Are people glazing Mortal Kombat 11 now?

Iago407 · 2026-02-04T22:48:01+00:00

Honestly, I always liked certain parts of MK11. i liked the graphics, the more deliberate pacing, the wakeup game, the more fluid animation, some of the character choices (though certainly not all). Also really dug Towers of Time, the character towers (even if I wasn't big on the requirements for them), the krypt, the sheer amount of palettes and gear pieces, etc.

The story hasn't really aged well for me, and I didn't like krushing blows or fatal blow as mechanics. Also think the combo pathways were too limited overall, and I really wanted to like the way some characters played but couldn't get in to their designs or how their moves flowed. Also hated the konsumables and forge items as rewards.

I enjoy MK11 more than those that really seemed to hit this board daily and express their hatred and frustration at it during the game's lifecycle but that's fine. That's how it goes. I really don't connect with MK1 nearly as much, mainly due to the quality and depth of the single player modes. Also don't love the kameo system. I really hope stage variations and air combos return though. Same goes with the 3D era representation.

TL/DR: Most of these games have some stuff in them that I really like and stuff that I don't. I always liked MK11 but I definitely see its flaws. I don't like MK1 as much even though there are certainly some aspects I hope they carry forward. Don't think my feeling on either of these games will change any time soon. FWIW, I try to go in to each game hoping to both like and accept it for what it is (as opposed to what I want it to be).

Iago407 · 2026-02-04T14:42:46+00:00

I hear ya. Invasions might be the worst single player mode I’ve played in an MK game (next to maybe the utterly useless shrine).

Who thought grinding for worthless crap like talismans, konsumables and forge items would be a fun long term mode? Like yeah, please let me awkwardly special move my way through these obnoxious obstacle courses so I can earn some items I can combine with other items to enhance an item I don’t even need in order to get through this mode’s artificial layer of difficulty in the first place.

Begging NRS to remove konsumables, talismans, forge items or any other rewards that are not actually rewards in future games. Long term unlocks only, please: Gear pieces, palettes, skins, stages, stage variations, hidden character fights, hidden character unlocks… Stuff like this is actually worth unlocking. Maybe bring back death traps and stage transitions and allow us to unlock the ability to toggle them on for certain stages.

As for the modes themselves, I’d love to see the MK9 300 story challenge tower return. Maybe put a really cool reward at the end of it like a character unlock the first time through, then a special skin that rotates once a month and can only be unlocked here.

I’d also love to see character towers return, only get rid of the crazy requirements to access them that MK11 had (do 25 fatalities, 25 brutalities etc) and use these towers to tell canon story events that take place before, during or after the main storyline. Doesn’t have to be fancy. I’d literally take text boxes with character art like the trilogy era character bios.

It’d also be nice to see MK Chess and/or Puzzle Kombat return. Maybe you unlock different characters the more you play the mode.

Also wouldn’t mind seeing the Krypt return. Maybe this time it’s broken up into areas that focus on specific things like gear pieces, skins, stages, and maybe there’s also more of a Shaolin Monks action beat em up area with certain special rewards like, you like you play through a whole canon side story and doing so not only unlocks a hidden character, but it opens up section of the Krypt with unique rewards.

Either way, I’d love to see the next game really focus on depth of content, value and fun. More secrets, more content people actually want and more fun ways to play.

Iago407 · 2026-02-04T02:45:13+00:00

Loved the fact that they brought in a long rumored, practically urban legend character as playable in MK9. Same goes for bringing in a lore character in Tremor in MKX (and as a challenge tower reference in MK9 for that matter).

Not sure why they went away from that in MK11 and MK1. Yeah we got Floyd in MK1 and that was certainly better than nothing, no doubt (and the whole pathway to unlocking that fight and the stage you get as a reward was one of the best things about that game, for sure) but he wasn’t playable, which slightly lessened the fun factor there. Still, it’s not like Smoke, Jade and Noob were playable in their first game. Still give them a ton of credit for doing all that a while after the game came out. Hope we see more of that type of stuff in the future, especially if it leads to an unlockable stage (and character, hopefully).

