Summary
As the end ofMortal Kombat 1’s first season of DLC characters approaches, fans have begun to speculate on whether a seemingly unlikely addition to the game could end up getting included after all. Given their popularity in recent entries, it’s almost certain that the next Kombat Pack will feature more guest characters. John Wick has remained one of the most persistently requested following the appearances of action movie characters inMK11, but the iconic vengeful assassin’s addition to the series has also been disavowed by the very actor who plays him. Regardless of the pushback he might have faced as a guest inMortal Kombat 1, inspiration from the continued saga of theJohn Wickfilms could have made for a more multifaceted DLC fighter than a simple gun user.
While comic book origins seem to have been the theme for guest characters of the first Kombat Pack, it’s unknown if NetherRealm will continue this trend with the next batch of DLC.Rumors of Kombat Pack 2’s rosterhave extended back into horror and action movie territory, and it’s not like comics are a new source material to the studio that previously featured Spawn and madeInjustice. There’s still a chance that John Wick could make it into the game in the future, but his inclusion in the initial wave ofMK1’s additional characters could have been a natural fit with a unique niche in the roster.
The Challenges of Implementing John Wick’s Zoner Style
John Wick’s Gameplay in Mortal Kombat Seems Relatively Predictable
Enthusiasm regarding John Wick inMKhas always been somewhat mixed due to the reputation of gun-based zoners in the developer’s past releases. The power of fighters like Erron Black and Deadshot from across the screen in past NRS titles was so dominant that it could define tournament-winning strategies, leading some players to feel frustrated with what could be perceived as overly streamlined and imbalanced combat. While there’s certainly a case to be made thatMortal Kombat 1is better without John Wickwhen considering that he could fall into the same category, the source material of his film series doesn’t limit itself to simple gunplay.
Making John Wick Feel Interesting in Mortal Kombat Would Have Been a Difficult but Worthwhile Task
John Wick Has Used Far More Than Just Firearms
It’s true that guns are his primary weapon as a trained assassin in the world of the High Table’s authority, but John Wick has been in a multitude of situations that showcased his prowess in several other disciplines of combat. Apart from also being an expert hand-to-hand fighter and having been shown using throwing knives just like some ofMK1’s cast,John Wick’s creative action sequenceshave led the character to use anything from a katana to a pencil to dispatch countless goons.
Scenes that feature him sword fighting while riding a motorcycle or escaping other assassins while riding a horse are examples of iconic visuals that could easily have inspired Fatal Blows andFatalities inMortal Kombat 1while establishing a distinct identity for John Wick, but his usage of guns in this context would also have been more novel than it initially seems.
MK1 Lacks Gun Users Apart From Peacemaker
Beforethe addition of Peacemaker toMK1, the game set itself apart from other NRS releases in the past few years through its lack of guns. With Stryker restricted to a Kameo that doesn’t fully focus on shooting, Peacemaker’s pistol use is special, but his other important special moves and the dominance of other projectiles still balance out the presence of guns at all. John Wick joiningMortal Kombat 1with his signature “gun fu” could have allowed the archetype to return with more style, and faithfully depicting the character’s adaptable nature might have made for a fighter that requires a lot more skill from the player than the average zoner.
Mortal Kombat 1
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to a new era of Kombat. NetherRealm Studios ushers in a new era of the iconic fighting franchise with a total reset that changes the entire world as we know it. Following the thrilling climax of Mortal Kombat 11, the all-powerful Fire God Liu Kang has created a New Era in the hope of bringing peace to Earthrealm and beyond. Through the series' most cinematic story mode yet, you’ll be reintroduced to a cast of legendary warriors as you’ve never seen them before. Expect twists on classic friendships and rivalries, as well as new backstories that will change everything you think you know about your favorite Kombatants. Discover a host of new offline and online game modes as you master a revitalized fighting system that boasts bone-crunching Fatal Blows, defensive Breakers and the most creatively vicious Fatalities yet.
