Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noël! Froehliche Weihnachten! Srozhdestovm Kristovim! Buon Natale! Allow Mortal Kombat Online to send best wishes and seasons greetings to everyone enjoying the holidays across the Earthrealm! There's been a heckuva lot to celebrate in Mortal Kombat this year, and we're grateful to all the mortals who've enjoyed it with us. To the readers, commenters, and social media ambassadors who've truly supported us - we send extra thanks!
There was, of course, no bigger moment in 2014 than the June unveiling of Mortal Kombat X!
The pure CG trailer [embedded above] gave us a deceptive abundance of information to speculate upon. Much of it proved entirely representative of the gameplay that soon followed - part of a stunning reinvention of kombat fundamentals! The Scorpion & Sub-Zero trailer topped charts across various outlets in 2014, and continued to garner distinction late into the year!
The hype train was filled to capacity in June thanks to a teaser campaign and subsequent worldwide trend. By the time NetherRealm Studios showed off their first demo at this year's E3 -- Mortal Kombat Online was recording a new single day traffic high of 1,771,979 hits! After a two year hiatus for Injustice: Gods Among Us - we were excited to welcome back the home team!
This explosion of excitement ultimately built on the renewal of interest earned by 2011's hugely successful pseudo-reboot: Mortal Kombat. At the time, we saw that game as another nostalgic tour of the series' greatest hits - a do-over in conjunction with 20th anniversary of 2012. Looking ahead, we now see it as a transition point. The literal rewriting of MK history under Warner Bros. allowed them to take full ownership of it. With Mortal Kombat X, we now benefit with a bold step forward into largely unknown territory!
The intrigue of a story set up to 25 years in the future has captured our imagination in ways that recall aspects of Mortal Kombat II and Deadly Alliance. New characters Kotal Kahn, D'Vorah, Ferra/Torr & Cassie Cage have already begun to earn die hard fans as the first-wave of this new generation! We think their staying power will be bolstered by the realization of Mortal Kombat X as a fully former multimedia franchise.
2011 saw WB return MK to the licensing avenues it had conquered in the past, in some cases, with the partners utilized by Midway. In 2014, we were given a map to the next phase in this cultural restoration, which sees Mortal Kombat X undergo key upgrades. Mezco Toys previewed their high quality action figures, while a new division of WB films came with the announcement of an all-new MK webseries! Better still - Mortal Kombat has finally come home to comic books thanks to the announcement of a new series from DC! These announcements ensured there was no shortage of excitement for diehard fans, who will have plenty of MK to enjoy come 2015!
The future certainly looks bright, but it hasn't meant forsaking the past. Mortal Kombat Online has been eager to embrace MK's return to general pop culture significance, and the maturing of retro kombat! The past has been on our minds with MKX inspired reflections, and the gradual movement of our extensive video archives to YouTube.
Boon helped keep the recent past in mind, as well, sharing revelations about MK2011 guest characters. Mortal Kombat Online played a part, too, sponsoring the unofficial 2014 Evo World Championships in an exciting testament to the staying power of modern MK and its fans! The resurgence continued thanks to MKX. We're sure it will continue in 2015!
Stay with us as all the major developments unfold in 2015! It promises to be a massive first quarter - with the next big reveals less than a week away! The staff and contributors to Mortal Kombat Online will continue to strive to ensure the highest quality dedicated content that reflects our status as one of the most visited and trusted outlets in the world! We're also hard at work at improving the general experience, hoping to transform the kommunity with a much needed revamp in the coming months!
For everyone at Mortal Kombat Online, we once again wish you a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy the break - you're gonna need it!
Mortal Kombat X brings the franchise back to comics starting January with issue #1 from DC Comics. The digital-first series will have a rapid print turnaround, but for those waiting patiently for a more complete tome - April will be new comic day!
Mortal Kombat X Vol.1 will collect the first four issues of the new series; written by crossover talent Shawn Kittelsen, with art by Dexter Soy, Igor Vitorino and Ivan Reis [cover pictured].
The first volume will beautifully complement the game schedule: arriving six days before the official release for home consoles - April 8th! [Note: Make sure you pre-order to guarantee yourself a copy! -M.]
Solicitation:Get over here...for an all-new digital-first series set before the events of 2015’s highly anticipated game Mortal Kombat X! Prepare yourself for the brutal adventures of all your favorite Mortal Kombat characters and witness the rise of the next generation of Kombatants! As Scorpion and his newest companion set off in deadly pursuit of Raiden, Cassie Cage finds herself in an illegal MMA deathmatch. Is she ready for her first taste of Mortal Kombat? Collects issues #1-4 of the new series.
The comic will flesh out the Mortal Kombat X saga, juggling characters new and old in an expansion of the 25 year storyline of the game! Newcomers Cassie Cage and Kotal Kahn feature - entering the world of underground bloodsports, and a feud with four-armed legend Goro, respectively!
Initial story arcs will also see the returns of: Scorpion, Raiden, Kano and the Red Dragon Clan! Catch up on preview solicitations for each month's releases: January, February & March.
