Summary
Mortal Kombat 1weaved a fascinating story that offered something completely original while looking back at essential parts ofMortal Kombatlore. From new takes on Sub-Zero and Scorpion, to familiar depictions of Shang Tsung, there’s something forMKfans new and old to connect with. NetherRealm Studios has demonstrated a clear understanding of its own storytelling withMortal Kombat 1, and now the only question is how the developer will follow up its efforts with a sequel or story DLC. For particularly eager fans, there may already be some clues inMK1’s Tower endings.
Mortal Kombat’s Towers are as integral to the franchise as its fatalities. A product of the arcade experience, these battles against CPU opponents drive players to go the distance until they ultimately beat the main foe of every Tower. As a reward for their efforts,MK’s towers offer a brief, character-specific cutscene that often has little bearing on actualMKcanon.MK1takes a much different direction, however, using its Tower endings as a sort of epilogue for each fighter. These Tower endings could have major implications for futureMKstories, with a few of them appearing to be especially consequential.
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Raiden’s MK1 Tower Ending
Raiden experiences some of the most change from his original depictions inMK1, as he is now a mortal instead of a thunder god. His Tower ending, however, reveals that he may be going down a similar path to his godly counterpart. After seeing a godly version of himself inMK1’s final act, Raiden asks Liu Kang why he’s different. Liu Kang alludes to the rage of Dark Raiden, stating that his status as a mortal was meant to prevent him from turning once again.MK1’s Raiden isn’t satisfied with this, and goes to Scorpion, so the ninja can teach him how to use his rage, foreshadowing his own transformation into Dark Raiden.
Scorpion’s MK1 Tower Ending
Scorpion still sports his fire-based powers inMK1, but the character is fundamentally different in many ways. His Tower ending serves to add more familiarity to the popular kombatant, as after leaving the Lin Kuei due to Sub-Zero’s betrayal, Scorpion goes on to form the Shirai Ryu. He does so with an old family friend whom he becomes romantically involved with, echoing Scorpion’s origins in previousMKlore. He vows to take down Sub-Zero and restore honor to the Lin Kuei, setting up a potential showdown that could either end tragically for Scorpion, or result in Sub-Zero’s transformation intofan-favorite Noob Saibot.
Reiko’s MK1 Tower Ending
Reiko’sMK1Tower ending is significant for what it could mean for futureMKstories, rather than for the fighter himself. After escaping imprisonment, Reiko and General Shao attempt to amass forces to overthrow Empress Mileena. Experiencing difficulty, they instead opt for a more extreme measure, taming the Dragon King, Onaga.Onaga has been a force of nature in previousMKgames, shown to be even stronger than Raiden, Shang Tsung, and Quan Chi combined. If he were to attack Empress Mileena’s allies in anMK1sequel, Onaga would likely leave all they’ve built in tatters.
Mortal Kombat 1’s Tower endings are a significant change of pace from previous games, and in many ways they’re better for it. While in previousMKgames they essentially amounted to fanfiction, they now serve to follow-upMK1’s campaignin a more meaningful way. It’s currently unclear if these endings will actually affect how the series' story proceeds in the future, but it provides a solid foundation nonetheless. With how much foreshadowing occurs acrossMK1’s many Tower endings, it would surely be satisfying to see them expanded on in some way.
Mortal Kombat 1is available now for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
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