Mortal Kombat 1, the newest iteration of the popular fighting videogame offered through the premium and "kollectors" editions, has included an unexpected tribute to Quentin Tarantino's iconic film, Kill Bill. This twist was brought to fans' attention by Ed Boon, who highlighted on Twitter that the game character Shujinko performs a fatality move that mirrors the five palm exploding heart technique from Kill Bill.

Far from a loose adaptation, Mortal Kombat's version of the move is a near-exact recreation up until the grisly ending, standing in stark contrast to the respectful walk-away performed by David Carradine in Tarantino's film. The technique has deeper roots, originally appearing in two Shaw Brothers' films: Clan of the White Lotus and Executioners of Shaolin.

Including this reference aligns with Mortal Kombat's longstanding tradition of drawing inspiration from Eastern movies and action films from the 80s and 90s. Recognizable Western influences are apparent in characters like Kano, Sonya, and Johnny Cage, while characters like Liu Kang and Kung Lao proudly display their Eastern origins.

Kill Bill is fittingly referenced in this context as it's a Western interpretation of Samurai films and Shaw Brothers' productions. Fans can experience the mentioned fatality themselves in the new Mortal Kombat game – whether they're new to the game or veterans executing their combos. The inclusion of such an homage certainly makes the game more exciting and promises further surprises.