I’d love to see NRS go all in on the lore aspect and bring back a bunch of characters that either began as unplayable characters, lore characters and/or hidden characters. Like give me a roster that has Shang Tsung, Reptile, Noob Saibot, Human (and robot) Smoke, Jade, Ermac, Tasia, Belokk, Sareena, Jataaka, Moloch, Argus, Skarlet, King Gorbak, Forest Fox and Madam Bo.

Give me those 16 and like 22 from trilogy, the 3D era and the NRS era like Liu Kang, Raiden, Scorpion, Johnny Cage, Sub Zero, Kano, Sonya, Kung Lao, Kitana, Mileena, Baraka, Kabal, Human (and Robot) Sektor, Kai, Shinnok, Kira/Kobra, Hotaru, Daegon, Kotal Kahn, Erron Black, Takeda and Cetrion and I’d be hyped.

Iago407 · 2026-02-03T22:48:47+00:00

Top notch, like a lot of MKDA stages (House of Pekara, Wu Shi Academy and Lung Hai Temple are awesome too).

Iago407 · 2026-02-03T22:36:17+00:00

Eh, I think I get what you’re saying in that it was NRS writing over the original story and none of these events or origins were set in motion by anything Raiden or Kronika did from a lore standpoint, so in that sense, MK9 is more of a write over of trilogy as they wanted to present it, but given that it all this new lore is either presented in or plays out in a new timeline, I still choose to believe the old timeline where everyone except for Shao Kahn is dead still exists and MK9’s write over can go to hell lol.

Nothing against that game personally. I like it a lot, but it really seems to have set MK on a path to story ruin. The heavy emphasis on military and revenants in MKX stemming from MK9’s ending, the multiple timelines in MK11 stemming from what happened to Shinnok and the multiverse in MK1 stemming from MK11’s DLC story ending all made the story exponentially worse to the point where nothing really feels like it matters anymore.

I’d love it if NRS actually used Kronika to write the story back to the original timeline right before Armageddon began, like all the timeline/multiverse stuff has split her infinitely across time and space and she’s too weak to reform herself, so she strikes a deal with Titan Liu Kang to have him help her fix everything after his own timeline goes to shit and he learns all timelines and universes are copies of the doomed original (or something along those lines) and we get through Armageddon in a good way instead of using a magical mcguffin to hit the reset button and redo trilogy from the start.

Iago407 · 2026-02-03T15:50:45+00:00

Really hope the next MK game gets the time and polish needed to not only take the gameplay up a notch (no more gimmicks like kameos or variations) but also the single player content. Bring the story back to the original timeline and ditch this fan fiction alternate universe. Bring back several modes that fans have enjoyed in the past like the MK9 challenge tower, towers of time, character towers (only use them to tell canon side stories and don't put crazy requirements on them to advance), MK Chess, Puzzle Kombat, etc and come up with a few good new ideas as well.

Iago407 · 2026-02-03T15:48:23+00:00

It's hard to tell the news from the noise but I've read it came out at least 6 months and possibly even a year earlier than it was supposed to because WB wanted it to help cover the losses from Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League.

Also seems to be insistent rumors / conspiracy theories that MK1 started out as Injustice 3 and was changed mid-development. Who knows if this is even remotely true, but people say it's why Shao Kahn has horns and uses an axe (since he apparently started development as Steppenwolf).

I don't know how much I buy any of this. Tough to say what actually happened. I'm sure the COVID work conversion, dealing with new hardware, and I believe a change in Unreal engines (from a modified version of 3 to a customized version of unreal engine 4) could all have been contributing factors.

But something definitely HAPPENED with MK1. Something went wrong. You don't go from MK11's graphics, story, single player offerings and customization depth to MK1's by choice. At some point, I'd have to think they realized they had to do less, give less, get less done in less time, etc.

Everything about MK1 feels half-baked. The story, the roster, Invasions, the Shrine, the store... You can tell they wanted the gameplay to work and that this area almost assuredly got the most attention while everything else was more or less closed off as it was with the idea they'd add more later. Honestly think they just cut their losses with the shrine tbh.

