History YMMV / MortalKombat1

** [[spoiler: Bi-Han being an ambitious jerk since the beginning is something that the heroes can still tolerate, which even includes his AdoptionDiss on Tomas. It's only after he decides to initiate a power grab for his own ambition offered by Shang Tsung by betraying the Earthrealm and revealing to his family that he let his father die to become the Grandmaster that practically everyone amongst the Earthrealm defenders is at best 'severely disappointed' (Liu Kang and Ashrah) or 'seriously wants his head' at worst (Kuai Liang and Mileena), while [[EvenEvilHasStandards even other villains look at him with disgust for his betrayal of both sides]]. It's the turning point for Bi-Han where it becomes clear that his AdaptationalVillainy is for real, and it's also something Bi-Han is aware of and gladly accepted: He knows that everyone will treat him as a vile traitor, but he shows no regrets or doubts in his new role and path he walks on.]]

* UnpopularPopularCharacter: Quan Chi is virtually hated by everyone even the guest characters. But he is extremely popular while also falling into CreepyAwsome category for such good gameplay and for being such a KarmicButtMonkey.

* QuestionableCasting: Megan Fox as Nitara. Not unlike when Ronda Rousey was cast as Sonya Blade in ''Mortal Kombat 11'', fans have mostly seen her as a famous actor WB can boast about being on the project over someone who actually fits the character. Fox's acting as Nitara is rather wooden and stiff, which stands out poorly in a game where everyone else is a LargeHam with extra seasoning. It's so awkward in fact, some people are even saying she is ''worse'' than Rousey was as Sonya, due to the fact that Fox is a ''professional actress who has starred in major movies,'' making her performance far less excusable than Rousey's. Creator/CristinaValenzuela, an experienced voice actress, performs Nitara's battle grunts and death screams, and many thought the developers should have had her voice the character altogether rather than relying on StuntCasting with Fox. In fact, many people have even stated they believe AI-generated voicebanks using Fox's voice give a better performance than she does!

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Sub-Zero. While many fans were looking forward to Bi-Han once again donning he mantle of Sub-Zero, there are those who are upset with the AdaptationalVillainy and [[AdaptationalJerkass Jerkassery]] he received in the game that basically turns him into Sektor, with some even accusing Netherrealm of [[RonTheDeathEater making Sub-Zero look bad]] in order to [[CharacterShilling prop up Scorpion]]. [[note]]It doesn't help that Kuai Liang, who has long been known as the "good" Sub-Zero, now holds the mantle of "Scorpion," who is Ed Boon's favorite character.[[/note]] Others have no problem with this as they believe that he's always been evil and even if he wasn't, they justify this characterization as, this being a new era, not all characters will remain the same as their previous versions. And then [[TakeAThirdOption there are those who]], while not liking the characterization, believe that Bi-Han will have a RedemptionQuest in a future game.

* UnpopularPopularCharacter: Quan Chi is virtually hated by everyone even the guest characters. But he is extremely popular while also falling into CreepyAwsome category for such good gameplay.

* TheScrappy: Nitara has earned a very chilly reception among fans, primarily due to having what is widely seen as one of the worst acting performances in any NRS game, with Creator/MeganFox's flat delivery and bland dialogue making her ''extremely'' distracting whenever she appears. Combined with having very little involvement in the game's story and so-so gameplay (she's often placed in lower tiers as her high-execution rushdown style is seen as far too risky and predictable to make worthwhile), she doesn't have many fans to offset those who wish she simply wasn't in the game.

* TheScrappy: Nitara has earned a very chilly reception among fans, primarily due to having what is widely seen as one of the worst acting performances in any NRS game, with Creator/MeganFox's flat delivery and bland dialogue making her ''extremely'' distracting whenever she appears. Combined with having very little involvement in the game's story and subpar gameplay (she's often placed in lower tiers as her high-execution rushdown style is seen as far too risky and predictable to make worthwhile), she doesn't have many fans to offset those who wish she simply wasn't in the game.

*** Havik, Reiko, Ashrah and Nitara are all among the playable roster characters. Nitara especially bears mentioning as she was revealed to be played by none other than Creator/MeganFox.

** [[spoiler:While his AdaptationalVillainy hasn't gone over well with everyone, combat-wise, Bi-Han still retains what it means to hold the mantle of Sub-Zero: Kool, awesome and in the same time also brutal and actually enhances his new villainous aura. In addition of his best look to date, these are what holds the fandom of Bi-Han together in spite of his controversial personality change. Additionally, Bi-Han also shows a good amount of VillainousValor and avoiding other villain pitfalls like being a coward or wishy-washy; he knows he'll be called the villain for his actions, but [[TheUnfettered he will definitely stick to his path no matter what]].]]

