Mortal Kombat 1: Unveiling the Hidden Ninja Floyd
Mortal Kombat 1 revives a nostalgic aspect of the franchise from its arcade roots by introducing a newly unveiled, color-swapped ninja named Floyd. This elusive character is so well hidden that players across the community are buzzing with excitement, sharing tips on how to encounter him. Defeating this pink ninja under specific conditions yields a fantastic reward.
The name Floyd is an homage to the iconic band Pink Floyd, much like how the character Rain references the famous Prince song "Purple Rain." The inclusion of Floyd draws inspiration from the original three Mortal Kombat arcade versions, which featured hidden ninja encounters. Although most of these characters were merely alternate colors for Scorpion and Sub-Zero, they laid the groundwork for characters like Reptile and Ermac.
Who Is Floyd in Mortal Kombat 1?
Introducing Floyd: A New Challenger from Recent Updates
Floyd made his debut following a patch that accompanied the addition of Conan the Barbarian as a downloadable fighter in Mortal Kombat 1. Initially, references to Floyd were subtle, with the name popping up sporadically during or at the end of matches. Players began to notice a pink logo with the name “Floyd,” sparking intrigue about the hidden fighter that the game hinted at.
Data mining efforts later revealed that Floyd is a secret fighter introduced in the Conan patch, and players can only meet him by completing particular challenges. These challenges pertain to optional objectives during matches, which can range from specific tasks to more whimsical missions. Consequently, obtaining the "Floyd" messages has been challenging, as each player seems to have their own unique criteria.
When you successfully trigger the "Floyd" message, it appears on the side of the screen where your character is positioned. Generally, this will be on the left side for Player 1, especially while participating in Invasions or the Towers of Time for Floyd-related challenges.
Once you trigger the "Floyd" message enough times, you will be transported to a new stage to confront the pink ninja. This update introduces a breathtaking location known simply as "Field." This beautiful landscape was first glimpsed in the game’s initial trailer, during a scene where Liu Kang executed a Fatality on Shang Tsung.
How to Trigger the Fight with Floyd
To get to Floyd, players must engage in challenges unique to their account until he appears. Through fan discussions, it has become known that ten Floyd messages must be triggered to initiate the encounter with the pink ninja. Each player’s challenges are distinct, and according to a Reddit post by IfTheresANewWay, there are a total of 37 challenges that could be assigned.
Some challenges will require you to pick specific characters, while others may mandate completing tasks in various modes. For instance, you might need to finish an objective in Story mode to receive your message. If the message doesn’t appear instantly, consider switching to Vs mode, as it may trigger the message at the match’s start.
No player’s set of challenges is identical. You’ll realize you’ve completed all ten challenges when the screen fractures like glass, whisking you away to Floyd’s hidden arena.
Tips for Beating Floyd in MK1
Floyd’s speed is significantly faster than many other characters, compensating for the absence of a Kameo partner. During matches, Floyd tends to taunt players, which could provide you with a perfect opportunity to retaliate with a full combo. Watch for openings to chip away at Floyd’s health across multiple rounds until you achieve victory.
If you lose against Floyd, you’ll have two additional attempts to challenge him. After three losses, you’ll need to complete the ten challenges once more to encounter Floyd again. Be aware that you cannot switch characters after losing, making it essential to develop a strategy for overcoming this secretive ninja and earning a unique prize.
Rewards for Defeating Floyd
When you successfully defeat Floyd, you can earn several exciting rewards, including:
- Fires of Amaranth (Scorpion Kameo Legendary Palette)
- Pink Ice (Sub-Zero Kameo Legendary Palette)
- Fuchsia Flames (Scorpion Kameo Legendary Palette)
- Fresh Powder (Sub-Zero Kameo Legendary Palette)
- Floyd Kombat Kard Background
- Floyd Kombat Kard Foreground
- Rainbow Ninjas Kombat Kard Background
- Pink Ninja Kombat Kard Foreground
- Field – Sunset Stage
Among these rewards, the Field stage stands out as the most coveted. By conquering Floyd, players gain the ability to fight on this stunning backdrop in both offline and online modes. Despite some optimization issues, this stage is a distinctive inclusion compared to those available in the base game.
Investing time to discover Floyd is undoubtedly worthwhile, primarily for the stage itself. This nostalgic nod to the arcade days breathes new life into Mortal Kombat 1, so seek out Floyd and take on this hidden ninja while the opportunity for bragging rights still exists!