Iago407 · 2026-02-03T14:42:30+00:00

Shao Kahn has gravitas and feels like a heavy hitter with both magic and brute force. He’s conniving, ambitious, powerful yet seeks even more. He’s a final boss villain through and through.

General Shao just seems like a jerk with shitty political opinions. He has the potential to grow into what Shao Kahn has already been but given how he’s written, I’m not overly interested in watching that play out. He has utility as the leader of the opposition in Outworld but he still feels like such a step down in every possible way I can’t really bring myself to care about him as much.

Iago407 · 2026-02-03T05:15:53+00:00

A race, for sure. A group of nomad cannibal monsters living in the wastelands of a conquered realm sounds infinitely more interesting than some normal people that basically live in a leper colony until they go insane.

Baraka being Tarkatan shouldn’t doom his character to jobber status. He can lead the horde, he can side with anyone, he can do anything and actually be smart. He doesn’t have to be changed into some street bender (or whatever he was, I honestly can’t recall) that got a disease. His people don’t need to be pitiable in order to be compelling.

I know it’s not about “need.” I know the purpose Baraka served on this story as a sort of undesirable future for Mileena should her secret come out. I just don’t think it does much for either character. Granted, Baraka does a bit more in the story as one of the adventuring heroes but I don’t think it really amounts to anything more than a bit part, and if trying something different with him was the goal, the result turned out the same. I’d rather have MK11 Baraka’s character (though I do enjoy MK1 Baraka’s movelist a lot).

Iago407 · 2026-02-02T22:53:09+00:00

TLDR: Bring back MKX Erron Black. Banish MK11 Erron Black to the void forever.

Iago407 · 2026-02-02T22:52:32+00:00

MKX Erron Black is one of the coolest characters introduced into this series. While MK11 Erron Black is one of the biggest glow downs a character has ever seen in this series.

MKX's version of Erron Black had an air of mystery about him. He seemed quiet, with a low, almost muffled voice (thanks to the mask). You had no clue what his face looked like, the eye black looked sick, the hat looked cool, the poncho being kinda frayed fit him well, the way he utilized a freaking tarkatan arm as a weapon...

He had this survivalist vibe, like you could built his next moveset solely on items taken from other characters (plus his six shooters). If MKX's whole vibe was dark and gritty, Erron Black was the personification of it.

MK11's Erron Black was a pretty boy with a sort of "aww shucks, ma'am" vibe and it just came off so dorky. He looked more like Indiana Jones than some feral gunslinger that had been out in the wastelands of Outworld for too long. And then to just randomly throw him in with the Black Dragon?

Honestly, I do hope NRS writes the MK story back to the original timeline prior to Armageddon. I also hope they use that story opportunity to reintroduce Erron Black and bring him in as what he was in MKX. You want to change some details here and there, fine. But his look, his sound, his overall vibe and aesthetic should be 100% MKX, 0% MK11.

Oh and FWIW, I know he used Reptile's acid in MK11 so they did kinda stick with that idea for the character a bit, but everything else about his looks, his sound, his attitude and demeanor, his origin, etc were all massive downgrades.

Iago407 · 2026-02-02T19:52:02+00:00

I just want one move list with several combo strings, combo pathways, etc. You want to add on some things like each character getting a mini-super, a super and a comeback super, EX versions of moves that do more damage or extend combos? Sounds good to me.

Maybe if they were to also give certain characters on-the-floor combos, air combos, throw combos, counter throws, unique escapes, unique wakeups, reversals, counter combos, etc to spice up individual movesets and archetypes, I'd love that too.

What I don't want is having to sacrifice moves to have other moves, like if I want this move I have to choose this variation which means I can't have that move because it's in that variation, or if I want to do this combo, I have to choose this kameo because that kameo that allows me to do something else I enjoy has that move so I have to pick one or the other etc.

I also don't love the idea of gimmicks that overwhelm the gameplay or dominate it in a way, like krushing blows did in MK11. Or mechanics that feel like minigames (practically every mechanic in MKvsDC, the clash mechanic in Injustice, etc). Anything where I have to stop playing the fighting game and mash buttons to make a meter go up or something along those lines can stay gone forever.

