If you were watching the NetherRealm Studios Stream Reveal, you witnessed the unveiling of Ermac live. For those who didn't - the official trailer shows off a whole new bag of tricks for MK's resident soul man!
It isn't just Ermac's design that's changed! The soul warrior is taking the to skies, carrying over some of NetherRealm's work from Injustice: Gods Among Us to get more aerial in his offense!
Sub-Zero bears the brunt of Ermac's bone crushing 3-stage diving X-Ray - and the telekinetic cube compact Fatality is apparently too gruesome to show! If you want to fill in the blanks, you can use your imagination with an audio teaser.
Mortal Kombat X is coming April 14th to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 & PC! You can now pre-order the Kollector's Edition to score a variety of bonus content! Discuss these topics and more on the Mortal Kombat X forum.
From humble hoax beginnings to cult and fan-favourite status: Ermac has become a much loved regular in the MK mythologies. The creature of souls returns in Mortal Kombat X with a new look. Take a closer look:
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Ermac's new look draws inspiration from a variety of sources, featuring familiar elements from the last generation. Many of the characters feature klassically inspired designs, but Ermac and Reptile may be the most literal visual continuations - somewhat unusual, for this series.
Ermac's appearance echoes his Mortal Kombat (2011) jacketed alternate costume [see more], with an interlocking belt design first seen in Deception. Next generation textures bring to life a rich leather look - distinct from the red fabrics that popped in previous incarnations.
Ermac has kept himself literally enshrouded in mystery for quite some time, hiding his face beneath black wraps and masks. For the first time the bandages are pulled back to reveal a decaying face right out of The Mummy's Tomb. Web vein gloves defy explanation, but with green soul energy, maintain the recognized trademarks of the character. Could they suggest one of the souls Ermac has absorbed? They don't look like Shao Kahn's gloves, but perhaps another past warrior?
It was a big double reveal last week as Mortal Kombat X welcomed back two klassic kombatants! Not to be overshadowed by a subsequent spotlight - Reptile returned in an exciting gameplay reveal trailer. Take a closer look at the Reptile's new skin:
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Many returning characters have seen klassic influences embedded within their designs, but the through line from Reptile's last appearance, to now, is one of its most surprising qualities.
The new design addresses some of the weaker elements of the 2011 look. A heftier, armored face mask eliminates the store bought quality of the 2011 cowl and mask combo - even while retaining the (literal) connection. between each headpiece Though still connected, their shape is much less round than the previous incarnation, taking away the slightly comic, cutesy nature of the last design.
Reptile's chin can clearly be seen protruding from the bottom of the new metallic mask. It hinges horizontally to allow for an acid spew without the fuss of exposing his face. It's an interesting idea that almost reminds us of the strange, muzzle-like adaptation of ninja masks use in Mortal Kombat 4.
Mortal Kombat X introduces a new generation of fighters, story and experience when it arrives for home consoles, April 14! Players will enter the battle with a whole new array of characters and modes to choose from - as previewed in this exciting new trailer!
Online modes are more alive and interactive than ever before! Faction War is the much discussed persistent online mode that pits players from around the globe against one another in weekly wars! Fans can choose to represent one of five well known clans: White Lotus, Lin Kuei, Special Forces, Black Dragon & Brotherhood of Shadows. Completing tasks accumulates points for each team in pursuit of victory, and unlocks new bonuses.
A massively revamped challenge system also includes The Living Tower -- an adaptive, updating tower of tasks that will challenge players in ever evolving, interesting ways. There are also a variety of traditional goals to help you sharpen your skills.
The trailer includes a reference to brutalities - quite possibly the touted returning -ality. Are there glimpses of Sonya Blade in the faction war mode? Is that Jax and a mystery warrior on the Living Tower?
What secrets does the trailer hold? Register to break it down and share your thoughts on the Mortal Kombat X forum!
The review cycle has drifted back from the current digital releases, but be warned: the following article contains spoilers!
Mortal Kombat X: Blood Ties continues with Chapter 4 - the first section of print issue #2, and Part 1 of digital story arc "Caged". Make sure you follow links to buy the chapter from DC Entertainment before you continue!
Continuation is a topic very much in mind at the open of Chapter 4. If you read Chapter 3 [review], you know Raiden is dabbling in dangerous Kamidogu blood magik. If you know that, the reminder at the start of this chapter will probably seem continually ominous, but fairly unnecessary. We've spent a lot of time navel gazing over the virtues and foibles of digital versus print - this little curio makes you wonder how it'll read once collected for trade.
It's a lot of fun to see Fujin in action - even if it's just taking a gut wound from a protector god with a pretty sketchy record since the 2011 story reboot. The take away from this B-plot overlap is that big things are coming, but the real meat of this issue delivers us to two of the debuting Mortal Kombat X characters: Cassie Cage and Kotal Kahn.
