History TearJerker / MortalKombat1

[[caption-width-right:1000:''[[MyGodWhatHaveIDone I've caused devastation, ended thousands of lives… all because of my blind ambition.]]'']]

* Losing a fight in story mode is [[ItsAWonderfulFailure followed by a caption box that reveals the aftermath of your defeat]]. While some are minor, others can be outright sad, such as Li Mei's:
--> ''Once again, Li Mei had fought to defend the royal house. [[HistoryRepeats Once again, she had failed]]. [[CondemnedByHistory History would not remember her kindly]].''

* All of Baraka's dialogue either is anger from Sindel's poor treatment of them, or [[DeathSeeker a faint wish for death to free him of his Tarkat prison]], to the point where he even tells Geras he'd rather not even exist.

* Invasion Mode Season 1 reveals that Hanzo Hasashi does exist in this timeline after all. He comes from another timeline where things went like usual: His clan was butchered by the Lin Kuei, especially his wife Harumi, who was murdered. This Hanzo managed to gain dimension-hopping skills and searched for a timeline where Harumi lived, to no avail, until he came to Fire God Liu Kang's timeline and found out that she was alive.... but quietly married off (albeit harmoniously) to [[{{Hunk}} Kuai Liang]], a member of the Lin Kuei and the Scorpion of this timeline. Hanzo, already frustrated by his failures, [[RageBreakingPoint snapped]], vowing that he will [[EvilIsPetty burn this entire timeline]] -- [[IfICantHaveYou if Harumi is forever destined to elude his embrace, then he shall make sure no one else gets to have her]]. However, Liu Kang [[EasilyForgiven is able to give him a happy ending]] through the hourglass.

* Invasion Mode Season 1 reveals that Hanzo Hasashi does exist in this timeline after all. He comes from another timeline where things went like usual: His clan was butchered by the Lin Kuei, especially his wife Harumi, who was murdered. This Hanzo managed to gain dimension-hopping skills and searched for a timeline where Harumi lived, to no avail, until he came to Fire God Liu Kang's timeline and found out that she was alive.... but quietly married off (albeit harmoniously) to Kuai Liang, a member of the Lin Kuei and the Scorpion of this timeline. Hanzo, already frustrated by his failures, [[RageBreakingPoint snapped]], vowing that he will burn this entire timeline -- [[IfICantHaveYou if Harumi is forever destined to elude his embrace, then he shall make sure no one else gets to have her]]. Thankfully Liu Kang is able to give him a happy ending through the hourglass.

* As seen in the various gameplay trailers, a Liu Kang MirrorMatch hints that [[Franchise/{{Batman}} The Joker]] [[Franchise/{{Injustice}} tricked one of them into killing his version of Kitana]].
* As seen in the "Umgadi" trailer and their bios, Baraka and his race in this timeline are victims of a disease responsible for their appearances that drives them to madness and savagery.
--> '''Baraka:''' We are victims of Tarkat. It disfigures, then debilitates. In time, it will turn us all into bloodthirsty monsters. [[MercyKill Death]] is our only release.
* We also learn more about how much more tragic Baraka's story is in this timeline. Before he was infected, he lived a life most would dream of: he was a successful merchant with a tribe, a home, and a wife and child. Once he got infected by Tarkat and exposed, by Sindel's decree, he had his assets taken away and was thrown to where all Tarkat-infected people go. While Baraka lives, his family slowly perishes, leaving him to take the mantle of guarding every infected person. All of his dialogue either is anger from Sindel's poor treatment of them, or [[DeathSeeker a faint wish for death to free him of his Tarkat prison]], to the point where he even tells Geras he'd rather not even exist.
* As seen in the announcement trailer and her bio, Mileena in this timeline starts off as a legitimate twin sister to Kitana, but still slowly has to succumb to her iconic monstrous appearance, which would jeopardize her status as Kahn.
* As seen in the "Banished" trailer, Reptile, despite his home realm of Zaterra and people existing in this timeline, is still all alone as he's an outcast due to his shapeshifting ability.
* The Invasion Mode gameplay demo reveals that Hanzo Hasashi does exist in this timeline after all. He comes from another timeline where things went like usual: His clan was butchered by the Lin Kuei, especially his wife Harumi, who was murdered. This Hanzo managed to gain dimension-hopping skills and searched for a timeline where Harumi lived, to no avail, until he came to Fire God Liu Kang's timeline and found out that she was alive.... but quietly married off (albeit harmoniously) to Kuai Liang, a member of the Lin Kuei and the Scorpion of this timeline. Hanzo, already frustrated by his failures, [[RageBreakingPoint snapped]], vowing that he will burn this entire timeline -- [[IfICantHaveYou if Harumi is forever destined to elude his embrace, then he shall make sure no one else gets to have her]]. Thankfully Liu Kang is able to give him a happy ending through the hourglass.

