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Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Story Mode Hands-On Preview From GamesCom + 20 Min Play Through and Kronika

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Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Story Mode Hands-On Preview From GamesCom + 20 Min Play Through and Kronika

Post by Gambid »

During GamesCom 2023 Netherrealm Studios and WB Games unveiled, behind closed doors, two of the single player modes of Mortal Kombat 1 (2023), Story Mode and Invasions. Luckily we were behind these closed doors and got to experience both of them and brought some footage with us.

You can read our Preview of Invasions Mode here and in this article we will focus on the other single player mode, Story Mode. As this is Story Mode, there will be spoilers, so I suggest you don't read further if you are trying to avoid them.
Mortal Kombat 1 Story Mode Sub-Zero
During GamesCom 2023 we played the Prologue and Chapter 1 which is Kung Lao's chapter. So keep in mind everything we are writing is based only on what we saw.

With this iteration of Story Mode, Netherrealm Studios is showing us once again why they are king of this type of modes in fighting games.
Mortal Kombat 1 Story Mode Shang Tsung
Story Mode begins with Shang Tsung, a wanna-be sorcerer, who sells fake potions in Outworld. After getting his ass kicked by some "happy" customers, he returns home to lick his wounds. There he is visited by Kronika (yes, she returns and is present in Story Mode), who tells him that she is here to help him become the sorcerer he was meant to be and to put the realms at his feet.
Mortal Kombat 1 Story Mode Kronika
Chapter 1 begins with a much lighter tone, something we are not used to see from Story Mode. Raiden and Kung Lao are working on the field and after finishing their work they go to Madam Bo's Teahouse to grab something to eat.
Mortal Kombat 1 Story Mode Raiden and Kung Lao
A moment later the Lin Kuei show up to demand money from the old woman for protection. She refuses and it is up to the two to help her and save the day, even though she can pretty much hold her own based on what we see.
Mortal Kombat 1 Story Mode Madam Bo VS. Smoke
I am skipping a lot of details and will just point you to our exclusive play through Story Mode. 20 minutes of amazing footage await in the video below:
The graphics in Story Mode look amazing. The faces, the animation, the environments, the overall level of fidelity have all reached new heights. Game play-wise it is interesting to see that you cannot use for example Kung Lao's hat in the fights because he does not have it at that point in the story. There are also no Kameos in some of the fights, which takes away your forward throw and also of your breaker as they are performed by the Kameo roster fighter. In one of the fights Raiden is your Kameo, even though he isn't a Kameo roster fighter. From what we saw, Netherrealm has reached a new level of battle customization, which opens up the door even wider for modes such as Invasions.

With Story Mode Netherrealm Studios is staying true to its formula from the previous 4 games, sticking to "If it ain't broken, don't fix it!". Each chapter focuses on a specific character meaning that this character will do all the fighting and will thus also be victorious, defeating all their opponents, no matter who they are. And this brings back a certain subject of discussion very early on. During the first chapter. a still in training Kung Lao defeats all the higher ranking members of Lin Kuei clan, including Sub-Zero, their Grand Master. This can make it difficult later on for the writers to create a skillful, experienced and if necessary menacing leader out of the character of Sub-Zero.

Overall we must say, we are excited and can't wait to play the complete version of Story Mode. In just a single chapter Netherrealm Studios managed to jump start several different story threads that we can't wait to follow.

What do you think of Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Story Mode so far, tell us in the comments.

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Re: Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Story Mode Hands-On Preview From GamesCom + 20 Min Play Through and Kronika

Post by Roy Arkon »

There's no issue at all. First of, upsets happen, just because something is unlikely to happen that doesn't it can't happen, and Kung Lao is a formidable warrior. Also, Kung Lao didn't beat the entire Lin Kuei, but only Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Smoke, while Raiden beat everyone else. They both beat the Lin Kuei together. And finally, this was clearly a set up by Liu Kang to test Raiden and Kung Lao.

NRS/WB have no issues in their stories, the chapter-based doesn't ruin characters at all. Anyone who actually gonna take Sub-Zero's loss to Kung Lao as a sign of weakness in general, especially that it is so obvious that it was only a test, doesn't understand how storytelling works, and the people who cry about it are only the vocal minority who think that they know everything but in reality they don't.

