Mortal Kombat 1’s first Kombat Pack is about to receive its fifth and final instalment as Takeda Takahashi wraps up what the studio is referring to as “Year 1”.
To celebrate this significant milestone, NetherRealm Studios have unleashed an epic gameplay trailer featuring Takeda in all of his glory. Wielding his signature serrated whips, Takeda made his first appearance in 2015’s Mortal Kombat X as one of the “Kombat Kids” alongside Cassie Cage, Jacqui Briggs and Kung Jin.
Although originally written into the series as Kenshi’s estranged son, this new timeline indicates that he is now a cousin of Kenshi’s, having also been raised a Yakuza. From the press release:
Similar to his cousin Kenshi, Takeda Takahashi was raised a Yakuza. Unlike him, Takeda enjoyed this lifestyle. That’s why he was chosen to end Kenshi’s crusade against his masters. The fight mortally wounded Takeda. Unwilling to let his cousin die, Kenshi rushed him to the nearest help: the Shirai Ryu. Even after Takeda was healed, Kenshi wouldn’t release him. He feared that the Yakuza might kill him for failing his mission. Takeda resisted, attempting to escape repeatedly. But as the months passed, he began to appreciate the Shirai Ryu’s selfless commitment to Earthrealm, a contrast to his past lifestyle. Takeda swore to rip up Earthrealm’s underworld by the roots, but he soon learns they are stronger and more tangled than he ever thought possible.
Besides his incredible agility and acrobatic prowess, Takeda also utilises explosive kunai projectiles, ninja stars and teleportation to elevate his advantage in battle. In addition to being made available early on July 23 for owners of the Kombat Pack, both Takeda and Kameo fighter Ferra will be playable at this year’s EVO fighting game tournament in Las Vegas from July 19-21.
Finally, the trailer shows off a number of extra moves and changes for a few Kameo fighters. First up is Frost, who is able to summon a sizeable ice wall behind her opponent. Cyrax will now drop a bomb if he is interrupted, and Sektor will fire two homing missiles.
Both Takeda and Kameo fighter Ferra launch in just over one week’s time. Let’s go!
