Mortal Kombat 1 Has a Chance to Correct Its Biggest Mistake

Mortal Kombat 1 is approaching its second birthday, but it already feels like it's been left behind. While its fighting mechanics hold up against the rest of the series, a dearth of single-player content, streamlined progression and cosmetics, and questionable new features like Kameos resulted in Mortal Kombat 1 having less staying power than its predecessors, despite its undeniable strengths.

But of course, no Mortal Kombat 1 controversy is a match for its Nintendo Switch launch debacle. The game was horrendously optimized for the hybrid device, to the point where even players accustomed to its lower specs were taking notice, but its visuals were hit the hardest. At launch, Mortal Kombat 1 on the Switch resembled a PS1 or PS2 game: textures were overly smooth and washed out, the level of detail was painfully low, and dynamic, believable lighting was nonexistent. Since launch, NetherRealm Studios has managed to improve the Mortal Kombat 1 experience on the Switch, noticeably improving both visuals and performance. However, this version of the game is still quite hard on the eyes, and NetherRealm has the perfect opportunity to change that thanks to the Switch 2.

Even if It’s Not an Injustice Game, It May Be For The Best if NetherRealm’s Next Game Isn’t Mortal Kombat

With Mortal Kombat 1 being in a divisive state at the moment, developer NetherRealm may find stronger footing with its next project.

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By LB Beistad

The Nintendo Switch 2 Can Give Mortal Kombat 1 a Chance at Handheld Redemption

Mortal Kombat 1 Still Has a Long Way To Go

The difference between Mortal Kombat 1's Switch edition at launch and now is night and day, but so is the difference between it and virtually any other version of the game; even on a low-end PC, players can enjoy a smoother, better-looking Mortal Kombat 1 experience. In reality, Mortal Kombat 1 was probably never going to look very good on the Switch, but the Switch 2 is a different kettle of fish.

Mortal Kombat 1 wasn't released for PS4 or Xbox One, despite those consoles being considerably more powerful than the original Switch. As such, it shouldn't exactly be surprising that the game is poorly optimized for Nintendo's outdated tech.

The Nintendo Switch 2 can run games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring surprisingly well, so it could most definitely facilitate a better version of Mortal Kombat 1. The fighting game is undoubtedly graphically impressive, but its scope of gameplay, coupled with its lack of dynamic environmental elements and character animations, should make it much less technically demanding than the two above examples.

The Switch 2's upgraded hardware ought to be sufficient for improved graphics. Some might argue that there's little point in updating the Switch version of Mortal Kombat 1, now that Warner Bros. Has seemingly moved on, but there are still obvious benefits to polishing the game.

Mortal Kombat 1 Has a Tarnished Legacy on Nintendo Hardware

Naturally, fixing Mortal Kombat 1 on Switch 2 would be consumer-friendly and engender goodwill from consumers, but many companies undervalue these traits, unfortunately. They are sometimes seen as irrelevant to, or even at odds with, smart business, but this couldn't be further from the case.

In fact, NetherRealm and Warner Bros. Stand to enjoy even greater success down the road if they were to give MK1 a beefy Switch 2 update. For one thing, the aforementioned consumer goodwill can go a long way toward a company's success, having a direct impact on a game's sales.

But more than that, an MK1 Switch 2 upgrade could send a clear message about the next NetherRealm game's performance on the device. This would, in effect, serve to promote the next game, as its audience would have undeniable proof in favor of its strong visuals and performance on the Switch 2. As of right now, Mortal Kombat 1 sends the message that the Switch 2 isn't a good place to play MK games, and Warner Bros. Should strive to ensure its Switch 2 playerbase isn't once bitten, twice shy.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 87%

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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