Critique in Book Five: Working Through the Maze 2018

As some of you may be aware, Mortal Kombat 11 got an Announcement Trailer. For those that are not aware, I present it to you below:

Now… the nature of the world On-Line is one of repetition, deceit, inflated self-importance, and the worst of humanity.

After the video had been out for 12 hours, there were already hours many more times that of “Reaction Videos” and “Analysis Videos.” Further, you have the “(Not really) Insider Videos” claiming things that are unverifiable.

Now… we DO have a verified Twitter Account belonging to one of the men who wrote PART of the game that said basically: “The moves in the video are in-game moves. Seriously, all of these moves are things you can do in the game.” Now… you can believe that or not. Upon review of the film, it isn’t that grandiose a claim as those who have played the previous Mortal Kombat games can attest.

And some of the Analysis Videos are worthwhile. After all, if you are new to the series… the Analysis Video indicating that the fighting stage is a throwback to Mortal Kombat 1 is important. It establishes new information. It lets newcomers know that this opening showing the desiccated corpses in the audience and the dead helmeted guard are actually from

Mortal Kombat 1’s Courtyard Stage

But when the analysis veers into speculation? SHUT UP. Or at least… don’t mix the two. I saw an “Analysis Trailer” that expressly stated “The appearance of the second Scorpion simply means that this game will be using a Gear component similar to Injustice 2.”

Except there’s nothing that proves that. That is one viewer’s interpretation. And the most frustrating thing about being a part of a fandom like Mortal Kombat? Is that we’re going to hear these “Speculations as Fact” and “Trust me, my grand-niece’s best friend’s 2nd cousin dates Mike Boon, Ed Boon’s brother, so I KNOW THIS FOR SURE!”

And having to put up with that for 133 days is frustrating. Because… some may be right, some may be wrong, and it doesn’t really matter (nor can it really be confirmed) until the Game is released.

I do understand.... people are thrilled that MK11 is coming so soon. And with that excitement… people have questions and theories and hopes. Will their favorite character be on the roster? What elements from past games will be included in this game? What new elements will be created for this game? What is the story line? LOTS of questions. And it is cool to share thoughts, hopes, desires. “I hope that they don’t add the gear system to variations as that would be unnecessarily complex” or “I hope that they add a more integrated gear system to this game, an improvement from Injustice 2!” Instead… what too many posts are… are “Mileena Konfirmed for MK11!” followed by “Source?” followed by “I heard she wasn’t going to be in it.” followed by “OF COURSE she’s going to be in it, Kitana is going to be in it!” followed by “Source?” followed by an endless argument about who is right, wrong, and how they arrived at their conclusion. Which… frankly… seems a waste of time. Instead of saying a character is confirmed (until the game is released or the studio themselves confirm the character) don’t state something so unquestionably NOT confirmed.

Maybe I’m being nit picky since it boils down to a semantics argument. But really. What I would consider acceptable variations:
(1) I hope Mileena is in the game!
(2) What do you guys think about Mileena being in MK11?
(3) If only ONE could be included would you have Jade, Mileena, Kitana, Khameleon, Skarlet, or Frost?
(4) If Mileena is in MK11, what do you think her story would be?
(5) I want Mileena!
(6) Mileena had BETTER be in this game!

So, I think my issue is.... “Mileena Konfirmed for MK11!” is just such a… fucking Troll Move. Just like all the “List of Konfirmed Roster”s being posted or obviously fake “Additional Game Play Videos”. It’s like… hey. People enjoy this for being a good game with a decent roster and a lot of potential. If the only way you can enjoy it is to be a troll on the forums and spread disinformation or try to start fights? Grow up. Grow the fuck up.

As for my own two cents worth? If you really want to know, I can share my complete speculation with no inside information and nothing other than theory! So… I’ll share what I observe in the trailer and how I interpret it from my perspective and what I think that means.

We open on The Courtyard from MK1, only the once living monks are dead as is the guard. Raiden, dressed more like his Dark Self, is fighting Scorpion. The timelines are wonky. In Timeline Prime, Scorpion was briefly made the Guardian for the Elder Gods. In Timeline X, Hanzo Hasashi was restored to human form and helped train the next generation of Shirai Ryu. Mortal Kombat 9 started in Timeline Prime before spending the entire game in Timeline X rehashing MK 1, 2, and 3 from the Timeline X perspective. Mortal Kombat X took place entirely in Timeline X. For that reason, there is little to dissuade the viewer from believing that these fighters are Dark Raiden of Timeline X and Scorpion of Timeline X. Raiden and Scorpion fight. Raiden wins. After winning, a second Scorpion appears. This Scorpion is wearing the old Demon Scorpion Uniform and we see the Fire Skull, indicating that this may indeed be Netherworld Scorpion. The new Scorpion kills Raiden. The trailer shows us a brief image of a new character at an hourglass where the sands are moving upwards. Then the trailer shows us that if we pre-order we can get a Shogun looking Shao Khan.

THAT IS a NON-SPECULATION description. If we focus PURELY on individual moments, we can speculate different things than if we view the whole thing.

Shao Khan: As a Pre-Order Character, this does not necessarily mean he will or will not be The Boss of the game. Netherworld has done this before where Pre-Order Characters are the boss, but more often… the Pre-Order Character is a powerful character FROM the game universe that is otherwise not in the game itself. That being said, the significant change to Shao Khan’s usual look makes me think the character WILL be in game… but I cannot say whether he will be a Cut Scene Character or an actual Fighter.
Ultimately… Khan’s presence here tells us nothing definitive. BUT when I do my “All things together” review, we’ll see what I hope or think.

The strange new person is not entirely unrecognizable. IN a Mortal Kombat game I was thoroughly disappointed in, there is some minor Character Creation elements. The very armor being worn by the nameless figure in this clip was an option in Character Creation for Mortal Kombat Armageddon. Unless I’m mistaken (and I may very well be) this is similar to Elder God Armor or the armor being sought by Daegon. IF I’m correct, that could mean this character is an Elder God, someone with the power of an Elder God, or a wanna be Elder God. The background and inclusion of the hourglass, especially noting the direction of sand, makes me think this scene has something to do with Time Travel.

The appearance of Netherealm Scorpion could mean one of many things. It could, as some have suggested, simply mean that this is how the studio is announcing a Gear System. I don’t think that is it at all. The video wasn’t showcasing features. Not overtly. Yes, I believe when Raiden grabbed that Naginata that was a nod to the Environmental Interaction Feature that they are likely bringing over from Injustice. But the gravitas of all of it felt deeper. I think Nether Realm Scorpion is genuinely the Scorpion raised from hell. NOW… that could mean EITHER Time Travel or Intervention by the Nether Realm.

As to the presence of Dark Raiden? Well, the ending of MKX pretty much told us that Raiden had re-embraced his darkness. Dark Raiden is a version of Raiden that exists in both Prime and X timelines resulting from continued invasion of Earth Realm. He just gets to the point where he’s sick of the gentle Earth Realm being targeted and goes Rage Mode, turning in to Dark Raiden. At the conclusion of MKX, he delivered the head of Shinnok to the current rulers of the Nether Realm and threatened them that enemies of the realm would be exterminated.

So… want to see the two possible story lines I’m thinking?

Here’s some backstory for you to help it make sense.

MK9: Mortal Kombat Armageddon erected a huge temple promising any who reached the top God Like Power. All kombatants flocked to the area and fought Battle Royal fights to the death. Only two fighters remain. Shao Khan, tyrannical ruler of Outworld. Raiden, God of Thunder and Protector of Earth. Shao Khan defeats Raiden promising to end all existence. But before the final hammer can crush the life from Raiden, the Thunder God sends three words back in time to his younger self: He must win!

Raiden, trying desperately to prevent whatever calamity occurred in the future, makes vastly different choices in Mortal Kombat. Those choices continue to wildly change in Mortal Kombat 2, the tournament in Outworld. Ultimately, the timeline becomes almost unrecognizable during the events of Mortal Kombat 3, the invasion of Earth Realm. FAR more people die. Heroes that were never killed before lay defeated and dead. Their souls the property of the Nether Realm.

MK9 ends with Raiden having killed Liu Kang and been responsible in part for the death of almost all other Kombatants. After Raiden defeats Shao Khan with the help of the Elder Gods, Raiden, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage depart to repair the world. But out of the darkness, Quan Chi and Shinnok plot. Shinnok, disgraced Elder God and Ruler of the Nether Realm, has designs on Earth Realm.

