Summary
By far the biggest new addition to be added inMortal Kombat 1is the Kameo system. Rather than just duking it out with two fighters, each player will now be able to pick aKameo alongside their primary fighter, who will be able to help out by extending combos, trapping enemies in place, or just debuffing them in one way or another to leave them vulnerable. They’re an essential part of the gameplay, but they’re also wildly different in their abilities, with some being muchmore difficult to get the hang ofthan others.
Each Kameo fighter has multiple moves they can throw out, but some will require perfect inputs and timing to use effectively. On the other hand, there are a few Kameos who are designed to beeasy to useso that anyone, even those with no prior experience of theMortal Kombatseries, will be able to use them to the best of their ability.
6Stryker
While he isn’t exactly great for extending combos, Stryker is still a great Kameo to use for controlling the neutral game and locking down the opponent when they might be getting a little too trigger-happy with their projectiles. His main ability is his grenade toss, where he throws out three explosives in an arch-shape that will act as an extremely reliable anti-air.
He is also able to pop up from the other side of the screen and literallyarrest the opponent, locking them up in handcuffs, which will leave them wide open for a mix-up. The handcuffs will also put the opponent in a restand position even if they’re being juggled, so while he’s not very complex, he’s great for making space and keeping the enemy on their toes.
5Goro
The terrifying behemoth known as Gorois another character who can feel a little clunky to incorporate into combos, but he’s great for just throwing out every now and again to catch the opposing fighter off guard. This especially applies to his stomp, which is unblockable and will help keep the opponent in check, though it can be a little slow to use. By far his most offensive move, though, is his punch walk, where he will pummel the opponent with a barrage of strikes while moving towards them.
Not only will this help push the opponent back, but it can even deal with enemy Kameos too in most scenarios, ensuring their abilities don’t reach the player. Goro is a powerhouse in every sense of the word who is guaranteed tostrike fear into the eyes of anyoneon the opposite side of his lethal attacks.
4Cyrax
Cyrax’s abilities canseem pretty straightforwardat first, but he can be absolutely devastating when used correctly, and luckily, he doesn’t take too much practice to get to grips with. His primary ability, and one that players should prioritize using above all else,is his Cyraxcopter, where he flies upwards while slicing the enemy to pieces with his blades. Not only can this set up an air combo, but it’s an easy way to deal a significant amount of extra damage by acting as a combo finisher too, which will easily catch a juggled opponent in mid-air.
He also has a net projectile, which is incredibly fast and will keep the opponent wrapped up for a few seconds, which can either be used to counter long-ranged attacks or to set up a brand-new combo. His self-destruct ability might not be quite as useful as the other abilities, but it’s nonetheless still good for interrupting attacks and controlling the momentum of a fight.
3Sareena
It didn’t take long for Sareena to become the most popular Kameo in the game, and the primary reason for this is due to justhow easily she can set up combosor extend them. With the press of a button, Sareena can throw out two scythes that will juggle the opponent, but because they act as boomerangs, they will actually bounce the helpless fighter toward the player, putting them in the perfect position to execute a combo.
Anyone who might be jumping into theMortal Kombatuniverse or even the world of fighting games for the first time should definitely consider using Sareena if they want an easy way to practice and perfect combos. She also has a single scythe attack, which is a lot faster, and while her meter debuff ability can feel a little gimmicky and unreliable, she’s still fantastic as a combo Kameo who feels like she’s almost designed for newer players.
2Kano
One of the best projectile-based Kameos in the game and a character who isa ton of fun to experiment with, Kano is just as fearsome as he’s always been, and he’s returning with all the tools and abilities that have made him so iconic. His knife toss is a lightning-fast projectile, which can make it extremely difficult for the opponent to get close, but his eye laser is what really makes him special.
This is a projectile that stretches acrossthe entire stage, which can either keep enemies at a distance, catch them while they’re falling, or even wipe out the enemy Kameo who won’t have a chance of closing the gap. Of course, it wouldn’t be Kano without his spinning ball attack, and while it’s just as strong this time around, it can be charged up too, which makes it risky for the opponent to ever rush in since it will literally blow them back to the other side of the stage. Anyone hoping to control the flow of a match and keep their opponent at bay with a mix-up of long-ranged attacks needs to try out Kano as a Kameo.
1Kung Lao
There are very few scenarios where it’s a bad idea tothrow out Kung Laoas a Kameo since he’s an all-rounder who pretty much has an ability ready for any encounter. He has a very effective projectile in his hat toss, which can be charged up similar to Kano, which is great for when a fight becomes a little spaced out, but he’s also carried forward his familiar spin attack that can instantly throw an enemy up for an air combo.
His teleport abilityreally acts as the cherry on top, allowing him to transport the player to the other side of the map in little to no time at all. Most Kameos excel in one specific area, such as projectiles or combo potential, but Kung Lao really does fulfill every role. This not only makes him very enjoyable to play around with in training, but it also makes him ideal for beginners who will want all of their bases to be covered while familiarizing themselves with all of the mechanics and main fighters featured in the game.
