I still think Zi Ran Men suits him better because of the graceful movements. It just seems to fit his personality more IMO since he looks more elegant than the other ninjas.

There's no such thing as a 'feminine' fighting style. Zi Ran Men suits him much more than any form of Karate.

IMO Darrius and Cage are the only ones who are good enough for Karate.

Save one, Iron Dog style was especially practiced by women.

Otherwise, there is no such thing as elegance, grace, masculinity or feminine aspects of a martial art. People get to be fooled easily.

Rains existing fighting style is not too bad.

From a gameplay standpoint, Shorin Ryu would've made him better. However, in terms of my preference, I would rather just go with Hapkido. The reason why is because of the circular movements, joint-locks, and throws that are derived from Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu as well as the strikes and kicks being similar to those used in Shotokan and Tae Kwon Do. I felt his MKT moves and combos kind of had that more kicking-oriented feel, but with him having water-based powers, the Daito Ryu-derived techniques would have those soft, fluid principles.

How else could they make their corny joke: "Zi Ran Men." AKA: The Rain Man? Subtle.

I really think that Zi Ran Men looks so feminine was because Tanya used it. And Tanya is really manly. I think Zi Ran Men suits Rain fine.

Are you kidding?! The Rain Man?! That's hilarious!

Rain not a popular mk character anyways who cares what style he has cause he is a true piece of trash.

yes and I was quite mad that Reptile didn't get Crab

Reptile should have had crab. Rain is gay, therefore the stance he has now fits him perfectly.

Reptile is also tough to use besides Rain, notice hardly anyone uses either of them online or talks about them...

IMO, Rain is a lot harder then Reptile.I use Reptile a little bit, rain I just hate his styles..

Only person who I saw used Rain really, really well was Nsobo and he doesn't play anymore online..

You're so mean.

Whether Rain is really gay or not doesn't mean you should move like a girl. The stud should have sexy movements like that of a macho man. Now that he's got the look of a clean hunky knight, that attitude would go great with him.

Plus, looking at Shorin Ryu in the games, the moves simply fit him better cuz their smooth-looking and yet male-ish. That move where Darrius floats in the air and does backward flip kicks would go great with Rain.

He may have a regal look to his costume, but his personality is that of arrogance and pride.

What do you consider to be "sexy movements like that of a macho man"?

I don't think Shorin Ryu uses flip kicks, but I could be wrong. All I know is that it's an Okinawan style of Karate that prefers higher, more mobile stances, natural breathing, and things like that. It's one of the most influential of Karate styles as it helped gave birth to styles like Isshin Ryu and Shotokan.

I still would go with Hapkido, even though it does have various similarities to Shorin Ryu and other Okinawan Karate styles.

LOL, you know what is it about "Rain" that always seems to receive a lot of controversy about him....

Why is it whenever this character is talked about "gay" always comes up LMAO..


I mean before I entered this thread I had a feeling someone in general would say something about his "colors" or that he's possibly gay lol...

I don't personally see any relevance that has concerning his actual fighting styles.

He's purple so he has to have a "smooth feminine" looking style? huh?

What about Crane, an odd looking style yet nobody says Chameleon is gay or odd..

Or Hung Gar...I mean if you look at it, it almost looks like Drahmin is kind of getting ready to dance.

I love Ermac's MKD first style also Strykers MKA style in Hua Chuan.A very odd looking style but because Ermac is a badass and all, nobody will call him gay.

Yet he wears Red, just some points I like bringing up concerning Rain compared to some other characters.

But anyway FTR, I'm not sure if Rain is gay or bi or straight.If anything the pony tail makes ya wonder, screw the color Purple...I mean pimps wear purple and they're not gay(most of the time) lol....

Barney is purple, yet most people hate him rather then think he's gay or something.

I didnt like my name being used for that purpose so I kindly asked Midway to remove it from Rain's fightng styles.

Well, I think it's the whole purple thing, as well as Jade's line in MKD's Konquest, when she remarks about Rain's costume.

I don't understand how the Hung Gar cat stance resembles a person about to dance. I'm sure that the stances in various martial arts styles can be called "odd" by some.

I think that given MKA, the purple color is supposed to give a regal feel to his look.

Btw, what is a "smooth, feminine" style anyway?

I'm referring to how men move, walk, etc when they act macho. You know, when they puff out their chests, lift up their chin, spread out their arms and legs, pop forward their groin, and all that.

Well, those types of movements I would have wanted for Rain, which are definitely not found in the zi ran men style.

I hate how they give certain characters certain fighting styles just to guarantee that they'll be high tier. They should select styles for characters based on how well it suits them. No other reason. Zi ran men was obviously given to Rain for tier reasons.


In MK it does. Darrius (MKD) and Johnny (MKA) both do their flip kicks in the air.

Not just that, but all the other moves and combos we have for Shorin Ryu would look and feel excellent for Rain. However, they changed the combos from MKD to MKA a lot in it. I would have liked him to have the MKD combo set instead.


The look of it is what's feminine. Zi Ran Men moves look very womanly and graceful, especially on Rain. "Smooth" movements can look manly still since it only means their not sloppy and messy.

Quote - Sub-Zero_7th Wrote:
I think that given MKA, the purple color is supposed to give a regal feel to his look.


