Spoilers for Mortal Kombat 11 and Mortal Kombat 1 ahead.
Summary
Mortal Kombat 1has a roster chock-full of iconic new and returning characters, each with their own array of deadly martial skills for the player to master and dish out hours of macabre entertainment. With this iteration of the series, however, Netherrealm Studios threw the book at the game’s canon continuity and reset the clock, starting theMortal Kombatmultiverse anew once more with new origins for all characters, even ones introduced as recently as the preceding title,Mortal Kombat 11. One such character affected by this shift isMortal Kombat 11’s beloved sand-bending time mage, Geras, but not quite in the same way that the otherMortal Kombat 1kombatants are.
A lot oftimeline-jumping shenanigans occurred betweenMortal Kombat 11andMortal Kombat 1thanks to the nature of the plotline Netherrealm Studios went with in introducing the antagonist, Kronika, a Titan in theMortal Kombatuniverse, (former) Keeper of Time and Architect of the Universe’s destiny. Geras, being a construct and (also formerly) loyal servant of Kronika, was imparted a fraction of her abilities and witnessed time from its very beginning as well as its litany of variations and refabrications many times over. This lexicon of experience granted him sagacity beyond what’s possible for a mortal, and this distinction allowed his story not to face the same decimation and rebuild as everyone else.
From Kronika’s Keeper to Mortal Kombat’s Titan of Time
A quick look at the new and improved Geras will show that he:
Geras is a creation and servant of Kronika as well as immortal and timeless by any stretch of definition (including his ability to recover from any wound no matter how fatal, being that he is a “fixed point in time”). He was also a slave to his master’s whims with no free will of his own. Following Kronika’s defeat inMortal Kombat 11andLiu Kang’s ascension to his position as Keeper of Time, he was freed and permitted to retain his memories in addition to being appointed the Guardian of the Hourglass.
This position has him supervise the timelines and keep balance. With a will now all his own, Geras willingly utilizes his abilities in the role of a protagonistic side character rather than a villainous brute that served as a recurring obstacle inMortal Kombat 11’s story. Liu Kang’s secession of his position as Titan of Time inMortal Kombat 1’s story even sees Geras becomeone of the most powerful characters inMortal Kombat. Suffice it to say, for all the changes that the cast ofMortal Kombathas undergone, Geras made out like a time-manipulating bandit.
Geras' Visual and Gameplay Changes
What’s more, Geras' design is updated to reflect his evolution of character as well. Previously he was possessed of a bulkier build and adorned with white armor with golden accents befitting of a servant of Kronika, complete with a glowing blue energy beneath the seams of his skin akin to the energy radiated by Kronika.InMortalKombat 1,Geras sports a more scholarly appearanceand clothes more aligned with that of a monk (even following Liu Kang’s noted color scheme). He is slimmer, cutting a figure that’s still imposing but less menacing, with a dragon tattoo spiraling over his upper left torso and arm.
He is also, of course, still a very capable fighter. A vicious grappler with flashy, time-manipulating abilities that even goes so far as to undo damage inflicted upon him, the onlyrevisions fromMK11in hisMortal Kombat 1combatstyle are the noted improvements to mobility, visual flair, and combat capability, as with most of the updated roster. The sandman’s martial acumen in tandem with his near-boundless wisdom makes him far more dangerous than he ever was inMortal Kombat 11; however, the nature of his character, as well as the direction ofMortal Kombat 1’s story inspires hope that he won’t again become the force of calamity he threatened to be at his origin.
Mortal Kombat 1
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to a new era of Kombat. NetherRealm Studios ushers in a new era of the iconic fighting franchise with a total reset that changes the entire world as we know it. Following the thrilling climax of Mortal Kombat 11, the all-powerful Fire God Liu Kang has created a New Era in the hope of bringing peace to Earthrealm and beyond. Through the series' most cinematic story mode yet, you’ll be reintroduced to a cast of legendary warriors as you’ve never seen them before. Expect twists on classic friendships and rivalries, as well as new backstories that will change everything you think you know about your favorite Kombatants. Discover a host of new offline and online game modes as you master a revitalized fighting system that boasts bone-crunching Fatal Blows, defensive Breakers and the most creatively vicious Fatalities yet.
