Set to continue the series trend of retro film crossovers, Conan the Barbarian has been shown off as the next upcoming guest character arriving inMortal Kombat 1. Based on the likeness of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of the character in the 1982 movie, this incarnation hasfollowedMortal Kombat 11’s Terminatorin faithfully tapping into the nostalgia of the era that initially inspiredMK. With how much Conan has already inspired other media, however, it appears that his gameplay design could now be a part of creators operating in a referential loop.
Upon the reveal of Conan’s gameplay inMortal Kombat 1, it became clear that he shares some functional similarities with Tusk fromKiller Instinct. WhileKIdoesn’t feature a one-to-one copy, they do appear to share a two-handed sword stance and multiple moves. Given that these are just as tied to the choreography of theConanfilm as they are to each other, this situation demonstrates the character’s impact across media.
The Uncanny Parallels Between the Movesets of Mortal Kombat 1’s Conan the Barbarian and Killer Instinct 2013’s Tusk
NRS May Have Taken Inspiration From KI’s Viking Warrior
The trailerteaser for Conan the Barbarian inMortal Kombat 1indicates that he is built around close-range, lengthy combos while maintaining a defensive presence. This is mainly due to his projectile-deflecting move which complements his otherwise sword-focused, but versatile set of attacks.
It’s not been officially stated, but this set of tools can nearly read as an homage to Tusk in theKiller Instinct2013 reboot. Apart from many similar key poses for normal attacks, his Spine Splitter special move’s ability to destroy projectiles makes for an even closer feel between the two. A charging thrust like Immortal Spirit and an uppercut like Conqueror might even make it rough to believe that NetherRealm Studios didn’t directly reference Tusk when implementing Conan. Even if that’s true, however, there’s inherently another layer to this foundation through the fact that Rare and Iron Galaxy were already drawing from the cultural impact ofConanto begin with.
Tusk’s Moveset Similarities Could Just Be Due to Being Originally Inspired by Conan the Barbarian
A Cyclical Pop Culture Influence on Western Fighting Games
It might not be as obvious to the newer generation of gamers thatMortal Kombathas grown to appeal to, but the poses and general set of Conan’s moves have been shown to mostly have some direct foundation in the movie of his namesake. It does appear that NRS may have looked at howKI’s Tusk heavily referenced the character already in smoothly bringing those motifs into the gaming medium, and then recursively applied that effort back into making afaithful version of Conan the Barbarian inMortal Kombat 1. Considering that these fighting games once shared their audiences in arcades to a similar level of success, it’s almost like the spirit of the relatively dormantKiller Instinctfranchise is being kept alive by Conan now essentially serving as an updated analog to Tusk for fans to return to.
Balancing Building Upon Decades of Work and Being Derivative
It remains to be seen whether the teaser was displaying a final version of the character’s animations, so there’s still a chance that Conan’s kit may delve even deeper into his source material. If he’s able to make as substantial a contribution to the game asMortal Kombat 1’s Ghostface, it’s probably fair to assume that choosing to lean into an established take on Conan-like gameplay could allow for more focus on the hype of references appearing in the likes of Fatalities and Animalities.
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.
