We knew that Mortal Kombat 1 (aka Mortal Kombat 12) would be a reset of the MK timeline, but it wasn’t until the Summer Game Fest reveal trailer that we finally got an extended look at the gameplay. This fighter is digging into the back catalog of Mortal Kombat characters for plenty of kameos and a whole new approach to fighting. As a fan of the modern MK games, these changes seem major but not groundbreaking. Take a look.
In addition to showing off some brutal new Fatalities, this trailer did manage to set up a lot of what this new entry is about. From Sub-Zero and Scorpion to Johnny Cage, all the classic fighters seem to be here in what appears to be a scaled back roster. The big twist added to Mortal Kombat 1 is the new Kameo fighter system, briefly showed off in the trailer but later detailed by Netherrealm’s Ed Boon.
After you select a main character to play, you will pull up a separate roster of Kameo fighters, they will join the fight. Some Kameo fighters are available in the main roster while others are unique to the Kameo roster. Costume-wise, these all seem like throwbacks to the original Mortal Kombat.
You can bring in these fighters to fight for you or pull off unique combos. How much you can use them is dictated by a Kameo meter that limits how many time you can call for help.
In addition to these sweeping mechanical changes, Boon also announced a huge new addition to the cast. Since Johnny Cage was always inspired by the film “Bloodsport,” the team at Neatherrealm finally got Jean Claude van Damme in the game to do the iconic character’s voice.
Alongside these details, Boon promised there would be more character and Kameo fighter details coming in the near future. Until then, enjoy diving deep into the gory kills of the four minutes of gameplay we’ve seen. Stay tuned for more on Mortal Kombat 12, er, Mortal Kombat 1.
