TheMortal Kombatfranchise was one of the first video game series to cross over into TV and film. There’s no denying the cultural staying power of entries like the 1995Mortal Kombatmovie - still regarded as one of the best video game movies ever made - and its modern 2021 reboot, which introduced the brutal tournament to a whole new generation of fans. Even beforeThe Last of UsandFalloutraised the bar for game-to-screen storytelling,Mortal Kombatwas already paving the way with blood, style, and Scorpion’s iconic spear throw.
However, lost among the better-known movies andMortal Kombatanimated adaptationsis oneMortal KombatTV show that few fans still talk about today. It ran for just one season, took wild liberties with the source material, and came to a baffling, unresolved cliffhanger. However, for all its flaws and low-budget quirks, it’s got a cult charm that’s hard to ignore. Buried beneath the more polished adaptations isMortal Kombat: Conquest- a bold, strange, and oddly loveable chapter in the franchise’s long and violent journey.
Mortal Kombat: Conquest Was One Of TV’s First Live-Action Video Game Shows
This Mortal Kombat TV Show Came Long Before Game Adaptations Were Cool
Premiering in 1998,Mortal Kombat: Conquestwas a trailblazer in more ways than one. Outside of the live-actionskits inThe Super Mario Bros. Super Show!nearly a decade earlier,Conquestwas the first full-on live-action video game adaptation. That alone makes this forgottenMortal KombatTV show notable in the wider legacy of video game media.
However, like many early stabs at bringing games to life,Mortal Kombat: Conquestdidn’t quite land the flawless victory it was aiming for. The show aired in syndication and ran for 22 episodes, following the adventures of the Great Kung Lao (played by Paolo Montalban), long before the events of the original game timeline.
Alongside bodyguard Siro (Daniel Bernhardt) and former thief Taja (Kristanna Loken), Kung Lao fought to prevent the dark sorcerer Shang Tsung (Bruce Locke) and otherOutworld forces from taking over Earthrealm. While the character roster included many familiar faces from the games, the narrative wasmore of a fantasy martial arts soap opera than a tournament-based bloodbath.
Unlike today’s prestige gaming adaptations likeThe Last of UsorFallout, the show didn’t have the critical or commercial weight to survive.
In hindsight,Mortal Kombat: Conquestfeels very much likea product of its era. Late ’90s syndicated TV was filled with genre-heavy, mid-budget shows likeHercules: The Legendary Journeys,Xena: Warrior Princess, andHighlander: The Series.Conquesttried to ride that same wave, mixing fantasy mythology with high kicks and leather outfits. However, unlike today’s prestige gaming adaptations likeThe Last of UsorFallout, the show didn’t have the critical or commercial weight to survive.
Still, that boldness makes it fascinating. Studios were just beginning to test the waters of adapting games for television, andMortal Kombat: Conquestwas one of the first to dive in. It made plenty of mistakes - from inconsistent tone to lore-breaking choices - but it also showed that game franchises could have storytelling ambitions beyond arcade screens. Forfans of theMortal Kombatfranchise, this early TV show remains a curious but vital stepping stone in its evolution.
Mortal Kombat: Conquest Felt Like A Cheaper Version Of The 1990s Movies
WhenMortal Kombat: Conquestaired, the franchise was already known for its cinematic ambitions. The1995Mortal Kombatmoviewas a cult hit, praised for its fight choreography, iconic soundtrack, and surprisingly faithful take on the source material. Its 1997 sequel,Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, took a nosedive in quality, but it still featured elaborate sets, flashy costumes, and special effects that, for better or worse, left an impression.
Mortal Kombat: Conquest, by contrast, had to do a lot more with far less. The show’s budget constraints were obvious from the start. While the movies could lean into larger-than-life visuals,Mortal Kombat: Conquestwas stuckrecycling sets and relying heavily on indoor soundstage shoots. Most of the action took place in dimly lit temples, narrow corridors, and generic Outworld caves. The ambitious world-building was constantly held back by a lack of resources to properly realize it.
There were moments whenConquesttried to punch above its weight.
There were moments whenConquesttried to punch above its weight. Thefights were often well-choreographed,especially with martial artists like Bernhardt and Montalban in the cast. However, even the action scenes suffered from repetitive music, reused moves, and low-stakes choreography compared to the jaw-dropping fights fans expected from the games or films.
Yet, for all the shortcomings, the first live-actionMortal KombatTV show did attempt to deepen the lore. It focused more on the emotional toll of constant battle, the weight of prophecy, and the burdens faced by its main trio. There were evensome decent villain arcs-particularly Shang Tsung’s constant scheming- and appearances from familiar characters like Sub-Zero, Scorpion, and Quan Chi, though often with confusingly altered backstories.
In trying to emulate the style of the 1990s movies,Conquestinadvertently highlighted just how far budget can stretch (or not) in genre TV. However, while it couldn’t compete visually, it deserves credit for aiming high - even if it didn’t always land the fatal blow.
Mortal Kombat: Conquest Is Actually A Fun Watch
This Mortal Kombat TV Show Has Flaws, But It’s Way More Entertaining Than Expected
It’s easy to dismissMortal Kombat: Conquestas a failed experiment - and, by many standards, it was. However, rewatching the show today, removed from the expectations of its original run, reveals something unexpected: it’s actually kind of fun.
Yes, the special effects are dated, and yes, the tone is wildly uneven, but there’sa scrappy charm to the whole thing that makes it worth revisiting. Unlikethe 2021Mortal Kombatmovie- which delivered a visually polished and action-packed reboot -Conquestoperates on a much smaller scale. Surprisingly, that works in its favor.
The show leans into character dynamics, slow-burn plotlines, andgood old-fashioned martial arts. Kung Lao’s journey is genuinely compelling, and both Siro and Taja become surprisingly likable over time. The trio’s chemistry sells many of the show’s sillier moments.
Chaotic, unpredictable energy is part of its charm.
What really elevatesMortal Kombat: Conquest, though, are the fight scenes. While limited by budget, they’refrequent, energetic, and often surprisingly inventive. Whether it’s a one-on-one brawl in a torchlit dojo or a tag-team skirmish against shadowy ninjas, the choreography is consistently strong. It may not live up to the standards of the games, but it deliversmore thanMortal Kombat: Annihilationmanaged.
There’s also somethingoddly admirable about the show’s refusal to play it safe. It dives headfirst intoMortal Kombatlore, gives major screen time to underused characters, and ends on a massive cliffhanger that - frustratingly- was never resolved. That chaotic, unpredictable energy is part of its charm.
No one’s going to claimConquestis the bestMortal KombatTV show or movie. It’s messy, it’s goofy, and it’s painfully ‘90s. Still, if you’re a fan of the franchise with a taste for campy martial arts action, it’s an intriguing watch - and a fascinating piece ofMortal Kombathistory that deserves to be remembered.
