MK30: Locking in Sonya Blade and Her Iconic Leg Grab
Creating the first lady of Kombat!

Six months into development Mortal Kombat only had six playable fighters, but from necessity came the invention of Sonya Blade. Series co-creator Ed Boon continues his series taking us behind the scenes of iconic creations in anticipation of the game's 30th Anniversary! Watch the classic footage:

This time the nostalgia trip goes deeper into the context of Sonya's creation, showing us the alternate character select screen that was sorely missing a feminine touch during April 10, 1992 arcade tests. Actress and fitness instructor Elizabeth Malecki was tapped to punch, kick, and leg grab as the seventh iconic kombatant, effortlessly acting out components for her iconic special move in the footage.

Malecki is coached by Ed Boon to perform two handstands for what would eventually be turned into a hard hitting leg grab slam. He recounts to Twitter the "RUSH" of seeing the move recreated for the 1995 feature film, having felt the need to reassure Malecki that the act was "going to turn out cool" in its inception.

The co-creator also outlines the journey from "Curtis Stryker" to Lieutenant Sonya Blade, sharing collaborator John Tobias' original design sketches and outlines for a Special Forces fighter in black & yellow Bruce Lee inspired attire. Ideas later manifesting as Jax and Stryker in subsequent sequels.

What are your memories of using Sonya and her iconic leg grab? Share your thoughts in the comments below and dig deeper into the past in the 2D Kombat Klassics forum! Also find behind-the-scenes features on Scorpion's Spear, Sub-Zero's Stance, and Raiden's Teleport!

Mortal Kombat 30th Anniversary
10/08/2022 12:00 AM EDT
Mortal Kombat Trilogy Launches on GOG
A klassic lives again!

In 1996 the fruits of three landmark arcade fighting games were consolidated into a single orgy of violence called Mortal Kombat Trilogy. This compilation klassic featured the fighters and arenas of three previous game and now rises like a restless spectre to be played once again thanks to Good Old Games! Read on for details:

GOG.com specializes in DRM-free classic PC games, maintaining availability of everything from the first MK to Mortal Kombat 4. Now they're launching this curio from the end of the 2D era with a 10% discount off the usual price of $9.99. The game is available for purchase & download today via the GOG website.

Like all good old games you can play this one without a persistent online connection, but do note: multiplayer is available via TCP/IP LAN. The game is a 228MB download. Read on for system specs.

System Requirements:
System: Windows 7/8/10 Processor: 1.8 GHz Memory: 512MB RAM Graphics: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 (compatible with DirectX 9 recommended) Storage: 2 GB Other: Integrated graphics cards are not supported

Mortal Kombat Trilogy is fondly remembered for building on MK3 with the return of Scorpion, Kitana and more from UMK3; fighters from the first MK and MKII; the first instantly playable appearances of MK's legendary bosses; and the addition of cult favourites like Ermac and Rain. It arrives as the series nears its 30th Anniversary!

What are your fond memories of MK Trilogy? Is this your first exposure to the legendary all-in klassic? Share your thoughts in the comments below and go deeper into retro in the 2D Kombat Klassics forum!

Mortal Kombat 30th Anniversary
10/08/2022 12:00 AM EDT
Evo 2022 Mortal Kombat 11 World Championship
In-person championship returns!

The players returned to Las Vegas after a two year pandemic break, gathering crowds anew for this year's Evo World Championship in Mandalay Bay! The tournament brought a fresh crop of combatants from around the globe, delivering new names to the top of the Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate tower!

Players from the three regions represented in last year's Online Evo World Championship met in a live double-elimination bracket, with the nation of Chile producing two of Earthrealm's top three finalists! ScorpionProcs emerged as the new Evo World Champion, relying on the speed & guile of Kabal, and his own composure to secure an impressive victory at just age 17! Watch the Grand Final below:

The champ was able to fend off experienced Kotal Kahn player Rewind in the Grand Final, who improved on his 2019 Top 10 finish by fending off ScorpionProc's T7G teammate and countryman Nicolas in the loser's bracket. Nicolas finished third with the distinction of defeat 2019 Champion and MK powerhouse SonicFox, who was eliminated in the second-chance by UK veteran A F0xy Grampa! EventHubs report the Top 25 as follows:

Evo World Championship Top 25 Finalists:

