Summary
While the release ofMortal Kombat 1is only days away as of this writing, NetherRealm Studios isn’t done with reveals as the game’s launch trailer confirms the return of another 3D era character. The latest entry in the fighting game franchise hasn’t been shy about reintroducing characters from the 3D era of games, such as Havik fromMortal Kombat: DeceptionandDeadly Alliance’s vampire Nitara. However, the newest member of the roster comes from the game to kick off this era of the series,Mortal Kombat 4, and appears to be a loyal member of the Outworld military.
Mortal Kombat 1’s main and Kameo rosters are already loaded with characters lifted from the 3D-style games that made up the series fromMortal Kombat 4toMortal Kombat: Armageddon. Li Mei, Tanya, Havik, Nitara, Kenshi, and Ashrah had been confirmed to be making their series return as part of the game’s main roster, with some undergoing significant narrative changes as a result of Liu Kang’s new timeline. The love for the 3D-eraMortal Kombattitles stretched into the Kameo roster with the additions of Frost, Darrius, and Shujinko serving as support characters for the main roster fighters.
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The launch trailer forMortal Kombat 1confirmed yet another 3D-era addition to the main roster in the form of Reiko, who made his series debut inMortal Kombat 4. Reiko, likeGeneral Shao, appears to be a member of the Outworld military set to battle with Earthrealm’s champions in the new timeline’s version of the Mortal Kombat tournament. It is not clear, though, the role Reiko will play in the larger conflict which looks to be brewing in the background and engulf the two realms in a larger war.
Reiko’s addition to the game may come as a surprise to some players who may argue his is easily the most obscuremember ofMortal Kombat 1’s main roster. The most prominent role Reiko had in the series was in his debut game,Mortal Kombat 4, where he served as a prominent general in Shinnok’s army attempting to gain control of Edenia. He would make his second series appearance inMortal Kombat: Armageddon, though his role in the narrative was significantly smaller compared toMortal Kombat 4.
Reiko, along with the rest of the 3D-era characters inMortal Kombat 1’s roster, is just another reminder of how varied and large the overall series roster has become since the original game released in 1992. The last two games, by comparison, featured a swath of new characters for players to pick from, withMortal Kombat X’s Kombat Kidsbeing among the more notable. While the new timeline opens the door for plenty more new characters to join the fight, it also provides NetherRealm the chance to refresh characters such as Reiko and reintroduce them to the series.
Mortal Kombat 1is scheduled to release on June 10, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
