The Making of Friendship Moves in Mortal Kombat 11

In this article, we explore the creative process behind the friendship moves in the popular video game Mortal Kombat 11. Friendship moves are a non-violent and humorous alternative to the brutal fatalities that the game is known for. The creative director of NetherRealm Studio, Ed Boon, explains that the aim is to create silly and funny friendship moves that generate laughter rather than shock.

What are Friendship Moves?

Friendship moves are unique to each character in Mortal Kombat 11 and reflect their personalities, abilities, and characteristics. For example, Frost’s friendship move involves ice skating, while Fujin’s move involves flying a kite. Geras’ move involves building a sandcastle, and Jade’s move involves hitting a piñata. The team uses a combination of motion capture and animation to create these moves.

The Creative Process

According to Ed Boon, each friendship move is based on four or five ideas, and they choose the one that is the most funny and not too dumb. The moves are updated with elaborate presentations, such as Baraka’s present and Cassie’s selfie. The team aims to create moves that are not only funny but also reflect the personality of the character. For example, Cetrio’s move reflects his balance and nature, D’Vorah’s move reflects her ties with the insect world, and Aaron Black’s move reflects his gunslinger persona.

Technical Challenges

In the past, the team faced technical challenges in creating friendship moves. However, with the limitless capabilities available now, they can create moves that were once impossible. The team also faces the challenge of creating moves for licensed characters like Rambo, Robocop, and Terminator, who were great sports about doing silly things in the game.

Conclusion

The friendship moves in Mortal Kombat 11 are a fun and entertaining addition to the game. They provide a non-violent alternative to the brutal fatalities and reflect the personalities of each character. The creative process behind these moves is fascinating, and the technical challenges faced by the team make their achievements even more impressive. Overall, the friendship moves add another layer of depth to the game and provide players with a good laugh.