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Mortal Kombat 11 trailers showcase time-spanning story, returning characters

There's plenty of ultraviolence, and one insane Fatality.

Sean Keane Former Senior Writer
Sean knows far too much about Marvel, DC and Star Wars, and poured this knowledge into recaps and explainers on CNET. He also worked on breaking news, with a passion for tech, video game and culture.
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Sean Keane
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Mortal Kombat 11's story is bringing back some old favorites.

Warner Bros./Screenshot by CNET

Mortal Kombat 11's time travel antics are getting pretty weird

The new Story Mode trailer, which developer NetherRealm Studios dropped Wednesday, reveals how villain Kronika is recruiting allies from various eras of the series history. She wants to alter the path Dark Raiden put them on at the end of Mortal Kombat X.

Most notably, her group includes early Mortal Kombat big bad Shao Kahn. We knew he was going to be a pre-order bonus character, but this is our first look at his role in the game's story.

Watch this: Mortal Kombat 11 Story Mode trailer drops

The trailer also gives us a look at Johnny Cage interacting with his younger, time-displaced self, and he's not impressed.

It reveals three returning characters too -- Cassie Cage, Jacqui Briggs and Erron Black (all of whom debuted in 2015's Mortal Kombat X).

A second trailer, also released Tuesday, shows a match between Cassie and classic Mortal Kombat dirtbag Kano (long-running nemesis to her mother, Sonya Blade). Satisfyingly, Cassie wins and we see her wildly gory Fatality -- it's up there with the series' best.

NetherRealm game designer Derek Kirtzic teased our sister site GameSpot with the prospect of more returning characters.

"You're going to start seeing the resurrection of a lot of old characters. A lot of fan favorites," he said.

You'll be able to see for yourself when the game comes out on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch on April 23. If you preorder now, in addition to unlocked Kahn as a playable character, you'll get beta access from March 28-31, as noted by ComicBook.com.

First published March 6, 8 a.m. PT.
Updated March 7, 2:18 a.m. PT: Adds Cassie/Kano trailer.

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