NetherRealm Studios' mobile development is going from strength to strength -- the recent announcement of January's WWE Immortals adding to a resume anchored by Injustice: Gods Among Us.
The DC Comics superhero app has continued to receive extensive support, adding regular content updates, special events and a major overhaul that introduced multi-player in April. A hack of the most recent December update has revealed new characters on the way! WasdUK reports a Mortal Kombat X Scorpion is among the looming additions uncovered by industrious users!
Scorpion first joined the Injustice console fighter as a guest DLC character, in June 2013. The Mortal Kombat icon made the leap to the mobile app with his fellows, wearing the same special design created by superstar comic book artist Jim Lee. The new addition will introduce Scorpion's 2015 Mortal Kombat X design -- first seen in the now classic MKX announce trailer [pictured above]!
Also revealed in the hack - fan-favourite Milestone Comisc alum Static (Static Shock), Batman of the future, Tim McGinnis (Batman Beyond) and Superman (Godfall)!
With WWE Immortals seemingly striking a Mortal Kombat version of the app off the release window, could this be the beginning of more MKX characters invading Injustice? Mortal Kombat Online discussed the concept of a piecemeal approach to a Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe sequel earlier this year.
Are you excited about the update? Would you like to see more MKX characters? Register to share your feedback on the forums! Discuss the respective franchises on the Mortal Kombat X and DC Universe Injustice forums! Spread the word by sharing this story via @MK_Online and Facebook. Thanks to forum user IamTheS for sharing the post!
UK magazine GamesMaster is touting a major Mortal Kombat X "world exclusive" reveal coming in the next issue! Headlining the cover story is a new character reveal, as well as the first details regarding the mysterious persistent Online Mode!
Sub-Zero makes the cover - on sale January 2nd, 2015!
We've got special treat for you today - a sneak peek at next month's cover! We've braved the Chicago cold to visit NetherRealm Studios for a WORLD EXCLUSIVE (caps very much necessary) look at Mortal Kombat X.
When the mag goes on-sale on 2 Jan it'll be the first place that you can find out about the latest character to be revealed, the innovative new online modes, and our hands-on impressions after several hours of playing the game. We've also got in-depth interviews with a number of the dev team, making this the place to go for all your MK coverage.
We hope you're excited to get your hands on this goodness when the mag hits, and that in the meantime you think Sub-Zero looks - wait for it - super cool on the cover.
The new character will end a two month holiday drought, delivering the first reveal since October's Quan Chi trailer. The new character will be the eleventh confirmed, including downloadable pre-order bonus: Goro.
Special thanks to MKOmmunity User Hattoris for posting about the issue on the forums! Register to join the discussion and speculation in the Mortal Kombat X forum! Support the MK Online kommunity by liking and sharing stories via MK_Online, Facebook & YouTube!
After a twenty year hiatus, Mortal Kombat comes home to monthly comics starting January!
Writer Shawn Kittelsen kick starts the plot of the new game with DC's newest digital-first series. As revealed in the Beyond The New 52 March solicitations - issue #4 delivers the conclusion to the first arcs in this hotly anticipated new series!
Scorpion & Raiden may headline the fourth issue, but it's the return of the Red Dragon Clan and their renewed feud with the Black Dragon that has our attentions! The dramatic Kano cover was revealed late last week, showcasing the klassic crook rendered like never before by Ivan Reis!
MORTAL KOMBAT X #4 Written by SHAWN KITTELSEN
Art by DEXTER SOY and DANIEL SAMPERE
Cover by IVAN REIS
On sale MARCH 11 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US
RATED M • DIGITAL FIRST
MATURE READERS
Scorpion vs. Raiden! Red Dragon vs. Black Dragon! And a powerful new threat emerges! You do not want to miss the blood-soaked finale of our first story arc! The Mortal Kombat X comic series is the prequel story to the upcoming Mortal Kombat X game, NetherRealm Studios’ next highly anticipated installment in its legendary, critically acclaimed fighting game franchise. The game will available April 14, 2015.
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR THREE #11 Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art by BRUNO REDONDO, MIKE S. MILLER and others
Cover by MIKE S. MILLER
On sale MARCH 4 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST
It’s magic versus magic and hero versus hero as events race to their tragic conclusion! As powerful deities clash on the mystic plane, the tide turns for the Earthbound adversaries and the fury of Wonder Woman is unleashed. Allies will reunite and lives will be lost.
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US YEAR THREE #12 Written by BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Art by BRUNO REDONDO, MIKE S. MILLER and others
Cover by AARON LOPRESTI
On sale MARCH 18 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T • DIGITAL FIRST • FINAL ISSUE
The “Year of Magic” comes to its stunning conclusion as John Constantine must make a fateful decision. But where will this leave Batman and his allies? Have they sufficiently crippled Superman, or will they find themselves in a situation that’s worse than ever?
The Red Dragon's return was teased on announcement, with preview art marking the return of faceless henchman introduced in 2005's Shaolin Monks [full story].
