Crafting the Iconic Liquid Metal T-1000 Terminator for Mortal Kombat 1

Can you think of a villain as effortlessly cool as the T-1000? If not, then prepare to be amazed. The T-1000 from “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” epitomizes early ’90s coolness, cutting-edge technology of the time, captivating storytelling, and a perfectly cast actor. When it comes to selecting guest characters for Mortal Kombat 1, our guiding principle is simple: who’s the coolest character we haven’t added yet? And that’s where T-1000 steps in.

Unlike the T-800’s brute force, which is akin to a tank, the T-1000 is more of a sleek sportscar. Unlike the T-800’s imposing biker-jacket-wearing persona, Robert Patrick’s portrayal of the T-1000 as a lean, intense police officer is striking. The T-1000 fights, shoots, and races without a flinch, blink, or gasp for air, moving with a hawk-like, otherworldly presence. But when it comes to blending in, he’s a chameleon, able to question civilians like a friendly cop, displaying emotions such as frustration and arrogance that his forerunner doesn’t. Ironically, it’s during intense moments that Patrick’s T-1000 reveals a glimpse of humanity (finding a live grenade embedded in your torso certainly counts as extreme).

Now, that’s just the demeanor and expression. The real game-changer is what the T-1000 is made of. While the T-800 is a traditional cyborg—a metallic endoskeleton clad in living tissue—the T-1000 is a cutting-edge android formed from a liquid metal alloy known as ‘mimetic polyalloy.’ This material allows it to transform its reflective surface into humanoids, objects, and simple weaponry. It can pour through narrow spaces or slip past obstacles like a sinister liquid, stretch and flatten its mass to merge with the floor, or take on hard-edged forms for weapons as required. The rule in the universe is straightforward: once the T-1000 has touched you or anything else, it gains the ability to replicate it.

For us, as developers, this character is a faster, more adaptable infiltrator compared to the classic T-800, offering tons of reference material and boundless potential for gameplay, special effects, and cinematic scenes. It’s like being spoiled for choice.

However, there’s an issue with the T-1000’s lack of blood. A battle with Baraka wouldn’t result in red liquids splattering everywhere. Instead, you’d see the chrome droplets—the stuff it’s made from—scattering from the central mass. And these droplets wouldn’t just stay put. After the initial shock, they’d instinctively regroup with the main entity.

Here’s another challenge: Mortal Kombat 1 is renowned for its array of signature moves like Fatalities, Animalities, Brutalities, and more, each a cinematic marvel of violence rendered in ultra-HD. Considering the T-1000 is made of liquid metal, any attempt to pull or slice the creature apart is akin to a ballistics test through dense fluids. Our team put a lot of effort into making sure every cinematic moment conveys the T-1000’s unique liquid properties when it’s suffering a brutal defeat.

And then, there’s the transformation and morphing ability. Right from the start, we envisioned the T-1000 as not just any Terminator but the pinnacle—implacable, relentless, and armed with every conceivable movie reference, alongside original and entertaining twists.

Direct references include moves where the T-1000 transforms its limbs, like forearms into swords or hooks and extending fingers into needle-like weapons. As a faux police officer, it also wields service pistols, allowing for ranged attacks or advancing under the cover of gunfire. A standout enhanced special move marries both, with the T-1000 breaking into a sprint while shooting before lunging with spear-like arms, reminiscent of the iconic hospital hallway scene from the 1991 film. Several combos nod to the steel mill setting at the film’s end, using bladed fingers or turning parts of itself into a rebar-like blunt instrument mid-combo.

Some moves take creative liberties, expanding its abilities for fresh gameplay possibilities. Inspired by the scene where it drips through a damaged elevator’s ceiling, the T-1000 can quickly reform mid-air, landing as a fluid droplet. After being shattered and reconstituted, it can race forward in blob form, preparing for a wave of bladed strikes. Blurring the line between a mid-range and long-range projectile, it can merge half into the ground, sending out a liquid metal tendril that spikes upwards like a spear. Whimsical moves in its arsenal suggest it’s encountered Outworld foes before, picking up duplication tricks along its journey.

Designing such a character is no small feat. Most characters in fighting games are complex, with various moves, animations, and effects. But the T-1000 carries its own suite of challenges. Synchronized animations, grapples, and transformations all create complex variables. Every visual effect involves collaborative problem-solving across teams to nail the intended look and feel.

Bringing the T-1000 to life in Mortal Kombat 1 required a dedicated team effort, and we are thrilled to introduce this iconic guest fighter to the roster. You can now play as the T-1000 Terminator, available on Xbox Series X|S as part of the Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns Expansion or purchased individually.