Nintendo's all-star fighting game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is nearing the end of its DLC. With only two slots left, there are been no shortage of ideas of who should make it in at the end. With Xenoblade Chronicles 2's Pyra and Mythra just joining the fight, speculation and hopes are running wild. It's unlikely any other game will reach these heights again, so Smash Ultimate should definitely go out with a real bang, and one franchise that absolutely deserves to have a fighter in the game is Mortal Kombat.
Mortal Kombat may seem like an odd choice at first due to its violent and gory reputation, but given its longevity and the amount of characters that could work in Smash, it deserves a shot. The series has had a variety of games on Nintendo consoles starting with the SNES, and that relationship gives it an advantage other requested characters like Master Chief don't have. Plus, Nintendo has already adapted characters from more mature franchises for Smash, with Bayonetta being a prime example of a violent and sexualized character working in the game.
With the addition of Fatal Fury's Terry Bogard and content from King of Fighters, game director Masahiro Sakurai showed that he's deeply familiar with fighting game history. While we don't know for sure what his history is with Netherrealm's flagship series, it's relatively safe to assume that he's familiar with Mortal Kombat given its legacy.
The Super Smash Bros. games have become known for their surprising additions from unexpected franchises, and coupling that with Sakurai's love of the genre suggests that Mortal Kombat deserves representation in Smash before Ultimate's DLC ends. It would also bring fans closer to a dream match where Street Fighter's Ryu, Terry and a Mortal Kombat character can duke it out for the first time.
As for who should get the coveted Smash invitation, there are a few Mortal Kombat characters in particular who could be toned down while still feeling authentic. One option is the Lin Kuei warrior, Sub-Zero, who derives his powers from cryomancy. His powers come from ice, and they can certainly be made less bloody without losing their impact. These powers also give him a wide variety of moves to implement, which could present a hybrid character who uses both hand-to-hand combat and weapons. Sub-Zero comes equipped with all manner of icy swords, axes and creative abilities, so he'd fit right in with the existing Smash roster.
A Mortal Kombat character could also help solve another one of Nintendo's problems with Smash DLC: the lack of female fighters. Out of the 10 DLC characters introduced so far, only two (three if you count Pyra and Mythra separately) have been exclusively women. However, Mortal Kombat has an array of awesome female fighters like Kitana, Jade and even new ones like Jacqui. Any of these characters would work well in Smash while incorporating mechanics from their own series.
The most unexpected series often make the best additions to Smash, and Mortal Kombat would be no different. Bayonetta was successful despite Nintendo needing to tone her down, and Mortal Kombat could and would achieve the same if given a chance. The series features a variety of weapons and hand-to-hand combat styles, meaning any new fighter would have a wide variety of attack options for the developers to choose from.
Between Mortal Kombat's history with Nintendo and its status as a legendary gaming IP, it's a bit surprising that the series isn't already in Smash -- or at least that it doesn't have the same fan hype behind it as long-requested characters Crash Bandicoot or Sora. Not only would a Mortal Kombat character work incredibly well within Smash, but one absolutely deserves to join the fight.