Also in the Beyond The New 52 digital-first roster -- Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Three, which has seen the departure of series writer Tom Taylor. The third year comes to an end in March, along with several other series in a major publishing overhaul at the company.
Will you go MKX digital or print? Catch up on all the comic book news and solicitations in the Media & Merchandise forum! Register to share your thoughts, hopes & reviews. Help spread the word by liking and sharing stories via @MK_Online & Facebook.
Superhero summer blockbusters and licensed sequels have rewritten the box office rulebook for Hollywood in the 2010s. These days you're nothing if you aren't striving for a total media blitz, building a multi-pronged franchise "universe" across spin-offs and tie-ins. Marvel's Avengers has become the multimedia benchmark, extending its Disney-owned tendrils across multiple major movies, an on-going television series, several upcoming Netflix original series, and various other projects. It's the model everyone now aspires to - but did you know Mortal Kombat actually kinda did it already in the nineties?
The announcement of the first-ever Region 2 DVD release of Mortal Kombat: Conquest - The Complete Series has stirred a massive amount of interest within the fan kommunity. As well it should! Conquest isn't just a time-locked series that's only been available in its entirety to digital pirates, Australians [via a 2005 Region 4 release], and devotees of late night reruns. It's a unique piece of Kombat franchise history, and a rare example of a video game license thriving in a film environment.
Whether you're new to Conquest and the world created by Larry Kassanoff and his Threshold Entertainment Group, or simply revisiting, we hope you'll join us as we look back at what we generously consider the Mortal Kombat Cinematic Universe. Here's the rundown:
Mortal Kombat: Conquest (1998-1999)
Taking liberties with some of the least explored corners of the Mortal Kombat mythology; Conquest expanded the universe in reverse, acting as a loosely related prequel. The series took viewers back to the ancient reign of legendary Mortal Kombat Champion: The Great Kung Lao!
Kung Lao wins his first tournament by defeating Shang Tsung in the series' two-part opener (or movie length pilot, in some broadcasts). This begins a familiar rivalry between the sorcerer and Earthrealm's immortal champion, which extends from Tsung's imprisonment in the Cobalt Mines of Outworld, to the ancient walled city of Zhuzin where Lao makes his home.
A lot of the series hinges on original characters and storylines. The serial follows Kung Lao as he navigates various threats sent by Shang Tsung and other enemies, accompanied by his constant allies: Siro (Daniel Bernhardt) - an exiled guard for the murdered Baron Reyland, and Taja (Kristanna Loken)- a thief briefly imprisoned by the Baron. Both are on a path to redemption, and train with Kung Lao to apply their skills as chosen warriors on the side of good.
For the most part, the show's greatest contribution to the cinematic universe is its world building. The show provides a tangible understanding of a lot of the mythology merely alluded to in the movies. Arch-villain Shao Kahn, in particular, is given significantly more dimension as Emperor of Outworld. He is a constant presence in the show, pitting his wills (and warriors) against Raiden and the heroes of Earthrealm, while also juggling his enemies and paranoia close to home.
Movie bit players like Scorpion and Reptile are given clearer backstory, albeit removed from the canon of the games. Scorpion is a guard named Takeda who was friends with Siro, but voluntarily accepted possession by an ancient demonic entity. Reptile, and his still living race, play a major role late in the series, and factor in through other characters. The ancient setting plays a big part in adding lineage to a lot of well known characters in the franchise. An ancestor of Sub-Zero assumes the Lin Kuei mantle, whilst struggling with his own morality, lost family, and developing rivalry with Scorpion. Even the Black Dragon Clan appear in an episode - revealing mysticism and cutthroat criminal tactics established centuries before Kano joined.
The show would ultimately be the only live-action film appearance of Quan Chi -- a villain excised from the final cut of the second feature film, and a long rumoured major player in the aborted third movie. He was memorably played by Adoni Maropis with a dry, camp wit and game-faithful costume that marks a high point for the show. His "Unholy Alliance" with Shang Tsung is one of many favourite trivia beats that also played out in subsequent video games.
The show ran for a single 22 episode season, failing to resolve an apocalyptic ending that, in isolation, seems problematic for the cinematic universe. Had a second season been commissioned as expected, you can safely assume the cliff hanger would have been resolved, probably pretty effortlessly. As it stands, it's arguably an example of Shao Kahn's propensity for breaking the rules, and the means by which he can achieve it if motivated.
Mortal Kombat: The Motion Picture (1995)
Still among the most successful feature films to be based on a video game; Mortal Kombat is the centrepiece of Threshold's cinematic MK universe. Directed by Paul Anderson (Resident Evil), the movie galvanized the already confirmed status of the games as 90s pop culture icons. It established a look and style unique to the movie universe, featuring a blend of popular martial arts action movies, and a techno score with tracks from The Album, and burgeoning mainstream acts.
