Mortal Kombat 1

Mortal Kombat 1

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usa423 Jan 24, 2024 @ 9:34pm
Imho, the cameo system broke Mortal Kombat.
Let me start this off by saying I'm not trying to cause a fight, just offer my observations and opinions.

I have been a fan since MK began began in the 90's. I have played most of the games...fell off a bit after 4 and Sub Zero Mythologies and came back for MK vs DC and 9 and the rest to date (Including the Injustice games).

The challenge of this game is.............wonky.......imho

I have concluded it is because of the cameo system. Sure it is flashy, and offers something new and fresh.

But........It just...changes things.

I'm starting to get into game development myself these past few years, and I personally know how difficult it is to program enemy movement behavior......and stuff that feels decent at that.

I can't imagine how complex this system must be at the end of the day.

I imagine that it may be possible to iron out the cameo system and after a few games it might be as smooth and flow as good as any MK game ever.

Then again, it may not be possible to perfect it, and totally balance it, and NRS might have to choose whether to pursue it further or drop it and go on...

I think back in the day they faced a similar situation with the side step system. Which was their solution to a real 3D fighting game that still was MK. It was unique, but it did change things overall. I feel a similar situation is the cameo system.


Just offering my 2 cents...
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Showing 1-15 of 20 comments
i feel that they did not fully anticipate or realise the possibilities that cameos could provide, unable to account for all the balancing and testing needed, only able to act on anything once it was brought to light how broken or unbalanced a certain aspect may be, ie kunglao lowhat or cyrax horizontal spin. im not confident in this system making nto future mk games, it feels incredibly clunky at times and i could go entire matches without feeling the need to use one.

i also feel thst people rely on their cameos far too much, using them explicitly to make unsafe-strings safe, its just boring and cheap imo. the string is unsafe for a reason, ofc depending on who youre fighting you csn lowpoke or whatever but thats a technicality.
M4N Jan 25, 2024 @ 5:20am 
The only problem with kameos are ambush moves. It shouldnt be possible to throw unsafe moves and use someone like Stryker to keep yourself safe. They did great with Tremor though: you want an ambush? Good, your whole kameo gauge is gone and you cant spam it every 5 seconds.
Originally posted by Hans:
The only problem with kameos are ambush moves. It shouldnt be possible to throw unsafe moves and use someone like Stryker to keep yourself safe. They did great with Tremor though: you want an ambush? Good, your whole kameo gauge is gone and you cant spam it every 5 seconds.
exactly, there are tonnes of moves that need a drastic rework on how often they can be used. its crazy to me thay scorpions fire-breath summon got a huge nerf, getting a crazy long cooldown despite only being able to really use once you've already hitconfirmed. but then something like kunglao low hat recharges in little to no time.

another huge issue is being able to combo from throws, its so ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ corny and cheap and i believe no character should be able to *coughcough* liukang-kunglao
M4N Jan 25, 2024 @ 6:49am 
Originally posted by Hans:
The only problem with kameos are ambush moves. It shouldnt be possible to throw unsafe moves and use someone like Stryker to keep yourself safe. They did great with Tremor though: you want an ambush? Good, your whole kameo gauge is gone and you cant spam it every 5 seconds.
exactly, there are tonnes of moves that need a drastic rework on how often they can be used. its crazy to me thay scorpions fire-breath summon got a huge nerf, getting a crazy long cooldown despite only being able to really use once you've already hitconfirmed. but then something like kunglao low hat recharges in little to no time.

another huge issue is being able to combo from throws, its so ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ corny and cheap and i believe no character should be able to *coughcough* liukang-kunglao
NRS should go back to character archetypes, same with kameos. Theres 0 reason why Reiko has a command grab and the best projectile in the game being a "grappler", but my girl Mileena has the worst projectile in the game, no mids, no plus frames being a "rushdown". And the same with kameos: projectile, mix, combo, defensive.
Cpt Obvious Jan 25, 2024 @ 7:01am 
Kameo system ended up being trash keep your self safe at all times nonsense.
Antasmunchie Jan 25, 2024 @ 7:16am 
Thought I would be fine with kameos at first, but now I can't stand them and they're my biggest reason for not playing. I don't think NRS understands that learning how to make ONE kameo synergize well with ONE character takes just as long as learning the basics and a few combos for a single character. Kameos aren't just an assist, they're a combo extender and overall game changer.

What happens when you want switch characters? You're probably going to go to Youtube, find which kameo works best with your character, learn that kameo if you haven't already, THEN spend half an hour in training finding how to get maximum damage output with your primary character as well as how to setup your opponent for combos.

