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Mortal Kombat 11: Combo Breaker, E3 and beyond! The TYM news team speaks

Charybdis

We are returned! Death to the False Emperor!
The internet is replete with predictions for what to expect from MK11, from it’s launch trailer and what NRS has in store for us there, to overall predictions on roster and story. We’ve brought you some of those predictions here and, needless to say, they are as varied as the fanbase itself. Some people are of the more pessimistic persuasion, predicting another game with a dull roster and guest characters designed to appeal to the more casual audience, some are predicting a game which will descend from the heavens on golden stairs to lead us all to a better world and some are just obsessing over Ed’s tweets.


Pictured: everybody in the Ed Boon Twitter Watch Thread for the next year or so


Well, here’s a set of predictions you haven’t heard before, straight from the TYM news team, the boys working in a dilapidated shack in the Badlands of Edenia with our fingers firmly on the pulse of the community and MK11.


@STORMS really rocks that cowboy hat

Of course, there is no pulse for MK11 because nothing has been announced yet, and there is every possibility nothing will be announced. Precedent does tell us, however, that we should expect something in the next few weeks and rumours tell us it might come as soon as this weekend at Combo Breaker (https://testyourmight.com/threads/mortal-kombat-11-release-trailer-at-combo-breaker-2018.66965/#post-2392550)

Are our predictions based anymore in fact than anyone else’s? Absolutely not.

Are they nevertheless far more important and worthy? Absolutely.

Are they informed and motivated by our inherent biases? Absolutely not and if you think so you’re as wrong as anyone who thinks Kung Lao should come back.

With that said, on with the show!

DO YOU THINK WE WILL GET AN MK11 LAUNCH TRAILER BEFORE E3? IF SO, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE MK11 LAUNCH TRAILER?

Charybdis: Yes. I expect a cinematic trailer with a voice over alluding to chaos and war amongst the realms and people being forced to make alliances and fight together against common foes. I expect to see several characters alluded to or briefly shown cinematically: principally, Raiden, Liu Kang, Kotal Kahn, Cassie, Kung Jin, Scorpion and Sub Zero. I expect it to conclude with a shot of Dark Raiden.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: Yes. We did with both MKX and INJ2 iirc so it's likely to be done here as well. I'm expecting at least 4 characters to be showcased.

HellblazerHawkman: I’m going to get my hopes up and say we’ll get something at Combo Breaker.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT AT E3?

Charybdis: A very rough demo, with two stages and one fatality per character. The demo won’t be playable to the public and will only be shown with Ed talking people through it. It will feature Cassie, Scorpion, Sub Zero, Sindel, Li Mei and one new character.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: Gameplay trailer most likely, but who knows? I'll assume they'll have background footage of people fighting, but beyond that no clue.

HellblazerHawkman: Not a whole lot, since every company seems insistent on saying “WE AREN’T DOING MUCH THIS YEAR”

DO YOU THINK MK11 WILL BE A PURE MORTAL KOMBAT GAME OR WILL IT BE ‘DUAL-BRANDED’ WITH INJUSTICE?

Charybdis: Pure as the driven snow, though guest characters will inevitable be along to spoil the fun.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: Pure for sure. MK vs. DC might not be so well received, especially since they'd have to decide whether to go with the icons, the new characters, or a mix of both, so they'll probably just rake in the easy money with a pure MK11.

HellblazerHawkman: There are still people alive at NRS who also worked on MK vs. DC, can’t see that happening for a while.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ‘GIMMICK’ WILL BE IN MK11?


Charybdis: A revamped and fully implemented tag mode, as well as a ‘battle’ system along the lines of Tekken Team Battle.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: As Charybdis said, most likely Tag Mode will be brought back. I'm wondering if they'll bring back Kreate-A-Fighter; the gear system from Injustice 2 might have been potential warm up for it.

HellblazerHawkman: I will be very upset if it’s not a Konquest Mode.

HOW MANY NEW CHARACTERS DO YOU THINK WE WILL GET?

