Mortal Kombat 1has been steadily unveiling new fighters since its initial bold announcement, with each new interpretation of a classic character garnering serious appreciation from many fans. In a scenario that saw Liu Kang remake the world at the end ofMortal Kombat 11, it is no surprise the series' twelfth mainline entry is bringing innovation to its roster on multiple levels. The core few kombatants from the earliest titles in the series have made their predictable return toMortal Kombat 1, but it is now clear that NetherRealm is also interested in doing right by less notable fan favorites as well.
InMortal Kombat 1’s latest trailercentered on the members of the Lin Kuei, iconic fighters like Smoke, Cyrax and Sektor were unveiled to much fanfare. Rarely seen in his human form, the new take on Smoke is just an example of the bold changes NetherRealm is willing to utilize in making Liu Kang’s world feel truly new. Characters like Smoke are logical choices due the amount of support behind them since their original appearances, but the latestMortal Kombathas already taken a risk as well. Facing off against the Lin Kuei in the trailer, the purple ninja Rain has made his official return while honoring NetherRealm’s past.
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Rain’s Mortal Kombat 1 Iteration is Groundbreaking for the Character
Originally a joke character in the early days ofMortal Kombat, Rain has been a rare character to see throughout the series. He may have made a notable appearance inMortal Kombat 11’s DLC roster, but that was his first incarnation in nearly a decade.Mortal Kombat 9similarly saw Rain available as DLC nearly a decade prior, makingMortal Kombat 1the first time Rain has been available in a game’s base roster since 2006’sMortal Kombat: Armageddon. Never given much focus in a narrative sense due to his typically sidelined role, the apparentsignificance of Rain inMortal Kombat 1as seen in his reveal trailer is utterly unprecedented.
Having been reconceptualized with the dawn ofLiu Kang’s new world, Rain’s moveset seems to have been totally overhauled. Losing the katar he wielded inMortal Kombat 11, Rain now posses a scepter from which he appears to summon his signature water magic. Featuring either many shorter range projectiles or several flashy normal attacks with disjointed hitboxes, masses of water appear to be used in more technical manner. Between new special moves like Rain’s anti-air water wave and his whirlpool that binds the opponent, it’s clear that he has been retooled into a more trap centric fighter reminiscent of one ofInjustice 2’s best.
The New Rain Takes After Doctor Fate’s Traps
There is no denying that NetherRealm Studios is infamous for its dominant zoner characters that win tournaments with fullscreen projectiles, but Rain’s newest iteration bears a lot of resemblance to the more trap-oriented gameplay ofInjustice 2’s Doctor Fate. With moves featuring long startup and situational usage, Rain has taken on the more methodical play style of controlling the screen that Doctor Fate excelled at. Doctor Fate may have had his powerful Amon Ra Blast for zoning, but his entire kit allowed for the careful placement of lingering projectiles and luring his opponent into mistakes.
Mortal Kombat 1’s Rain is still mysterious, but even more similarities toDoctor Fatecould make him into his most interesting incarnation yet. With a storm cloud special move that can create actual precipitation above him, Rain could even be able to receive a special move-enhancing buff that is similar to Doctor Fate’s Dark Magic. Falling in line with the planned tactics of the trap character archetype, moves like Doctor Fate’s Spell of Judgment and Spell of Punishment in the kit of Rain could serve to truly make him one of the most technical fighters in the entire roster whenMortal Kombat 1launches this year.
Mortal Kombat 1releases September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
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