Mortal Kombat Reborn: The Journey Begins

Mortal Kombat Reborn: The Journey Begins, the first part of a new series of Mortal Kombat "spin-off" titles, focuses on a new universe in the Mortal Kombat multiverse, which was spawned at the time that Raiden sent his message to his past self, but this also caused a paradox to create many new universes in the timestream. Outside forces beyond the Elder Gods are observing this new universe, wishing to see what kind of potential it has, and what it could mean to the multiverse as a whole. One side wishing to ensure it will develop into something that can potentially help guide the fate of future worlds to be born... while another seeks to bend its will, to absorb the potential it has, and corrupt the Web of Reality itself....

Story
Mortal Kombat. A tournament that has existed for centuries as a means to help not only protect realms from unnecessary invasion, but to symbolize life, as normal men and women clash for what they believe in.

However, 500 years ago, the sorcerer Shang Tsung took control of the tournament once again when he had killed his nemesis, the Great Kung Lao, who had defeated him 50 years prior. With Prince Goro of the Shokan as his main warrior, Shang secured 9 victories for his now home realm of Outworld.

This next tournament would be the tenth victory Outworld would need to be able to come through the Furies and take Earthrealm for its emperor, Shao Kahn. However, Raiden, the God of Thunder, Earthrealm's designated protector, as well as the younger brother of Shao Kahn, has been choosing warriors to combat his brother's advances on Earthrealm. All he knows is that Outworld must not win the tenth tournament. They must not win... Mortal Kombat.

This new timeline, born from Raiden's decision to warn himself and to alter the events of Armageddon at Shao Kahn's hands in the main timeline, has many unforeseen potentials and variants to explore. But what it will become is determined by the warriors fighting, and by other forces, for as with all worlds in the Web of Reality, the potential to affect all of reality is possible, both for good and for evil.

Gameplay Options
• Story Mode - Play through the story of Earthrealm's last hope to save itself from the hordes of Outworld!

• Arcade Mode - Choose a character, Choose Your Destiny by selecting a tower with a different number of opponents and fitting difficulty, plus the bosses Goro and Shang Tsung, aiming to win and unlock your character's ending.

• Versus Mode - Take it to your opponents in some local PVP action!

• Training Mode - Enter training, learning combos, special moves and even Fatalities.

• Tutorial - Learn the basics of the game, studying how to better your game.

• Web of Reality - A nexus for the multiverse of Mortal Kombat. In this mode, you can take on many challenges from Endurance Mode, Test Your Might, Test Your Luck, various challenges set up over periods of time from days to weeks or even through the month, as well as taking on the Challenge Tower, where you face numerous challenges on your way to big prizes!

• MK Online - Hop online via Xbox Live or PlayStation Network and prepare yourself for Mortal Kombat! You can access straightforward Versus Mode, Team Battle, King of the Hill, and more to be able to face players across the world and prove yourself to be a champion of Mortal Kombat!

• The Krypt - The tomb of fallen warriors, where many secrets lie among the dead... Spend your Koins you earn to open tombs and coffins to get items and secrets.

• The Sanctum - Look at character models, movies, cutscenes, artwork, and other secrets, all which can be unlocked from the Krypt and the various gameplay modes.

• Options - Adjust gameplay options.

Gameplay
Mortal Kombat Reborn: The Journey Begins plays much like other Mortal Kombat games, with two characters battling one another in rounds set up to 3 by default, until one is defeated, before the winner can execute a Fatality or win the battle normally. The game takes elements from Mortal Kombat 9, Mortal Kombat X, and Mortal Kombat 11, as well as the Injustice franchise, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and Killer Instinct (XBOX One) as well.

Each character has their own unique fighting style with special moves, Fatalities, Brutalities, a Kombat Skill, and an Aggressor Mode to use in battle as well as to turn the tide, allowing diversity and strategy to be used when you pick your character of choice. It plays more along the lines of an older MK game than it would Mortal Kombat X or Mortal Kombat 11.

Each character has 3 meters in addition to a Life Meter in battle. There is the Stamina Meter, which works to use things such as running, your Breaker, as well as interactions in stages and a new function, your Kombat Skill, specific for each character. The Stamina Meter handles how much is used with said action, to where it can take a minimum of 25% or even the full meter. Over time, the Stamina Meter will refill.

