The future ofMortal Kombatis uncertain right now. NetherRealm Studios' current project still hasn’t been revealed, and theMKfranchise has passed its 30th anniversary with merely a reminder to stay patient. Leaks madeMortal Kombat 12look like the next game, but no one canrule out anInjustice 3or even some sort of Marvel-related product. In the midst of all this, WB Games and NetherRealm Studios have surprised fans with the announcement of a new mobileMortal Kombatproject,Mortal Kombat: Onslaught. No one was sure what to make of this at first, but as the game is already undergoing location tests, it seems to be the next spin-off in the series.
That’s not to say that it’s going to be a half-baked effort. Rather,Mortal Kombat: Onslaughtis a unique mobile game, merging what makesMortal Kombatgreat with an actionized take on an auto battler. Through both in-game rewards and a gacha system, players can build up a cast of over 30 named characters from theMortal Kombatfranchise along with some appropriately themed generics. Players can level up and give equipment to their characters, and will even get the chance to participate in PvP matches with their favorite teams. However, the centerpiece of the experience is a cinematic story mode, and that is what will bring in the majority ofMortal Kombat: Onslaught’s audience.
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A Cinematic Story Is Expected For Mortal Kombat
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a modernMortal Kombatgame is touting its single-player mode. Among the fighting game genre,Mortal Kombathas consistently had some of the best campaigns and general storytelling. It got off to a rocky start, but starting with the PS2 and Xbox-era games, a lot more effort could be found in each installment.Mortal Kombat:Deadly Alliancetried a glorified tutorial, and while it was light on story it was appreciated for teaching players how to play the game.Mortal Kombat:Deceptionkicked things into high gear with afull 3D adventure featuring the customizable character Shujinko, and it’s taken untilStreet Fighter 6for another fighter to attempt such a scope.
After an interlude with aMortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks-inspired hack-and-slash mode inMortal Kombat: Armageddon,Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universetried a more cinematic approach. By refining that along with many other elements,Mortal Kombat 9took fighting games by stormonce again. Through telling an altered and enhanced version of the original trilogy’s plot, the new standard was set for fighting game story modes. It was so influential that major Japanese fighting game developers followed its example, something that felt like a small miracle at the time. With a chapter-based story that focused on one playable character at a time,Mortal Kombat, and later the Injustice games, demonstrated that good storytelling was possible in fighting games.
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A Cinematic Focus Can Set Mortal Kombat: Onslaught Apart
Mortal Kombat: Onslaughtprobably won’t recapture this lightning in a bottle, but it definitely intends to follow a proven format. With the beginning of the story focusing on Shinnok’s rise to villain status,Mortal Kombat: Onslaughtintends to present a new adventure in theMKuniverse. Early access footage has indicated that there is amixture ofMK11-tier cutscenesand dialogue scenes using in-game models and no voice work. Even ifOnslaughtjust had the latter, a quick scene progressing the story set between every mission is more than some mobile games put forth.
If a mobile title intends to be cinematic, then it’s often designed around being such. It wouldn’t be unusual to see indie games like them on console or PC. In contrast, mobile fighting games and action games are either focused around emulating console gameplay or adapting to a mobile setting with flashy, automated fights and simple controls.Skullgirls Mobileis a notable exampleof both and has a story mode of its own, but it’s limited to 2D art and uses cutscenes sparingly. The intent ofMortal Kombat: Onslaughtseems to be keeping the player involved in the action and the story, with the same character-focused chapters as the mainMortal Kombatentries.
How Mortal Kombat: Onslaught Builds Itself Around Its Cinematics
Mortal Kombat: Onslaught’s cinematic story mode is going to be the main attraction for most people playing it, and early looks indicate that the developers are well aware of this. Some of its deep lore cuts, including the appearance of Drahmin’s mask, could please fans just as well as priorMKstory modes. The average licensed mobile gacha game can stay afloat just by bringing back costumes from a franchise’s history, butOnslaughtis going the extra mile to make itself feel tied intoMortal Kombat’s universe. Suchwide use ofMK’s setting and characterscould even open the door to classic combatants becoming playable in the future. A title designed for mobile platforms that nonetheless has the attention and features of a console game will helpMortal Kombat: Onslaughtstand out amidst the crowded mobile market.
IfOnslaughtis a success, these crowd-pleasing aspects may be just the beginning for the game. Like the previous mobileMortal Kombattitle, this game is relegated to spin-off territory, which may actually free it up further to tell its own story. World-changing events happened over the course ofMortal Kombat 11andMortal Kombat 11 Aftermath, so having a side game to tell a classicMortal Kombatstory would be a great counterpart to a fullMKgame set in the altered universe. Just by that merit alone,Mortal Kombat: Onslaughtcould come close to achieving the massive successMortal Kombat Mobilereached across its lifetime. In doing so, it should tide the community over until the next consoleMortal Kombatgame is ready.
Mortal Kombat: Onslaughtis scheduled for global release in 2023 for mobile devices.
