For over 30 years, the Mortal Kombat franchise has introduced a wide variety of playable fighters throughout its many games’ rosters. From the secret green ninja Reptile to the bug-like D'Vorah, new fighters brought new gameplay mechanics and story developments to each game. While many would not return due to being unpopular among fans, most fighters have had brief moments in Mortal Kombat’s narrative spotlight. Several underutilized classic characters got their chance in the spotlight as the main characters in Mortal Kombat 1, such as Kenshi, Ashrah, and Geras.
However, this game may have already set up the next cast of fighters to play major roles in the eventual Mortal Kombat 2 in the form of the Kameo Fighters. Mortal Kombat 1’s Kameo Fighter Roster currently includes:
- Sub-Zero
- Shujinko
- Scorpion
- Motaro
- Kung Lao
- Cyrax
- Frost
- Goro
- Jax
- Kano
- Darrius
- Sareena
- Sektor
- Sonya
- Stryker
- Tremor
- Khameleon
- Janet Cage
- Mavado
- Ferra
Mortal Kombat 1’s Kameo Fighters Explained
Designed as a new gameplay mechanic to support player expression while allowing players to keep using their preferred fighter, Kameo Fighters are secondary, non-playable fighters that can be occasionally used to help fight or defend against opponents. Kameo Fighters can additionally aid in furthering a string of combo attacks and perform Breakers and Fatal Blows against enemies. While they’re more difficult to achieve than using main roster fighters, Kameo Fighters can also be used to pull off unique Brutalities and Fatalities based on their classic finishing moves from older Mortal Kombat games. However, unlike the main roster, Kameo Fighters can only be cosmetically customized with alternate palettes for their outfits.
Mortal Kombat 1 currently features 20 Kameo Fighters with more expected to be added alongside fighters in Kombat Pack 2 and other future DLC. Many Kameo Fighters are based on original incarnations of classic characters rather than their new timeline iterations such as classic Scorpion, Kung Lao, and Sektor. However, most Kameo Fighters are new versions of other, previously playable characters in Titan Liu Kang’s timeline, with many appearing in Mortal Kombat 1’s base campaign and Khaos Reigns expansion, such as Darrius, Goro, and Khameleon. Only one Kameo Fighter is known to be from an as yet unplayable timeline, with that fighter being the gender-swapped Janet Cage.
Kameo Fighter’s Protagonist Potential in Mortal Kombat 2
The implementation of Kameo Fighters had a mixed reception from several Mortal Kombat fans, with many requesting for the mechanic to be optional or suggesting Kameo Fighters be made into fully-fledged playable fighters. Despite this divisive reaction, NetherRealm studios still intends to utilize Kameo Fighters for the rest of Mortal Kombat 1’s lifetime, though it’s currently unknown if the mechanic will return in future games. Nevertheless, NetherRealm could use Kameo Fighters as the basis for new protagonists in the inevitable Mortal Kombat 2 alongside returning main fighters from Mortal Kombat 1 such as Liu Kang, Scorpion, and Noob Saibot.
Two possible leading Kameo Fighters in Mortal Kombat 2 could be the Special Forces operatives Sonya Blade and Jackson Briggs. Earthrealm’s militaristic Special Forces notably lacked a major role in Mortal Kombat 1’s campaign, but they could play leading roles in aiding the opposition of General Shao’s Outworld rebellion. Liu Kang does conceal Johnny Cage’s fate with Sonya Blade in a pre-battle dialogue sequence, so their relationship could blossom in the future sequel. Frost may also play a leading role as Noob Saibot and Sektor’s champion against the Shirai Ryu, while the brown Earth-powered ninja Tremor could aid Scorpion rather than helping Black Dragon mercenaries as in prior timelines.
Kameo Fighters Potential Pivotal Roles
Numerous hints throughout Mortal Kombat 1’s campaign, tower endings, and pre-battle dialogue sequences suggest that the Dragon King Onaga may be the next primary antagonist for Mortal Kombat 2. If Onaga does become a proper endgame boss once more, Shujinko may have to step up in Liu Kang’s timeline to defeat the Dragon King again. In Mortal Kombat’s original timeline, Onaga was resurrected in the body of Reptile, but Mortal Kombat 2 could mix this plot point up a bit by having the Dragon King possess Khameleon instead, as both she and Reptile are Zaterrans. Given that Onaga currently resides in Outworld’s Mount Tsaagan, Ferra may play a pivotal role in either aiding or combating the Dragon King.
Mortal Kombat 1
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- September 19, 2023
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- NetherRealm Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Brothers Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to a new era of Kombat. NetherRealm Studios ushers in a new era of the iconic fighting franchise with a total reset that changes the entire world as we know it. Following the thrilling climax of Mortal Kombat 11, the all-powerful Fire God Liu Kang has created a New Era in the hope of bringing peace to Earthrealm and beyond. Through the series' most cinematic story mode yet, you'll be reintroduced to a cast of legendary warriors as you've never seen them before. Expect twists on classic friendships and rivalries, as well as new backstories that will change everything you think you know about your favorite Kombatants. Discover a host of new offline and online game modes as you master a revitalized fighting system that boasts bone-crunching Fatal Blows, defensive Breakers and the most creatively vicious Fatalities yet.
- Franchise
- Mortal Kombat
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- How Long To Beat
- 7 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
