As fans watch for hints about new DLC fighters being added to Mortal Kombat 11, NeatherRealm Studios is dropping some free seasonal DLC to tide them over. The All Hallows' Eve Skin Pack has dropped on September 29th, more than a week ahead of schedule, exclusively for owners of the Aftermath expansion.
Like last year's Masquerade Skin Pack, the DLC offers horror-themed skins for three characters. The skins are cosmetic and, much like the game's Gear system, is purely aesthetic. For Mortal Kombat fans looking to add a sense of spooky horror to their Kombat League sessions, these skins are going to be the way to go.
Johnny Cage
Befitting his day job as a B-movie actor, Cage is channeling Michael J. Fox's look from the '80s cheese classic Teen Wolf with his "Beast Within" skin. It's completely believable that Cage would star in a grim and gritty Teen Wolf remake or sequel, which this skin taking part in Mortal Kombat tournament matches evokes, so that seems like the main influence.
The look may also trigger some nostalgia for fighting game fans of a certain vintage. Lupo the Wolf was the main character of the Bloody Roar series, which pit human characters with anthropomorphic abilities against each other. The game hasn't had an installment since 2003's Bloody Roar 4. For fans of fighting games and werewolves, it's a welcome addition to a niche that was previously only filled by Killer Instinct's Sabrewulf.
D' Vorah
D'Vorah's nurse costume is generic enough to be a nod to the popularity of nurse Halloween costumes in general. It can be seen as a nod to everyone from Silent Hill's Bubble Head Nurse to the current Netflix sensation, Ratched.
D'Vorah's skin is the biggest departure from her usual looks of the three characters in the pack. As a member of the insectoid Kytinn race native to Outworld, she doesn't usually wear much in the way of Earthrealm fashion. Even a generic nurse's costume stands out from her usual aesthetic.
Unlike the other two characters, D'Vorah is a recent arrival in the series. Her first appearance was in 2014's Mortal Kombat X. It's nice to see her included with series originals Cage and Sub-Zero if for nothing else but variety's sake. Fans have pointed out that Cage, in particular, is over-served when it comes to skins. It's good to see NetherRealm at least mixing in a new character with old favorites.
Sub-Zero
Sub-Zero's Blizzard King skin is reminiscent of Game of Thrones villain Night King, to the point of sounding like an off-brand version. The similarities between the two characters make it an effective homage, in spite of the different roles they play in their respective universes.
This particular skin might betray the lead time it takes to create even cosmetic DLC. Game of Thrones' final season didn't begin airing until after MK 11 was days away from shipping. The idea of a Night King-themed skin was more appealing before his underwhelming endgame took place. Game of Thrones in general isn't the cultural juggernaut it was before the final season, and the finale, in particular, soured so many fans on the franchise as a whole.
As one of the most iconic characters in the game, Sub-Zero is always going to have a lot of costume options. It's nice to see NetherRealm try something a little different instead of recycling one of his older costumes, no matter what its inspiration was.