yes

Haven't seen you in a while

and yeah, Scorpion was great this time

Holy crap, long time no see Nintendofan. I personally think they did a much better job portraying classic Scorpion in this than they did in the past games. In this story he has some integrity, and because he has the opportunity to talk, he doesnt seem so mindless.

BAMF kept coming to mind. Scorpion was awsome in this game, but I'm kinda waiting for him to lean more towards good like in MKD and MK3. I like him as a sorta good guy. Either way he was cool as the warrior that you whouldn't screw with

"I will teach you the meaning of pain!"

Scorpion was much better in this game.

Scorpion is better as an asshole then an anti-hero imo

To be honest, I like the fact that there's still some humanity in him amongst all the ruthlessness. The choices he still decides to make in the canon or could make in the canon could be much better, and could overall really develop him as a solid badass / anti-hero.

They took a big step in the right direction with him in this game and I feel like that was necessary.

I agree. I hate the "grrr I hate everyone and want endless revenge" Scorpion.

Anyway, I suppose Scorpion's portrayal was fair. They establish that Scorpion in this game is the pre-"Oh shit, it was Quan Chi who killed by family!" Scorpion, so his taking orders and hating Sub-Zero isn't necessarily out-of-character. He's also not completely irrational when fighting other characters.

But if you are expecting the more anti-heroic Scorpion, then you may be disappointed. Nothing that significant aside from going around and getting into fights.
Come to think of it, that was pretty much how story-mode was for every character actually.

Yeah, even I must admit I found some of his lines to be awesome...

"Hand over the Princess.. or DIE!!!!"

"You will pay for that.. with your LIFE!!!"

It just sounded cool... hehe.

Scorpion's voice was actually well done, one of the better voices.

(What is it about Sub-Zero that's so hard to cast?)

What I love most about Scorpion in this game is during the chapter where he's hunting Kitana, every time he runs into someone who isn't her, he just ignores them while they're talking, turns around, and starts to stroll away. He's all business.

I'll just say, that this game reinforced why Scorpion is NOT among my favorites.

I'm pretty sure I despise a few of the character portrayals in this game though, Scorpion included. The overall story element, and anything relative is terrible in this game.

*ew*

Predator, if you think the character's personalities were off, then you must not know the characters as well as you think.
Everyone was spot-on and exactly what I expected and hoped for, with the possible exception of Sub-Zero, who seemed a little more ruthless and antagonistic than he should, even considering he's the "still loyal to the clan, circa MK2" version. And maybe Kitana. She really shouldn't have been so...feminine, considering this seems to be the MK3 version, who's more assassin than princess.
Outside of storyline, though, I do want to mention it bothers me that the only time Liu makes Bruce Lee noises now is during the bike kick. He REALLY should be going "WOOO" and "WAHHH!" when he does some of the more famous Jeet Kune Do moves.

?!?

Shao Kahn is Raidens brother then?

NO. That shit is off man.

Right out of the NON-canon movie as a matter of fact. lol Don't tell me I don't know. And anyway, whether I know or not, doesn't negate the fact that I said I didn't like how certain characters were portrayed.

Kitana
Raiden
Shang Tsung (for the most part, he was okay though)
Quan Chi(never have liked how they dealt with that character)
Sub-Zero
Scorpion

--

Jax & Sonya were right on for once.

Baraka, Liu Kang, and Kano were as expected....FOR ME.

lol

God dammit, man. We're talking about the acting in story mode, not the bios. Focus, wouldja? Raiden and Kahn's relations aren't relevant to how their personalities were portrayed. The point is that everyone for the most part BEHAVED as they always have.

Well okay but, I did say anything having to do with the story element in this game.

In particular, I hated how Kitana becomes this fairy-dust sprinkling pixy, slash confused, slash enraged ninja girl assasin. I mean, I know Edenia is supposed to be a "magical" place...but c'mon. Now Kitana is the focal point of that? Waaay off.

