As an avid fan who has followed the Mortal Kombat franchise since the ‘90s, Liu Kang‘s rebirth as a destructive Fire God intent on remaking a dark new iteration of this iconic fighting universe instantly caught my attention. And while MK has always been revered for its innovative combat mechanics and grisly finishes, the new Invasion mode brings a thrilling new dimension to the game with its cryptic puzzles and hidden secrets.
In this guide, crafted leveraging over 25 years of expertise analyzing MK‘s lore and gameplay, I‘ll illuminate the obscure path to unearthing one of Invasion‘s most potent prizes – the mythical Living Torch.
A God Reborn – Unraveling Liu Kang‘s Transformation
Liu Kang‘s descent into vengeance-fueled madness has ominous origins. After defending Earthrealm across many MK tournaments, he became disillusioned with Raiden‘s leadership. The Thunder God‘s desperate attempts to manipulate the timeline inadvertently led to the deaths of Liu‘s allies and the eventual destruction of their realm.
Enraged, Liu Kang confronted Raiden in Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath, defeating his former mentor. But Raiden responded with a last vengeful strike, killing Kang as well.
Liu Kang then descended to the Netherrealm, his soul corrupted with hatred. The sorcerer Shang Tsung offered him a dark bargain – in exchange for Kang helping Tsung assassinate Netherrealm ruler Kronika, Tsung would rewrite history and create a new era.
Kang agreed. His aid led to Kronika‘s demise, leaving the sands of time ripe for remodeling. After consuming her power, Kang remade the realms as the ruthless Fire God portrayed in Mortal Kombat 1 Invasion.
This reimagined universe under Kang‘s control introduces an ominous new mode – Invasion. Solving its hidden puzzles provides the keys to unlocking ultimate power – in the form of playable fighters, konsumables…and one mystical flaming torch.
Invasion Mode‘s Innovative Blend of Combat & Clues
Invasion tasks players with conquering self-contained tower levels filled with unique hazards and enemies. But observing carefully also reveals clues and riddles known as "Klues" scattered throughout.
Deciphering klues grants access to Kameos – characters you can summon to assist in kombat. The legendary warrior Nightwolf, ninjas Smoke and Ermac, and other fighters stand ready…if you decode the trails pointing toward them.
Klues also unlock gates blocking off whole sections of the Invasion realm concealing secret kharacters, brutal new Fatalities, and theLiving Torch itself.
This fusion of puzzle-solving, keys, and traversal makes Invasion feel almost Zelda-esque in its adventuring elements fused seamlessly into classic MK kombat. Finding combat shrines and Dark Souls-esque fog doors leading to boss towers puts players‘ navigational skills to the test as much as their martial talent.
Ascending the Lethal "Moving on Up" Testing Grounds
Many trails and gates stay maddeningly sealed off until players complete the ascent up the Moving on Up tower cluster. The ominous entrance, decorated with impaled corpses as grisly warnings, sets an appropriately dire tone…
This harrowing 3-tower gauntlet showcases Invasion‘s creative approaches to obstacles and enemies. While later towers incorporate puzzles like trap disabling and scaling shifting gears as platforms flood with sewage, the first tests martial ability alone.
I faced a gauntlet of deadly ninjas – Ermac, Reptile, and Smoke – within Bottom Rung tower. Their shared penchant for stealth, poisoning, and teleported assaults made for an intense warm-up. As a longtime devotee of MK tournaments, I had insider insight into their movesets and prevailed thanks to patience and precision.
The Executive Suite climax against Shang Tsung and Quan Chi also rewarded knowledge of their sorcerous abilities. Carefully evading projectiles while eliminating their reanimated puppets ultimately unlocked the path upward. In true MK fashion, a false sense of security awaits those who fail to explore further. Beyond the exit portal lurked one final cache of Konsumables and koins – crucial resources for the trials ahead.
Claiming the Legendary Living Torch
Having conquered Moving on Up‘s lethal towers, the ultimate prize awaited. I crossed back over the entry bridge and ascended along the outer cliff ledges instead of proceeding inward. This detour led me to the torch‘s lunging distance away thanks to my mastery of MK‘s traversal techniques.
The lack of external defenses around the torch seemed suspiciously easy. But upon taking hold of it, notification klaxons resounded as gates throughout the realm shuddered open. The torch‘s true power became apparent – a skeleton key unlocking secret realms and mysteries within the Invasion landscape.
My first destination involved backtracking towards the initial bridge. This time, when turning right, the previously sealed corridor now gaped open. Within lay access to secret characters, brutal unsolved Fatalities, and mysterious clandestine realms still not fully mapped…
But those will remain my secrets to share another time. A true warrior knows patience and discretion are as formidable as any blade or blast. Through equal parts insight and martial skill, the living torch now illuminates my path deeper into MK‘s return to darkness. Let the tournaments recommence!
Further Exploration Awaits the Bold
Beyond the living torch, myriad mysteries still haunt the realm of Mortal Kombat 1 Invasion. Strange obelisks etched with sigils, glows shining from within mountain crags, and the occasional specter awaiting violent interrogation – this space holdsaxvline promise for secrets and bloody unlockables.
My journey has only just begun. For fellow fighters pursuing these shadows, may you also gain the torch and shine light upon this world of deathly delights. I‘ll be watching from the darkness between klues as you strive toward glorious kombat!
