Mortal Kombat 1: The Triumphant Return of a Legendary Figure

The Mortal Kombat 1 roster has just received an exciting upgrade, making it even more impressive. Two long-standing icons of the fighting game world have joined the ranks, standing alongside renowned characters like Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Mileena. If you find yourself scratching your head about these new additions, don’t worry – they’ve been absent for quite some time.

Let’s start with Smoke, who initially appeared as a secret fighter in 1993’s Mortal Kombat 2. After a subsequent appearance in Mortal Kombat 3, Smoke went on a 16-year hiatus. Now, in Mortal Kombat 1, he returns in human form, ready to wreak havoc on the planet. In the trailer, we witness him effortlessly maneuvering around, transforming into smoke at will. As Lin Kuei attempts to lay siege to a mysterious mountaintop temple, Smoke showcases his ferocity by obliterating his enemies. And if that wasn’t enough, he summons the beloved Cyrax as a cameo, where Cyrax attaches grenades to his foes’ heads while driving a saw into their chests. Smoke then capitalizes on the explosion’s stun, firing an explosive kunai into his opponent’s heart before impaling their head on the ground. I must admit, he looks incredibly entertaining to play.

Accompanying Smoke on the roster is the demi-god Rain, whose most recent appearance was as a DLC character in 2019’s MK11. Unfortunately, his previous inclusion may have gone unnoticed by many. However, Rain is a master of all things aquatic, as demonstrated in the trailer. We witness him engaging Scorpion in combat, utilizing an impressive range of water-themed attacks, including the creation of whirlpools and summoning lightning storms. Additionally, Rain possesses the ability to manipulate portals, promising chaos and unpredictability in battles.

With Smoke and Rain now joining the ranks of Mortal Kombat 1, the game’s roster has undoubtedly become even more enticing, adding depth and diversity to an already beloved lineup of characters.

In the climactic battle, we witness Frost, a fellow member of the Lin Kuei, joining the fight as a Kameo character. Additionally, earlier in the trailer, we catch glimpses of Sektor. However, what stands out is the presence of Scorpion as a Kameo character, appearing in the initial fight with Sub-Zero.

As someone who was a huge fan of playing Smoke in Mortal Kombat 2011, I couldn’t be happier to see his return. Although there don’t seem to be any world-ending events depicted in the trailer, Smoke’s moveset showcases a remarkable fluidity that perfectly aligns with what I’ve been seeking in a character. Just imagine teaming him up with Frost—it would be an absolute masterpiece.

For those eager to delve into Mortal Kombat history, we offer a comprehensive list of all the currently known characters from Mortal Kombat 1. This will surely help you prepare and familiarize yourself with the roster ahead of the game’s anticipated release later this year.