Mortal Kombat 1 has plenty of examples of star power among its fighters. But a new trailer has finally shown footage of actor Jean-Claude Van Damme as an alternate skin for Johnny Cage. We’ve technically known about his inclusion since the game was first announced. The FAQ page revealed it, but now we can see the muscles from Brussels in action.
MK1 Jean-Claude Van Damme Trailer Reveal
This is a full-circle moment for the franchise in many ways, even more than this 12th main entry called Mortal Kombat 1. One of the initial pitches for the original game was to base it on Jean-Claude Van Damme. While that never came to fruition, NetherRealm was able to take its ideas and make the ninja-fighting game of its dreams. The rest is history with this long series.
Over 30 years later, the actor is finally part of Mortal Kombat history. His design is based on his look in the 1988 film Bloodsport, which was arguably his most popular film at the time and his breakout role. Jean-Claude Van Damme also provided his likeness and even his voice to this interpretation.
It’s pretty special to see him as an alternate skin to Johnny Cage, too. Although the character has grown into his own over the years, he was originally inspired by the martial arts actor. The references can still be seen today in some of the movies the character is said to have starred in. That’s not to mention his trademark groin punch, which is called Ball Buster in MK1.
Related: Mortal Kombat 1 Johnny Cage Guide: Moves List and How to Play
How to Unlock the JCVD Skin in Mortal Kombat 1
Not everyone will have access to the skin, though. It’s only included in the $109.99 Premium Edition and the $249.99 physical Kollector’s Edition. There’s no mention of whether it will be available as a single purchase down the line for those who buy the Standard Edition. The biggest JCVD fans might want to upgrade if they like the way the skin looks.
This MK1 Jean-Claude Van Damme trailer comes just under a week before the early access period for Mortal Kombat 1 begins on September 14. Since early access is only included in the pricer editions, don’t be surprised to see the occasional Universal Soldier actor online.
Published: Sep 9, 2023 11:03 am