Liu Kang dominates in this Mortal Kombat trailer

By Ryan Fleming Published February 11, 2011

Few who played the original Mortal Kombat will ever forget Liu Kang’s dreaded “gobblg gobble” kick (not its real name), and thankfully that move will return with the character later this Spring, in the upcoming Mortal Kombat title.

Part reboot, part alternative-history sequel, the new Mortal Kombat features a return of the most popular characters form the series’ history, and returns the franchise to its original, ultraviolent roots, where blood and destruction are all par for the course.

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The story begins when Raiden is at the mercy of Shao Kahn. With his last ounce of strength, the present day Raiden warns his past self of what is to come, and in doing so allows the receiving Raiden to help alter events to avoid the cataclysmic future where he and Earth are both doomed. In doing so, he negates the events that have happened, including the original victory of Liu Kang, but he also gives the planet a chance.

Check out the video below featuring Liu Kang, and look for Mortal Kombat on PS3 and Xbox 360 on April 19.

[Warning: Trailer may not be appropriate for all ages]

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…

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Whether against the computer, online, or playing locally on your couch, fighting games offer a pure test of skill that many compare to games like chess. Unlike chess, though, each fighting game has its own rules, systems, matchups, and more to learn. Factor in things like pure 2D versus 3D fighters, extra modes, and character rosters, and any two fighting games can look almost entirely different. Plus, there's always the art style to consider, too. The PS5's hardware is perfect for running fighting games, which demand rock-solid performance, and it's home to all the biggest franchises, from legacy series like Street Fighter and Tekken to one-offs like Dragon Ball FighterZ. If you want to throw down in a one-on-one test of skill, there are the best fighting games for PS5.

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Kitana in Mortal Kombat Onslaught

For franchises with lots of recognizable characters like Marvel, Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings, character-collecting RPGs seem like a no-brainer. These are mobile games where players obtain various versions of iconic characters (usually through a mix of in-game currency and real money) and fight as them. NetherRealm Studios and WB Games’ Mortal Kombat is the next series to make this jump, with Mortal Kombat: Onslaught launching today on iOS and Android.

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An ominous red portal opens up in a field in the Mortal Kombat 1 trailer.

This article contains spoilers for Mortal Kombat 1.
Mortal Kombat 1’s story mode has a bombastic conclusion.
Thousands of characters from a multiverse of timelines face off against each other as Liu Kang and Shang Tsung from Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath’s ending have their final battle. It has a fairly definitive conclusion, with Liu Kang winning and the multiverse continuing to exist, mostly in peace. When it comes to what’s next for the “new era” Liu Kang created, NetherRealm Studios does leave some plot points, especially in the canon Tower character endings, to potentially follow up in a sequel.
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Throughout Mortal Kombat 1, Havik is a minor player in Liu Kang’s new era, serving as a grunt for Shang Tsung before getting part of his face melted off by Scorpion. It looks like this character introduced in Mortal Kombat: Deception will play a much more significant role in a Mortal Kombat 1 sequel, though. A post-credit scene in the game shows a Titan version of Havik, who likely is the master of his own timeline, walk in the aftermath of Mortal Kombat 1’s final battle.
After killing a Jax variant, he waxes poetic to evil-looking versions of Kenshi, Tanya, and Quan-Chi about how glorious it was to see warriors from across timelines all fighting in one place and how it ended too quickly. He concludes by saying: “Next time, it won’t.” It’s safe to assume that this version of the character, referred to in-game as “Lord Havik,” will be the next multiversal threat to Mortal Kombat’s timelines. He will surely create lots of chaos for the heroes.
Reiko is awakening Onaga