Despite its considerable deviations, Mortal Kombat: The Movie remained recognizably linked to the grand designs of its source material. Hong Kong actor Robin Shou stars in his most memorable American role as Liu Kang. In the film, he's a modern martial artist distanced from the mysticism of his family's past. When it comes time for the tournament, Kang confronts his destiny head-on, haunted by visions of his brother Chan's death at the hands of Shang Tsung (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa). Travelling to the tournament aboard a rickety old ship, he is united by fate with fellow chosen warriors Johnny Cage (Linden Ashby) and Sonya Blade (Bridgette Wilson). They are Earthrealm's greatest hope under the eternally watchful eye of Raiden (Christoph Lambert) - protector god of thunder.
Like his ancestor (Kung Lao); Liu becomes the nemesis of sorcerer Shang Tsung, defeating him at the conclusion of the hero's quest, saving Earthrealm from its tenth and final tournament loss and becoming Mortal Kombat Champion in the process! Liu's win has a greater sense of finality than the tournament shown in Conquest, ending in a spiked floor stage fatality inspired by the finishing moves of the games. Despite Tsung's apparent death, it isn't the final appearance for Shang Tsung in what we consider the greater cinematic universe.
Like the games themselves, the first Mortal Kombat movie is the only one to really dwell on the tournament. It establishes the literal rules of the universe that inform everything around it. While most other projects are about the perils still facing the Earth, it is the circumvention of the rules of the tournament that define the threat. As in the film sequel...
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
Remembered in infamy for it's cheesy dialogue and perceivable drop in quality: Annihilation was never the less a noteworthy cultural moment in the build to its '97 theatrical release. Cinematographer turned director John Leonetti grapples with a conceptually ambitious, loose adaptation of Mortal Kombat 3, introducing much of the same world building as the game.
Picking up immediately after the events of the last movie; Annihilation sees the triumphant heroes confronted by Shao Kahn (Brian Thompson) and his invading forces of Outworld. Shang Tsung may have failed to gain license through tournament victory, but The Emperor has discovered means of invading through the resurrection of Edenia's Queen Sindel (Musetta Vander), and a little brute force. Or as Raiden - now played by film & television stalwart James Remar - so ambiguously puts it, "What closes can also open again."
The film sequel notoriously creates new connections between related characters, most notably through the introduction of an all too mortal Elder God Shinnok, who is father to warring brothers: Shao Kahn and Raiden. The rivalry between Earthrealm's protector god and his Outworld warlord counterpart was connected far better in Conquest, where actor Jeffrey Meek played both parts, heavily disguised under wigs and skull masks. The blood behind their feud isn't specifically referenced in Conquest [which came a year after Annihilation], but the stakes of their hatred may have benefitted from the unspoken backstory.
It's difficult to defend Annihilation. By and large, it's probably as remembered for everything it destroyed, as much as what it created. Many unused characters from the game sequels were introduced to the movie universe, only to be unceremoniously killed after brief on-screen embarrassments. Baraka doesn't even get the dignity of his own death scene - infamously falling to his demise in a clip reused from an earlier, even less impressive Rain death. The less said about CG monster fights - the better.
Franchise remakes, reboots, and nostalgia revivals are a dime a dozen in 2014, but in the late nineties to early millennium, the impact of Annihilation's failures was enough to condemn Mortal Kombat on the screen. Conquest endured, probably through the sheer tenacity of Larry Kasanoff and prior development interest, but the much discussed third film -- known anecdotally as Devastation -- never managed to recover. It was the end of Mortal Kombat in cinemas, but not the cinematic universe. There were still some surprises on the horizon!
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm (1996)
Still flying high on the success of the 1995 feature film - Threshold Entertainment brokered new ground in '96 with Mortal Kombat's first Saturday morning cartoon. Defenders of the Realm repackaged the characters from the film with designs more familiar to the video games - opening the cinematic universe up to the full threat of Outworld and "warriors from other domains, as well."
The series is reminiscent of similarly titled King Features mash-up, Defenders of the Earth, and other team-based cartoons of the time. Raiden - given true gravitas by the voice of Clancy Brown - oversees a group of chosen warriors who response to frequent tears in Earthrealm's dimensional fabric. Nightwolf mans a secret base, where he and his pet wolf command advanced technology (including "dragonjets" the team travel with) to monitor Earth's unique space. Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Jax, Kurtis Stryker and Princess Kitana make up the core team, with another iconic fighter joining in the first episode.
While Conquest reused special effects scenes from the movies, and made vague allusions to the future foretold by them; Defenders went all out - basing key plot points around the story of the first feature film and recreations of key scenes.
Sub-Zero -- curiously voiced by 90210 heartthrob Luke Perry -- joins the heroes as an outsider [Ep. 1: Kombat Begins Again], distrusted for his Lin Kuei origins, and the movie-based death of his older brother (at the hands of Liu Kang). The tomb of Shang Tsung plays a role in the second episode, the sorcerer's death later depicted in a retelling of the movie's final battle. As promised; Shang Tsung (Neil Ross) is resurrected mid-series by Shao Kahn. Kano makes a similar recovery, emerging from the shadows with his MK3 appearance and a more elaborate backstory to his rivalry with Sonya.