Next is the Super Meter, which is used to perform Enhanced Special Moves, which come off like Killer Instinct (2013) 's Shadow Moves or Street Fighter 5 's EX moves, but have some similarities to the Enhanced Special Moves from past Mortal Kombat games or Meter Burn moves in the Injustice games, but also are about strategies. Super Meters have 3 levels to allow for 3 Enhanced Special Moves, and will fill as you attack or are attacked.

Lastly, there is the Aggressor Meter, which allows your character to awaken their Aggressor Skill, which works akin to Street Fighter 5 's V-Triggers or Killer Instinct (2013) 's Instinct Mode, and allowing characters to gain special perks until their Aggressor Meter runs out.

There also is the Fatal Blow, similar to said move in Mortal Kombat 11, which triggers when your character's health is about 30%, allowing for a big comeback. If you miss a Fatal Blow, don't worry! It will take some time to recharge, but you can be able to unleash it again until you are successful. You can only use a Fatal Blow once per round, so make it count!

Controls
Punch 1 - Square or X

Punch 2 - Triangle or Y

Kick 1 - X or A

Kick 2 - Circle or B

Block - L1 or Left Bumper

Throw - L2 or Left Trigger

Interact - R1 or Right Bumper near interaction item

Run - R2 or Right Trigger (uses Stamina Meter over time)

Dash - F, F

Back Dash - B, B

Kombat Skill - P1 + K1 (uses 25% of Stamina Meter, increases Aggressor Meter by 25%)

Aggressor Skill - P2 + K2 when Aggressor Meter is full

Fatal Blow - T + R when Fatal Blow is ready

Breaker - F + B during opponent's combo (uses 25% of Super Meter and 25% of Stamina Meter)

Interaction Breaker - F + B + I during opponent's combo near interaction item (uses 25% of Super Meter and 25% of Stamina Meter)

Glossary
F - Forward

B - Back

D - Down

U - Up

P1 - Punch 1

K1 - Kick 1

P2 - Punch 2

K2 - Kick 2

BL - Block Button

R - Run Button

T - Throw Button

I - Interact Button

[While Running] - Performed while running

[In Air] - Performed while jumping

[Air OK] - Can be performed while jumping

[Sweep] - Performed at sweep range

[Close] - Performed at close range

[Far] - Performed at long range

[Mid] - Performed at mid range

[KS] - Kombat Skill - A special ability that helps your character in a certain manner. Similar to the V-Skill in Street Fighter 5.

[AG] - Aggressor Mode - A unique trait awakened when your Aggressor Meter is full and can either run down slowly or use the Meter in one fell swoop. Similar to the V-Trigger in Street Fighter 5 or Instinct Mode in Killer Instinct (2013).

[ENH] Enhanced Move - A special move that is charged up and does more damage and/or new properties are added to the move. Executed only when you have 1 Level or more of Super Meter. Similar to EX Special Moves in Street Fighter 5 or Shadow Moves in Killer Instinct (2013).

[FAT] Fatality - A finishing move to end your opponent's life after the announcer cries "Finish Him!" or "Finish Her!" once the opponent's life meter is drained to empty.

[BRU] Brutality - A finishing move done by using a specific move to finish your opponent when the specific attack would be enough to kill your opponent rather than taking them to "Finish Him!" or "Finish Her!", though Brutalities can be done during "Finish Him!" or "Finish Her!".

Arenas
• Goro's Lair [Stage Fatality] - Set underground below Shang Tsung's island, Goro's Lair has a throne that the prince of the Shokan sits upon when not in kombat, as well as cages with roaring Oni sticking their hands out of the cages as well as their eyes glowing through the darkness of their cells. The Stage Fatality involves the player uppercutting their opponent up into the ceiling, getting jabbed onto some spikes waiting for them.

• Palace Courtyard [Test Your Might transition] Located outside of Shang Tsung's Palace, the gorgeous courtyard leads up to the doors of Shang Tsung's Palace with a stage transition involving the player running their opponent through the door with both players having to mash the buttons to increase the damage done or reduce the damage taken before they crash into the entrance leading to the Throne Room.

• The Throne Room - The opulent throne room of Shang Tsung's palace, with a lot of paintings, candles, and fancy furniture going for it. You also will see Shang Tsung sitting on his throne in the center of the arena, watching the battle unfold.

