Mortal Kombat X’s Chapter 1 Story Detailed, QTEs Included [Spoiler Alert]

In a demo shown behind closed doors at GDC 2015, NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. gave us hands-on time with the first chapter of Mortal Kombat X, which takes place primarily 25 years in the future after the events of the last Mortal Kombat. Spoilers abound for the prologue of Mortal Kombat X (as well as the finale of Mortal Kombat IX if you haven't played it), but if we assume that the story for Mortal Kombat X will have a chapter for almost every character on the roster, this will be but a mere sliver of the full story. At the very least, Johnny Cage, who now sports a Nathan Drake-like haircut without his signature shades, will be a playable character.

In the finale of Mortal Kombat IX, Raiden allowed Shao Kahn to invade Earthrealm and ultimately attempt to merge Earthrealm and Outworld together, despite Liu Kang believing that Raiden has lost his mind. However, Raiden understood by way of Quan Chi (of all people) that the only way for The Elder Gods to aid Earthrealm is if he lets Shao Kahn follow through with his greed and break the rules of Mortal Kombat. By doing so, Kahn is eventually destroyed by The Elder Gods, but at the terrible cost of many defeated warriors (Cage, Sonya, and Liu Kang included) and the final reveal that Quan Chi had been acting on behalf of the fallen Elder God Shinnok.

With both realms severely weakened, Shinnok and Quan Chi have sent their demonic minions through all of Earthrealm over the last two years, leading to the first chapter of Mortal Kombat X featuring none other than Johnny Cage. Before he steps into the limelight, though, we see the military clad in modern warfare gear attempt to secure an urban street and face off against muscular winged demons without much success, until a squadron of helicopters blast the horde. Not letting this dramatic entry go by, Johnny Cage is seen leading the charge in one of the helicopters, along with Kenshi and Sonya Blade (how Johnny and Sonya recovered from Mortal Kombat IX is unknown).

Their triumph is short-lived, though, as both Scorpion and Noob Saibot (Bi-Han) reach the helicopter as Kenshi, Johnny, and Sonya defend the pilots so that they can reach Raiden's temple in time. It becomes clear that Quan Chi has turned some of Earthrealm's friends against them and resurrected a few of the dead warriors under his control with Johnny Cage apologizing to Scorpion that he wished they were fighting on the same side. Some of these cut-scenes require QTEs with proper button input, which will be controversial for MK veterans.

But eventually, players take control of Johnny Cage as he fights Scorpion in regular combat. Using Johnny's forceballs, flipkicks, shadow kick, and signature nut punch, it took little time getting Scorpion off the team's back. Each victory earns experience points toward a higher player level, which NetherRealm fans will recognize.

This theme of mind control follows through the story as Raiden and Fujin fend off waves of demons at a sacred temple as well as a turned Stryker, Sindel, and Cyrax. Quan Chi and Shinnok wish to sever the realms even further by breaking various energy points between Earthrealm and Outrealm, with one such point being hidden in a cave that Johnny, Kenshi, and Sonya try to infiltrate.

Johnny Cage is able to reach the energy point by getting through a turned Jax and Smoke, before facing Shinnok himself, after Raiden and Fujin fail to protect the point having been drained over the course of the day. Shinnok activates his amulet, which can be used to absorb anyone into its casing with an energy-sucking vacuum, to entrap Raiden and Fujin, but Johnny Cage luckily interrupts the corrupt Elder God. And after a one-on-one fight with Shinnok, Johnny is able to knock the amulet away long enough for Raiden to use Shinnok's amulet against him and seal him once more. To protect Earthrealm and restore peace, Raiden takes the amulet for safekeeping as Earthrealm's remaining forces celebrate a hard-earned victory.

How this relates to Mortal Kombat X's setting 25 years into the future remains to be seen, but I will surmise that given the various trailers (especially the story trailer) that this amulet containing the essence of Shinnok has likely been stolen in the future in the war between the dethroned Mileena and the new king of Outworld, Kotal Kahn. This would lead Earthrealm's warriors to recapture the amulet before Shinnok is released, sending Cassie Cage, Jacqueline Briggs, Takeda, and Kung Jin on a mission to Outworld.

But we'll learn the truth soon enough when Mortal Kombat X releases on April 14, 2015 for PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC.