The Mortal Kombat series is known for its complex story, and Mortal Kombat 1 continues this tradition. Even though it’s a follow-up to Mortal Kombat 11, it goes in a completely new direction by changing the timeline and creating a fresh universe. Some familiar characters look different, and even some lesser-known characters from the past get a chance to be important.
To explain it simply, the first seven Mortal Kombat games had a big problem that made Raiden use time travel to fix it. He did save the universe, but he also lost many friends in the process. Then, in the new timeline, a powerful being named Kronika caused trouble. Eventually, Liu Kang defeated her and became the Keeper of Time. He’s a good guy who wants to make a perfect world.
Instead of just getting rid of the bad guys in Mortal Kombat, Liu Kang is trying to make them better. He gives characters like Shao Kahn, Mileena, Rain, and Reptile what he thinks they want or need. If they are happy, they might help everyone.
But this plan is in danger of falling apart. We don’t know if it’s because Liu’s plan is not perfect or if someone is trying to mess it up, or maybe both. But Liu Kang is determined to make things right. This is different from the old Mortal Kombat story.
The Heroes of Light
In the Old Mortal Kombat Stories
Lord Raiden was Earthrealm’s protector and the God of Thunder. He had a big job – finding strong fighters to compete in Mortal Kombat, a tournament that stopped bad folks from taking over Earth. But Earth kept losing these tournaments, until Liu Kang, a skilled warrior, came along. Raiden believed Liu Kang was special, and he was right. Liu Kang won the tournament and saved Earth.
Kung Lao was Liu Kang’s best friend and rival. He didn’t know it, but he was related to a great warrior named Kung Lao from the past who was killed by Goro. Kung Lao always felt like he had to save the world to make up for his family’s past. Even though he had a good heart, his jealousy sometimes made him do risky things.
In another version of the story, Raiden and Liu Kang’s friendship fell apart because Raiden made some bad choices trying to change history. Liu Kang died and became a servant of the Netherrealm, a bad place. But later, they patched things up and stopped Kronika, a powerful villain. During their adventure, Liu Kang became a god, and Raiden gave up his god powers to become a regular person again.
Changes in Mortal Kombat 1’s New Timeline
In this different version of the Mortal Kombat story, things have flipped around. Liu Kang is now the God of Fire and Earthrealm’s protector. Raiden, who used to be mighty, is just a farmer, but he’s really good at fighting and can shoot electricity.
Liu Kang has taken Raiden under his wing and chosen him as the hero of Mortal Kombat. Unlike before, the Great Kung Lao, a famous fighter, didn’t get beaten badly in this world. The Mortal Kombat tournament is more like a fun way for Earthrealm and Outworld to share their cultures. The new Kung Lao wants to show he’s a great warrior too, but he plans to be more careful and less hasty than the old Kung Lao.
The Lin Kuei
In the Old Mortal Kombat Stories
The Lin Kuei used to be a group of assassins who would do jobs for anyone who paid them. One of their best fighters was Bi-Han, who was the first Sub-Zero. He was famous for being a really tough and merciless killer. In one mission, where he killed his rival Scorpion, he almost let the Netherrealm invade Earthrealm before he stopped it. Afterward, he was told that sticking with the Lin Kuei would ruin any chance he had of becoming a better person. But he didn’t listen and ended up being confronted and killed by a resurrected Scorpion. Bi-Han himself came back as the evil wraith Noob Saibot, and he lost all his compassion.
Bi-Han’s brother, Kuai-Liang, then became the new Sub-Zero. He was a good and honorable person who didn’t like what the Lin Kuei had become. The leader of the Lin Kuei, along with his son Sektor, was turning their assassins into cyborgs without their permission. The second Sub-Zero decided to change things. He turned the Lin Kuei into an organization that protected Earthrealm from evil.
When Tomas Vrbada was a kid, he got kidnapped and used in a cult’s sacrifice. This turned him into a creature made of smoke called an Enenra. He called himself Smoke and joined the Lin Kuei, and he became close friends with Kuai-Liang. Sadly, his fate was always sad. In one version of the story, he got turned into a robot and made to be evil. In the other version, he got killed and turned into a revenant.
The Lin Kuei’s biggest enemies were the Shirai-Ryu ninja clan, and the most famous member of that clan was Hanzo Hasashi, known as Scorpion. After Bi-Han killed him during a mission, Scorpion came back to life and got his revenge. In both versions of the story, his actions became unpredictable, especially when it came to his relationship with the second Sub-Zero. In one version, he became human again (while keeping his Hell powers), led the Shirai-Ryu, and became close friends with Sub-Zero.
Changes in Mortal Kombat 1’s New Timeline
In this different version of the Mortal Kombat story, the Lin Kuei, who were once Earthrealm’s protectors, have gone through some big changes. Bi-Han and Kuai-Liang, both sons of the Grandmaster, have different ideas about their role. Bi-Han, who becomes Sub-Zero, no longer wants to protect Earthrealm and thinks the Lin Kuei should rule the world. Kuai-Liang, on the other hand, now has fire-based powers and goes by the name Scorpion.
