Is Kabal under-rated?
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posted01/29/2019 02:38 AM (UTC)by
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WizN64
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02/13/2003 01:20 AM (UTC)

I personally think he is. In the game if you play him he has some of the cooler special abilities but story-wise, he seems weak. First in MK3 he is depicted as a good guy but Motaro's squad kills him, then he gets revived but is under Havik's control is evil and is the leader of the Black Dragon clan but only Kira and Kobra are in his gang. Since then I feel he's been under-used and has no powerful storyline to his resume. I hope he gets a better story line in MK11. What do you think?

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Onaga
01/29/2019 02:41 AM (UTC)
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I'd say the majority of characters from MK3 onward are underrated; but Kabal seems to be one of the more beloved odd ball characters from MK3. I still wouldn't say he is aptly rated. If you aren't sharing a commonality with the spectrum of light and calling yourself a ninja in MK you are often underrated.

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steffuz
01/29/2019 03:33 AM (UTC)
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i heard he was rated E for everyone

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Coltess
01/29/2019 07:40 AM (UTC)
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For me, I always forget Kabal isn't an MK mainstay. I say that because my primary introduction and re-introduction to Mortal Kombat were UMK3 and Deception. I played UMK3 at my local pizza joint a lot as a kid and only later did I get MK 1-3 at home.

Years later, when I came back to Mortal Kombat, it was with Deception.

I often forget that Kabal was in fewer games than Baraka (excluding MK3 variants). My mind always wants to go "Kabal? Underrated? No way." But now actually thinking on it, I would say he probably is a bit.

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thisiscourage
01/29/2019 12:20 PM (UTC)Edited 01/29/2019 12:21 PM (UTC)
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Those hook swords are deadly!

I like kabal. I agree, he seems to be underrated. He’s usually a fairly good character gameplay-wise.

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Bloodfang
01/29/2019 02:31 PM (UTC)
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Onaga

I'd say the majority of characters from MK3 onward are underrated; but Kabal seems to be one of the more beloved odd ball characters from MK3. I still wouldn't say he is aptly rated. If you aren't sharing a commonality with the spectrum of light and calling yourself a ninja in MK you are often underrated.

Scorpion is the poster boy and with the exception of two games from the series (Armageddon and MKX) he barely plays a role at all in the story. Same for Sub-Zero or any of the other "ninjas". So your argument that you have to be a ninja to get your due screentime is completely wrong unless you're talking strictly promo art. But story? All Special Forces and Shaolin there.

As for Kabal, yes he's an extremely minor character in the story (like the ninjas, lol) but for some reason (i presume because Ed loves the Flash) Kabal is usually designed to be top tier if not broken on the rare occassions he's actually included in a roster, lol.

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TheOneAndOnlyDemonKing
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There you go, finding a hidden advantage in an unfortunate circumstance; using pain to take you to the next level. Those are the things that turn players into kings.

01/29/2019 03:08 PM (UTC)
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i personally dont care for him. thats just me

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Masr
01/29/2019 03:14 PM (UTC)Edited 01/29/2019 03:19 PM (UTC)
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The MK3 look was ok, but disliked the backpack and armless trench coat, in MKD. Mavado was the leather trench coat guy. Maybe he could have the respiratory life support implanted into his back, which would be of the highest technology, as it has gotten better over time. Or maybe he no longer needs breathing apparatus and has had miracle handicap healing, through recovery or sorcery, as he was a revenant.

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Ninja_Mime
01/29/2019 04:11 PM (UTC)
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He was definitely cool in MK3 and he looked good in Deception, but over the years he's completely lost his mystique. The reboot really didn't help. I'm hoping he finds a new direction in MK11 because he really needs focus.

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UlcaTron
01/29/2019 11:21 PM (UTC)
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I prefer classic era Kabal as a character. I don't like what they did to his backstory in MK9 by making him a police officer alongside Stryker.

Kabal will always hold a special place in my MK filled heart.