This is true. Back in the Middle Ages (I think) only very wealthy people (i.e. Royalty) could afford purple dyed clothes. To get purple dye you had to smash rotten shellfish.

I don't mind the Zi Ran Men stance for Rain really. He kinda looks stealthy, all hunkered down and low.

Its a bit like that bloke who was complaining about Kenpo being given to Sektor, because of the high kicks.

This is why I advocate as much realism as possible in fighting games.

To refer to MKIFs notion of Crane being an odd style, it makes plenty of circular and flapping motions with the arms, yet it is one of the most force based arts in the Five Prime Animal styles.

About macho, you have to understand that each culture has a different notion of being macho, and depending of the "body culture", behavior of males can vary significantly. It is just like how white is the color of grief and death in the east, while it is black in Europe and Europe derivates like the American US, post-colonial nations etc....

Imo, if Midway would have taken his time, Rain would have benefitted from a much more logically appealing style of Quing Cheng Chuan.

QS: I don't see how that's going to apply to any style. I really doubt that the style choices were given to characters for tier reasons. If they did, there would've been differences.

I'm talking about actual Shorin Ryu not using flip kicks. If I'm not mistaken, Shorin Ryu, at least most of the different branches, are more linear styles, which I don't see for someone like Rain. This is why I would rather have him go with something like Hapkido, which contains various circular movements along with the linear ones.

Chrome: I too advocate as much realism as possible in fighting games with the styles and all that.

What do you mean when you say that Crane is one of the most force-based arts in the Five Prime Animal styles?

Sub_Zero: I think chrome's referring to how many crane attacks are forward-pushing, dive-down-and-pounce moves that use more than one limb at the same time.

QueenSindel: Your stereotypes of what things are appropriate for men and for women are inappropriate. If it bothers you so much that Zi Ran Men doesn't fit your antiquated, restrictive notion of "masculinity", perhaps you can look at it this way: Rain is so confident in his masculinity that he has no problem using a "girly" looking style, because it's a highly effective style. It's also a very, very ninja-esque style, with balance and flexibility and the ability to dodge.

As for his tier, well, I don't have online play ability, so I don't know how he is online, but against my friends and (obviously) against the computer, he's unstoppable.

In real life, I don't mind if some men and women act like their opposite sex. In video games, however, I really like everything to be as ideal as possible. And I don't necessarily mean all men and women in games should act in manners typical of their gender 100%. They should act, in gameplay, in ways pertaining to what they're like and what they look like.

For instance, Kira is a ferocious fighter and has a somewhat savage personality, so Yaun Yang does not suit her at all. The stance and moves don't match with her one bit since it all appears too intelligent for her and gives the impression of self-control.

Rain is brutally egotistic and looks like a hunky knight, so why is he using a technical and graceful fighting style when he could be using something that looks a little more macho-feeling? Would that go with his cold egotism and knight look better?


That doesn't help. Whether it's effective or not, it doesn't seem to fit him. At least not to me. He looks like the type of warrior who would be more of a direct, smooth, and aggressive fighter. Zi ran men's complexity and wavy movements aren't that at all.

Plus, if it weren't for his veil/mask, he wouldn't look like a ninja. To me, he clearly looks like more of a royal knight.


He's one of the hardest people to beat in arcade mode.


If you're talking about the sexual look of the movements... zi ran men vs. shorin ryu doesn't seem different to you at all?


Well, let me just say, too many new MKA characters, like Rain, Sareena, Reiko, etc. are hard as hell to beat. Even some other "important" characters took effective fighting styles from other characters. I.e. Daegon now has fu jow pai and Shinnok has kuo shou.

I'm sure at least a good number of characters receive certain styles for tier reasons and nothing more, which I hate.

Oh and also, people... Wouldn't he have been better if his weapon were the 2 knifes he has in his render? Too many people have swords and that gets boring.

Okay, so clearly, I dislike the choice made on both of his fighting styles.

Btw, is "Storm Sword" really a style? Cuz it seems like it doesn't have new moves in it. It looks composed of several different moves already carried by other characters in the game.

Yeah, good point.I was referring to what some others in here called him earlier with a "feminine" style to match his purple and overall character. lol

The smooth part I added in there, I'm not even sure why


But yeah I like your point on the "regal" look, he could have had a regal look without the purple right?But then again, that would be pointless since Rain was always purple color.

I like his alternate better personally, am I the only person in here that likes his alternate better then his regular one?His regular one as far as details and such is awesome, I just for some reason like his other one better.It's probably because it's more "classic" with a new tone to it.

As far as the Hung Gar comment, ehh It does look a little odd IMO but not knocking it per-se.Half the styles in fighting games will look kind of funny or strange but I know that's how they really look for the most part.

IMO, some styles look like you're about to dance lol.Look at Taven's style, he has his hands like Reptile's MK2 stance almost as if he's dancing to music

I don't know, maybe it's just me but I got that vibe.Still, a cool looking style.

Also, perhaps the guys in Edenia are more "glamorous" in some ways then say Earthrealm.I know an odd theory just something I was thinking of since Edenian males seem to be more...dressy.At least Rain, Daegon and Argus.Taven not so much.