Mortal Kombat 1 Preview: "I Am The Homelander" Gives Players The Boys Experience (2024)

The third guest character introduced to Mortal Kombat 1, Homelander's inclusion in the fighting game franchise makes perfect sense. Hailing from the grisly Prime Video adaptation of The Boys, Homelander is a vain and lethal take on the Superman archetype. While even villainous versions of the Man of Steel seen in titles like Injustice and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League may be fearsome forces of nature, they're nothing compared to the Homelander's visceral presence.

This is reflected in his Mortal Kombat 1 incarnation, a brutal fighter who can deal out punishment from afar with hislaser eyes and flight mechanics. Homelander works well as an addition to the Mortal Kombat 1 roster just from a gameplay perspective. On top of that, NetherRealm was able to successfully maintain references to The Boys, with some of his attacks and notably Homelander's brutal fatalities serving as direct reference to the Prime Video series. During a preview session at Warner Bros. Games attended by Screen Rant, players got the chance to get their hands on Homelander and take a swing at his grisly move set.

Homelander's Combat Style & Zoning Control, Explained

Laser Eyes Give Homelander A Lot Of Control In Battles

Homelander is a bruiser in Mortal Kombat 1, with a solid mix of powerful combo-breakers and range attacks. As a dark take on Superman, it's to be expected that the character delivers a powerful punch. Many of his moves have a particular crunch to them, allowing Homelander to snap the back of his opponent or to blast them with laser eyes. It gives Homelander a surprising amount of control on the battlefield.

The inherent shared quality between Homelander and Omni-Man makes them interesting foils, which is obvious when pitted against one another. Previously released as part of the Mortal Kombat 1 Kombat Pack DLC, Omni-Man is a similarly grim take on the classic superhero archetype. The developers have done a good job of distinguishing the two in terms of play style and move set, with their main attacks and combos highlighting differing approaches to the archetype.

While Omni-Man uses his speed and strength to slam opponents, Homelander benefits more from the range of his laser eyes, helping him counter and contain his opponents. It provides him with range in his basic combos, but also serves as a cornerstone of keeping up damage on the opponent and zoning control.

That isn't to say he can't cover ground quickly, but Homelander's play style is a bit more blunt and brutal, keeping opponents pinned down. Homelander can also turn opponents' momentum against them with moves like Dirty Trick or Blast Off that can throw off an offensive push. Homelander can deal damage, but he's also capable of controlling how opponents get to move across the fight.

How Homelander's Flight Mechanic Elevates The Character

Homelander Brings A Whole New Approach To Juggling With Aerial Combat

While Omni-Man works as a far faster character, Homelander utilizes devastating attacks that can come from on high thanks to his ability to fly. This ability can allow players to maneuver space easily to either avoid attacks, set up a heat ray blast, or deploy into a sudden burst of speed.

A new approach to juggling is also a very useful trick that Homelander's flight opens up for players, allowing them to deploy more painful blows that bounce the character around Homelander's ability to fly changes things up for the character in some interesting ways, providing him with an entirely new avenue to attack from. While he can't fly permanently throughout the fight, it adds a welcome additional dimension to Homelander's playstyle.

It also serves as a surprisingly adaptable escape mechanic, allowing players to avoid combos with a well-placed move. A solid hit will send Homelander back down to Earth, but players can also use their brief upper-hand to crash down. Notably, Homelander's combos open up with some new moves in the air, with moves like Sky Laser Eyes allowing him to maintain zone control. Diabolical Dash can cover a lot of ground quickly, while God Complex delivers a solid burst of damage. It all adds up to a unique and powerful tool in Homelander's combat style that rewards an aggressive and defensive styles alike.

How Homelander Fits Into Mortal Kombat 1

Homelander's Gruesome Attitude Fits Perfectly Alongside Mortal Kombat 1's Killers

Fans of The Boys will be pleased with the version of Homelanderwho appears in Mortal Kombat 1. The character is filled with Easter eggs and references to his TV incarnation, ranging from quotes to moves lifted directly from the show, with even his mid-battle taunts and comments referencing beats from The Boys.

His take on Mortal Kombat 1's brutal fatalities are direct references to the show as well, recalling some of his most villainous acts from the first season of The Boys. At the preview event, players got the chance to "Winging It," wherein they knock enemies into the sky into the path of a passenger airplane, and then things only get worse from there.

The trick is that Homelander's unstable personality in the show shines in a bombastic franchise like Mortal Kombat. Little touches, like his small smile while watching his Kameo Character deliver painful throws, suggest a character who is perfectly suited for the over-the-top violence of the franchise. It's a little touch that feels perfectly in-character for Homelander, a cruel fixture of The Boys who has been defined in-universe as someone who loves bringing the worst out of others.

It's a delicate balance that could have swayed too much one way or the other. However, NetherRealm finds the happy medium that allows Homelander to still feel in-character while also fitting into the world of Mortal Kombat, and that means he's a welcome and exciting addition to an already impressive roster.

Overall Impressions Of Homelander In Mortal Kombat 1

Homelander Is A Brutal & Ideal Addition To Mortal Kombat 1's Roster

It's clear that NetherRealm Studios had fun with Homelander, and it comes across clearly in the gameplay and presentation. Homelander's simply a fun character to play, with his laser eyes and ability to fly giving players an adaptable toolbox to deploy against other characters and threats. Homelander is a brutal brawler that feels perfectly in-tuned to Mortal Kombat, and likely the closest thing players will ever get to a videogame version of The Boys.

Mortal Kombat 1's DLC roster has featured an exciting batch of additions, with Peacemaker and Omni-Man both fitting in alongside the rest of the expanded roster of characters. Homelander might be the most impressive of the three, with his brutal adaptability making him a useful brawler to utilize against all sorts of other characters. Homelander is a blast, and a great addition to Mortal Kombat 1.