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Nuckelavee
02/14/2019 01:38 PM (UTC)
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I love Kabal, one of my favorite characters (but I have many in MK)

I love his speed, his weapons, his look, and most of the games he's in are among my favorite MK games, Deception, MK3 and MK9. He always makes the roster more awesome and diverse, I hope he can do that to this MK11-SF based roster as well.

I see a lot of love for Kabal everywhere, so I don't think he is under-rated at all.

I do hate his MK9 story, being a cop and then becoming a boring revenant, but I'm not a fan of the revenant storyline at all.

In MK11 I hope Kabal is evil/neutral, and NOT good, I hope he isn't just a revenant lacky though, I hope on some background information with the black dragon, also I hope he joins Kronika with Jade and Frost, that would be some cool team, Geras, Kabal, Frost and Jade, characters that otherwise have nothing to do with each other, join forces = Awesome!

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ErmaSco
02/14/2019 05:12 PM (UTC)
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Ninja_Mime

He was definitely cool in MK3 and he looked good in Deception, but over the years he's completely lost his mystique. The reboot really didn't help. I'm hoping he finds a new direction in MK11 because he really needs focus.

Agreed.

Wish he was still mystical...

Always one of my favs. When 3 was still new, people thought he was like Baraka. They cited both's stories said they were nomads, both used 2 blades, and their shoes. Love how they changed his saw summon to throw them out instead. Way more useful/less telegraphed.

Hope he finally gets a move where he aktually hooks the swords together for a wide swing.

Ka-Tra

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Nuckelavee
02/14/2019 07:56 PM (UTC)
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Tetra_Vega

Always one of my favs. When 3 was still new, people thought he was like Baraka. They cited both's stories said they were nomads, both used 2 blades, and their shoes. Love how they changed his saw summon to throw them out instead. Way more useful/less telegraphed.

Hope he finally gets a move where he aktually hooks the swords together for a wide swing.

Ka-Tra

Those times were magical, seeing in some game-magazine the early roster of MK3, wondering about what Kabal was all about, seeing Sonya and Kano again in new cool outfits, and wondering who Sindel, the female Shokan and the Centaur were going to be. I loved the first picture of Cyrax vs Sektor as well in there and the maskless Sub-Zero.

Awesome times, all destroyed after 2005 and the mobile phone generation.

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Onaga
02/17/2019 12:32 PM (UTC)Edited 02/17/2019 12:36 PM (UTC)
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Bloodfang
Onaga

I'd say the majority of characters from MK3 onward are underrated; but Kabal seems to be one of the more beloved odd ball characters from MK3. I still wouldn't say he is aptly rated. If you aren't sharing a commonality with the spectrum of light and calling yourself a ninja in MK you are often underrated.

Scorpion is the poster boy and with the exception of two games from the series (Armageddon and MKX) he barely plays a role at all in the story. Same for Sub-Zero or any of the other "ninjas". So your argument that you have to be a ninja to get your due screentime is completely wrong unless you're talking strictly promo art. But story? All Special Forces and Shaolin there.

As for Kabal, yes he's an extremely minor character in the story (like the ninjas, lol) but for some reason (i presume because Ed loves the Flash) Kabal is usually designed to be top tier if not broken on the rare occassions he's actually included in a roster, lol.

@Bloodfang

I.... actually wasn't speaking in regards to the story. At all. I don't understand why you would make that leap when I was obviously speaking of the characters who often appeal to and attract the players.

History continues to show it's often our rainbow inspired friends who draw people in and have the most feverish fan bases.

Also, Scorpion and Sub-Zero being the official poster boys of MK has only been a recent development. Look back, it was more often than not Raiden.

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You-Know-Who
02/17/2019 01:29 PM (UTC)
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Kabal was probably the most popular new addition to MK3. He’s been in shockingly few games since. I would have thought for sure he’d have been in MK4. When he was killed off before DA, I was extremely surprised. Then he came back next game and, was in MK9, and now 11. It’s actually getting up there to a few appearances now.

