Unlockables have always been a significant part of the fighting video game genre. Whether it’s concept art, bonus stages, additional music tracks, or more prominently, alternate costumes, every good fighting game will have a bevy of unlockable content for players to spend their hours working towards. TheMortal Kombatfranchiseis absolutely no exception, with every game in series history having a slew of hidden content only unlockable through various challenges and milestones. And though it might look a little different this time around,Mortal Kombat 1will still apparently have plenty of unlockables.
A month ago,NetherRealm Studios' Ed Boonconfirmed that the fan-favorite Krypt mode would not be returning inMortal Kombat 1. A mode that’s only gotten more complex with each entry,Mortal Kombat’s Krypt was an engaging way for fans to spend their in-game currency on a plethora of unlockables, including a ton of additional costumes for each fighter. But while the Krypt is no more,Mortal Kombat 1should still have plenty of unlockables in store for players, and with the game hearkening back to the series' roots, fans should expect to see a lot of alternate costumes based on pastMortal Kombatentries, though there are a select few that should make the cut.
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Dark Raiden
Teased in the vast majority ofMortal Kombatentries, Dark Raiden is the name given to any appearance in which the Elder God loses his cool, even if it’s just for a moment. Dark Raiden is often depicted with gray skin, red eyes, and dark clothing, often black with gold highlights. Though Raiden’s character is getting a big overhaul inMortal Kombat 1thanks toFire God Liu Kangmaking him a mortal, that shouldn’t stop him from getting an alternate skin based on his past edgy appearances.
Cyber Smoke
While fans expected franchise staples like Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, and Kitana to be inMortal Kombat 1, many didn’t expect the grayLin Kuei ninja Smoketo have a prominent role in the game. When Smoke made his first playable debut back inMortal Kombat 3, he was actually in his cyborg form, an appearance that the character has had as an alternate costume in almost every entry. WithMortal Kombat 1hearkening back to the series' roots, a Cyber Smoke alternate skin is a must-have.
Dark Empress Kitana
One of the more recent fan-favorite alternate costumes is Kitana’s Dark Empress outfit, making its debut inMortal Kombat X. After beingkilled inMortal Kombat2011, Kitanabecomes a revenant alongside her sometimes love interest Liu Kang, and both are forced to be Quan Chi’s undead servants. But when Quan Chi is killed by Scorpion, Liu Kang and Kitana’s revenant forms are free, and the two decide to rule the Netherrealm together as emperor and empress. Much like the Dark Raiden skin, Dark Empress Kitana has gray skin, black clothing, and glowing red eyes.
Ronin Kenshi
Another skin only found inMortal Kombat X, Kenshi’s Ronin alternate costume may just be one of the best in the entire franchise, and it would be a crime if it wasn’t included inMortal Kombat 1, especially with the character seemingly having quite a prominent role in the story this time around. As the name would suggest, this skin takes every fan’s favorite blind swordsman and gives him a samurai makeover, complete with traditional armor, mask, and face wrap.
Injustice Scorpion
It might not technically be from a pastMortal Kombatgame, butScorpion’sInjusticedesignis one of the character’s most unique, and it would be great to see it make its way over toMortal Kombat 1. This skin was already brought over to the franchise inMortal Kombat X, so it would be great to see an updated version of the costume, with a few slight alterations to keep the design fresh.
Mortal Kombat 1releases September 19 on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