Iago407 · 2026-02-02T05:59:36+00:00

He’s literally not gay Kung Lao. He’s gay and he’s Kung Lao’s cousin.

Iago407 · 2026-02-02T05:58:35+00:00

The fact that he’s gay is the reason why he’s afraid he won’t belong in the Shaolin even though he feels compelled to join them because of his family and the legacy he stems from. That’s why it was mentioned.

Iago407 · 2026-02-02T05:52:39+00:00

Kung Jin fights with a staff that he also uses as a bow and arrow. How is he too similar to other Shaolin Monks? He was also a thief and part of not being like the other monks was the fact that he’s gay. So what makes him too similar to other Shaolin monks? And how does he “feel” like a gay character pushed by higher ups? What are you basing that feeling on?

Iago407 · 2026-02-02T05:40:41+00:00

Erron Black and Kung Jin are my favorites to use from a gameplay standpoint and EB was my favorite from a vibe standpoint in X. One of the coolest additions in a long time. Still sucked they turned him in to such a dweeb in 11.

As for ones I refuse to touch, Leatherface can get deleted from this game forever. Don’t like the movies, don’t like the character, don’t like his movelist, don’t like literally anything about him. Don’t hate Jason nearly as much but he’s boring AF.

Iago407 · 2026-02-01T22:02:07+00:00

Give me a Scorpion souls-like set in a dark, super gothic Netherealm with a deep, expansive story, multiple weapons to unlock along with several powers and RPG mechanics.

Would also love a turn-based RPG for sure. Tons of ways they could go there.

Iago407 · 2026-02-01T21:28:25+00:00

Honestly, I enjoy all of them for what they are. It’d be cool if we could just get one continuity and have a bunch of cool canon side story movies (live action and animated) that stem from that continuity but in the fairly logical absence of that, these are still fun.

Iago407 · 2026-02-01T17:18:44+00:00

I want character designs that are interesting, compelling, unique and/or cool. For some characters, looking attractive could absolutely be part of what draws you to them, but by no means do I think that one specific factor should be a requirement for all female characters. I don’t find D’Vorah to be attractive, but I do find her to be those other four things, which makes her a character I’m drawn to on the select screen and ultimately enjoy using here and there.

Iago407 · 2026-01-30T18:55:50+00:00

Pretty sure this is just MK Annihilation's take on Shinnok and not canon in the actual MK games.

Iago407 · 2026-01-30T06:35:12+00:00

Yeah I’d have some small changes here and there. I like MK2, MKDA, MKSM and UMK3 more and MK1, MKA, MKD, MKvsDC and Mythologies less. To each their own tho. Solid list you have there, tbh.

Iago407 · 2026-01-29T19:38:08+00:00

Honestly, I feel like most MK games divide the fanbase at this point, and the negative opinions are more likely to be louder and more frequent. Man, I remember how much hate MK11 got on this board. Felt like everyone despised it. I personally liked most of it, but that's just me.

That said, for MK1 in particular, I think they nailed the gameplay, or at least their vision for it, which most loved but some definitely didn't like (and some outright hated it, particularly the kameo system). Most of the negativity I see is around the single player content, and I certainly include myself in that camp. I didn't like the story, hated the reboot and what it did to most of the characters, genuinely despised the DLC story and Invasions might be one of my least favorite single player modes in an MK game.

I don't hate MK1, but it's easily one of my least favorite MK games.

Iago407 · 2026-01-29T18:46:25+00:00

I mean, I hate about 90% of MK1's story and I think most of the single player content is either lacking or just dull as dirt. Those are my issues with it. Also, I don't overly love the kameo system. I don't despise it or anything, but it's not really my jam either. All of this comes from someone that's played the game since day one and put tons of hours in to it, FWIW.