** The ending of Invasion mode season 1: [[spoiler:after the villainous Scorpion is subdued, Liu Kang tracks down an alternate version of Harumi who, like Hanzo, lost her love to Quan Chi and became Scorpion. Seeing Hanzo finally reunite with his beloved wife and take revenge on Quan Chi (this time without [[VideoGame/MortalKombatX causing more problems than he fixes]]) is a great relief to fans who had seen Hanzo suffer seemingly endlessly in past titles.]]

** The version of Scorpion/Hanzo Hasashi who serves as the villain for season 1 of Invasion mode is a [[EvilIsPetty petty]], yet [[DrivenToMadness tragic]] figure whose cool and intimidating design, along with [[spoiler:his genuinely [[EarnYourHappyEnding happy ending]]]] made a good impression on fans.

** The color schemes for the characters costumes from Invasion season 4 was criticized for not having the same colors as Mileena's clothes. Not helping that it has speculated (with some evidence to support this) that the skins themselves were originally planned for an Invasion season featuring ''Havik''.

*** Even fewer people expected [[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception Darrius]] and later [[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance Mavado]] to be included as a Kameo Fighters, especially since they weren't especially popular characters and were completely absent from the second timeline. Mavado in particular turned heads as he was widely considered a ReplacementScrappy for taking Kabal's trademark hook swords, and yet despite Kabal's absence from the playable roster this time, they're nowhere to be found for Mavado's Kameo appearance.

** Upon the release of the trailer for the Kombat Pack, everyone was quick to notice and criticize Ermac's redesign with the lack of mask and bandages that he's typically known for, furthering the "mummified" design type for Ermac that's base breaking at best. The complaints were evident enough that once Ermac was properly introduced as a playable character, he was given a new face-covering mask, keeping him in line with the other "ninjas" of the game.

** Upon the release of the trailer for the Kombat Pack, everyone was quick to notice and criticize Ermac's redesign with the lack of mask and bandages that he's typically known for, furthering the "mummified" design type for Ermac that's base breaking at best. The complaints were evident enough that once Ermac was properly introduced as a playable character, he was given a new face-covering mask, keeping him in line with the other "ninjas" of the game.

*** Even fewer people expected [[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception Darrius]] and later [[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance Mavado]] to be included as a Kameo Fighters, especially since they weren't especially popular characters and were completely absent from the second timeline.

*** WB later confirmed in a press release that Mavado from ''Videogame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance'' would be returning as one of the Kameos. Not many people were expecting to see him again, given his last playable appearance was in ''Armageddon'', and that he was widely considered a ReplacementScrappy for taking Kabal's trademark hook swords.

*** Even fewer people expected [[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception Darrius]] to be included as a Kameo Fighter, especially since he was completely absent from the second timeline.

** Upon the release of the trailer for the Kombat Pack, everyone was quick to notice and criticize Ermac's redesign with the lack of mask and bandages that he's typically known for, furthering the "mummified" design type for Ermac that's base breaking at best.

** Li Mei has also received some criticism for having almost identical clothing and hairstyle to Mileena, making them somewhat difficult to tell apart. Some also criticize her for having a rather bland, generic design, resembling more a background NPC rather than a playable character in the main roster. This has been negated a bit with her getting an alt costume based on her ''Deception'' design which has been more warmly receved.

** The color schemes for the characters costumes from Invasion season 4 was criticized for not having the same colors as Mileena's clothes.

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Sub-Zero. While many fans were looking forward to Bi-Han once again donning he mantle of Sub-Zero, there are those who are upset with the AdaptationalVillainy and [[AdaptationalJerkass Jerkassery]] he received in the game that basically turns him into Sektor, with some even accusing Netherrealm of [[RonTheDeathEater making Sub-Zero look bad]] [[CharacterShilling in order to prop up Scorpion]]. [[note]]It doesn't help that Kuai Liang, who has long been known as the "good" Sub-Zero, now held the mantle of "Scorpion," who is Ed Boon's favorite character.[[/note]] Others have no problem with this as they believe that he's always been evil and even if he wasn't, they justify this characterization as, this being a new era, not all characters will remain the same as their previous versions. And then [[TakeAThirdOption there are those who]], while not liking the characterization, believe that Bi-Han will have a RedemptionQuest in the game's release.

** The entire final act of the game has had some divided opinions. On one hand all the [[CallBack Call Backs]] and [[MythologyGag Mythology Gags]] to the past games, especially the [=PS2=] era games and [[spoiler: [[EarnYourHappyEnding ending in a way where nearly everyone in the New Era gets a happy ending]]]] have made the story really pay off for some. While detractors feel it makes the stages too high and too over the top and detracts from the relatively smaller scale the story was taking beforehand.

%%Due to the Administrivia/NoRecentExamplesplease rule, only add BrokenBase, BaseBreakingCharacter, TheScrappy and PortingDisaster six months after the game's release (at least March 19, 2024).