The final act of Mortal Kombat 1 has understood its task

PLEASE NOTE: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Mortal Kombat 1. Despite all the blood, guts, and brutal finishers, the Mortal Kombat series can be far from serious. While it is one of the most violent video game franchises of all time, Mortal Kombat adopts an ironic tone that is even exaggerated as it unfolds. So, while it may be true that players witness severed limbs, exploding heads, and more blood than a slaughterhouse in just an average Mortal Kombat match, it is always played for laughs. And Mortal Kombat 1 is no exception.

This ironic tone often extends to the story mode of Mortal Kombat as well. Although a Mortal Kombat campaign can have some very pivotal moments and the death of certain characters, it is rarely presented in a serious manner, and there are usually enough bizarre elements to constantly remind players of the lighthearted overall feel of Mortal Kombat. This is certainly the case in the story mode of Mortal Kombat 1, which remains fairly grounded for the most part but becomes absolutely insane in its final act, albeit in the best possible way.

Mortal Kombat 1's Final Act Is Perfectly Bombastic

The story mode of Mortal Kombat 1 picks up directly after the Aftermath DLC of Mortal Kombat 11, wherein the Fire God Liu Kang has taken control of Kronika's Hourglass and is tasked with reshaping the universe as he sees fit. Later in the story of Mortal Kombat 1, it is revealed that Shang Tsung from the previous timeline has somehow survived and infiltrated Liu Kang's new universe. After the events of the Aftermath DLC, Shang Tsung betrays the Shang Tsung of the new timeline - which is already a perfect twist - and then decides to bring in the rest of his alternate universe allies to destroy Liu Kang's universe. When that doesn't work, all hell breaks loose, and the multiverses begin to collide.

In the final act of Mortal Kombat 1, Liu Kang and all his heroes from alternate universes face off against Shang Tsung and all his villains from alternate universes. In just a few short missions, Mortal Kombat 1 transforms from a fairly grounded but lighthearted plot centered around stopping the Deadly Alliance into a full-fledged Marvel blockbuster, where countless different versions of beloved characters emerge through portals and fight against the nearest opponent.

Although a lot is at stake in the game, with the entire multiverse in danger, the final act of Mortal Kombat 1 chooses to take a lighthearted approach and fully embrace the absurd situation, which proves to be advantageous. The last missions in Mortal Kombat 1 lead players to face a variety of fighters who represent a fusion of popular characters from alternative universes, such as a combination of Geras and Reptile, Kenshi and Smoke, and Kung Lao and Scorpion, among others. From the beginning, it becomes clear that NetherRealm had a lot of fun designing this act, with each character's name being an enchanting pun, such as "Klockodile" for Geras and Reptile and "Stung Lao" for Kung Lao and Scorpion.

Although some fans may have preferred a darker ending, it is likely that this is the ideal ending for many long-time Mortal Kombat fans. With ridiculously high stakes, absurd visuals, and plenty of ironic, self-referential humor, the ending of Mortal Kombat 1 is quite enjoyable. As players fight their way up the pyramid in Mortal Kombat Armageddon and face countless iconic characters, this final battle feels like a true love letter to the 30-year history of the franchise.

Mortal Kombat 1 is available for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series S/X.