Charybdis: Four. One will be Kano’s son who will be an anti-hero in the story, one the ‘dream lady’ from Jade’s story, one will be a new Outworld/Netherrealm monster to be the ‘goon’ and one is a wild card.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: Not too many; I think they'll wanna do Kano’s son, and maybe another, but I'm hoping they do more reestablishing of older and somewhat obscure characters; when done right it comes out awesome (Tremor and Tanya, I'm looking at you).

HellblazerHawkman: Won’t be a whole lot. Expecting more characters from the 3D era.

WHICH CHARACTERS CATEGORICALLY MUST COME BACK?


Charybdis: I’ve talked about this elsewhere but, long story short, this game is a huge deal for the roster. There’s a lot of characters who, if they don’t get this time to shine and prove they can be viable candidates for future games, almost certainly never will. To that end, I’d say: Sheeva, Sindel, Kabal, Nightwolf, Stryker and as many 3d characters as possible. Smoke, Noob Saibot, Tanya and Rain have all proved that they have enough popularity to come back and some characters are clearly a lost cause to NRS, so their presence isn’t as categorically crucial as the ones I named.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: We need more Edenians! They spice up the roster to me, so it was sad to only have three in MKX (Kitana, Mileena, Tanya). Hopefully Rain at least will reappear. They might also be prepping for Daegon and Taven to make an appearance.

HellblazerHawkman: Khrome and Mavado. Real talk, I’d like some more out there characters, and not the same ones everyone already expects.

WHICH CHARACTERS CATEGORICALLY SHOULD NOT COME BACK?

Charybdis: The majority of characters who were in both MK9 and MKX who are not indispensable (which to me means Scorpion, Sub Zero and Raiden). They’ve had their time and (as I discussed here https://testyourmight.com/threads/op-ed-why-we-should-want-our-favourite-characters-to-not-return-in-mk11.66937/) for the good of the franchise as a whole, NRS have to prevent fatigue and work to build other characters into viable contenders for inclusion. With that said: Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Jax, Baraka, Mileena, Kenshi, Ermac, Kung Lao, Kano, Quan Chi. Reptile probably should sit out, but he won’t, Kitana and Liu Kang are necessary for story reasons.

HellblazerHawkman: I feel like Johnny Cage, Sonya and Jax should take a breather. Kenshi was the only Kombat Kid parent who didn’t give the “I’m too old for this” vibe to me.

OF THE NEW CHARACTERS INTRODUCED IN MKX, WHO SHOULD COME BACK

Charybdis: I’m tempted to say all of them. I don’t see the point in introducing new characters and just discarding them immediately thereafter. With that said, I expect Cassie, Kung Jin and Jacqui to come back from the Earthrealmers, and Kotal and Erron from Outworld. Ferra/Torr to be forgotten without a word and D’Vorah killed in story mode (or imprisoned), Takeda a surprise death at Raiden’s hand to raise the stakes and convince Kung Jin to fight against Raiden.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: None of them I'd like to see D’Vorah and Takeda come back; the rest can or can't come back, I really could care less. I imagine the 4 Kombat Kids will be released altogether, so who knows?

HellblazerHawkman: D’Vorah fo shorrah. Basically, anybody but the Kombat Kids would be hype.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE ‘FUJIN’ OF THIS GAME?

Charybdis: I’m tempted to say Noob Saibot but I think he’s too popular to be left out, both with us and with NRS. I don’t think there will be an outcry similar to leaving out Fujin in MKX, there isn’t a character as beloved who seems central to this game, but I don’t think we’ll get Sektor AND Cyrax, nor do I think we’ll get Bo Rai Cho. Possibly Sareena.

HellblazerHawkman: Whoever in the main cast won’t return, possibly Mileena?

DO YOU THINK FUJIN WILL FINALLY BE INCLUDED?

Charybdis: Yes.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: No.

HellblazerHawkman: Maybe

WHO DO YOU THINK THE DLC WILL BE, INCLUDING GUESTS:


Charybdis: Sonya Blade, Ermac, Kung Lao, Cyrax/Sektor, Baraka, Mileena, Taven, Johnny Cage, Kenshi. 3 packs of 4, with one guest in each. As for guests, I have no earthly idea so I’ll say they redo Jason and Freddy and throw in Terminator (T-800).

