Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath recently hit the market, adding a whole new chunk to the base game’s story in addition to the three new characters, stages, Stage Fatalities, and Friendships. The narrative follows Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, and Fujin as they go back in time to find Kronika’s crown in order to safely reset the timeline.
Mortal Kombat generally rarely makes sense, but throw time travel into the mix, and the logical mishaps increase twofold. None of the following items listed below make the game worse, however. The fighting, character interaction, drama, and humor are as good as it gets for a fighting game.
10 Time Travel
Because it does not exist, and the rules are not set in stone, time travel in a story almost never makes complete sense. It is alright as long as the story follows its own rules, but Mortal Kombat does not exactly go out of its way to establish guidelines.
Are multiple timelines made with every interaction between the past and future? Does interfering with the past affect the present?
9 The Cage Family’s Magical Powers
The Cage family takes a backseat in this story, only showing up for one brief encounter near the end with Sindel and Shao Kahn. It is enough to remind people of one burning question, however - “why does the family possess magical powers?”
Jacqui Briggs brings this up in the base game’s narrative. They are otherwise normal human beings, so there is really no reason why Johnny should be able to do a shadow kick or shoot green balls of energy.
8 Why Doesn’t Liu Kang Go Back
With his souped-up abilities, why doesn’t Fire God Liu Kang go back in time himself to steal the crown?
He has already proven himself capable of besting Kronika in combat, so defeating everyone else should be a breeze. Instead, he leaves it in the hands of two friends and a sorcerer who has done nothing but backstab people throughout his entire existence.
7 Sindel In Mortal Kombat 9
Aftermath retcons Sindel’s origin story to make her a willing participant in Shao Kahn’s conquest of Edenia.
This revelation conflicts with parts of 2011’s Mortal Kombat 9. Why would she sacrifice herself to prevent Shao Kahn from invading Earthrealm a thousand years ago if she was by the emperor’s side all along?
6 Where Is Kitana In The Introduction?
Mortal Kombat 11 has a couple of different endings, one of which sees Liu Kang and Kitana embrace and deciding to usher in the new era together. However, at the beginning of Aftermath, the woman is nowhere to be seen.
She is also completely excluded from Liu Kang’s ending in Aftermath’s story mode. Fans of Kitana are likely disappointed that this original ending is now rendered moot.
5 Why Doesn’t Sonya Talk?
Sonya Blade makes a brief appearance in Aftermath. She holds her own against Sindel and Shao Kahn’s army but is ultimately bested by the duo. Curiously, she does not speak a single word throughout the segment.
This is most likely due to Ronda Rousey’s availability, but it does not make sense for her to keep silent through any in-game explanation. Considering her significance in the franchise, it feels weird to see her not mutter a single word.
4 Why Are They Worried About Changing The Timeline?
Part of the trio’s mission in going back in time involves them trying to change as little as possible. Why do they care so much about it if they are going to reset it all anyway? Maybe they are concerned changing too much will prevent Liu Kang from winning and sending them back in the first place.
However, if that happened, then they would not have gone back in time and disrupted the timeline at all. Conundrums like this are why writers have to be extremely careful when crafting time travel stories.
3 Where Are The Other Titans?
Titans are beings who ruled the universe before Elder Gods. However, Kronika is the only one ever mentioned in Mortal Kombat 11. Where are the other ones? Are they already dead, or is their perspective of life such that this conflict seems like ants bickering?
More than likely, NetherRealm Studios is keeping more of them in their pocket as entries in the roster in future Mortal Kombat titles.
2 Liu Kang’s Powers
Does Liu Kang’s control of the hourglass make him more powerful than even the Elder Gods? In Mortal Kombat 11, the Elder Gods say they have no power over Kronika’s actions.
Ultimately, she destroys them with the help of Cetrion, her daughter, but Liu Kang is able to defeat Kronika. If he really is this powerful, how will they create a convincing threat in the next Mortal Kombat?
1 Titans Have Kids?
Cetrion is Kronika’s daughter, which leads to a whole slew of new questions. Who was her father, and do Titans have kids like humans procreate?
Did the titans all have a meeting at the beginning of time, and one night one of them asked Kronika out on a date? Where is the father during the events of Mortal Kombat 11?