* Sindel is introduced as the wise and benevolent ruler of Outworld, who still mourns the murder of her husband Jerrod. The pain in her voice is palpable.
* In Chapter 3 of the Story Mode, Li Mei is introduced as Raiden's first kombatant in the tournament. She is there by tradition: Sun Do's First Constable is always the first fight. Sindel, however, makes it abundantly clear that's the only reason she's there, as she wants nothing to do with her, blaming her for Jerrod's death.
* By tradition in the tournament, the penultimate battle is against the heir of Outworld, which is Mileena. Her Tarkat affliction, however, prevents this, causing Kitana to take her place. Immediately, Mileena is upset, as there are already whispers for Kitana to take the throne. Sindel angrily rebukes Mileena, stating her thoughtlessness is how she got Tarkat in the first place. Kitana tries to keep peace, but it is very difficult.
** You can tell that Kitana is in a difficult situation of trying to support her sister's eventual ascension to the throne, even if Mileena's brashness and decision-making skills pose a risk to her future rule. When she notices Mileena and Tanya subtly flirting with each other at a festival later in the story, she warns Mileena that such an entanglement could potentially ruin her rule, telling Mileena that she has eyes, as do her detractors, and that if she's patient enough she can remove the restriction on Umgadi celibacy when she becomes Empress. Mileena storms off in frustration, clearly irritated by Kitana trying to help her, the latter clearly striking a nerve with her sister when she was only being nice to her as a sister and a best friend.

* When we are introduced to Syzoth -- AKA: Reptile -- he is working with Shang Tsung, but not willingly, as the sorcerer claims to [[IHaveYourWife have his family held hostage and will kill them if he disobeys.]] When Syzoth fails to stop Johnny Cage, Kung Lao, Kenshi, and Baraka from escaping their prisons in the Flesh Pits, Shang Tsung casually drops the fact that he had Syzoth's family killed...''[[DeadAllAlong months ago]]''! Poor Syzoth takes it poorly. This is also reflected in one of his pre-fight quotes against Scorpion, which reveals he has much in common with the previous timeline's Hanzo Hasashi.
-->'''Scorpion''': Shang Tsung killed your family?!\\
'''Reptile''': He brutally murdered my wife and son...
* Despite Sub-Zero being [[{{Jerkass}} a rude, callous, aggressive man]], his FaceHeelTurn still comes as a shock to Scorpion, who is both horrified and disgusted by how low his brother is willing to sink, especially when Bi-Han reveals that when their father had his fatal accident, Bi-Han was there and [[MurderByInaction just let him die]]. To say that Kuai Liang is heartbroken and betrayed by his brother's actions is a massive understatement. Even in the post-story, where Kuai Liang accepts that confronting the unrepentant Bi-Han is inevitable, both he and Liu Kang lament [[FallenHero what Bi-Han has become]].
-->'''Liu Kang:''' I had such high hopes for your brother.\\
'''Scorpion:''' So did I, Lord Liu Kang.
* While some of the villains to get a second chance in the New Era managed to become better people, others, for whom Liu Kang only wanted to give a second chance, still succumbed to their worst instincts, and in some cases, needed very little if any prodding to do so. Even his old ArchEnemy, Shang Tsung, who Liu Kang deliberately put into a mediocre life as a precaution, got a chance to do something better, and he ''gleefully'' threw it away in exchange for power.

* Liu Kang, after being revealed to be all the characters' creator, is dealt a lot of blame from some of the characters for all the misfortune that befell them (ie. Mileena in regards to Sindel's death, Baraka for his Tarkat infection, Reptile and Smoke for their families' deaths, Havik for his being treated unjustly by the Seidan regime).

* We also learn more about how much more tragic Baraka's story is in this timeline. Before he was infected, he lived a life most would dream of, a successful merchant, tribe, a home, a wife and a child. Once he got infected by Tarkat and exposed, by Sindel's decree, he had his assets taken away and thrown to where all Tarkat-infected people go. While Baraka lives, his family slowly perishes, leaving him to take the mantle of guarding every infected person. All of his dialogue either is anger from Sindel's poor treatment of them, or a faint wish for death to free him of his Tarkat prison, to the point where he even tells Geras he'd rather not even exist.