#1 ScorpionProcs (Fujin, Kabal, Kung Lao, Liu Kang)
#2 Rewind (Kano, Kotal Kahn, Liu Kang)
#3 Nicolas (Kabal, Fujin, Kung Lao)
#4 A F0xy Grampa (Robocop, Sub-Zeor, Kitana, Nightwolf)
#5 SonicFox (Joker, Cassie Cage, Robocop, Shang Tsung)
#5 Han Rashid (Fujin)
#7 KingGambler (Sub-Zero)
#7 KillerXinok (Spawn)
#9 CucuyFGC_ (Cetrion)
#9 WiZEGEMiNi (Liu Kang, Jacqui Briggs)
#9 Konqueror249 (Sub-Zero, Noob Saibot)
#9 Wuuuzie (Cetrion)
#13 TheMightyUnjust (Spawn)
#13 Jueks- (Jacqui Briggs)
#13 JustNasty
#13 SkarCA-
#17 Sooneo
#17 Aztec
#17 YoBoyRio
#17 Waz
#17 BigDaddyG
#17 VLJV14
#17 Fadedsal
#17 VideoGamezYo
#25 Victor_Freeze504
#25 HoneyBee
#25 ParsaHP
#25 Forever King
#25 Poptart964
#25 Syzoth
#25 GuiExceptional
#25 JChan

The Latin American scene finished strong with Brazil's KillerXinok also in the Top 8. Could this be the dawning of a new age of kombat? Share your hot takes from this year's Evo in the comments below and discuss more in the Mortal Kombat 11 forum. Or begin sharpening your skills by joining the league of its own that is Fight Klub!

Win a Raiden statue diorama from Diamond Select Toys!
Realm Kast presents an exclusive opportunity!

Today our partners over at The Realm Kast are premiering their latest episode with a very special guest!

Hosts FANTiM & Yani sit down with Diamond Select Toys to discuss their statues and figures, the process behind making them, and how licensing works in the toy world! In the episode they take a deep dive into all of the important details on how specific characters and designs are chosen for figure lines and specifically ones for the Mortal Kombat franchise.

More information about Diamond Select Toys:

Diamond Select Toys (or “DST”) was founded in 1999 by sister company Diamond Comic Distributors, as a manufacturer of toys and collectibles for kids and adults of all ages. With the acquisition of Art Asylum in 2007 and Gentle Giant Ltd. in 2019, their broad range of products, licenses and talent has earned them the motto “The Best of All Worlds,” and made them one of the top suppliers to the specialty comic market.

Diamond Select toys are known for working with 2-D and 3-D artists from around the world, DST develops items in a diverse array of product categories, including Select action figures, Minimates mini-figures, electronic vehicles, vinyl banks, resin busts and statues, kitchenware and prop replicas. Their licenses are equally diverse, acquired through partnerships with Disney, Universal, Sony, CBS, Fox, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., Marvel Comics, Toho and more.

In addition to this episode premiere we are excited to announce we are giving away exclusively to our Realm Kast listeners an electrifyingly awesome Mortal Kombat figure, provided to us by Diamond Select Toys, of Raiden the Protector of Earthrealm and everyone's favourite God of Thunder!

This figurine is based on his original appearance in Mortal Kombat from 1992 and features Raiden using his signature lighting abilities. Made of PVC, the diorama is 10 inches (15.24cm) and has detailed sculpting and paint applications. The Raiden figurine comes in a full-colour window box and is a non-articulated (static) diorama of Raiden designed by Nelson Asencio and sculpted by Salvador Gomes.

To find out more information on how to enter for your the chance to win in this giveaway, visit our episode page here where we outline all of our multiple methods of entry!

Get applying, best of luck, and thank you for supporting the Realm Kast!

Realm Kast
03/28/2024 05:00 PM EDT
Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind Presents a Dark Reality
King Kano rises in a Mad Max-like future.

A youthful Kenshi faces a realm of darkness in the first trailer for the next animated feature from Mortal Kombat Legends. A very different future awaits as Snow Blind tells a tale quite unlike any with some surprising twists and character appearances. Watch:

Kuai Liang (Ron Yuan) is a wizened old master guiding the blinded Kenshi (Manny Jacinto) to navigate a Mad Max inspired future threatened by King Kano (David Wenham) and his marauding gang of Black Dragon. Shang Tsung (Artt Butler) lingers, overseeing a motley crew of confirmed characters and maybe even one or two unexpected cameos.

The trailer features a first look at grungy redesigned versions of Kira (Courtney Taylor), Kobra (Yuri Lowenthal), and Kabal (Keith Silverstein), with Ferra/Torr, Erron Black, a fiery and moltenous Tremor (Imari Williams), and a featureless fellow walking from an explosion who may just be another rarely acknowledged MK Special Forces sub-boss: No Face.

The first two MK Legends animated features played fast and loose with the finer details of series canon, but it seems with their third installment the franchise will go in a completely original direction, using a new animation style to create a vision for a unique future Earthrealm. It takes the future premise of Mortal Kombat X even further into a Mad Max-like world of desparation.

What do you think of the apocalyptic new vision for Mortal Kombat? Share your reactions to the trailer in the comments below and find & discuss more in the Media & Merchandise forum!

Mortal Kombat Legends Snow Blind Cast & First Look Revealed
The Black Dragon lives on!

