoming run as the fifteenth Doctor would be a reset as “season one.” While this isn’t an unusual move given that Davies did the same for Christopher Eccleston’s series duringDoctor Who’s 2005 revival, this decision could be motivated by its partnership with Disney.
Davies has already admitted to having high hopes forDoctor Who. During an interview with Paul Kirkley he responded to the ongoing range ofStar Warsand Marvel shows from Disney+ suggesting thatDoctor Whoshould do the same:
Davies: There should be aDoctor Whochannel now. You look at those Disney announcements, of all thoseStar Warsand Marvel shows, you think, we should be sitting here announcingThe Nyssa Adventures, orThe Return of Donna Noble, and you should have the tenth and eleventh Doctors together in a 10-part series …I think that will happen one day. If we can just shiftDoctor Whoup a gear…
It’s likely no coincidence that just two years later, Davies would announce not just his return toDoctor Whowith David Tennant and Catherine Tate as the former tenth Doctor and Donna Noble, but also the show’s partnership with Disney. Even while the BBC and Disney assured audiences that their creative input would be limited, Davies was simultaneously suggesting that this backing wouldlead to moreDoctor Whospin-offsand a larger multimedia “Whoniverse” as he’d envisioned.
Doctor Who’s Gaming Reboot Should Take Inspiration From Mortal Kombat 1
Ultimately then, if both Davies and Disney are pushing forDoctor Whoto go further than just the singular television series, this relaunch should encompass the series' gaming adaptations too. To achieve this,Doctor Whoshould look to successful reboots of other long-standing gaming series, with the specific example ofMortal Kombat 1. Between several different development studios and multiple games attempting to tell a continuous story,Mortal Kombat 1’s reboot of its timelinewas likely prompted to give the series a clearer, more cohesive future, something that the inconsistent mix ofDoctor Whogames could also benefit from.
Given thatDoctor Whoalready has a reputation for interfering with time and space at its core, a reboot adopting the same ideas fromMortal Kombat 1would be very easy to accomplish. By also incorporating tributes to previousDoctor Whogames just asMortal Kombat 1does with Kameo Fighters, ranging fromThe Adventure GamestoThe Edge of Reality, this reboot could reflect the show’s ongoing relaunch and leave no uncertainty that these games are part of a new era. In doing so, through Disney’s creative guidance andMortal Kombat 1’s reboot approach,Doctor Whocould have an all-new future in gaming.