Pundits will note the cartoon preceded Annihilation and exclusively references the first film, but its vague placement in time, and broader inter-dimensional threats don't clash too significantly with Threshold's other projects. Depending on your persuasion, its use of game references may leave Defenders in higher esteem than the '97 movie sequel. It was ultimately the only time Stryker (Ron Perlman) was depicted - a hard-nosed, by-the-book interpretation that features as a member of the titular team.
Quan Chi famously makes his first ever appearance in episode eight of the cartoon: The Secret of Quan-Chi. While his scheme is fairly stock standard for cartoon villains, he debuts with a recognizable design and manner, even wielding a living weapon, of sorts! He would become a major player in the games universe just a year later, featured in: Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero and Mortal Kombat 4! As noted - he was deleted from scenes in Annihilation, but became a major player in Conquest, and was to have been an arch-villain in the third film. To this extent, Quan Chi is the closest Threshold came to planning greater integration with the rest of the franchise.
On the subject of integration: Defenders of the Realm would provide the closest thing Mortal Kombat has come to a crossover with Street Fighter. Airing in an inglorious moment for that fighting game franchise; Street Fighter shared the airwaves on the USA Network, participating in a multi-part crossover between shows hinged on a powerful glowing orb. The orb would also travel to the universes of Savage Dragon and Wing Commander Academy.
Mortal Kombat: Federation of Martial Arts (2000-2001)
A decade before Legacy; Federation of Martial Arts became the first official webseries for Mortal Kombat! It was part of an elaborate high concept inspired by the serialized fighting of professional wrestling, originally pitched as a new series for the UPN broadcast network.
The series became a feature of Threshold's MortalKombat.com, utilizing fight scenes from other projects, and original live-action battles [full archive] in conjunction with a fighter's stock exchange game. It weaved together an elaborate collection of original fighters, and characters taken from all of Threshold's previous projects.
Storylines bridged elements of Conquest and Annihilation, building a new federation system to replace the traditional Mortal Kombat tournament. Fan interaction influenced the course of events, while fighters from various realms - including the Conquest originated realm now ruled by Queen Vorpax - fought for controlling stakes. Annihilation's Jax (Lynn Red Williams) reprised his role, appearing in a particularly elaborate plotline that saw him framed for murder and put on trial.
Of all the branches of Threshold's cinematic universe, "FoMA" is inarguably the most disposable. It's also the most unique, and the final piece that would be constructed before the franchise languished in development hell. You have to admire its forward thinking. Live-action online productions aren't just common place now, they're presently the only format Mortal Kombat is appearing in -- pending new movie plans. Threshold Entertainment, still holding on to designs for a third movie, sued Warner Bros. in 2010 after their IP acquisition from Midway. The issue has since been resolved, leading to the new DVD & Blu-Ray releases we're seeing today.
Which part of the Threshold Mortal Kombat cinematic universe was your favourite? Are you surprised by how far it went? Register to wax nostalgic about the movies in the Media & Merchandise forum! Support the site by liking & sharing feature content via @MK_Online, Facebook & YouTube!
We're less than one month away from Mortal Kombat X #1 -- the first issue of Mortal Kombat's big return to regular comics under DC Entertainment! That hasn't stopped NetherRealm Studios jumping ahead to preview issue #4 cover art by superstar artist Ivan Reis!
Click to Enlarge Kano's fury!
Kano looks to be taking on all challengers - bloodied in four-color in his all new MKX design! Kano joined the confirmed playable cast of the game in August [full trailer], and was revealed to be a tenuous ally of Quan Chiin October.
Mortal Kombat X is set to be a digital-first series, but will ship promptly in January and twice in February! Mortal Kombat Online will endeavour to follow along as the likes of Cassie Cage, Kotal Kahn & Goro begin their stories before the April, 2015 release of the game!
In the tradition of Midway Entertainment's Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game; NetherRealm's mobile development team -- in association with Phosphor Game Studios -- will launch an all-new, free-to-play app in 2015 called: WWE: Immortals!
Gamespot reports the game will feature "... epic Superstar battles in a fantastically re-imagined WWE world." To date, corporate parent Warner Bros. have released no other information or materials.
NetherRealm has had considerable success with their Injustice: Gods Among Us Mobile. Launched in 2013; Injustice Mobile has had a string of on-going updates, including a 2.0 multi-player revamp. It is unknown if Immortals will employ the same card-based battle system when it arrives on iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Android devices. WWE currently has WWE: SuperCard - a card collecting App from 2K Studios, released in August.
WWE and Warner Brothers previously announced a partnership in November, granting Warner Bros. Home Entertainment distribution rights to WWE programming starting January 1, 2015.
Fans of the cult classic rejoice! Mortal Kombat: Conquest is making its long awaited arrival on DVD thanks to Warner Brothers Home Entertainment!
