Conan the Barbarian is coming toMortal Kombat 1is January, and there are already a couple of things that fans should expect from him. Conan is far from the first action movie icon to enter theMortal Kombatuniverse, as Rambo and the Terminator from the last game alone can prove. However, he should bring a unique personality toMortal Kombat 1with his appearance. There is only a little bit of footage of him to take into account thus far, but there is enough to give fans at least some idea of what he brings to the table.
AmongMortal Kombat 1’s DLC characters, Conan will be the fifth guest character to join the game since release, and the 11th character overall. Compared to the other characters introduced so far, he already has a few unique traits. His barbarian aesthetic alone grants him a unique look compared to other characters on the roster. Even amongMortal Kombat 1’s guest characters, he stands out due to not sharing much in common with the others. He’s neither a current or former supervillain, nor is he a slasher like Ghostface, so if nothing else, Conan is forging a path of his own inMortal Kombat 1.
Conan Looks Like a Close-Up, Aggressive Fighter in Mortal Kombat 1
Conan Should Be a Unique Sword User in Mortal Kombat 1
Similar toMortal Kombat 1’s Ashrahand Kenshi, Conan wields a sword as his primary weapon. However, that shouldn’t make him derivative of either of those two characters. Ashrah and Kenshi both have supernatural abilities on top of their swordplay: Ashrah can imbue her Kris with both light and darkness, while Kenshi can use Sento’s spirit to fight alongside him or control the sword from a distance. In comparison, Conan’s brand of swordfighting looks to be solely based on his martial prowess with no supernatural elements. That should ensure that his playstyle has its own feel separate from other sword wielders.
Conan Looks to be a Rushdown-Focused Fighter
So far, it looks like Conan’sgameplay inMortal Kombat 1is going to rely on getting in close to deliver punishing combos. The gameplay snippet from his sneak peek shows him juggling General Shao with a long string of attacks. Not only that, but it’s shown that Conan can deflect projectiles with his sword to send them back at the attacker. This would be a good compromise if he doesn’t have any long-range options of his own to fight with, and it would be a unique and tactical ability to add to an otherwise brawling-focused moveset.
Conan Can Be a Great Brawler With the Right Tools
The viability of Conan’s moveset will determine his place inMortal Kombat 1’s metagame. If Conan has no projectiles of his own, then he will need to rely on his gap-closing ability and tricks such as his projectile reflector against those who do have range. If his tools in that sense aren’t effective, then he could easily lose to a good zoner. Conversely, the ability to keep the pressure on an enemy and keep the upper hand could make him into a potentially top-tier fighter.Mortal Kombat 1has a large roster, and Conan could conceivably land at any spot in the tier list.
So far, it looks like Conan’s gameplay inMortal Kombat 1is going to rely on getting in close to deliver punishing combos.
Players have only gotten a small taste of what the barbarian has to offer, butConan’s arrival inMortal Kombat 1is not far away. At the moment, he seems to be a close-range swordfighter with a slick trick to trip up zoning attempts; nevertheless, it remains to be seen if that strategy will succeed. Conan not only needs his own niche, he needs to be effective in it. Hopefully, Conan will be right at home inMortal Kombat 1.
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.
