Kameo warriors are a brand-new Mortal Kombat 1 feature. Here’s why this is a good thing for the MK franchise.
Mortal Kombat 1 was just unveiled and is intended to make numerous modifications to the tried and tested Mortal Kombat formula in terms of gameplay and story. The trailer strongly suggests a timeline reset and a complete reimagining of some of the franchise’s most popular characters. The most significant shift is Liu Kang taking over as Earthrealm’s guardian from Raiden.
Along with these adjustments, the website confirms a significant alteration in MK1 gameplay. The inclusion of Kameo or help characters is a significant alteration in the Mortal Kombat formula and is likely the most significant step Netherrealm Studios has done in changing the franchise’s combat system in over a decade. While other games, like as Dragon Ball Fighter Z, have been popular for their assist character features, this is a new route for Mortal Kombat, and it is most definitely a welcome development for Mortal Kombat and even Injustice.
Change is Good
While there is little information on the actual Kameo Fighter system for this game. It is evident that this will be the first substantial change to the combat style in a long time, which is a positive thing.
In terms of how a match plays out, MK9, MKX, MK11, and even the two Injustice games featured a generally similar combat style, with some slight adjustments here and there. While there was nothing intrinsically wrong with this, it had the potential to become stale soon. Thus this new function might be really useful for spicing things up.
Kombatant Variety
A Mortal Kombat fan is never satisfied with the character roster. Even with a massive roster as impressive as MK11’s, there were some complaints about specific characters being overlooked and deserving of inclusion in future games. This was followed by the apparent complaint that a particular character is unneeded and could easily be replaced by someone else.
Mortal Kombat has been around for decades, so creators have hundreds of characters to choose from. A modern game roster is constrained by the time and resources available to the development team to completely flesh out each character.
Mortal Kombat has always done a terrific job with its lineups, but Kameo fighters provide an opportunity to highlight characters who would not have been featured otherwise. It’s also an opportunity to phase out some characters that must always be present. But could benefit from a break, like as Kano and Sonya Blade. In general, less well-known personalities are more likely to emerge into the spotlight.
Departure From MK11
Mortal Kombat 11 was a fantastic game. It had a tremendous lineup, incredible graphics, and a fairly solid narrative, but the fighting system was divisive. While the emphasis on neutral game and footsies was nice, the game’s balance meant that matches gradually degraded into zoning fests. Zones are a vital aspect of every fighting game, but they were far too powerful in MK11. As a result, the meta became fairly stagnant. With the same 5 or 6 Kombatants appearing in every online and competitive game.
As a result, the game became slower than it should have been. Not only will the game be more faster with Kameo fighters. But specific Kameo characters can help overcome the disadvantages of rush-down characters that are vulnerable to zoning.
Shift In Play Style
A Kameo or assist system can shift Mortal Kombat 1’s gameplay from a slower, more methodical system to one that is centered on pressure and offense, similar to MKX but more balanced and relying on assists to bridge the gaps between strings and dangerous moves. Look at games like Dragon Ball Fighter Z or Slope Game to see how this evolves.
A significant consequence of this might be an overall enhancement in the viewing experience for the competitive and e-sports sector. Which is especially essential given the impending release of new Street Fighter and Tekken titles.
Player Freedom
Players’ freedom in customizing how their characters play has been a major feature of both MKX and MK11. Whether through the variant system in MKX or the load-out system in its successor. This is certainly a significant development that Netherrealm Studios is concerned about. While such concepts are not assured to appear in MK1, Kameo fighters alone suggest to a plethora of player options.
Players would be able to select their Kameo fighters and observe how they interact with their existing Kombatants. This might bring to a lot of variety in terms of the fighter and assist combos that players use. Different assistance for the same character may be selected for completely different objectives. Implying that no two characters would be operated in the same way. Of course, fans have yet to see how this will play out, but it’s an intriguing shift nonetheless.
Mortal Kombat 1 will be available for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
