Johnny Cage's Hilariously Brutal Fatality Steals the Show at Evo 2023

The Mortal Kombat franchise, known for its iconic finishing moves or "fatalities," continues to entertain and shock players with its blend of ultra-violence and humor. Despite the increasing graphical realism brought about by advanced technology, NetherRealm Studios still ensures the fatalities remain exaggerated enough to trigger more laughter than gasps. In essence, the fatalities are a significant part of the franchise, showcasing how far the studio is willing to push the boundaries with their renowned characters.

Recently, Mortal Kombat 1 has been stirring up quite some buzz regarding its fatalities, especially post EVO 2023. The game is already showing promise, with a few already revealed violent finishers. For instance, an MK1 trailer showed Geras and Liu Kang, the Fire God, opening a space portal with just a snap of his fingers and summoning a black hole to disintegrate their opponent. However, it is a newly discovered fatality for Johnny Cage, a classic character that is currently taking the spotlight.

Although not officially announced, EVO players had the opportunity to get hands-on experience with Mortal Kombat 1 and try out characters like Li Mei and Johnny Cage. By accessing the full moves list, they discovered Johnny's first fatality move, a perfect blend of ultra-violence and comedy. Captured by Da Island Boyz, Johnny Cage puts his arm around his defeated opponent, takes a selfie with his phone, and then slams the opponent face down onto his Hollywood-style plaque. To add to the gore, Cage then lifts the opponent with all the viscera sticking to them and takes another selfie, the opponent's face now unrecognizable.

Fans got a teaser of this fatality during the official Mortal Kombat 1 gameplay trailer aired at the Summer Games Fest. However, it was at EVO 2023 that the fatality was shown in all its glory for the first time. Keeping true to the Cage family tradition, the fatality is just as outrageous as those featured in Mortal Kombat 11, some of which saw Johnny using the upper torso of their opponent in a ventriloquist act.

Many EVO attendees believe that the version of the game they played will be the same as what beta players will receive in the coming weeks. The latest Mortal Kombat 1 beta build, which includes characters from the first closed network test, adds Li Mei and Johnny Cage to the character roster, with Frost as another cameo option. The Mortal Kombat franchise continues to maintain its unique balance of humor and violence, much to the delight of its dedicated fan base.