Coming March 31st, 2015 -- this set marks the first complete home release in the United States since the show's original airing in 1998! 22 episodes appear on 4 discs [RRP: $39.98], featuring episodes starring versions of fan-favourite characters: Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Princess Kitana, Quan Chi, Reptile, Mileena, Rain, Noob Saibot and many more!
EPISODE LIST
1. Warrior Eternal, Part 1
2. Warrior Eternal, Part 2
3. Cold Reality
4. Immortal Kombat
5. The Essence
6. Noob Saibot
7. Debt of the Dragon
8. Undying Dream
9. Quan Chi
10. Unholy Alliance
11. Thicker Than Blood
12. Shadow of a Doubt
13. Twisted Truths
14. Festival of Death
15. The Serpent & The Ice
16. Kreeya
17. The Master
18. In Kold Blood
19. Flawed Victory
20. Balance of Power
21. Stolen Lies
22. Vengeance
Decades before the Hollywood prequel trend - Mortal Kombat: Conquest told the ancient backstory to the tournament of the major motion picture!
Paolo Montalban stars as Kung Lao: a fighting monk destined to reign as Earthrealm's great Mortal Kombat Champion after defeating Shang Tsung (Bruce Locke) in the tournament final!
Guided by Raiden (Jeffrey Meek); Kung Lao honors the death of his beloved Geneviere Reyland (Jennifer Renton), re-establishing her trading post in the city of Zhuzin with the help of her former bodyguard, Siro (Daniel Bernhardt) and a thief imprisoned by her father, Taja (Kristanna Loken). The trio fight to defend themselves and the Earthrealm from the machinations of Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn, Quan Chi and many more!
“For decades, Mortal Kombat has proven its popularity past the video game realm into movies, an animated series and web series as well as this live-action television title,” said said Rosemary Markson, WBHEG Senior Vice President, TV Brand Management and Retail Marketing. “We are thrilled to release Mortal Kombat: Conquest for the first time ever on DVD for longtime fans to relive the action as well as introduce new generations to the prequel storylines and events that took place prior to the video games and movies.”
For fans who missed the series on its first run - it will be a fantastic opportunity to discover some intriguing ideas and coincidences! See the first time Shang Tsung & Quan Chi teamed in any context in the episode Unholy Alliance! Witness the first appearance of an ancient Outworld instructor named Master Cho! You'll even discover insectoid Amazonian warriors invading the realm long before D'Vorah in Kreeya!
From Jeffrey Meek's stunning turn as both Raiden and a paranoid, tempestuous Shao Kahn, to Adoni Maropis as Quan Chi - there is a lot to appreciate about this truly underrated series! Are you excited for the long awaited release? Register to share your thoughts on the Media & Merchandise forum! Help spread the news by sharing via Twitter & Facebook!
NetherRealm Studios veteran and former MKO correspondentShaun Himmerick was in Las Vegas this past weekend for PlayStation Experience. The Sony event gave fans another chance to play 2015's Mortal Kombat X and ask their pre-release questions. MKOmmunity User BruskPoet reportedly took fan queries from the forums to Vegas, and has shared his knowledge with Mortal Kombat Online.
Nareb Kciremmih:Quan Chi will bring dead fighters back as revenants in MKX.
As in the Producer's interview with GameInformer, and the October character reveal trailer: Himmerick emphasizes the importance of Quan Chi's necromancer capabilities in MKX. Some characters who didn't make it out of Mortal Kombat (2011) alive will return as revenants under Quan Chi's control. Himmerick notes it's "very likely" characters will be killed in the 25 year spanning story mode.
More story details will emerge early in 2015 - an inevitability likely related to the upcoming DC Comics Mortal Kombat X tie-in comic. [Related Article: DC Comics Beyond The New 52 January Solicitations]
Night and day will not play a factor in variations of stages in Mortal Kombat X, but some arenas will feature a dynamic weather system that develops throughout the fight. A similar feature was introduced in select stages of 2002's Deadly Alliance. New to MKX are leverage and attack altering Stage Interactions, which will be evident in all stages.
Finishing moves have been a hot topic since E3 and Babalities are officially ruled out for Mortal Kombat X. Style and tone of the new game played into Mortal Kombat Online's recent speculative article about the introduction of Stage Animalities -- a returning -Ality that may have been visible all along.
No news about the mysterious online mode that will pit nations against each other in a persistent struggle [read more] - but further confirmation that there will be a King of the Hill type mode to ease online play. Online function is one of several being tested by an alleged army of 300 testers! [We assume they will return from testing with their fightsticks, or rested upon them.]
Continuing confidence in development progress; Himmerick reportedly says many more characters than the demo build are completed, and the game will be submitted to final stages next month. Pre-order bonus character Goro is reportedly his favourite thus far, and will finally receive a character spotlight trailer at some point in the future.
Prince Goro:A character preview trailer will happen..
Mortal Kombat X is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 & PC in April, 2015! Heading to an event? Register to discuss & share all the news and speculation on the Mortal Kombat X forum! Support one of the longest running dedicated kommunities by liking & sharing via @MK_Online, Facebook & YouTube.