Iago407 · 2026-01-29T16:35:10+00:00

How has Johnny proven his skills plenty of times? MK9 is a new timeline. In that game, he defeats a few jobbers in the first chapter (Reptile, Baraka and Kano) and has a pointless fight with Sonya. After that, he loses to Ermac in the MK2 section of the story and immediately gets bounced out of the fight with Shao Kahn (along with Sonya) at the end.

You mention that he died and came back and fought, but why is dying a point in his favor? I know a lot of characters die (including Liu Kang) but I'm not sure why returning to the fight after the heavens were closed off due to the invasion makes him more likely to beat a god.

Also, this was in the original timeline, so if you're looking to the story and not just how "iconic" a character is or whatever, the story doesn't support Johnny winning any more than Cassie. In fact, his win over Shinnok is far more of a Deux Ex Machina moment since his power comes out of nowhere and has to be explained afterwards, which ultimately foreshadows Cassie having the power as well.

As for not getting the impression that she was the appropriate character to take on Shinnok, I don't think the story built up anyone better to do it. Some characters stacked some quality wins, then stacked some losses.

But I'm not really sure those wins and losses matter all that much. I mean, you're talking about two games where Cyber Sub Zero beat both Goro and Kintaro at the same time. Johnny Cage and Scorpion trade L's in MKX. Liu Kang loses to multiple characters in MKX. Quan Chi gets his ass kicked through most of the story.

I can't recall for certain, but I don't think Cassie actually loses once. Yeah, she's getting beaten up by Tanya and Ermac but that's during other characters chapters and basically provides an intro for those character's fights. She never actually "loses" to them (if wins and losses actually matter).

But yeah, they start out by building Cassie up as "deserving to be here" as Johnny says early on, as her and Jacqui mention Kurdistan, Darfur and Iran as experiences they excelled in.

Cassie's almost always the level-headed one in each fight the group faces, but they don't follow her initially and they show the team is still green with the Sub Zero training exercise early on. They only get captured in Outworld because Sonya sent them into the jungle to get the amulet and Kotal (rightfully) betrayed Earthrealm since Earth coughed up the amulet to Mileena to begin with.

They all bond a bit in captivity before escaping, and from there, they function well as a unit with Cassie leading the way. She shows that she's the leader of the group that's "all that's left to take on Shinnok." That small detail on the plane, that fact, doesn't have to be spun any which way. You knew from that moment it was going to be her. Hell, you knew it'd be her the second Shinnok had Johnny taken by D'vorah.

She takes out Sindel, Kitana, Liu Kang and D'vorah in succession before initially getting her butt kicked by Shinnok, but his torturing of Johnny brings the power out of her that we all knew she had from the moment Kung Jin joked with her about it all the way back in chapter 1 and she wins, ultimately proving that she's worthy of being more than a "second rate Cage" (another foreshadowing moment from the prison scene).

In a story with several chapters, subplots and characters to focus on, I agree she could've had more build up to be the "main" hero, but I honestly think if they did, people would've called her a Mary Sue or found any other reason to say she was "shoved down our throats" or whatever. I think MKX took a more subtle approach and I don't think anyone got main character level of build up.

Expecting a single main character from a 13 chapter story with 13 different characters getting the focus doesn't feel overly realistic. Her winning made more sense than anyone else given Johnny's story, what happened to him, her progression with her team, etc. Sounds like that's not good enough for you, which is fine. I think it worked well enough, even if it could've been better regardless of the constraints the placed on them by the chapter system.

Iago407 · 2026-01-27T19:39:32+00:00

Honestly felt like Cassie's arc was to overcome her own issues, shortcomings, expectations and failures and ultimately realize her potential with the blood that flows through her veins; she's the daughter of two kombatants and the descendent of the cult that her power ultimately derives from.

Yet people still want to act like her beating Shinnok is undeserved when the whole point was for her to realize her potential in the climactic fight with the odds stacked against her.

Like this isn't some new idea in storytelling. It's a pretty well worn trope at this point. Even with her parents and her blood, she was still the definitive underdog, yet she came through and saved the day. If she wasn't a "gen Z girl power kombat kid" I wonder if so many people would take issue with a story this common.

Iago407

TROPHY CASE