Anyway, this is only the first chapter and the story is already amazing, I can't wait to see how things turn out with Shang Tsung and Kronika, and how Kronika managed to come back after MK11.
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Re: Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Story Mode Hands-On Preview From GamesCom + 20 Min Play Through and Kronika

Post by Gambid »

This is not exactly a news article, it is a Hands-On Preview and I am sorry if these two sentences are the only thing that stayed with you from the entire article. But I stay by my opinion.

I did correct a few things. You are right, not the entire clan, just the higher ranking members. We are talking about this version of Kung Lao, still in training, against the Grand Master of the Lin Kuei. If the Lin Kuei is working with Liu Kang (something that we don't know) then how would you explain Madam Bo being thrown out like this by Smoke. For all we know, she may be dead, unless Liu Kang saved her.

I also never said the word ruin so let''s not put stuff in the text that were never there to begin with.

Story Mode has so many good things in it and I mention a lot of them. I cannot imagine a Mortal Kombat game without it. I do truly believe though that the chosen character chapter format is limiting the narrative and what the writers can do. I do understand it, as it gives new players the chance to get used to a character as usually the final battle of the chapter is the hardest but it has created not one and two head scratching situations. Don't think it is fair to anyone to say if you misinterpret or misunderstand then you don't understand how story telling works. How do you get from what I wrote to a vocal minority who cries is beyond me, what I wrote, is my opinion, no one else's.

The moment we stop sharing our honest opinions is the moment we stop making progress.

I really love Story Mode, I hope that this comes through with the article. The final battle did made me raise my eye brow though, especially when Kung Lao said "You sure you are the grand master.". Kung Lao is one of my favorite characters btw. and I hope that whatever happens next explains the situation but as of right now, it does not and the writers will have a much more difficult time to shape Sub-Zero as competent and capable in the role of Grand Master if that is what they are going for.
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Re: Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Story Mode Hands-On Preview From GamesCom + 20 Min Play Through and Kronika

Post by Roy Arkon »

I didn't force you to change your opinion, all I did say is that the wording in the article, due to showing only parts of what actually happening, as well as saying that all players will view Sub-Zero in a bad way because of this, will not do us any favors as the content of such say is in the same spectrum of random online people who complain for the sake of it alone and try to find any excuse why NRS/WB games are bad. I've seen this before, and I was worried about the reputation of the site because of this.

Just to put this into perspective, not only it is very obvious, judging by all the trailers that we had so far, that Lin Kuei in this timeline is protecting Earthrealm, and that Liu Kang was watching Raiden and Kung Lao from the sidelines, that this is all of a test and therefore the Lin Kuei Ninjas didn't fight in their full power. Even if it turns out that they didn't, no one is gonna think about Sub-Zero as weak, incompetent warrior, especially since he's most likely gonna have a chapter of his own.

Also regarding Madam Bo, since it is very likely to be a test, it's possible that either the table was setup underneath to protect her or, as you suggested, she was healed by Liu Kang.

So not only we can already get so many possible and very reasonable explanations for how and why things went the way there were, but calling out the characters being viewed by players as too weak or too strong just because of the raw results is just wrong. And going back to the random interent bashers, they even omit details to feat their narrative or just making excuses. I've seen people saying that Kotal Kahn is "too weak" only because Shao Kahn broke his back and he lost to Kung Jin and Jacqui, even though that in both MKX and MK11, he won overall way more matches that he lost to, and even against Sheeva in MK11, he wasn't at his full strength (just like the Lin Kuei here are very likely not), but because Kotal Kahn is such a cool looking char, they created this narrative that anything that can even give the hint that he's weak is unacceptable. And that's only one example.

And regarding what you said to me privately about NRS/WB story villains, I can't in any way see the logic on how and why they are not legit villains. Just because somebody else managed to trick them (Shao Kahn) or they lost to someone that we are not accustomed to win (Shinnok losing to Cassie) or just brand new with powers that we only now get to know and once again are not accustomed to, that doesn't make them not legit. Shao Kahn still did a ton of menacing stuff and was on the brick of winning in MK9, Shinnok could've only lose to Johnny and Cassie due to their being part of a race that were bred to fight gods like him, Quan Chi was beaten only by Scorpion, Sonya and Jax, with Scorpion being a strong warrior himself, then against Sonya Quan Chi wasn't at his full power because he didn't have Shinnok as a power source (as explained by Jax), and Jax beat Quan Chi for that same reason as well as the fact that Quan Chi was injured in the fight between the SF and BOD. And finally, Kronika is new and introduced the concept of Titans being stronger than Elder Gods, just like we didn't know about Shinnok until MK4, or the One Being until MK Deception, or Onaga until MKDA when he was hinted in the game's intro.