Personally, I don’t think he’s underrated, per se. I think it’s weird how they had such a winning formula with him and have never really capitalized on it though.

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Bloodfang
02/18/2019 02:58 PM (UTC)
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Onaga
Bloodfang
Onaga

I'd say the majority of characters from MK3 onward are underrated; but Kabal seems to be one of the more beloved odd ball characters from MK3. I still wouldn't say he is aptly rated. If you aren't sharing a commonality with the spectrum of light and calling yourself a ninja in MK you are often underrated.

Scorpion is the poster boy and with the exception of two games from the series (Armageddon and MKX) he barely plays a role at all in the story. Same for Sub-Zero or any of the other "ninjas". So your argument that you have to be a ninja to get your due screentime is completely wrong unless you're talking strictly promo art. But story? All Special Forces and Shaolin there.

As for Kabal, yes he's an extremely minor character in the story (like the ninjas, lol) but for some reason (i presume because Ed loves the Flash) Kabal is usually designed to be top tier if not broken on the rare occassions he's actually included in a roster, lol.

@Bloodfang

I.... actually wasn't speaking in regards to the story. At all. I don't understand why you would make that leap when I was obviously speaking of the characters who often appeal to and attract the players.

History continues to show it's often our rainbow inspired friends who draw people in and have the most feverish fan bases.

Also, Scorpion and Sub-Zero being the official poster boys of MK has only been a recent development. Look back, it was more often than not Raiden.

Ah sorry. "Story" was the only aspect where I would consider Kabal "underrated" because (as far as I recall and I may be mistaken) he is always broken, god-tier in any game he's been in so lots of competitive and casual fans alike clamor for his return because A) He looks badass and is easily recognizable B) Picking him is an easy win if you're not up against a superior player. Gameplay and popularity wise for those reasons I wouldn't consider him underrated. The developers just don't put him in every roster for some reason. He's like Kung Lao in that regards only very few people pick Lao because they think HE is the coolest LOOKING guy on the roster (his bladed hat maybe but not him, lol). People play Kung Lao and love Lao because his core tools and mechanics are undeniably effective just like Kabal. You don't have to invest as much time labbing to MAKE them a good character (competitively) the tools are already there you just need to have the talent/skills to use them right. Unlike certain favorites of mine who usually require TOO MUCH lab time to be competitive to be worth it when other Pros are going to be already starting out with better implemented characters like Kabal or Lao, lol. I wasn't clear on what people meant by "underrated" I guess. My bad. Being S-Tier in every appearance doesn't seem underrated, but the number of total appearances DEFINITELY means under USED (by the dev team not by players, lol.)

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MortalMushroom
02/19/2019 05:26 AM (UTC)
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Story-wise, I would not call him underrated, but rather he's just not a very important character overall.

I will say that I do not think he really caught on in MK3 the same way characters like Cyrax and the other cybers did, and definitely not the way Kenshi did in MK Deadly Alliance. I think he looked really cool in MK Deception, but I dont think it did as much for him as say, Ermac.

Design-wise I think he's really cool. Hook swords are a nice gimmick. From my understanding he was an popular pick in MK3 for the high-tier competitave players. In that respect, I would think he would be underrated; imagine being a God at MK3 and then not seeing your main again for like nine years.

Overall I'd say he's slightly underrated. Not really a plot-essential character, but does have a cool design, look, and a bit of a legacy among the 2d era competative crowd.

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You-Know-Who
02/20/2019 04:16 AM (UTC)
0
johnny1up

Story-wise, I would not call him underrated, but rather he's just not a very important character overall.

I will say that I do not think he really caught on in MK3 the same way characters like Cyrax and the other cybers did, and definitely not the way Kenshi did in MK Deadly Alliance. I think he looked really cool in MK Deception, but I dont think it did as much for him as say, Ermac.