* The Invasion Mode gameplay demo reveals that Hanzo Hasashi does exist in this timeline after all. He comes from another timeline where things went like usual: His clan was butchered by the Lin Kuei, especially his wife Harumi, who was murdered. This Hanzo managed to gain dimension-hopping skills and searched for a timeline where Harumi lived, to no avail, until he came to Fire God Liu Kang's timeline and found out that she was alive.... but quietly married off (albeit harmoniously) to Kuai Liang, a member of the Lin Kuei and the Scorpion of this timeline. Hanzo, already frustrated by his failures, [[RageBreakingPoint snapped]], vowing that he will burn this entire timeline -- [[IfICantHaveYou if Harumi is forever destined to elude his embrace, then he shall make sure no one else gets to have her]]. Even with Liu Kang's new godlike power, it seems he cannot grant Hanzo a happy life...

!! '''NOTE: Due to this game being announced, yet not released, it's subject to the rules set in Administrivia/CreatingAWorkPageForAnUpcomingWork until its launch date of September 19th, 2023.'''

* Sindel's death at the hands of her Dark counterpart. Especially since unlike her previous timeline counterpart this Sindel has been shown to be a good person throughout. Fortunately Jerrod!Ermac was able to keep her soul in his collective so they can be TogetherInDeath.

** We also learn more of how much more tragic Baraka's story is in this timeline. Before he was infected, he lived a life most would dream of, a successful merchant, tribue, a home, a wife and child. Once he got infected by tarkat and exposed, by Sindel's decree, he had his assets taken away and thrown to where all tarket infect people go. While Baraka lives, his family slowly perished, leaving him to take the mantle of guarding every infected person. All of his dialogue either is anger from Sindel's poor treatment of them, or a feint wish for death to free him of his tarkat prison, to the point where he even tells Geras he'd rather not even exist.

** We also learn more of how much more tragic Baraka's story is in this timeline. Before he was infected, he lived a life most would dream of, a successful merchant, tribue, a home, a wife and child. Once he got infected by tarkat and exposed, by Sindel's decree, he had his assets taken away and thrown to where all tarket infect people go. While Baraka lives, his family slowly perished, leaving him to take the mantle of guarding every infected person. All of his dialogue either is anger from Sindel's poor treatment of them, or a feint wish for death to free him of his tarkat prison.

* Liu Kang, after being revealed to be all the characters' creator, is dealt a lot of blame from some of the characters for all the misfortune that befell them (ie. Mileena in regards to Sindel's death, Baraka for his Tarkat infection, Reptile for his family's deaths).

-->'''Cristina:''' I didn't marry ''Johnny Cage''! I married ''John Carlton''... [[ThatManIsDead I'd give anything to have him back]]. ''[Grabs her purse and leaves.]]''

* Johnny's chapter gives us [[ActionMovieQuietDramaScene a low-key sad scene]].

* As seen in the "Umgadi" trailer and their bios, Baraka and his race in this timeline are actually victims of a disease that is responsible for their appearances that drives them to madness and savagery.
--> '''Baraka''': ''We are victims of Tarkat. It disfigures, then debilitates. In time, it will turn us all into bloodthirsty monsters. [[MercyKill Death]] is our only release.''

* The Invasion Mode gameplay demo reveals that Hanzo Hasashi does exist in this timeline after all. Except he comes from another timeline where things went like usual: His clan butchered by the Lin Kuei, and especially his wife Harumi was murdered. This Hanzo managed to gain dimension-hopping skills and searched for a timeline where Harumi lived, to no avail, until he came to Fire God Liu Kang's timeline and finds out that she's alive.... but quietly married off (albeit harmoniously) to Kuai Liang, a member of the Lin Kuei and the Scorpion of this timeline. Hanzo, already frustrated by his failures, [[RageBreakingPoint snapped]], vowing that he will burn this entire timeline- [[IfICantHaveYou if Harumi is forever destined to elude his embrace, then he shall make sure no one else gets to have her]]. It seems that even with Liu Kang's new godlike power, he cannot grant Hanzo a happy life...

* In Chapter 3 of the Story Mode, Li Mei is introduced as Raiden's first kombatant in the tourmanent. She is there by tradition: Sun Do's First Constable is always the first fight. Sindel, however, makes it abundantly clear that's the only reason she's there, as she wants nothing to do with her, blaming her for Jerrod's death.

* By tradition in the tournament, the penultimate battle is for the heir of Outworld, which is Mileena. Her Tarkat affliction, however, prevents this, causing Kitana to take her place. Immediately, Mileena is upset, as there are already whispers for Kitana to take the throne. Sindel angrily rebukes Mileena, stating her thoughtlessness is how she got Tarkat in the first place. Kitana tries to keep peace, but it is very difficult.