So you also, as much as it pains me to say it, making claims about the story mode without taking all factors into account. And even if you wanna see a villain that check all the boxes that you claim that were not checked, look no further than Shang Tsung in MK11.

We can express opinions, we can show concerns if they are there and legit, but to express them based on very little information, and ignoring factors that we do know, let alone making things up, and then bashing great games and hard working developers and publishers on top of that who do make these games for us, is just not ok. I didn't want the site to become yet another one of those negativity places for MK, especially that both Test Your Might and MK Online already are both full of it (and trust me, I've seen some really nasty stuff in them, and these are supposed to be MK fans sites just like ours).

I hope that I explained myself properly, and great to see that you changed the wording on the article.
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Re: Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Story Mode Hands-On Preview From GamesCom + 20 Min Play Through and Kronika

Post by Gambid »

We can express opinions, we can show concerns if they are there and legit, but to express them based on very little information, and ignoring factors that we do know, let alone making things up, and then bashing great games and hard working developers and publishers on top of that who do make these games for us, is just not ok. I didn't want the site to become yet another one of those negativity places for MK, especially that both Test Your Might and MK Online already are both full of it (and trust me, I've seen some really nasty stuff in them, and these are supposed to be MK fans sites just like ours).
OK, let me stop you right there, because you continue to put things in what I write that are simply not there. I expressed a legit concern based on what I played and what was also in the previous games. If it turns out I am wrong and it gets explained in a logical way, great. There is constructive and destructive criticism and one needs to learn to differentiate between them. None of it is meant negatively or with disrespect towards anyone and you even going there is actually surprising to me.

I never said the villains are not legit btw, I said and quote "NRS has had for example a problem creating a really menacing and dangerous villains ever since MK9's Shao Kahn."

This comes partially from the game play side as well. Shao Kahn in MK9 was the last really hard villain to beat. When you were going up against him you could feel the danger with your bones. I don't feel this with the others and I am a Shinnok fan. I absolutely enjoyed Shang Tsung and was extremely happy that Netherrealm finally put him before Quan Chi.
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Re: Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Story Mode Hands-On Preview From GamesCom + 20 Min Play Through and Kronika

Post by Roy Arkon »

Gambid wrote: Sun Aug 27, 2023 4:41 pm
We can express opinions, we can show concerns if they are there and legit, but to express them based on very little information, and ignoring factors that we do know, let alone making things up, and then bashing great games and hard working developers and publishers on top of that who do make these games for us, is just not ok. I didn't want the site to become yet another one of those negativity places for MK, especially that both Test Your Might and MK Online already are both full of it (and trust me, I've seen some really nasty stuff in them, and these are supposed to be MK fans sites just like ours).
OK, let me stop you right there, because you continue to put things in what I write that are simply not there. I expressed a legit concern based on what I played and what was also in the previous games. If it turns out I am wrong and it gets explained in a logical way, great. There is constructive and destructive criticism and one needs to learn to differentiate between them. None of it is meant negatively or with disrespect towards anyone and you even going there is actually surprising to me.

I never said the villains are not legit btw, I said and quote "NRS has had for example a problem creating a really menacing and dangerous villains ever since MK9's Shao Kahn."

This comes partially from the game play side as well. Shao Kahn in MK9 was the last really hard villain to beat. When you were going up against him you could feel the danger with your bones. I don't feel this with the others and I am a Shinnok fan. I absolutely enjoyed Shang Tsung and was extremely happy that Netherrealm finally put him before Quan Chi.
Yes there is a difference between constructive and destructive criticism, but you claim that what said is constructive while it couldn't've been any further from the truth. That critique that you gave is, once again, based on very partial and limited information that you clearly cannot gather from the footage alone, especially considering that there are already theories on why and how things are as they are in that Chapter 1 of the story mode, including everything regarding the Lin Kuei attack on the Teahouse.

Also you do say that NRS/WB's villains are not legit. The whole point of the villain is to be dangerous and menacing, so if you're saying that they are not either of that, this means that, according to your own words, are not legit villains. I'm very sorry but that is pure contradiction right there.

And even in terms of gameplay, both Corrupted Shinnok and Kronika are much harder bosses than MK9 Shao Kahn. Yes Shao Kahn used a lot of cheap moves, but unlike Shinnok or Kronika, his moves are actually very exploitable, and Goro and Kintaro are even more exploitable than him.