Again, this is for a SINGLE primary character and a SINGLE kameo. You'll have to repeat the whole process if you want to try another primary character. At that point, it'd be easier to learn a secondary character for tag mode, which I don't know how NRS didn't realize

Then there's the whole issue of balancing. If you're not using one that works well with your character, you're already at disadvantage. If you actually like the kameo as a character and want to pair them with your favorite primary character, you're probably not going to because, again, it leaves you at a disadvantage. And let's forget the players who only play meta kameos. Even if they're playing optimally, rewarding scummy behavior in any game is a stupid thing to do
JD Jan 25, 2024 @ 8:39am 
Originally posted by Hans:
NRS should go back to character archetypes, same with kameos. Theres 0 reason why Reiko has a command grab and the best projectile in the game being a "grappler", but my girl Mileena has the worst projectile in the game, no mids, no plus frames being a "rushdown". And the same with kameos: projectile, mix, combo, defensive.
Mileena hits like a truck, wdym. She has everything, she can even launch from full-screen with her low projectile and Scorpion cameo, no need to hit confirm, straight braindead launcher.
Last edited by JD; Jan 25, 2024 @ 8:40am
M4N Jan 25, 2024 @ 8:56am 
Originally posted by JD:
Originally posted by Hans:
NRS should go back to character archetypes, same with kameos. Theres 0 reason why Reiko has a command grab and the best projectile in the game being a "grappler", but my girl Mileena has the worst projectile in the game, no mids, no plus frames being a "rushdown". And the same with kameos: projectile, mix, combo, defensive.
Mileena hits like a truck, wdym. She has everything, she can even launch from full-screen with her low projectile and Scorpion cameo, no need to hit confirm, straight braindead launcher.
She "hits like a truck" if you make a mistake. She has no ways to open you up, no overhead or low starters, no setups, no good plus frames, no range, no good mids, no ways to chip you out. Tell me that youre playing at low ranks without telling me that youre playing at low ranks lmao. I main her since day 1 and Scorpion is a waste of kameo slot against master+ ranks because everyone knows about her "sneaky" overhead, awful mid string and laughably bad projectiles. Ed Boon just hates her.
Last edited by M4N; Jan 25, 2024 @ 8:57am
JD Jan 25, 2024 @ 9:00am 
Originally posted by Hans:
Originally posted by JD:
Mileena hits like a truck, wdym. She has everything, she can even launch from full-screen with her low projectile and Scorpion cameo, no need to hit confirm, straight braindead launcher.
She "hits like a truck" if you make a mistake. She has no ways to open you up, no overhead or low starters, no setups, no good plus frames, no range, no good mids, no ways to chip you out. Tell me that youre playing at low ranks without telling me that youre playing at low ranks lmao. I main her since day 1 and Scorpion is a waste of kameo slot against master+ ranks because everyone knows about her "sneaky" overhead, awful mid string and laughably bad projectiles. Ed Boon just hates her.
I usually don't play for days or even weeks, I have a life you know. Currently, I'm a demi-god, but I don't care about ranks, I could do it to god I'm 100% sure if I played more often. You clearly downplay her since day 1.
Last edited by JD; Jan 25, 2024 @ 9:01am
M4N Jan 25, 2024 @ 9:13am 
Originally posted by JD:
Originally posted by Hans:
She "hits like a truck" if you make a mistake. She has no ways to open you up, no overhead or low starters, no setups, no good plus frames, no range, no good mids, no ways to chip you out. Tell me that youre playing at low ranks without telling me that youre playing at low ranks lmao. I main her since day 1 and Scorpion is a waste of kameo slot against master+ ranks because everyone knows about her "sneaky" overhead, awful mid string and laughably bad projectiles. Ed Boon just hates her.
I usually don't play for days or even weeks, I have a life you know. Currently, I'm a demi-god, but I don't care about ranks, I could do it to god I'm 100% sure if I played more often. You clearly downplay her since day 1.
Scorpion/Mileena combo is overrated. End of story. Saying that "she has everything" is like saying that Johnny need a buff. MK1 Mileena is top tier in terms of lore, but bottom 10 in terms of gameplay options. If you play well and know a matchup - Mileena is harmless.
Asryia Jan 25, 2024 @ 10:30pm 
my problem with kameo is exactly that. Just make a multi player tag team system for f....u.....c...k.... sake.
Shoah Kahn Jan 26, 2024 @ 3:45am 
Order of what "broke" MK1:
1. Half-assed, Injustice-y + MK11-y gameplay that's neither skill intensive, nor satisfying
2. All but broken online functionality -- effectively, a non-online functional fighting game that's "always online"
3. The sheer lack of content -- from stuff for causals to sink their teeth into, to the dearth of special attacks per character (compared to the last two MK games', even Ij2)
4. The arbitrary "re-racialisation" and unnecessary re-designing of stalwart, fan favourite characters
5. The "Kameo" assists in place of the co-op tag everyone wanted
6. The rather mediocre roster
7. Ill-suited, Injustice 3 leftover DLC
8. The retconning of the MK lore and story
9. Heinously overpriced
10. WB-NRS's lack of communication (much less, contrition) and the resultant consumer trust level being at an unprecedented low.
O-Qua Tangin Wann Feb 24, 2024 @ 12:18pm 
Yeah technical issues aside, I hate the kameo system the most. I've been away from MK a long time and was looking forward to having a fighting game that wasn't a Japanese autist-fest and I came back to see all this bloat. Like c'mon, I just want a regular MK game. I don't want...whatever this is.
Magnadeus Feb 24, 2024 @ 1:51pm 
Funny thing is that there was and old twitter post asking fn MK1 will ever have 1v1. And they said "it was an integral part of the game" Basically it's their way of saying: "We didn't work our asses off hard for you not to use the Kameo system, so deal with it.
Last edited by Magnadeus; Feb 24, 2024 @ 1:52pm
imsouporcereal Feb 24, 2024 @ 9:07pm 
I played for the first time in a month and man... this game is just demoralizing. Like, I don't even want to be vocal about how much I hate it anymore. It's just so bad and so exhausting.
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Date Posted: Jan 24, 2024 @ 9:34pm
Posts: 20