Design-wise I think he's really cool. Hook swords are a nice gimmick. From my understanding he was an popular pick in MK3 for the high-tier competitave players. In that respect, I would think he would be underrated; imagine being a God at MK3 and then not seeing your main again for like nine years.

Overall I'd say he's slightly underrated. Not really a plot-essential character, but does have a cool design, look, and a bit of a legacy among the 2d era competative crowd.

People used to be really high on Kabal's overall potential. He wasn't a "good guy" in MK3, per se, but was fighting on the side of good by default. Many saw him as a cool "anti-hero" type bad-ass that could be at odds with the other good guys in future games, or going an extra brutal mile whereas they couldn't. The next we hear about him, Mavado killed him and took his hookswords. Thanks for coming, pal.

Deception helped out Ermac, definitely, but reducing Kabal to the easy-manipulated thug-for-hire under Havik definitely hurt the attachment many fans had to him.

I would have loved to have seen him back in MK4 in the Jarek role. Sonya has killed Kano during the chaos of MK3, but only one Black Dragon remains...Kabal, who was instrumental in helping fight off Shao Kahn's invasion (maybe even have him be the one that defeated Motaro). Sonya (and Jax) are not interested in giving Kabal a pass for his crimes, however, so he finds himself hunted by the Special Forces even though Kano's betrayal has distanced Kabal from Black Dragon operations. Something like that could have been really cool. Kabal could have defeated Jax in self-defense, intensifying Sonya's hatred for him. Jax could have just been left for dead though (since Kabal was not playing for keeps), so he healed up in the Outworld wastelands growing more and more bitter as he realizes his allies aren't coming for him. Cue a Jax villain turn for MK6 after taking a break for MK5.

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Onaga
02/21/2019 03:04 PM (UTC)
0
You-Know-Who
johnny1up

Story-wise, I would not call him underrated, but rather he's just not a very important character overall.

I will say that I do not think he really caught on in MK3 the same way characters like Cyrax and the other cybers did, and definitely not the way Kenshi did in MK Deadly Alliance. I think he looked really cool in MK Deception, but I dont think it did as much for him as say, Ermac.

Design-wise I think he's really cool. Hook swords are a nice gimmick. From my understanding he was an popular pick in MK3 for the high-tier competitave players. In that respect, I would think he would be underrated; imagine being a God at MK3 and then not seeing your main again for like nine years.

Overall I'd say he's slightly underrated. Not really a plot-essential character, but does have a cool design, look, and a bit of a legacy among the 2d era competative crowd.

People used to be really high on Kabal's overall potential. He wasn't a "good guy" in MK3, per se, but was fighting on the side of good by default. Many saw him as a cool "anti-hero" type bad-ass that could be at odds with the other good guys in future games, or going an extra brutal mile whereas they couldn't. The next we hear about him, Mavado killed him and took his hookswords. Thanks for coming, pal.

Deception helped out Ermac, definitely, but reducing Kabal to the easy-manipulated thug-for-hire under Havik definitely hurt the attachment many fans had to him.

I would have loved to have seen him back in MK4 in the Jarek role. Sonya has killed Kano during the chaos of MK3, but only one Black Dragon remains...Kabal, who was instrumental in helping fight off Shao Kahn's invasion (maybe even have him be the one that defeated Motaro). Sonya (and Jax) are not interested in giving Kabal a pass for his crimes, however, so he finds himself hunted by the Special Forces even though Kano's betrayal has distanced Kabal from Black Dragon operations. Something like that could have been really cool. Kabal could have defeated Jax in self-defense, intensifying Sonya's hatred for him. Jax could have just been left for dead though (since Kabal was not playing for keeps), so he healed up in the Outworld wastelands growing more and more bitter as he realizes his allies aren't coming for him. Cue a Jax villain turn for MK6 after taking a break for MK5.

God damn it. GOD DAMN IT! That is a really good idea and I am forever going to be angry that they didn't go that route.

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