MKX: Shinnok and his Neather Realm demons are attacking Earth Realm. Shinnok plains to assail Raiden’s Temple, location of the Jinsei, the life force of Earth, and corrupt it. Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and Kenshi are en route to stop those forces. They encounter Scorpion and Sub Zero, once enemies they now fight for Quan Chi. At the Sky Temple, Raiden and Fujin are fighting Demons when Quan Chi resurrects some of the fallen Earth Realm Kombatants to fight their former friend. More of the fallen Earth Realm Kombatants are resurrected to fight Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and Kenshi. Shinnok and Quan Chi enter the temple where the fight continues. Ultimately, Johnny Cage saves the day and Shinnok is trapped inside an amulet held by Raiden.

Twenty Five Years Later

A now older Johnny Cage is briefing a strike team that consists of his daughter Cassie Cage, Jax’ daughter Jacquie Briggs, Kenshi’s son Takeda Takahasi, and Kung Lao’s cousin Kung Jin. We learn that Earth Realm and Outworld now have a non-aggression pact, but that there is a great deal of civil unrest there. Also, we discover that Sub Zero has been resurrected but has not been in contact with any of his former allies in too long. The team is being dispatched to check on Sub Zero but discuss how Outworld’s new Emperor (Kotal Khan) is facing a Civil War and the rebels have no intention to honor a Non-Aggression pact.

In Outworld, Kotal Khan attempts to survey the streets. Kano and D’Vorah are discussing plans to stop the rebels. Mileena, queen of the rebels, is surveying the streets with Tanya and Rain, planning to ambush Khan. Kano attacks Khan revealing his treachery and Kano, Tanya, and Rain fight the Emperor. He fights well but Mileena uses her secret weapon SHINNOK’S AMULET and the rebels escape.

Cassie Cage’s Team inflitrate Sub Zero’s temple but the Lin Kuei Grand Master defeats them easily. He announces that it was a training exercise he set up with Johnny Cage. Sub Zero is human again and back as a good guy! General Sonya Blade calls her ex-husband Johnny Cage to inform him that Outworld Refugees, led by Li Mei, wish to come to Earth Realm. Li Mei informs Raiden of Shinnok’s Amulet (which he did not know was missing) and informs Sonya Blade of Kano’s presence. Raiden and Sonya go to investigate their mysteries while Cassie’s team is ordered to Outworld.

Cassie’s team is attacked by the mercenary Erron Black, then when Kung Jin interferes with an execution, they are attacked by Ferra & Torr. D’Vorah arrives and, honoring the Reiko Accords, agrees to take Cassie’s team to the Emperor. Khan judges the team to be spies for Mileena, but Kung Jin demands trial by combat. Jin wins and asks for the Emperor’s help in finding and defeating Mileena.

Sonya is investigating Kano’s whereabouts and is told by Raiden that Shinnok’s Amulet is indeed gone. Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage communicate and get into an argument. It is here revealed how the dead Kombatants returned to life. Twenty Years Ago, Johnny and Sonya infiltrated Quan Chi’s Fortress. There, they discover the process by which they can restore the Kombatants Scoprion, Sub Zero, and Jax. Back In The Present, Sonya and her team find Kano and force him to tell them where Mileena and the Amulet are.

Cassie gives the information to Khan where Mileena can be found. At this, there is another flashback from D’Vorah’s perspective on how Outworld got to be this way. Mileena demanded the throne, Reptile objected. Mileena orders Ermac to kill Reptile, and Ermac refuses and attacks her. Baraka attacks D’Vorah and is slain. Mileena is imprisoned and Ermac, Reptile, and D’Vorah pledge their allegiance to Kotal Khan. BACK IN THE PRESENT: Cassie’s team finds Mileena and Khan orders Mileena’s execution. D’Vorah kills her easily. However Kotal Khan betrays Cassie’s team and takes them prisoner, stating that he will hold the Earth Realm Warriors Hostage as a negotiation tactic. He will give Raiden back the Warriors if he will be allowed to safeguard Shinnok’s Amulet. However, it is revealed that D’Vorah’s true allegiances lie with Quan Chi and she steals Shinnok’s Amulet for her master.