With first word of an animated sequel arriving via online retailers comes official confirmation of Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind! Voice actors reveal a cast of Black Dragon rogues and our first look at a wandering swordsman. Take a look:

The IGN exclusive reveal shows a squatting swordsman opposite a burly traveler in a barren landscape. This seems to be Kenshi, who arrives as a new focal character voiced by Manny Jacinto. The sword saint will seek the snowy services of Sub-Zero, now voiced by Scorpion actor Ron Yuan, having turned his back on a warrior's life since last year's sequel.

The criminal mercenary Kano returns as a surprising force determined to conquer Earthrealm one town at a time. The MK Legends animated universe will recast Kano as the one responsible for taking cocky Kenshi's eyesight, flanked by a full roster of Black Dragon mercenaries confirmed by IGN's cast reveal. Rick Morales will produce his third animated MK installment, with screenwriter Jeremy Adams also returning from Scorpion's Revenge and Battle of the Realms.

  • Kenshi - Manny Jacinto
  • Kano - David Wenham
  • Sub-Zero/Kuai Liang - Ron Yuan
  • Kabal - Keith Silverstein
  • Kira - Courtney Taylor
  • Kobra - Yuri Lowenthal
  • Shang Tsung & "Lin Kuei" - Artt Butler
  • Tremor - Imari Williams
  • Unspecified - Patrick Seitz, Lei Yin, Sumalee Montano, Debra Wilson, and Keston John

Lord of the Rings and 300 star David Wenham will lend a distinct voice familiar to Australians and international audiences alike. The Black Dragon will fill out their number with Mortal Kombat: Deception recruits Kira (Courtney Taylor) & Kobra (Yuri Lowenthal), with Special Forces & MKX cult favourite Tremor (Imari Williams). No word on Jarek, Tasia, or No Face, with several actors unaccounted for.

In Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind, Kano is hellbent on taking over Earthrealm, viciously attacking town after town with the aid of three cold-blooded Black Dragon mercenaries. Those who don’t submit are annihilated. One young man won’t bend the knee to Kano: Kenshi.

Cocky and undisciplined, Kenshi loses both his eyesight and his confidence after Kano and his clan attack him. Kenshi then comes under the tutelage of Kuai Liang, now retired and reluctant to train Kenshi – but also the only fighter powerful enough to challenge Kano.

Along the way, Kenshi rediscovers the hope he had lost and a possible path to redemption … but will that be enough to stop Kano and save Earthrealm?

What do you think about the Snow Blind plot so far? Share your thoughts and speculation in the comments below and check out more from MK Legends in the Media & Merchandise forum!

Rumor: Blu-Ray Site Lists Mortal Kombat Legends Snow Blind
Animated sequel box art leaks.

The Mortal Kombat Legends moniker seemed destined for a series of animated features -- and it looks as if a third installment could be on the way. A new blu-ray listing for "Snow Blind" has given fans the first indication of a new adventure. Take a closer look:

Multiple physical media sites began listing Snow Blind with HD Movie Source cited in July. German movie site Bluray-disc.de and others have since begun posting box art, showing Kenshi front & centre for a story that will reportedly team the blind sword saint with a reluctant Sub-Zero. Take a look at the 4K Ultra HD display below [via @TheDiscFather]:

Kenshi and Sub-Zero became acquainted in Mortal Kombat: Deception when the Lin Kuei Grandmaster helped Kenshi recover from wounds sustained battling his Red Dragon nemesis. Their interactions in the reboot series timeline have been minimal, seeing the pair on opposite sites during early sequences in Mortal Kombat X.

It looks as if roles could be reversed in Snowblind if a synopsis for the animated movie is correct. The plot describes the swordsman seeking a Kuai Liang who has withdrawn from the warrior's life, in the hopes of defeating a 'power-hungry' Kano, who has taken up an unlikely conquest of Earthrealm.

The sneaky and power-hungry Kano is determined to take over Earthrealm soul by soul. Together with three cold-blooded Black Dragon Mercenaries, he attacks one defenseless city after another. His demand is simple: submission or death. Kenshi, a rebellious warrior, calls on Kuai Liang, the only one strong enough to take on Kano, for his help, but Kuai Liang is no longer a warrior and Kenshi isn't disciplined enough to defeat Kano. If Kuai Liang cannot remove the doubts that hold him back, Earthrealm will fall. It's about everything and the consequences have never been as serious as they are now!

Like most multimedia adaptations; MK Legends has reinvented familiar series mythology for a completely original take on the franchise, but with Shang Tsung on the cover, we have to wonder if Kano is working alone to consume Earth's souls -- or if it's really Kano at all.

A similar leak revealed the second MK Legends movie, and a LinkedIn credit for Christopher Redman as Senior Video Editor for Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind could suggest a trailer isn't far away.

What do you think about the third movie's character spotlights? What do you hope to see from the new plot? Share your thoughts in the comments below and find & discuss more in the Media & Merchandise forum.


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