Summary
Khameleon’s return inMortal Kombat 1is a significant event since it breaks a notable pattern for the character. While Khameleon is a Kameo fighter rather than a full-fledged combatant inMortal Kombat 1, her presence is still a pleasant surprise considering her history. WithMortal Kombat 1being such a massive title for the franchise with its timeline reboot, it was a surprise to see Khameleon of all characters make an appearance. Her role is more than just a slot on the Kameo roster, though. It’s a major moment regarding Khameleon’s history inMortal Kombatoverall.
Despite her obscurity,Khameleon appears inMortal Kombat 1as a member of the Umgadi, the guardians of Outworld’s royal family. Interestingly, Khameleon’s fighting style primarily consists of copying the abilities of the series' other female ninjas, with her costume changing color to match. InMortal Kombat 1, she replicates the powers of:
Khameleon cycles through these stances over the course of a fight, with her Kameo attacks depending on which form she is in when summoned. This makes her more complicated than most Kameos, but a useful partner nonetheless.
Khameleon’s Presence in Mortal Kombat 1 Is a Welcome Surprise
Khameleon Used to Only Appear When Every Other Fighter Was Accounted For
Before her arrival inMortal Kombat 1’s Kombat Pack, Khameleon had only appeared in two other games:Mortal Kombat TrilogyandMortal Kombat Armageddon. It’s worth pointing out that both of these games were “dream match” titles that featured every character that had appeared in the series up to that point. As a result, Khameleon had the odd distinction of only showing up in games where every other character in the series was present as well. Even joke characters like Mokap and Meat had more appearances than her beforehand. WithMortal Kombat 1, Khameleon finally gets an actual place in the story.
Mortal Kombat 1 is the First Time Khameleon Isn’t Restricted to Nintendo Consoles
A particularly strange detail setting Khameleon apart fromMortal Kombat 1’s other re-introduced charactersis her console exclusivity. She could only be found on the Nintendo 64 port ofMortal Kombat Trilogy, and the Wii port ofMortal Kombat Armageddon, making her a Nintendo-exclusive character beforeMortal Kombat 1. Even stranger, her male counterpart Chameleon, who was in the non-Nintendo versions ofMortal Kombat Trilogy, was available in all versions ofArmageddondespite Khameleon still being Wii-exclusive. It’s a history that no other character shares with her, not even her counterpart. Thankfully,Mortal Kombat 1finally threw off that trend with her addition.
Khameleon Finally Gets a Role in the Story in Mortal Kombat 1
Khameleon’s reboot incarnation also gives her an opportunity she never had before. InMortal Kombat 1’s new timeline, she has a place of importance as a member of the Umgadi. While she had a story and character ending inMortal Kombat Armageddon, she had no real impact on the plot itself. Only appearing next to characters with more history in the series didn’t help her in that regard. Although she doesn’t get much to do inMortal Kombat 1, she’s actually a part of the plot, and a playable appearance in future DLC or a sequel could finally give her a real spotlight.
Khameleon is a fun Kameo fighter inMortal Kombat 1, and it could be the game that reverses her fortunes. Despite being aminor character inMortal Kombateven to this day, she has already broken out of an old pattern. Previously, Khameleon had been restricted to only appearing on Nintendo ports of titles where every other fighter was already present. InMortal Kombat 1, she’s appearing at the beginning of an entirely new timeline. Only time will tell what her true role will be, butMortal Kombat 1is a change for the better where Khameleon is concerned.
Mortal Kombat 1
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to a new era of Kombat. NetherRealm Studios ushers in a new era of the iconic fighting franchise with a total reset that changes the entire world as we know it. Following the thrilling climax of Mortal Kombat 11, the all-powerful Fire God Liu Kang has created a New Era in the hope of bringing peace to Earthrealm and beyond. Through the series' most cinematic story mode yet, you’ll be reintroduced to a cast of legendary warriors as you’ve never seen them before. Expect twists on classic friendships and rivalries, as well as new backstories that will change everything you think you know about your favorite Kombatants. Discover a host of new offline and online game modes as you master a revitalized fighting system that boasts bone-crunching Fatal Blows, defensive Breakers and the most creatively vicious Fatalities yet.
