scorpion and sub zero looked pretty similar in dcu. reptile would too.

^ yup. If someone who's never seen the mk world was introduced to it through MKDCU, they'd think "what? so are the yellow and blue guys brothers or something?" Despite the little texture differences in their clothes, they look incredibly (and I'll say it, embarassingly) similar.

That being said, since they're going for the "iconic" thing, reptile would most probably look too much like scorpion and subzero. Then everybody would point their finger at the MK team and say "HA! still trapped in your pallet-swapping days"

Thanks, bud. Good seeing you around.

It is true that Cage is more iconic, but Reptile (and again, someone correct me if I'm mistaken) had been shown to have more fans. Yes, he's not as iconic as Cage, but iconic nonetheless, and his popularity combined with his status seems to make a good case for him.

Nonetheless, if Cage were DLC, I would offer no argument.


and also...

So let me get this straight: a character with tenor status and a good story should be excluded because he has a vaguely similar v-shaped vestment as another character?

Seriously, in what morbid world could that be called a good reason? If it were an artistic signature, I would defend it as such, but the resemblance is so thin, it's virtually a non-issue. If a dominant color scheme and a shared v-like vestment is a damning criticism, then my artistic intuitions are completely shot.

And even if you guys are right, the solution wouldn't be to omit them, it would be to revise their designs. Though I stand by my above statement.

I'll see your Reptile, Quan Chi, Kung Lao and Johnny Cage and raise you Goro.

Seriously, Goro should have been in the game. Perhaps one of the most recognizable games character from any series.

At the very least Dark Kahn could have had 4 arms.

Agreed. A lot of people I know who followed MK in the old days still remember "That huge monster dude with the 4 arms!"

But if they stick to the comic included in the Kollector's Edition, he won't be in, sorry to say. He and Cage both "vanished from existence" or some such.

goro would be a great choice if his counterpart was doomsday. it may happen.

I am so sick of hearing about palette swapped characters. They don't exist anymore. That argument holds no weight at all.

The only motif they have in common is the V-shaped over tunic. That is all. I don't know if anyone noticed but Shang Tsung in this game is essentially wearing the V too. Does that make him a palette swap?

Rain, Ermac, Smoke, Noob, Sub Zero, Scorpion, and Reptile in their mka primary costumes all look very different. They all have original special moves as well.

They are now far less palette swapped than the Street Fighter roster which is in fact worse but nobody I have heard complains about it.

Ken, Ryu, Akuma, and Dan all have the exact same outfit but with different heads on the models. Just like the mk ninjas circa mkt days. The key difference here is that all of those characters have the exact same special moves. Hurricane kick, rising uppercut, and hadoken.

Then if you look at Sagat, Sakura, and Adon (I believe) they have the same move set as well. They are all the essentially the same character but reskinned. They all play the same.

That is far more offensive in principal than Reptile, Sub Zero, Scorpion, Ermac. and Rain who have very different special moves and as a consequence play very differently from one another.

Also lets not forget Charlie and Guile. Again exact same special moves.

For all the grief the "ninjas" get from some fans the truth is actually a very different thing now than some commonly aped garbage some fans continue to repeat.

Now I like them and I am not complaining because we know that at least in the case of Sagat and Sakura they have different basic moves but the specials are the same.

Agreed. I think the perpetual looks of ken/ryu/others is artistically lazy, and the only reason they haven't changed it is to keep the original arcade/snes fans smiling.

But to be fair, Ken and Ryu underwent virtually the same training, so their matching costumes and similar move sets do have a story foundation. That's not really an excuse, though. As matter of fact, I honestly think they're afraid to do so for fear of fan reaction. We're going to have a one-dimensional Ryu for many years to come.

That said, the mk muthos gives no real story explanation as to why Reptile and Scorpion share an artistic signature. Ermac and Rain were the only characters who completely casted off their UMK3 appearance. It's no surprise a lot of people didn't believe the red warrior was Ermac when the first MKD trailer debuted. So that begs the question: why do these characters share so many visual subtleties? I'm mostly referring to masked faces, limb and loin guards, and more recently, shoulder pad... things. I like the signature, but I do wish the story offered an explanation.

The female ninjas on the other hand are able to make the story defense. They have the benefit of Edenian culture, where it's clearly evident that visible thighs and shoulders are fashionable.

But nevertheless, I completely agree with you.

As you stated above Mileena, Kitana, Jade, and Tanya all share the same realm and culture so their outfits have reasons to be similar.

Sub Zero, Smoke, and Frost are from the same clan so they all have the same outfit. Though now they have taken a different route with Smoke. Cyrax and Sektor again same clan, but they have noticable differences between them as well.

Scorpion's shira ryu clan was based on a rogue Lin Kuei wasn't it? I don't have the source material in front of me. There are reasons as well why they look similar.

Again I like Ryu, Ken and Akuma. I was just pointing out that I am fed up with people bitching about the mk ninjas when SF gets a pass. When you break it down at least the mk ninjas have original move sets.