Mortal Kombat has seen a variety of reboots of late. One the game front, we had 2011’s Mortal Kombat, which was almost a “Best Hits” version of characters and stories represented throughout the history of the series, while on the video front, we got Kevin Tancharoen’s Mortal Kombat: Legacy web series.
Another reboot that may have happened, but didn’t, is one that was being pitched in 2008 by a concept artist who worked at NetherRealm Studios before they were acquired by Warner Bros.
Vincent Proce envisioned a game that was based on the original premise but mixed in “modern multiplayer and dismemberment game design”. For his pitch, Proce created the following character designs:
“Scorpion as a wraith wearing the yellow blood of the demon that helped him resurrect to exact his revenge against his mortal enemy.”
“Raiden as a god whose feet rarely touch the ground.”
“Sonya, the daughter of a Texas Ranger whose sex appeal weakens her opponents while her Special Forces training kicks their asses.”
“Kano, half Japanese half US military bad ass.”
“Here is Sub Zero how I envision him. I haven’t worked out much of his back story other than that he was a part of the Way of the Frost Dragon, an honorable secret society of warriors that were direct enemies with the ninja organization Scorpion was a part of before he was killed by Shang Tsung (disguised as Sub Zero).”
Despite his departure from NetherRealm, Proce’s services were called upon to provide concept art for 2011’s Mortal Kombat game. You can find his character designs for the game here, along with brief notes about which ones he brainstormed on his own and which ones were more guided by the devteam.
