When the credits rolled at the end of Mortal Kombat 11 and the future of a rebooted timeline was clear as crystal, I'll admit I was equal parts excited and worried. The Mortal Kombat universe is this gigantic, gruesome box packed to bursting with lore-drenched realms and dozens of playable characters, all stuffed down with years of skin, spine, and spindly bits. Surely, there are only so many times you can tell the story of the Earthrealm gang wandering into the blender that is the Mortal Kombat tournament before even the most devoted of MK fans dream of pastures new.
By the time Mortal Kombat 1 was announced, these fears subsided. Lui Kang is back with all his pals back, sure. But it looks so different! He's refreshed, and characters even my dad could name are rocking remixed designs! Mortal Kombat has wiped the slate clean in an interesting way! At last!
And, in playing it, it's clear that the game is certainly a pleasant mix of new and old – for better, and for worse.