Highlights
- Fan reception to guest characters in Mortal Kombat 1 has been mixed, with some disappointed that series mainstays were relegated to Kameos.
- The possibility of including Michonne from The Walking Dead as a guest character was discussed, but Omni-Man was ultimately chosen.
- Despite Michonne’s exclusion, she has appeared in other video games, though the absence of a Mortal Kombat and The Walking Dead crossover may be a missed opportunity.
Series creator Ed Boon recently shared that Mortal Kombat 1 could have had a popular character from The Walking Dead in the long-running series’ latest entry. This character would have joined the ranks of Homelander, Omni-Man, and Peacemaker in the Mortal Kombat 1 guest roster.
Although fan reception towards the revealed guest characters for Mortal Kombat 1 was very positive prior to its launch, sentiment towards its complete roster has been relatively mixed. Series mainstays such as Jax Briggs, Sonya Blade, and Goro have been relegated into Kameo Fighters, leaving it to modders to make them fully playable characters.
However, this blow may have been softened somewhat for longtime fans of the series through the inclusion of a planned guest character that fell through. As shared by Mortal Kombat 1 director Ed Boon in a post on Twitter, prior to settling on Omni-Man as one of the game’s guest characters, the director had reached out to The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman to discuss the possibility of including Michonne.
Michonne Could Have Added Variety to Mortal Kombat 1’s Roster
Fan responses to Boon’s tweet show that Michonne would have been a welcome addition to Mortal Kombat 1, with some stating that it would have been a much-needed dose of diversity in a guest roster that currently consists of relatively niche superheroes. Despite the wide success that franchises such as The Boys, Invincible, and Steven Gunn’s Suicide Squad have enjoyed in recent years, they’re still far from being household names. Regardless, it’s unlikely that the inclusion of Michonne would have moved the needle much with Mortal Kombat 1‘s split player base. Months after release, the title is still competing for players with prior entry Mortal Kombat 11 due to post-launch issues and a perceived lack of guest character content.
Despite Michonne’s exclusion from Mortal Kombat 1, the lone wolf has made numerous appearances in video games over the years outside of Telltale’s interpretation of the zombie comic. Although Michonne was looked over in favor of Omni-Man in Mortal Kombat 1, players wanting to witness how Michonne’s survival skills and combat abilities translate to a video game setting can do so in 7 Days to Die, Fortnite, Brawlhalla, and PUBG Mobile.
Considering how Namco brought Negan into Tekken 7‘s roster, with some fans arguing that the character would have fit even better in Mortal Kombat 1, it’s safe to say that NetherRealm missed a golden opportunity. Mortal Kombat and The Walking Dead have long been known for their brutality and violence. It’s a shame players didn’t get to see these two franchises cross over this time around, though the current roster still gives players plenty of choice.
Mortal Kombat 1
The 12th mainline entry in Warner Bros’ franchise, Mortal Kombat 1 is set to be a soft reboot. Along with staples like a single-player campaign and online multiplayer, the 2023 game will also introduce Kameo Fighters.
- Franchise
- Mortal Kombat
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Released
- September 19, 2023
- Developer(s)
- NetherRealm Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games