They can be used to as the start of combo moves, or as the final flourish of a combo.
Each environment is unique, with its own set of objects you can use to hurt your opponent. Mortal Kombat X takes this a step further. Mortal Kombat fighting environments have always been characterized by their interactivity. Where in games like this the 'story' seems tacked on, and a bit pointless, in Mortal Kombat X's story campaign is a really fun, cinematic experience. That may sound short, but it's good for a fighting game.
There is a single player campaign in Mortal Kombat X that lasts about four hours. Of course, most people settle for perhaps two or three characters who most suit them, and in this sense Mortal Kombat X's library of characters means you should be able to find something that fits you just right. So, mastering all the characters in Mortal Kombat X looks like quite a mountain to climb. Does that look like a lot? As well as 29 characters, each also has three different combat styles, and each style has a wide range of moves to learn.