Umm how in the hell would giving away his powers help defeat the Dragon King? That's because it wouldn't. He didn't make a deal with the gods, or give up his powers willingly. He probably thought that maybe he could hurt or destroy the Dragon King by exploding in an ethereal blast. And besides if he's standing in front of the Dragon King, as a god, emitting his godliness in a mega-explosion, it would either A. Kill Raiden or B. Leave him laying powerless in front of the Dragon King. Either way he's dead. The DK has so much power that Raiden had to kill himself, very noble, in order to protect the rest of his warriors. Sadly it was all in vain.

Right after E3 there was a post or something that made reference to characters returning to Deception but they would have NO ENDING and NO AFFECT on the story.

So, yes, to the delight of all of us Raiden fans, he is returning to the game, you will be able to kick ass with him, but storyline wise he's dead. Why else would IGN and the MK Team use his Deadly Alliance costume to show off the "new" model. Every other character from Deadly Alliance sure as a revamp look. But Raiden has the same outfit only a crisper, enhanced version? Sorry he's gone, I'll miss him too. He's returning as a kombatant, and that's been known since May, but he'll die in the intro.

Why bother making a full bio for a character (Raiden) that will take little or no part in the storyline? Also, in MK:DA the bio was split for each costume. The primary got the first half and the secondary the second half. So can we consider that the bios listed on IGN as being incomplete? Perhaps we are missing part of the bio stating that he was rescued by someone while the DK was also temp. weakened by Raiden's attack. For all we know perhaps Raiden wasn't trying to completely kill the DK only make him also mortal. Wasn't there a part of the story/legend that when the egg hatch the DK would return immortal and stronger than ever? Perhaps, Raiden's 'sacrifice' was not in vain afterall. We can only wait until the game comes out and someone gets the unlockables unlocked before we can find out the full story.

what?? he only sacrificed himself by releasing his godlike essence... not sacrificing his life..

*X*BloodyEyes Wrote: he's dead...how can a dead character be playable? that wouldn't make much of a sense, and yes you can call him kombatant because he is a fighter, and he's in deception, but not playable because he dies in the intro. It would be stupid making raiden lost his powers in almost every game, I think they made the right decision by killing him in an heroic way.

Raiden is immortal,are you people really paying attention to the story?

well ed boon did say he is going to decieve us the fans somehow so maybe this is it

I think he isn't a GOD anymore and is mortal. I really hope he isn't dead but why would he be on the Kombatants of Deception List.

From IGN-
"As a last resort against the Dragon King's advance, Raiden sacrificed himself by releasing his godlike essence; thereby creating an intense ethereal blast. The Dragon King was unaffected and continues to threaten the realms."

As a last resort...Raiden sacrificed himself...The Dragon King was unaffected...

Are we reading the same thing!?!?!?! It says Raiden sacrificed HIMSELF not his immortality. Yes he released his godlike essense, but by doing that he SACRIFICED HIMSELF. He's dead!! It was his last ditch effort, kill himself to try and save the others, but the DK was NOT AFFECTED. It would be a complete waste of time and space if a 2nd part of Raiden's bio randomly appears and says, "Well it wasn't totally inaffective. It actually did some harm to the Dragon King come to think about it."

The bio does not say that Raiden sacrificed his god-status, his immortality, or anything else but HIMSELF, by releasing that blast.

I feel like I'm the only person actually reading this shit anymore.

No one has yet to point out why they would rehash his costume while the others have different ones? Can't anyone see this!! He's dead!! He's playable, gauranteed, but he's dead nontheless.

Raiden sacrificed his powers not his life... like some 1 else said either here or in another thread he doesn’t have his cape or his staff any more... look at him in the video...he will be playable.. He will be a part of the cast!!!

DoctorDrewX Wrote: From IGN- "As a last resort against the Dragon King's advance, Raiden sacrificed himself by releasing his godlike essence; thereby creating an intense ethereal blast. The Dragon King was unaffected and continues to threaten the realms." As a last resort...Raiden sacrificed himself...The Dragon King was unaffected... Are we reading the same thing!?!?!?! It says Raiden sacrificed HIMSELF not his immortality. Yes he released his godlike essense, but by doing that he SACRIFICED HIMSELF. He's dead!! It was his last ditch effort, kill himself to try and save the others, but the DK was NOT AFFECTED. It would be a complete waste of time and space if a 2nd part of Raiden's bio randomly appears and says, "Well it wasn't totally inaffective. It actually did some harm to the Dragon King come to think about it." The bio does not say that Raiden sacrificed his god-status, his immortality, or anything else but HIMSELF, by releasing that blast. I feel like I'm the only person actually reading this shit anymore.