A surprise already explored extensively by fandom [since the preview] is the introduction of another second generation fighter! Jacqui is a none too subtle allusion to Jax -- the Outerworld Investigation Agency partner of Cassie's mom: Sonya Blade.
Jacqui definitely doesn't shine as much as the already confirmed playable character [Cassie], but conditioned expectation, and her status as a "Junior Olympic" kickboxer inevitably raises tie-in questions. During the fight that introduces her, she's made to appear far more mortal than the average playable character. It's tough to say if unflattering comparisons to her cybernetically enhanced father are setting the pace for expectation, or foreshadowing robo-legs. If we get a fast moving kickboxer in the game, either would be fine.
Cassie wins with inspiration from her father's trademark Shadow Kick and the aftermath opens the door to exploring her better known parents. Note an obligatory "Ninja Mime" reference, nodding to Cage's body of work, and a broken razzy stand-in, reminding us that the days of cheering for Hollywood action movie stars are well behind us. Bummer.
As known at the end of MK2011, Johnny Cage & Sonya Blade survived Shao Kahn's invasion plot. The experience may have brought them close enough together to conceive a child, but any warm and fuzzy feelings aren't here. The parents are split. Cage is living it up in Venice, California. Sonya Blade is still living the military life - and keeping some surprising company!
We've known details about Kotal Kahn for quite some time. At some point he will have claimed the throne of Outworld, he will lose it, he includes D'Vorah among his allies, and he considers his goals somewhat virtuous. That's all here on first appearance - but if you thought you knew the Incan inspired fighter, you might be surprised.
A casual visit to Earthrealm to plead for clemency in his war to own Outworld did not rank high on our list of expectations. Never the less, Kotal Kahn is the willingly chained visitor of Sonya and the Special Forces, flanked by D'Vorah and another new character: Erron Black. Like "Jacqui", Erron Black has sparked rampant speculation, despite saying and doing almost nothing in his brief appearance. A testament to the appeal of an archetypal Man With No Name gunslinger, perhaps? [Don't call him Erron Blackmo].
Despite a peaceful introduction, this scene, like most so far, leads to a breakout of violence. The X-Ray gimmick of the games is incorporated. It's been used several times already, and it's an interesting if superfluous device. Just as in the games, there are no discernible consequences for the bone shattering violence, and in a sequential story driven medium, that's less forgivable than a game mechanic.
Like the situation itself, Kotal Kahn's delivery subverts expectation. There's something a little bit off about a character like this borrowing casual phrases. It might have been more natural to simply speak with intent when saying "desperate times call for desperate measures", rather than calling attention to it as terran. He's written a little too pedestrian to live up to the stature of the design and art, but some of that is owed to circumstances.
This is, never the less, perhaps the most intriguing plot line introduced so far, for a character who shows early signs of being an addition who can having staying power, if results allow. So far Kahn's primary rival is Mileena - a logical heir to Shao Kahn's throne who has apparently been warring with Kotal for 10 years. We saw the teaser last issue that paired her with Reiko - an embellishment with a lot of potential! Apparently she's orchestrated a deal with the Red Dragon - a callback to Chapter 1 that should bring a lot of things together.
The chapter's underground MMA cage match - as announced in solicitations - finishes the chapter big!
Frost makes a final page appearance that packs a surprising punch for a now relatively obscure character. When introduced in Deadly Alliance, she was a star recruit for Sub-Zero's new Lin Kuei. We knew her as a rambunctious pupil with one or two delusions of grandeur, and a need for training. It feels a little odd for the amateur ice wielder to be thought of as refining her skills in an MMA cage - even before finding the LIn Kuei - but it's not out of the question.
Many great fighting game characters are bolstered by having good rivals and nemesis - and utilizing Frost to boost Cassie is a nice idea. Sadly, with a death match stipulation and Hsu Hao as precedent, we have to assume the fixation with fatalities has Frost on the chopping block. Given the scene, it might have been a better place to embellish street brawl Kobra, but we're getting ahead of ourselves.
At twenty-odd digital pages (potentially half in print) - this is a very satisfying read. Kittelsen seems to be getting the most out of his work when he's writing the newer characters. Is this because we have less established expectations, or is there greater freedom to create these new characters on the page? Whatever the case, Cassie & Kotal are stand-outs.
In past reviews, we haven't said enough about Dexter Soy (art) and Veronica Gandini (colors). In the print world, colorists have recently joined the front page credits and Gandini is the perfect case for why. Solid colors do the world of good, making MKX look clean, glossy and modern. I hope we get a lot more from them as a team, but I have to think this proving ground will seem them elevated to bigger titles on the DC Comics slate.
