Summary
Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reignsis the latest expansion from Netherrealm Studios andhas brought a ton of changes. It features six new DLC kharacters, with three already out, multiple new skins, stages, Animalities, balance changes, and a five-chapter long story mode expansion centered around the Lin Kuei and Havik.
Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reignsmight have been a little too short and ended abruptly, but overall it is a solid expansion, and the most notable highlight is Titan Havik. Havik finally gets to shine as a full-fledged antagonist, rather than a backup bad guy. One of the strongest parts ofKhaos Reignsis the Cleric of Khaos just being himself, and while some fans may feel he didn’t get enough of the spotlight, he’s a focal point of the story for long enough to leave fans wanting more, and teasing future expansions.
1MKX Comics
An Appearance Anticipated For Nearly A Decade
TheMortal Kombat Xcomics act as a sort of prequel or bridge to the events ofMKXitself. While the comics did receive a fair amount of critical and fan praise, nothing from the comics really ties down to any part of the narrative of future games.
One of the key highlights of the MKX Comics was Havik as the primary antagonist, working in the shadows and manipulating others to do his bidding. This wasa very popular characterization of Havikand fans were hoping to see something similar. With the disappointment ofMK1Havik being nothing like his comic counterpart, Titan Havik was a welcome addition. While Titan Havik is a more maniacal and whimsical version of the character, it is still great to see the Cleric get his due nearly a decade later.
2The Franchise Needed A New Villain
A Refreshing Course Correction
Mortal Kombatas a franchise has spent a lot of time focusing on Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung as villains. While both of them are excellent characters, with Shao Kahn being an expected mainstay, both characters may be a bit too over-saturated. Shang Tsung has had two incredible back-to-back potrayals, inMortal Kombat 11: Aftermath,and in the main story ofMK1as well. Aside from them, Kronika was seen as underutilized and never really became a big success, nor did Shinnok.
A step away from larger-than-life characters andiconic villainshas given the game a fresh breath of life. While Havikisa titan, he doesn’t fit the same bill as some of the previous villains in the story. His motivations are simple, and he represents a realm that theMortal Kombatuniverse hasn’t utilized in a long time. Hopefully, his involvement is a sign of using other 3D-era characters more.
3He Was Wildly Entertaining
Havik’s Chaotic Energy Hit The Right Spots
Probably the best reason why Havik as the main villain ofMortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reignsworks so well is that Havik himself was wildly entertaining. Hisdesign was incredible, with the strange helmet and hair combo somehow working out for him. He was menacing when necessary, particularly with how he used his limbs, and his voice acting was captivating.
While Havik didn’t have any underlying motivations or complex ideology underpinning his character, he didn’t need anything such as that at all. His motivation was to spread Khaos and that’s all he needed. Havik’s realm was visually stunning, as were his death maze and his odd collection of henchmen. His bouts of fury and his on-the-nose hypocrisy make for a captivating and fun villain that players see just enough of to stay invested in.
4Useful Tool For The Expansion’s Real Purpose
A Plot Device To Set Up Future Storylines
Aside from giving fans moreMortal Kombatcontent, one of the real purposes of the expansion was to push forward Liu Kang’s timeline in line with events from the original timeline. The death of Scorpion’s wife, the descent of Bi-Han into Noob, and the Cyber Lin Kuei are all massive events in the original timeline that are dealt with here.
Havik is sort of used as a tool to push these forward. In the aftermath of Bi-Han’s failed attack on Kuai Liang’s wedding, he fights Havik and is caught and turned into Noob Saibot. Similarly, Scorpion, Sektor, and Cyrax embark on a rescue mission which expands on their characters while also progressing the narrative. The conflict between Sektor and Cyrax is evident, as is the direction in which Scorpion plans on leading the Shirai Ryu. By the end of the expansion, Havik’s plot has led to an established Noob Saibot who isn’t purely evil, a new grandmaster for the Lin Kuei, and some seeds of dissent in Liu Kang’s new era. This may not have been possible effectively with a more established villain who would require more narrative attention.
5Could Be A Set-Up For Future Expansions And Games
Havik Might Be A Sign Of Things To Come
MK1: Khaos Reignswas a seemingly brief story with an abrupt ending. Players never get to see what actually happens to Havik, nor do they see what happens to Noob. Classic storytelling tropes would point to this, meaning fans can expect more Havik,or a further expansion someday soon. With the limited presence of the Kamidogu and Havik’s abrupt and unclear demise, it may be that the Cleric of Khaos could serve as the harbinger of a future foe, or serve to spoil Liu Kang’s new era from safely taking shape.
Havik as the main villain could also be the catalyst for Netherrealm Studios leaning further on 3D era characters, or bringing more plot relevance to some of the under-utilized realms in theMortal Kombatworld, such as Orderrealm. Overall, while some may feel that Havik didn’t get enough time to shine, his somewhat sparse presence works well in giving fans a fun villain, sowing the seeds for further disruptions, and progressing some major story elements regarding the Lin Kuei.
