NetherRealm Studios is keeping fans on their toes with the highly anticipated Khaos Reigns DLC for Mortal Kombat 1. This new expansion not only introduces a slew of new Kombatants to the roster, including the chilling Ghostface from the Scream franchise, but it also breathes new life into a cherished feature from the series' history: Animalities.
Details of Mortal Kombat 1 Animalities
Reaching back to the glory days of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Animalities were a unique finisher mechanic that allowed characters to transform into various animals, unleashing extravagant and often comical finishing moves. While some found the feature a little bit too over-the-top, a passionate contingent of fans have been clamoring for its return, and their wishes have been granted.
In a recent Kombat Kast episode, NetherRealm confirmed that every character in Mortal Kombat 1, including the DLC roster, will be receiving their own unique Animalities. Described by the team as the "spirit animal morph" of each Kombatant, Animalities are designed to embody the personality and essence of the characters in creative and often surprising ways. While some Animalities have already been revealed, such as Mileena's vicious Orchid Mantis transformation, others are being kept tightly under wraps.
One particularly intriguing aspect of the Khaos Reigns DLC is the inclusion of Animalities for the guest characters. This presents NetherRealm with a unique opportunity to fully showcase their interpretation of these iconic pop culture figures, going beyond their standard Fatalities and Brutalities.
Mortal Kombat 1 Animality Finishers Confirmed So Far
Not all MK1 animalities have been confirmed yet, but so far, here are the characters whose animalities have been revealed online:
From the Main Roster
- Cyrax: Giant Hornet - Stings the opponent in the head until explosion
- General Shao: Grizzly Bear - Claws the opponent until they fall, then bites their head off
- Geras: Hippopotamus - Traps the opponent in his mouth and crushes them
- Johnny Cage: Great White Shark - Swims up to the opponent and bites them in half
- Kenshi: Wolf - The wolf and its Sento Spirit pounce on the opponent, biting both halves of the body off
- Kitana: Hummingbird - After killing the opponent with repeated pecks to the head, she feeds on their blood as their body wilts
- Liu Kang: Phoenix - Burns the opponent's flesh with his wings
- Mileena: Orchid Mantis - Eats the opponent's head off
- Noob Saibot: Crocodile - The croc and its black variant rip the opponent's body in half by pulling away from each other
- Quan Chi: Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil - TBA
- Rain: Pufferfish - Grows while in the opponent's body, blowing them up from within
- Reiko: Ram - Charges the opponent at full force
- Reptile: Giant Venus Flytrap - Chomps on the opponent, causing their head and arm to rip off
- Scorpion: Giant Scorpion - TBA
- Sektor: White Rhinoceros - Charges the opponent and impales them, the drags them across the floor
- Smoke: Silverback Gorilla - Drags the opponent along the ground, splitting them in half
- Sub-Zero: Woolly Mammoth - Impales the opponent with one tusk and then splits them in two
- Takeda: Giant Octopus - Pulls his impaled opponent underwater and rips them apart, eating their torso
From DLC Characters
- Homelander: Griffin - Throws his opponent into the air, then slices them in half with lasers
- Omni-Man: Hail Mary Kaiju - Crushes the opponent, then bites them in half with his teeth and tentacles
- Peacemaker: Bald Eagle - Slashes the opponents' legs off, then shoots them with a rifle before dropping a grenade on the remains
Wrapping Up
With the return of Animalities, the Khaos Reigns DLC for Mortal Kombat 1 is shaping up to be an exciting experience for fans. By mixing familiar mechanics with fresh innovations, NetherRealm looks like it has delivered an experience that will satisfy both longtime devotees and newcomers. The MK1 DLC just released on September 24, so if you're itching to try out the new Animalities, you should prepare to get downloading.