• The Pit [Stage Fatality] - A concrete bridge hovering over pillars covered with spikes and the vast moon in the background as well as the stars flickering in the night sky. The Stage Fatality has the player uppercut their opponent off the bridge, sending them to their death on the spikes below.

• Bottom of the Pit [Test Your Might] - Below the Pit lies a massive river of blood and the bodies of past victors of the Pit, along with the spiked pillars connecting the massive concrete bridge high above. It is a two-tiered level with players being able to head down another grotto to continue the fight when knocked off the edge on the right, leading to a free-fall version of Test Your Might.

• Warrior's Shrine [Stage Fatality] - A shrine featuring statues of the various Mortal Kombat warriors. For the Stage Fatality, the player grabs their opponent and throws them into one of the stages, jarring it loose so that it comes down and crushes their victor.

• Dark Prison [Stage Fatality] - A prison under Shang Tsung's island that has a lot of cells in it. The Stage Fatality here has you kick your opponent into a torture chamber with two spiked walls, as the spiked walls come in and crush them to death.

• The Nethership - The ship Shang Tsung uses to bring kombatants from around the world to his island to participate in Mortal Kombat. This is a multi-tiered stage, where both players can drop to the bottom deck of the ship, before being able to crash back up to the top deck.

• Wu-Shi Academy [Test Your Might transition] - Home to Liu Kang and Kung Lao for many years, the Wu-Shi Academy has many people in the background along with a statue of the Great Kung Lao. It has a transition leading to "Test Your Might" where you tackle your opponent through one of the walls leading into another part of the Academy.

• Reptile's Lair [Stage Fatality] - A lair hidden in a cave of one of the many tunnels of Shang Tsung's island, where the Saurian Syzoth, more commonly known as Reptile, lies in wait to execute Shang Tsung's enemies for Shao Kahn. Scales cover the walls along with reptilian eyes and pools of acid, with the stage Fatality involving the player uppercutting their opponent into the acid pool, watching them burn away to nothing.

• Beach - A beach set along the shoreline of Shang Tsung's island, you can see the Nethership in the background, as well as a setting sun with blood-soaked sand along the beach, as well as water gently washing to the shoreline.

• Hell [Stage Fatality] - Set in the depths of Hell itself, the background has skull pillars, there is smoke and a hell beast in the background, the skulls glow with sparks and lava and there are lit skulls on the ground. There are hands coming out of the small pits of lava. The Stage Fatality here has the player grab the opponent and dunk their head into the lava, burning their skin and eyes off to nothing but the skull, before slamming them back into the lava to end them.

• Shang Tsung's Garden - A beautiful garden designed with elements of Outworld set along a river, with a view of the Pit and Shang Tsung's palace in the distance. It comes with three variants; a daytime version, a dusk setting, and finally, among the bright moon in the night.

• The Vault - Shang Tsung's treasure vault, filled with a great deal of gold, jewelry, and other treasures acquired over the sorcerer's long centuries of existence.

• Black Dragon Klub - A club owned by the Black Dragon organization set somewhere in Europe, with a steel cage separating the fighters from the patrons of the club. If he is not selected here, Kano will be shown watching the fight in the background.

• Warehouse [Test Your Might transition] - Set in a warehouse that the Black Dragon use to store weapons and other illegal items they acquire on the black market, with many grunts of the Black Dragon pulling out guns and the like to examine in the background.

• Well of Souls [Test Your Might] - Set in the mythical House of Pekara, located on Earth between Asia and Europe, this is the place where Kenshi Takahashi was left to die thanks to the machinations of Shang Tsung, seeking to steal the souls of Kenshi's ancestors. It resembles a massive church/steeple, enclosed with Gothic looking architecture and a huge stained glass window in the front of the arena, featuring the Mortal Kombat Dragon symbol prominently in the center. There are statues littering this place, as well as ghosts of long dead kings that rise up and out of the ground as you fight. A massive hail storm is occurring inside this place as well. As you fight, hail drops in from the ceiling in a very violent manner. In the center is a throne with the statue of a warrior king holding a sword in one hand, and a staff with a falcon on the top in the other, with spirits of the Warrior Kings that are Kenshi's ancestors floating around. The Test Your Might transition here has the player slam through a broken wall, crashing towards the titular Well of Souls from the throne room itself.