What I didn't like about Scorpion, was how "RaaaRR! , dun dun duuuunnn" they made him. That sucks dude.

Made an instant connection to Dorthy and the brainless Scarcrow.



No, they did not. Especially Raiden, and Kitana. Maybe Shao Kahn, and I still don't agree on Quan Chi.

Scorpion's primary personality traits, even in the earlier games, were 1) He's always very, very angry, and 2) when he's hunting someone, he can't be stopped, stalled, or distracted. They successfully portrayed both without, in my opinion, making him seem like a blind idiot. And please note that following a villain's orders is not automatically an idiotic act.

I agree about that,. In particular #2, but from there it becomes a difference of perception. That's right where I just respect what you're saying, yet keep my own opinion of the character.

Btw, I note Scorpions personality from approx. Mk4//more MkDa, where they actually had to go in and "act" as the character. The overall portayals of the character from those games don't nessassarily interpret "very agry" all the time to me.

From what I gather, those games see him pissed off when he gets into a bind. Other than that, yea, he's relentless in hunting down his prey. Doesn't make him an idiot though. Indication of this is the suggestion presented in the MKdA kata. You can't be "just pissed off" and perform that way.

As well, "blind idiot" is usually associated with being someones henchman.

only one thing about Scorpion in this bugged me and that was his being lumped into the "evil squad" of Shang Tsung, Baraka, and himself. I would like to see less of the evil Scorpion always attacking the good guys and more of an anti-hero take on him (more on that later). I understand this is pre-learning the truth about Quan Chi so he's doing exactly what a true ninja does: he follows his master's orders with lethal precision. That I liked. He's got that touch of asshole to him which I love. The look he gave Joker after the boxing glove was just great. lol. I loved that part.

What I would really love to see in his story is him taking personal responsibility for his actions such as learning the identity of Noob Saibot. I really really want to know what's gonna happen when Scorpion learns that he is responsible for turning the man who murdered him into an uber-powerful wraith. I want Noob to do some really horrible shit and become a more prominent villain and have the good guys be like "Scorpion this is your fault." Have him actually be like hmmm maybe I should do something about this and have the battle between the anti-hero specter and the unrepentant villainous wraith. It would be awesome. Throw in him finally killing Quan Chi, saving the world and being reunited with his family in the afterlife so his soul can finally rest as a reward for stopping Noob Saibot and all would be well for his retirement or a transition into becoming more of a solitary anti-hero like ironically enough Sub-Zero. They'd make a good team if Sub-Zero could get past the "You murdered my brother and have tormented me for years" thing lol. I'm rambling so I will stop. Later.

Bloodfang, I agree with you on the Scorpion/Noob Saibot points. It makes no sense for Noob to not be at least a little bitter about Scorpion, you know...killing him?

I've suggested this a few times, but I'll say it again: Scorpion should feel he needs to kill Saibot to ascend to The Heavens. Sub-Zero, though, also feels compelled to stop his brother's hell-tainted soul. Sub-Zero beats Scorpion to it, kills Saibot, and Scorpion is just like "What the fuck, dude? You know that means I'm here forever right?" You know, without the words and more trying to slaughter Sub-Zero.

People are sick of it, but I don't care -- from a marketing perspective, I think Sub-Zero vs. Scorpion works. People associate their similar images, and their rivalry has been pretty prominent in the games, to the point where it is well established. It's a "big fight" atmosphere between the two, and letting them go at it again would work, I think. Especially if there's a reason for them to. Scorpion selfishly looking to avenge his inability to right his wrongs before someone else cleaned up his mess clearly makes him the antagonist, which is a role I much prefer him in.

I mean, these are just my opinions on the matter. I know Xia is interested in seeing Sareena step-up and take on Noob, and others don't think he should return. I just think Sub-Zero/Scorpion/Noob Saibot make an ultra-cool ninja triangle for the next generation games to play off.

