MKX: A New Generation of Women

With the recent release of the new Mortal Kombat, I was pleased to see that not only has graphics advanced but also the way the franchise has perceived women. They are not scantly dressed but actually dressed for combat in the garb of their faction. In previous games, women have often been clad in less than combat ready attire but have somehow beat their foes sometimes without a wardrobe malfunction. Netherealm Studios made the announcement before the game was released that they were aiming at creating more realistically proportioned female kombatants. In my opinion they have achieved this goal by not only making more realistic looking females but also less sexualized costumes in the game while still retaining the same violence and style as previous MK games in the franchise.

 



Not only is this a step in the right direction for the franchise, it also demonstrates the creativity of the development team by not only making these female kombatants clothed but also somewhat interesting seeing that some are related to other characters in the series. Cassie Cage is a great example of a strong female character that pretty much saves the world. At the end of the game, Shinnok the elder god of death invades earthrealm and taints their life force thus empowering himself with the essence of humanity. Cassie challenges and beats this super version of Shinnok and saves earthrealm. Years prior, her father fought him and was able to trap him within a medallion that could not be broken and must be constantly guarded from all who wish harm on the world. The sorcerer Quan Chi and his followers sought to revive Shinnok and in the end he succeded before having his head cut off by the very spectre he used to control, Hanzo Hasashi also known as Scorpion.