There’s also Smoke, their adopted brother. His parents tragically died near the Lin Kuei headquarters when he was a kid. We’re not sure if he’s still the same person as Tomas Vrbada, but Kuai-Liang considers him family, even though they’re not related by blood.
Outworld Monsters
In the Old Mortal Kombat Stories
The Tarkatans were a strange bunch of creatures in Outworld. They had lots of sharp teeth and bony spikes poking out of their bodies. They lived in the desolate wastelands of Outworld, and their leader was a guy named Baraka. Baraka worked for Shao Kahn, hoping to make his people important and get them a good place in Shao Kahn’s rule. Basically, all Baraka wanted was fairness for his folks, plus loads of blood and meat to eat.
Reptile was from the Saurian race, sort of like lizard people. Sadly, Shao Kahn enslaved them and almost wiped them out. Reptile was so desperate to bring his race back or at least make people like them that he worked as a soldier for different rulers. The only one who really treated him well was Kotal Kahn. They both understood what it was like to be the last of their kind, so they had a special bond.
Changes in Mortal Kombat 1’s New Timeline
In this different version of the Mortal Kombat story, there’s a strange illness called Tarkat that’s spreading in Outworld. It turns people into toothy creatures with bone spikes, and these folks are treated like outcasts, a bit like lepers. Even Baraka, who used to be a merchant, got hit by this disease. Seeing his people suffer, he decided to stand up for the infected and fight for their hope.
It’s puzzling that there’s no cure for this illness. It makes you wonder why Liu Kang didn’t do something about it. Could it have been caused by someone from the outside? Or maybe it’s a leftover problem from the old reality trying to come back?
Meanwhile, among the lizard-like Saurian race, there’s a guy named Syzoth, also known as Reptile. He can change into a human ninja, which made him an outsider among his own kind. Now, he’s friends with the heroes of Earthrealm and finally found the acceptance he was looking for.
The Outworld Throne
In the Old Mortal Kombat Stories
After defeating the previous leader, Onaga, Shao Kahn became the ruler of Outworld. Shao Kahn was obsessed with conquering other realms. He targeted Edenia, a realm ruled by King Jerrod and Queen Sindel. With Sindel’s help, Shao Kahn killed Jerrod and merged Edenia with Outworld. Sindel later died, and Shao Kahn raised Sindel’s daughter, Kitana, training her to be a deadly assassin.
Over time, Shao Kahn became dissatisfied with Kitana’s lack of ruthlessness. He wanted a daughter who shared his brutal nature, so he asked Shang Tsung to create one. Shang Tsung used Kitana’s essence and mixed it with Tarkatan biology to create Mileena, who turned out to be wild and vicious. Despite her loyalty to Shao Kahn, all Mileena really wanted was her sister Kitana’s love and approval. However, Kitana was repelled by Mileena, which made Mileena even more unstable.
As time passed, Kitana discovered her true parentage and broke free from Shao Kahn’s control. She became a strong leader on her own. Sindel, who had been resurrected, had her alignment portrayed differently by various writers – sometimes as good, other times as evil. In Mortal Kombat 11, she and Shao Kahn were shown to be in love, but Sindel considered Kitana a disappointment.
What Mortal Kombat 1’s Timeline Changes
In the new timeline of Mortal Kombat 1, Sindel is a kind ruler of Outworld, mourning the loss of her husband Jerrod. She and Lord Liu Kang established the Mortal Kombat tournament years ago. Sindel had twin daughters, Mileena and Kitana. As Mileena was born first, she is expected to become empress one day.
Kitana cares deeply for her sister and believes that Mileena should be the ruler. However, Mileena is paranoid, especially because there are rumors that Kitana might be better suited for the throne. To make things more complicated, Mileena seems to be infected by the Tarkat plague. If the public were to find out, it could jeopardize her claim to the throne.
As for Shao Kahn, his new backstory is somewhat like Steve Rogers. He was once a sickly and weak child but underwent intense training that transformed him into a formidable soldier. He is now known as General Shao, a celebrated military hero. Although he fights for Outworld, he disapproves of Sindel’s friendship with Liu Kang and has little respect for the Earthrealm warriors.
Warriors of Outworld
In the Old Mortal Kombat Stories
Tanya, an Edenian, wanted to free her people from Outworld’s control. But her survival instincts often led her to side with whoever seemed more dangerous, even if it meant betraying others. In the past, she worked for Shinnok, Onaga, and Mileena.
Reiko was one of Shao Kahn’s top generals. While he enjoyed the violence that came with the emperor’s orders, he secretly wished to kill Shao and take over Outworld. He even wore Shao Kahn’s skull mask when no one was around, dreaming of the day he could make his move.
Then there was Li Mei, an Outworld villager whose life was repeatedly affected by Outworld’s worst villains. In one timeline, her people were enslaved by Shang Tsung and Quan Chi. In another, she led her people to Earthrealm as refugees to escape Mileena’s wrath.
Changes in Mortal Kombat 1’s New Timeline
The Umgadi are a group of highly trained warrior women tasked with protecting the Outworld throne at any cost. Li Mei used to be one of them but was blamed for failing to stop King Jerrod’s murder. She left her position and became a constable, determined to make up for her past mistakes.
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