The Living Forest In Mortal Kombat

According to Mortal Kombat (2011), the living forest eats unsuspecting travelers who go too near to the trees. The non-canon Mortal Kombat Malibu comics didn't really explore too much on them but it was said they were once the Laughing Forest. This place may have existed after Shao Kahn supposedly merged one realm with Outworld. It's possible that he lost his troops sending them there though in the Story Mode, it's seen that some characters were able to venture there without getting eaten alive. Smoke and Jade were seen in Mortal Kombat II where they hide behind one of the trees. Later, a hidden fight with an unplayable version of Smoke was possible in Mortal Kombat (2011).

Back in Mortal Kombat II, it was a rumored fatality that never came to be. The stage evolved further in Mortal Kombat 4/Gold but a fatality was never added. Mortal Kombat Deception came up with the worst design for the living forest... EVER. There was even no death trap associated with it. I felt that there were graphical limitations, oversights or a combination of both. IMO, the best design for the trees was in Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks.

Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks made it mandatory for players to feed the trees in order to pass. The trees would eat any enemies whole. In the case one got a game over in the Living Forest in this game, you can see the character you're using getting fed to the trees. This was just among the many rumors from Mortal Kombat II that were made true. Others involved were like Goro's appearance in the game, Ermac in the hidden warrior shrine, the hooks in the Dead Pool stage and the fact you could release Kano and Sonya prior to the final battle.

In Mortal Kombat (2011) it was finally integrated in such a way. While I didn't like the new Living Forest design but I was glad that the stage fatality finally made it. The opponent is thrown into the trees where they're devoured leaving only the legs behind. Depending on which side you're facing will determine which tree gets to eat the unfortunate opponent.