Noob likes being a wraith. He'd probably treat Scorpion as though he did him a favor.
I'm also certainly not fond of the idea of Scorpion and Sub-Zero sparking up another rivalry. Mainly because that makes Scorpion the villain and I want to see him become a heroic figure and take back his "Champion of the Elder Gods" role from Deception.

Noob may like his new life of sin, but he still obviously has ambitions -- and pride. Scorpion would have hurt that by defeating. If the concept of murdering him doesn't get Noob's goat, then surely a case could be made for Scorpion defeating him.

When people do me good through bad actions with bad intents, I call it "silver lining," I don't call it "silver." I appreciate being better off, but I never hope the irony is lost on them.

As for Scorpion as a heroic figure? That is just a difference of opinion. I personally really didn't like the Scorpion as Champion story. He's never felt like a Champion to me. He's always been ideal as an underachiever to me, but obviously you did like the Champion concept. That's your prerogative. My girlfriend doesn't like mango. I don't agree, but sometimes you have to make-do.

The thing is, Noob's consciousness is not the same as his living self was. He might view his old pre-death memories as belonging to a different person from what he is now, and not care who killed him.

He's more likely to offer Scorpion an alliance, as they are kindred spirits, than he is to hold a grudge with someone who did him wrong in a life that no longer holds any meaning for him.

Just like he would coldly, remorselessly kill his brother for being a threat to his plans to take over the Netherealm, instead of loving or being proud of him.
Ironically, this makes him and Scorpion opposites, because Scorp can't let go of the past and his life as Hanzo informs every single thing he does, where as Noob is like a completely new and separate person from Classic Sub-Zero and cares nothing for the life he led before becoming a wraith. And that actually plays a lot into why I want to see Scorpion stay Champion of the Elder Gods. Noob is made of shadow and seeks to rule Hell, that makes him the personification of darkness. Scorpion with his power over flame, working for Heaven, makes him the personification of light. It just seems fitting to me.

I see Scorpion as having a storyline in MK along the lines of comic book characters like Spawn or the Crow with a touch of Ghost Rider's aesthetics. His entire purpose for becoming a hellspawn specter was to avenge a wrong done to him and his family. The fact that he was a ninja in life is why he's so utterly ruthless in doing so. But his driving goal and purpose has always been "I had a wife and family. I had everything I ever wanted in life and you stole them all from me! I will make you suffer." People can argue his self-absorbed vengeance quest as much as they like but the truth is that (as far as I can remember) every MK game in which his motivations were known (MKSM didn't give him enough lines to express WHY he was bothering to do anything to you) his FAMILY have always been front and center in his motivation. He is an assassin who carries out his orders with ruthless and fatal precision as any true ninja would but he is not entirely heartless. Scorpion has one soft spot. He WAS also a family man. He BECAME a ninja against his father's will to earn a better life for his FAMILY. Everything he was, is, and ever will be has always been ALL for them. That is why I consider him more of a tragic anti-hero like Spawn. Scorpion is still Hanzo Hasashi and while Scorpion may be driven mad and blind by his pain and his rage and lashing out at anything within his sights the man he was is still there once all of the rage subsides and he's just left being a man damned to spend eternity deprived of his only reason for living as long as he did.

That's my take anyway. Feel free to comment.

You've got an interesting way of looking at it. I think it's all about perspective. Look, I'm not trying to viciously argue or anything, but just how much do we canonically know about Noob Saibot? Are his thoughts completely different from what they were, or has he just fallen down an evil path? And just to point it out, I don't believe I said Noob Saibot would particularly want to hunt Scorpion down, but more so Scorpion wants Noob Saibot.

If Scorpion did confront Saibot, and even if Saibot didn't care Scorpion had killed him once upon a time, I could not see Scorps joining Saibot. I can see that re-sparking feud between the two. You're definitely on to something interesting, but I'm not sure our ideas can't be bridged.