Summary
The end of 2023 looks packed with massive releases. Among these games,Mortal Kombat 1is one of the sooner titles in September, whileMarvel’s Spider-Man 2should follow in October. These games don’t initially seem to share much besides their release window, in addition to selling themselves on their AAA singleplayer campaigns. One could also say they both have misleading names, asMortal Kombat 1is the twelfth mainline entry in the gory fighting game franchise, whileMarvel’s Spider-Man 2is the third game in its Insomniac Games-developed line. However, it’s in the smaller details where more connections are found.
Apart from a cameo inSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,Marvel’s Spider-Manoccupies a separate universe from otherSpider-Manstories.Mortal Kombat 1is the same, being set in a rebooted timeline withnew takes onMK’s setting and characters. Earlier marketing forMortal Kombat 1also revealed that the voice actor of Insomniac’s Peter Parker, Yuri Lowenthal, has become the new voice of Smoke. However, the most recent trailer forMK1introduced a direct parallel between these franchises' iconic characters that’s too obvious to miss.
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Mortal Kombat 1 Has Given Reptile A Total Overhaul
After being absent fromMortal Kombat 11’s roster, Reptile has returned in the EVO 2023 trailer forMortal Kombat 1. He’s themost distinct version of Reptile to ever graceMK, having been redesigned with both a fully human appearance and a monstrous reptilian form. While both designs were used for different incarnations of the character, they’ve never been used simultaneously. Reptile’s iconic special moves, as well as several new ones, all revolve around parts of his human form shifting into his true reptilian nature.
Reptile’s story has also seen a major facelift. Apart from keeping the name Syzoth fromMortal Kombat X, Reptile is now firmly allied with the heroes assisting Liu Kang. Because he was banished from his Saurian people due to his unique human form, he seems to prefer working with humans. While tragic, this is still an improvement from Reptile’s portrayal in olderMortal Kombattitles.MK9andMKXwithheld his story mode chapters, andMK9didn’t even give him a speaking role. It may seem strange to place such a historically minor character at the center of a Spider-Man comparison, as the only thing Reptile and Miles Morales' Spider persona share is invisibility, but there’s another, much closer link to a commonSpider-Manfoe.
Reptile and the Lizard Now Have A Lot In Common
Back in Sony’s May 2023 PlayStation Showcase, a portion ofMarvel’s Spider-Man 2was shown featuring the Lizard, one of Spider-Man’s long-time enemies. The Lizard’s human identity is Dr. Curtis Connors, a brilliant scientist who mutated into a scaled beast while trying to regrow his right arm.Spider-Man already fought and temporarily cured this Lizard, and Connors has since joined Oscorp to help find a cure for the dying Harry Osborne. This turns chasing the Lizard into a desperate affair, as Harry is in desperate need of human Connors' medical knowledge.
BothMortal Kombat 1andMarvel’s Spider-Man 2have now revealed reptilian menaces in somewhat prominent roles, and the similarities don’t stop there. WhenMK1’s Reptile fully assumes his Saurian form,he resemblesSpider-Man’s Lizardmore than any of his own past appearances. Their physical traits, down to their silhouettes, are nearly identical, and their brown-green color schemes are also close. Both Syzoth and Connors are also set up to help the forces of good, even if they probably won’t be the most important figures in shaping their games' stories. Any further parallels in these scaly beasts' will be revealed soon, asMortal Kombat 1andMarvel’s Spider-Man 2are quickly approaching their spots on store shelves.
Mortal Kombat 1launches September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
