Long read: The beauty and drama of video games and their clouds

"It's a little bit hard to work out without knowing the altitude of that dragon..."

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Mortal Kombat 11's Terminator is packed with Terminator 2 references

You won't be back.

In the movies, The Terminator's catchphrase is "I'll be back." In Mortal Kombat 11, however, the catchphrase arrives with a twist.

Win a match and The Terminator, which features Arnie's likeness from the upcoming Terminator film, says, "You won't be back." Brutal.

NetherRealm's Terminator is packed with references like this to the Terminator movies. Each intro and outtro is a direct reference to a moment in Terminator 2. One intro, for example, sees the Terminator walk forward, taking his trademark shotgun out of Johnny Cage doll box, which is a recreation of the iconic shotgun scene in Terminator 2 when Arnie turns up to save John Connor.

Another Terminator intro sees Arnie turn up on his motorbike just as he does in Terminator 2 when he arrives at the bar. Another sees him appear, kneeled inside a time portal bubble (although he's wearing his clothes, which is just not canon). And one of Terminator's outtros sees a T-800 skeleton in the post-apocalyptic future, just as we see one at the beginning of Terminator 2. (There's a great comparison video, below, from YouTube channel Nick and Autumn.)

Cover image for YouTube videoMK 11 - Terminator Intros/Outros Compared to Movie Scenes

What I think is cool is the movie references don't end there - in fact they're built into Terminator's moveset. His uppercut is a blast from the shotgun angled up from a low position - he does this against the T-1000 in Terminator 2.

Terminator has a projectile absorption move that sees him turn around to let the fireball hit his back - a reference to Arnie turning to take bullets in the back for John Connor in Terminator 2.

Cover image for YouTube videoMortal Kombat 11 Kombat Pack – Official Terminator T-800 Gameplay Trailer

Terminator has a shotgun move that, if amplified twice, will trigger Arnie's super cool shotgun reload from Terminator 2. Terminator has a teleport that is the time travel portal from the films. If Sonya Blade wears the Sarah Connor skin and fights Terminator, Terminator will think she's Sarah Connor in the intro.

We're also seeing Terminator's various Brutalities before he's officially released. Mortal Kombat YouTuber Mr. Alucard has made a series of videos showcasing them - and some are particularly nasty. One sees Terminator punch straight through his enemy's head.

Cover image for YouTube videoMk11 - New The Terminator Brutality - 4th Brutality

One of Terminator's skins shows the T-800 endoskeleton. This reveals damage to the face and skull, as we see often in the movies, as well as his left forearm and hand (the latter of which is a reference to the scene in Terminator 2 where Arnie rips the skin off his arm).

I can't wait to get to grips with the Terminator in Mortal Kombat 11. He looks like fantastic fan service for anyone who's into the Terminator films - like me. And, clearly, he packs a punch.