Since June's E3 unveiling of Mortal Kombat X, much has been made about the addition of new and returning finishers. There have been clues, innuendos, and a storm of speculation about the new game's modes -- but what if the returning -Ality has been in front of us all along?
MKO USER POLL
- Stage Animality! (34.2%)
- Stage Fatality! (17.9%)
- Hidden Characters (5.0%)
- Arena Decoration (21.3%)
- Just Another One of Nightwolf's Crazy Tests (21.3%)
Animalities were introduced in Mortal Kombat 3 (1995), and only appeared in subsequent iterations of the same game [see; Ultimate MK3, MK Trilogy]. They took the hysteria of arcade rumoured finishers to their strangest end, presenting players with the ability to transform their fighter into a specific animal for the win.
While not as overtly strange as Babalities or even Friendships -- logic failed the animal finishers with the disconnect between very odd combinations of animal and fighter. Scorpion may have seemed like one of the most obvious, but his "animality" was infamously a penguin. Who turns into a scorpion? Sheeva, of course.
The idea of assigning "spirit animals" to warriors is found in many of the world's cultures, and it isn't without its potential if a little more care were taken in the choices. That said, there is a simpler, more artful solution for bringing Animalities back -- and we think the evidence of just such a possibility has been there all along! Three of the four stages revealed have a prominent animal presence in them - and the fourth is the simplest of them all. Here's the breakdown:
Kat Nap:Disturbing the kitty might not be such a good idea...
Outworld Marketplace In the marketplace, the Outworld marketplace, the sabre-toothed tiger sleeps tonight.
It's a strange place to pick a fight, but the sleeping "taigore" is already known to provide Stage Interaction, so its function is clear. There's no reason in-fight interactions disqualify the tiger-esque beast from being part of a new type of environmental animality - but even if it does, there's no shortage of wildlife in the Outworld Marketplace!
Brutes and beasts of burden are littered throughout the background, in what is one of the most personably populated stages thus far. If animalities have been hiding in plain sight - Outworld Marketplace by far provides the most obvious of them. The other arenas are significantly more subtle, but the evidence is there if you look hard enough.
Hungry Like The Wolf:Lithe and large - a wolf lurks deep within the snow forest!
The Snow Forest With the action taking place in the foreground, you'd be forgiven for missing the tall, thin wolf lurking deep within the otherwise lifeless snow forest. When you know where to look - it's unmistakable, and most visible when in motion. At times, the wolf blends in with the grey-blue world of what may or may not be a Lin Kuei stronghold. At other times, it is a menacing shadow forecasting what may or may not be a fatal threat!
If you click to enlarge the images above, you can get a sense of the creature in motion. It's been moving between the trees since E3 preview footage, less noticeable than the sword impaled warrior laid to rest in the mid-ground. We get the sense this arena is keeping a few secrets -- a stage animality being just one of them!
Kroc Hunter:Crikey! There be creatures in them there waters!
The Jungle The Jungle has a lot in common with The Snow Forest in terms of its mysterious significance, and lurking wildlife. Obvious evidence of an ancient South American type of culture suggests there's more to this jungle than its dense flora and fauna. Take your eyes off the fight in the foreground and you'll notice there's certainly more to see than ruins!
Some are calling it a crocodile -- whatever it is, its plated, almost pre-historic spine can be clearly seen moving through the jungle waters in the centre background of the stage. It doesn't stay for long, resubmerging itself after moving just close enough to the fight to make a stage animality all the more plausible! Again, enlarge the image above to get a sense of the camouflaged creature. You can find it in the middle of August's Kano Reveal Trailer.
La Mer:Nobody stays dead in MK... except maybe that guy.
The Kove If MKX animalities exist in perpetuity, rather than as a new type of stage specific finisher, then The Kove is the one arena we've seen so far to be less than forthcoming. Only a minor issue, when you consider the fight takes place on a rickety jetty extending out to the pounding surf. Any number of marine monsters could be lurking deep within the swell - and there's even a very good reason for them to be there!
Stage Interactions include bloated corpses that can be used as weapons when they wash up sporadically from the churning sea. As pictured above; these hapless, water-logged bodies can be seen drifting in from the waters beyond -- the perfect lure for blood-thirsty sharks, or other horrifying aquatic nightmares. NetherRealm Studios certainly learned a thing or two about shark attacks while working on Injustice: Gods Among Us [full story]!
Shark Week:Every week is shark week when you're Aquaman.
Is there something to this Stage Animality theory? Have you got your own? Register to join the speculation on the Mortal Kombat X forum! Support the site by liking & sharing around the web and via @MK_Online, Facebook & YouTube!
Electronics giant Sony are in the throes of celebrating the 20th anniversary of the PlayStation Experience - and they're holding an event of the same name to mark the occasion! Mortal Kombat X is adding some sizzle to sin city this winter, with the demo build on the Las Vegas floor at PSX. Joining it is Executive Producer Shaun Himmerick, who spoke to GameInformer about the game.