HellblazerHawkman: Not really confident on anyone, but I’d expect a lot of guests again. Spawn might be a reality after all the crying over him in Injustice 2, but who knows?

WHAT WILL BE THE OVERALL ‘THEME’ OF THE ROSTER?

Charybdis: ‘Sorry for MKX’. Bringing back some lesser lights from trilogy and the better characters of the 3d era, though not all of them, and completing the ‘redemption’ of all the series’ villains with Shang Tsung and finally paying off the Dark Raiden saga.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: They'll probably make a MK9esque roster, where there's a good mix of each faction, especially if they are following the route of reinstating the Mortal Kombat tournament from Kotal’s ending. I couldn't see another hugely human focused roster. Chances are Sonya and the gang won't return so their spots will likely go to other factions.

HellblazerHawkman: Probably darker. Seems like stuff is going to go down, so a lot of characters who are more morally grey maybe?

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE MAJOR DEATHS IN STORY MODE?

Charybdis: I expect the next MK game to be a crisis-style crossover so NRS will be trigger happy here. Johnny, Sonya, Kano, Takeda, Kotal, Erron, Ermac, Reptile, Kabal, Stryker, Nightwolf, Kenshi, Sindel, Raiden will all bite the dust somehow (Jax retires). Reiko, Shujinko and Skarlet will be confirmed as dead.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: Wouldn't be surprised if the special forces humans died. They're old anyways and are basically replaced by their kids (besides Kenshi). If Tanya died that'd be fabulous. No one betrays my Rain. NO ONE.

HellblazerHawkman: Liu Kang and/or Kitana. Maybe even Johnny or Sonya.

DO YOU THINK WE’LL SEE ANY 3D ERA CHARACTERS?

Charybdis: Yes. Li Mei, Havik and Daegon. I want my Hotaru, Ashrah and Kobra but being realistic, no chance. Similarly, the likes of Hsu Hao, Mavado, Drahmin have very little chance of returning.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: Yes; in fact I'm betting on it. I'd be surprised who they could create when there's plenty of characters already created that simply aren't utilized.

HellblazerHawkman: I think Ashrah is a strong possibility, not confident on anyone else just yet. Maybe a gag character like Meat or Mokap for DLC?

WHO DO YOU THINK THE PRE-ORDER BONUS WILL BE:

Charybdis: Non canon Shao Kahn. And I may very well main him, dammit.

HellblazerHawkman: Kintaro.

WHO DO YOU THINK THE FINAL BOSS WILL BE?

Charybdis: Dark Raiden.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: Jade’s ghost lady? I feel like she'll make an appearance this game and might be the big bad for MK11.

HellblazerHawkman: Somebody possibly new? Too early for Onaga, but I think this will be their chance to set that up.

DO YOU THINK WE WILL GET A ‘STINGER’ AT THE END OF STORY MODE?

Charybdis: Yes. Either Emperor Shang Tsung or the return of Onaga.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: Rehash of Onaga’s birth. Or maybe they're saving Jade for MK12?

HellblazerHawkman: Maybe something involving the other realms finally? Seems like it’s always been Earthrealm and Outworld, haven’t explored too far beyond them in this new timeline.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN THE VERY FIRST MK11 EVO?

Charybdis: @Braindead obviously. Otherwise, I think @ForeverKing's time is nigh, though only a fool bets against @SonicFox5000.

TheCoolestKingOnTheBlock: I'm scared of the Fox so I'll say him.

HellblazerHawkman: Me. I’m coming for the EVO title COME AT ME!
 
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JBeezYBabY

Mr. Righteous
Be some time before I am a big enough youtuber for that kinda stuff. Although my end game is to overthrow maximillian and save the fgc.
Ugh...I'm thinking about going with my friends since its open to the public this year. Would be awesome to meet, drink, and be up at the MK area :)