Shinnok and the deadly alliance are in deception,just to let you know.

i already stated that in my thread..

Siduu101 Wrote: Shinnok and the deadly alliance are in deception,just to let you know.

Siduu101 Wrote: Shinnok and the deadly alliance are in deception,just to let you know.

It hasn't been confirmed so most people won't believe it but it will stay in their minds. Ermac was mentioned in Kenshi's story in MK:DA and he wasn't in the game.

I heard alot ppl say that if Raiden unleashed his God Like Essence and it didn't hurt the DK wat good would he be as a mortal. I think in order for Raiden to help Earth Realm the gods would only allow him to be mortal plus he would of lost his power being that there in outworld.

He has a Bio in the game. When was the last time an unplayable character had a bio? Never.

JAX007 Wrote: He has a Bio in the game. When was the last time an unplayable character had a bio? Never.

Not to necessarily argue either side but in answer of your question, Raiden did have a narrator's position and a sort of storyline in MK3 but he was not a playable character.

Baraka had an unlockable bio in MKDA.

JAX007 Wrote: He has a Bio in the game. When was the last time an unplayable character had a bio? Never.

Concept Fighters of the Kript (like Dairou) have a bios... and remember, this is a IGN BIO, not a MKDECEPTION GAME BIO.....

Well none of the video clips in the IGN video show Raiden as a playable character. The rotating render of him on the bio card shows the exact same model from Deadly Alliance but without a staff or cape. Why in the hell would Ed Boon, knowing that Raiden is such a popular character say that it would be smart to change the design of EVERY returning character from Deadly Alliance BUT Raiden. And do not tell me that removing a cape makes it a different design.

I NEVER said that he wasn't going to be playable in the game, I've mentioned it multiple times that I do believe you will be able to play as him. GAURANTEED PLAYABLE. But with the story, he's a DEAD CHARACTER. Still playable, but dead. Raiden has been a confirmed character since May 15, 2004, check MKO's E3 report.

I think storyline wise,Rayden will have more of just a bystander role.I believe he is playable,but he really won't impact the story.

I think Raiden will help the Earthrealm warriors fight the Dragon King....and that's it. Without his immortality, it'll just be an even tougher fight.

Shinomune Wrote: JAX007 Wrote: He has a Bio in the game. When was the last time an unplayable character had a bio? Never. Concept Fighters of the Kript (like Dairou) have a bios... and remember, this is a IGN BIO, not a MKDECEPTION GAME BIO.....

Im not talking about stupid concept bios or whatever, Im talking about real bios from the game itself.

And if you bothered to see the videos at Ign you can see that IT IS a bio from the video game itself.

TheDragonKingakaReptile Wrote: JAX007 Wrote: He has a Bio in the game. When was the last time an unplayable character had a bio? Never. Not to necessarily argue either side but in answer of your question, Raiden did have a narrator's position and a sort of storyline in MK3 but he was not a playable character.

But did he have a bio in MK3/UMK3? No.

Even the bios in the crypt for unused character don't count because they were rough drafts like their pics. They were not included on the Character Bio page only in the extras.

This is a bio given to an existing character. Why would Midway create or worse yet release it like he was a returning character? To me the bios seem too short, we are not getting the whole story. In MK:DA the bios were split, I'm guess the same is going to happen in MK:D. Until we get the full bios we can't assume anything. This includes whether Raiden is dead or alive.
BTW where are all of you who have or claim to have inside information at Midway? Since the bio is out it should be easy for you to get a clarification (sp?) on Raiden's sacrifice.

Maybe every character from Deadly Alliance will be given a bio explaining what happened to them. I hope Rayden is dead, and I think he is since it said he sacrificed himself, it didnt say he only sacrificed his God Powers, it said he sacrificed himself by releasing them. heres hoping Rayden is gone in one ethereal blast.....forever.

I think "godlike essence" means that he scarificed his immortality.

maybe... but from the "sacrifice himself" kinda makes you think that he gave up his life trying to damage the Dragon King.. that's just my opinion though