Meanwhile, Cassie’s team escapes their imprisonment and flee. When Kotal Khan’s forces discover this and D’Vorah’s flight; Khan believes D’Vorah to be a double agent working for Raiden. Khan prepares to attack Earth Realm. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Jax Briggs is given a mission to infiltrate the Nether Realm and report on Quan Chi’s movements.

In the Nether Realm, Jax and Kenshi discover Sareena who helps them find Quan Chi. Quan Chi releases dead Earth Realm Kombatants to attack Jax and Kenshi while he escapes. After fighting the revenant versions of their friends once more, they knock Quan Chi unconscious to bring him back to Earth Realm.

The living heroes gather for Quan Chi when Hanzo (Scorpion) remembers that Quan Chi killed his family. Unwilling to listen to anyone else on the matter, Hanzo moves to kill Quan Chi. D’Vorah appears and throws Quan Chi Shinnok’s Amulet. Quan Chi releases Shinnok right before Scorpion decapitates the Sorcerer Quan Chi. Free again, Shinnok easily subdues the hero Kombatants and tells D’Vorah to bring Johnny Cage with them to the Sky Temple.

Shinnok goes to find Raiden, finding him at Bo’Rai Cho’s house. Shinnok incinerates Bo’Rai Cho and announces his plan to corrupt the Jinsei and trap Raiden in the Amulet. Raiden is defeated but Shinnok enters the Jinsei corrupting earth’s life force and gaining immense power. Raiden watches in horror hoping help arrives.

Cassie Cage’s team approach the Sky Temple only to stumble onto the Outworld Invasion. After defeating the Outworld Kombatants, Jacqui Briggs tries to convince Kotal Khan to come with them to stop Shinnok. Instead, Khan announces he will re-capture Cassie’s team and take them to Outworld to shore up defenses for Outworld against Shinnok. Sub Zero and his Clan arrive, giving Cassie and her team the opportunity to charge the Sky Temple. Cassie and Kung Jin successfully fight to get into the Sky Temple, defeat Corrupted Shinnok, and place Raiden in the Jinsei in hopes to purify Earth. NEXT, we see a dark corrupted Raiden in the Nether Realm as he tells the new rules of Hell that Earth will now actively seek out and destroy all who threaten it. To underscore his point, he throws to the ground the severed but still living head of Shinnok. It is revealed that the new rulers of the Nether Realm are Liu Kang and Kitana!

SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE IN THE STORY FOR WHEN THE ABOVE TRAILER STARTS

Possibility 1

Raiden is at war with the Nether Realm. Still hoping to resurrect fallen Kombatants, he views Liu Kang and Kitana’s claim to their souls as an affront to Earth Realm. Hanzo Scorpion, having learned that sometimes dead must remain dead, fights Raiden in an attempt to get Raiden to see reason. Raiden defeats the human Scorpion, sending his soul to the Nether Realm. Liu Kang, as King of the Nether Realm, resurrects Hanzo as the vengeful Demon Scorpion and sends him against Raiden in the continuing war between Earth Realm and the Nether Realm. At some point, seeing that casualties of the war will simply become soldiers for Liu Kang; Raiden approaches an Elder God and requests assistance. The Elder God demonstrates that Raiden himself is responsible for this as Raiden corrupted the timeline. As for Shao Khan’s presence? The type of armor he is wearing suggests he may be a revenant in the control of Liu Kang.

Possibility 2

Raiden is at war with the Elder Gods. He attempts to chart the streams of Time in an effort to create The Perfect Timeline where the mistakes of Timeline Prime never happened nor the mistakes of Timeline X. Accepting that he changed the future of Earth Realm once, he wishes to do so again. After Raiden’s corruption, the Elder Gods selected Hanzo Scorpion as Earth Realm Guardian and Protector. Hanzo cannot allow Raiden to continually fuck with time as it has created massive issues (like the Insta-Death of the Courtyard audience) and Scorpion fights the corrupted Thunder God. Scorpion loses and is killed by Raiden. However, the Elder God of Time resurrects Demon Hanzo to fight Raiden! Raiden is defeated. The hourglass and Elder God are the realm of Time and the Elder God of Time. Shao Khan’s appearance may be that the Elder Gods have resurrected him and outfitted him to fight Raiden as in all timelines, only Shao Khan can kill the Thunder God.

Just… my speculations. Could be WAY wrong. Might be right. We’ll see.