With no new content reveals scheduled for the event, fresh details are becoming scarce, but the producer assures production is "coming along well". The 2015 fighter is in testing phase - Himmerick citing an army of around 300 testers spread across the games' many functions and modes! That's with 150 people at NetherRealm Studios -- including a quoted 30 temporary staff, and 15 outsourcing companies -- working diligently to create high quality material for cutting edge hardware. "I think it's been harder on art than anything because look at the number of polygons used to create any character and it could have been done in a couple of weeks. Now it's like a six week process."
The more things the change, the more some things stay the same. Despite a massive increase in visual fidelity of character models and the strains that places on creation - the art of creating fatalities is still the domain of series co-creator Ed Boon and his famed stick figures. "Yup. He is. He gets really fancy now. They used to be on paper, but now he's using his tablet. He can drag his stick figure characters around and reposition them."
On meatier issues; GameInformer attacked the longstanding mystery of the game's plot, where some of the juiciest material came from:
[Game Informer]: How are you going to explain the game taking place in the future in story mode? At the beginning of the game we do one of those 'Hey, remember what happened and then jump to the future" kind of moments. A lot of people die. I always joke that I think one of the reasons Ed wanted to do Quan Chi is because he's the guy from Hell who can resurrect people, but they are not always the same. Quan Chi obviously lets us do that. The nice thing: We have a whole new generation of people to play with, not just the one age. We can kind of have different tiers from different ages.
The importance of Quan Chi was revealed back in October, with a trailer (appropriately) narrated by Himmerick, and debuted at another PlayStation event. All signs point toward the necromancer's involvement in bringing back cast favorites who didn't make it out of Mortal Kombat (2011) -- or those who meet ill ends during the 25 year timeline of Mortal Kombat X. Leading the charge for these speculative returns - the as yet unidentified Sub-Zero of the announce trailer.
Himmerick also notes, "Quan Chi probably gives away some hints for the story stuff, like where are we, and what's going on." This seems to support theories the new timeline of MKX will touch upon the events of Mortal Kombat 4, potentially twisting them in new ways. The identity of a skull fixed to Quan Chi's chest raises questions about his loyalties to master Shinnok.
Read the full PlayStation Experience interview for more on GameInformer.com. Stay tuned for more from NetherRealm Studios in December, including another live streaming preview via Twitch. Register to join the speculation and anticipation on the Mortal Kombat X forum!
They have been known to us for quite some time. These so-called "Super Zeros" have waged wars with the denizens of South Korea's Gangnam District, New York City, Street Fighter and Christmas. Mortal Kombat Online hopes you enjoyed your Thanksgiving [where applicable] - because this year they've set their sights on the November holiday. And this time - it's poultryful! Take a look:
Viewer Discretion Advised: May contain scenes of supermarket hostility and poor food hygiene.
If you know more about the events that transpired on the date of November 30, 2014, or have any more information regarding the individuals known as Hanzo Hasashi (alias; Scorpion), or Kuai Liang (alias; Sub-Zero) we urge you to come forward on the forum.
Mezco Toys will usher in a new era for action figures starting with the release of the first wave of Mortal Kombat X toys! The initial line-up of Scorpion, Sub-Zero & Raiden was revealed at New York Comic Con [full story], and are now available for pre-order ahead of a May, 2015 release!
The 6" figure line represents an upgrade in quality from the previous generation of toys, but that comes with a cost. Each figure has a premium price of $20.99RRP [$18.99 via Big Bad Toy Store].
Each toy has 23 points of articulation, with ball joints in the right places to allow for dynamic stances right out of the games! A variety of character-specific accessories complete the toyshelf scene: Scorpion comes with spear chains, twin swords and alternate fighting hands. Sub-Zero boasts game inspired hammer and sword. Raiden electrifies with lightning ball and two sets of alternate hands for fighting and electrocuting!
For the committed fan, all three can be pre-order purchased in a single Series 1 pack for $52.99 [via Big Bad Toy Store]!
Will you be picking up the new wares? Who's next? Register to share your thoughts on the Media & Merchandise forum. Special thanks to MKOmmunity User Shadaloo for contributing info.
The NetherKast is a kommunity initiative giving a voice to discussion within the fanbase. The audio series is a fan roundtable discussing multiple facets of Mortal Kombat - new and old. The kast is completely free and can be listened to via YouTube below:
Subscribe to The NetherKast on YouTube for live updates!
In the sixth episode: The NetherKrew dive into the arena to discuss Mortal Kombat X stages! They venture deep into the few arenas we've seen so far, to exploring the weather of The Kove, the mystery of the Snow Forest, the commerce of Outworld Marketplace, and the dense flora & fauna of The Jungle. These conversations contain a minimum of spoilers.
Also in the episode: this week's klassic combatant is Mortal Kombat 3's man on the street - Kurtis Stryker (NYPD)! The Krew reflect upon the infamy of the character, his Armageddon and Mortal Kombat (2011) revamps, and his potential future.
