His Scorpion is just wonderful. The paint splattered on him gleans something reminiscent of the Joker in the last Batman movie. So maybe I wouldn't splash him with yellow paint, but rather, burn the yellow vest. Similar look, but could definitely distinguish MK's poster-boy from anything else out here. heh..
The ring on his finger is a wonderful touch as well. That's right, let that story element show through in the design! Overall I just love how dead and dirty he looks. The way his clothing looks torn up and worn out, it strikes just the right tone for Scorpion. Makes him fearful, which is right on point. We're supposed to be impressed by his appearance. There's supposed to be an element of fear and pain about him even though his design remains simplistic..
Only thing I definitely
don't like is the mechanisms like Razor mentioned. Change that element about him to something more supernatural and we should be golden. I'd try to go abstract, instead of the normal souls and such....Maybe death & maggot-infested, or like death + lava or some sort of singed aspect, instead of the mechanics of it. The spear should appear to seethe from the flesh through his palm, and if there has to be a mechanical attribute about him, it should probably seem as though after he died, it fused, or became apart of his natural structure or something. Which is why I like the way his forearms seem to be attached to his biceps by...something unnatural.
I like the way the spear looks in this image, but again, I agree with RazorsEdge701 on this one. Should be some sort of cool ninja Kunai. The way he throws the spear could have been mechanism-reliant before he died, but afterward, it's supposed to come out of his hand. The first movie kinda sealed this in place I think, because it upped the ante on what was possible for the spear itself, and how it could be thrown. The next real progression came from Scorpion in MKSM. So, although I don't necessarily think the spear should be a living aspect of Scorpions character, the way it looks should be so impressive.
This design is on par with the cleaner ninja Scorpion done by
Aculeus a while back. I would be happy to see something like these two designs be the primary and alternate costumes for Scorpion in MK9.
98/100
--
I don't really like the Raiden. More clear, I like how God-like he looks
(the use of accent colors and alot of flowing garments), but it's too much embellishment on the part of the details and patterns. In this respect, I'd encourage them to take more cues from the first game and more cues from the first movie, and simplify his design. I liked MKvsDC's design alot, only really taking issue with the sleeveless Raiden at the time...but that eventually worked out well, and I ended up liking how they simplified him that way anyway. Really good choices in that game for Raiden, and I appreciate them listening to us Raiden fans on MKvsDC's design. Turned out great despite the anxiety.
I like that he used a ronin gasa in this image
(I've always liked those), but I can identify with why it might be a bad choice to go with that. BUT, if they found a good way to mix the traditional jingasa that Raiden usually wears, with the ronin, I would definitely take it. Which is what it looks like he tried to do with this image. I'd say use this
sort of hat design, but design a different costume, and match up the look so that it works out better.
As stated, I like the flowing garments and all, but I think Raiden should probably be a bit more conservative here. He looks like Fujin dressed in Raidens clothes. He should look like someone who might be capable of commanding thunder and lightning...
I get the concept here, but I think this appeal is Fujin's instead. Raiden should be a stronger//more potent design, while still maintaining the god aura that this image has, and reflecting the leadership that Raiden is used to. I might summarize it as a strong design, but a passive color pallet. MKvsDC does this. MKDA primary does this. MK1, 2, and 4 does this. They're stable designs, with passive, almost relaxed color pallets. Blue, white, a touch of gold or metal here or there...ect.
Raiden also has passive elements of fear and mystery about him too. This is mostly in presence, but the main attributes that should be there, depend on how they play his eyes and the hat in the design, and whether or not he has the lightning circulating around him when we see him. Says, he doesn't really embellish in the power he has...it's just to some extent apparent. This is another reason I liked the MKvsDC design, because they managed an element of this in how old they made him look. Striking the right tone with how old he looks is something I'd want to stick around for another game or so before they change that about him again.
Mainly though, just go outside during a thunder storm and take in what that feels like, and try to put that into his design. You'll notice that there is nothin uncertain about it...it can kill you....but, it requires that you behave in a specific way in order to be struck by lightning. No matter who you are, where you're at, or what you're doing. Raidens design should reflect that force, plus an appeal of finesse about Carlos presented Raidens mastery of the martial arts during MK1-T.
-- Dark Raiden then, should probably look like whatever it might feel like to understand that the force of a thunder-storm is purposely trying to hurt
you. Still finesse in the martial arts aspect of the character, but mostly strong design cues reflective of how damning it might be to get smited by a God who possess such a power. Raiden is not Zeus, he's more like Zeus + Kratos after Kratos' long training in the art of killing people....first.
Y'know, he'd make a game out of it, knowing full well that the scale is tipped unfairly his way. With big bosses, he'd use his knowledge of the system he knows is in place for the universe, to violate that system in ways he knows is safe for him , and not defined by his leadership
(dark raiden would probably want to build a case for himself in the process of his ruthless behavior, afterall), and ingeniously bait, trap, or capture anyone who is not as old and wise as he.
(he would think of everything.) Think about it.... and remember his dark sense of humor. He's been watching mortals from all over the universe violate every which way they can for billions of years, presumably. Dark Raiden is a way to exploit the darker thought-processes that Light Raiden would probably dismiss. All of these sorts of qualities should dictate what his dark design looks like.
It's harder to be good than it is to be bad so, given this understanding, what would he look like that would personify//justify the choices Raiden makes to behave in a more ruthless way? He'd probably look sharper design-wise....but not a whole lot different. He'd probably wear things that insinuate what he is capable of more openly....and he'd probably be more willing to show his power more obviously, as a threat more often.
That's the sort of thing I want from a Dark Raiden design if they go this route.
40/100
--
I just don't like his Sonya. I still like Kerri, and the MK3 & MKSM designs better than any of the rest. I also like the MK4/G design but yea. If they do ever use the MK1 color pallet again. I'd encourage them to take some heavy cues from MK3, MK4/G, and MKSM more than anything else. Also, MKvsDC didn't do terrible, but they pretty much bothed Sonya in that game.
20/100
--
I like his Kano design alot, but I'm not a fan of this character much at all and think that he should probably not come back. That said, by only real quam with this design is that he should be more modern. He should have shoes on...he should reflect what it takes to oppose a military force like the USSF. In that respect, I guess he kind of does, considering Bin Laden vs the US (lol!). Yes he's supposed to be dirty and unruly, but Kano organizes himself to some extent.
I don't have much on him besides to say modernize him a bit. Don't "clean him up", but give him modern ex-military or rogue military personnel clothing.
Also, give me more Steam-Punk from his eye thing. More skin and robotic attribute meet eachother from him. It should look pretty freaky even if it is the plate and the lazer on the eyeball. Meaning they could travel a little bit away from the Terminator look, but only if it means we're going into a more futuristic steam-punk sort of thing. It's supposed to be advanced technology after all.
70/100
--
Altogether though, I like the direction of his style and hope the MK team has some justification for letting such talent go. If his design involvement is any indication for what may be in store...I'm game.