So yes, it is destructive criticism because not only that it is based on objectively false info, but it falls under the same mentality that the random interent bashers have that "only MK9 was good and everything else that came after is bad", when in reality, at best case scenario, this statement and mentality only comes only come just lack of knowledge on that games and/or blind nostalgia, and at worst, once again, just to find any excuse to bash the game, if not even a combination of of these reasons if not all of them. As I said already, I've seen this mentality and these comments before, and this is why I was concerned about the reputation of the site, because then it would fall under the same negative mentality, comments and behavior that the bashers have.

Just to further prove it, here's a video from Ketchup in which he explains all the exploits against Shao Kahn, Goro and Kintaro, and not in Arcade mode, but the Challenge Tower, in which you have to deal with the debuffs against the bosses, and how despite all of that, not only you can exploit the bosses, but Mileena, who's not a boss char, is actually more difficult than all the bosses, including Shao Kahn. So if you can exploit the bosses here, it's really not hard to figure out that, once you apply these exploits into Arcade mode, where you don't have the debuffs, they become significantly easier to deal with.

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Re: Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Story Mode Hands-On Preview From GamesCom + 20 Min Play Through and Kronika

Post by Gambid »

I am stopping this discussion as you keep putting things in my words that I never said and never meant, so it makes no sense for me to say anything more. You would turn it around in the same way anyway.

You made two sentences sound like a master plan to take over the universe. Even if I turn out to be completely wrong, which would be great, I still stand behind what I wrote and you cannot change that.

I don't care about what the internet thinks or say, I don't read posts of fans and "fans" on other sites, twitter, youtube and so on and never have so accusing me for catering towards someone or something is insulting to me.

Based on the discussion, I am starting to think that you considered the worst of intent in my opinion when I dared to write something that isn't 100% flattering. This is honestly not OK. You completely ignored everything else I wrote and focused only on this.

And the worst thing, instead of coming to me first to resolve the situation you started a huge discussion here. I always contacted you first when there was something, yet you don't reciprocate, which in my opinion is not OK. I worked my ass off to prepare everything, traveled 700km and what I get are just public accusations.

I have been covering the franchise for the past 21 years, would I have done this if it didn't mean the world to me?
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Re: Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) Story Mode Hands-On Preview From GamesCom + 20 Min Play Through and Kronika

Post by Roy Arkon »

I'm in no way unappreciative or disrespectful towards your work or dedication to this website. I, just like everyone here, appreciate and respect what you've done here for so long. The fact that you take my comments into this direction is beyond me. I also have worked on this site, not as much or as long as you did, but I did for a good amount both in time and effort, so I know how much work, time and dedication it is for you to cover news, maintain a site, and adding content to the site for so many years.

I focused on that particular paragraph because I know, from personal experience and from I've saw, it can be a legit danger to our site. This was in no way, shape or form an attack on you personally, or on your overall work. As a matter of fact, I kept my level of respect and manners for you throughout this whole discussion no matter what. I didn't accuse you of anything, I didn't force you to change your opinion, I didn't put things in your mouth, none of that. Everything I said was in the confines of the discussion as well as keeping things in an assertive yet respectful manner. And yes I did took our the discussion here, because I was so concerned about what people might think about our site because of this, I had to put my response in both places so that people will see that this is not another negativity-filled interent space. But also, in addition to the thread, I took the discussion to private messages, and I did it because I respect you. Just like everytime that I wanted to be sure about something that I wanted to do on the site like posting news, I always went to you first for suggestions and help. And once again, it was because of my respect for you.

And yes, you maybe don't know or care about how other people can do with their words and comments online, but I do, and trust me, I wanted to this because I wanted to help the site, nothing against you in anyway, and it was all from experience.

And on top of that, I didn't ignore the rest of the news post, as I mentioned in my last sentence of my first comment. I mentioned things that happened in the story in general and showed my excitement for it as well.

Not to mention that you ignored all of my points regarding what you said about villains and bosses in my last comment. If you don't have anything to say to respond to it that's one thing, but to say that I accuse you and don't respect you? That's just messed up. Again, the fact that you take my comments into this direction is beyond me.

I will end this here as well, as this has indeed been getting heated way too much. Once again it is great that you changed the wording, and once again I truly appreciate and respect all of your dedication and work for the site for say many years, we all do, including taking a trip just to cover the news. I truly hope that we can move on from here.
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