No, it's known for blood and gore. That's it.

Everything else is just an add-on. Mortal Kombat was never known for its 'sexiness'. Dead Or Alive, however, is. One is meant to have suggestive imagery; the other was just an artist's preference. Let's not bullshit the reality to this.

Oh my god. You're on that bullshit?

The sad part is, there are plenty of costumes in MK11 where the female characters' breasts are showing rather well. But that's not enough for you. Hell, half of Cetrion's costumes show off half her body, and she's pretty damn busty, but no, that isn't enough.

This isn't about 'feminism' or 'marxism,' this is about you not getting the precise "sexy" imagery of women you want. As I told other whiny babies, I don't recall any of you making this fuss when the male characters were dressed head to toe. Because they're not the ones you want to see naked.

You. Are. Pathetic. I honestly don't know why I keep coming back to this thread. It's my own fault. You people are an embarrassment, and you act like children. Grow up. And cut the bullshit already.

BS! Even from MK3 days with Kerri Hoskins, MK was always sexualized.

With the Kombat codes on her top she was obviously promoting MK3. She was a playboy model and she was obviously chosen for the role because they wanted sexualization of the franchise:

MK4 outfits were also definitely sexualized:

Also after Tobias left the team and the 2K era came on the rise with MKDA, the sexualization became even more obvious.

with MKD even more...:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q75OiZTYuUo

etc etc etc.

So please stop lying because MK in most of the games (till sudden WOKE-Era) was about blood, gore and hot chicks.

I know that you are shilling for WB but at least don't spread lies...

Sexiness Started with Mortal Kombat (1992)

Technically the female sexiness started in MK1 along with the male sexiness. Sonya had a croptop back then and spandex (which was a hit in the 80s and early 90s for sexiness). The males were drenched in sweat, and in Goro's case, had bulging muscles. So 4 of the 10 characters were sexualized: Sonya, Cage, Kang, Goro. Shang, Scorpion, Sub, Reptile, Kano, and Rayden were well covered up.

And MK2 and the Comics

Move on to MK2 where Cage and Liu are still sexualized but are joined by Sonya (in background), Jax, Kintaro, Jade, Mileena, and Kitana in sexualization. The artist renderings in the strategy guides for that era didn't help. Someone already traced the sex appeal in the games. It also extended to the comics but did not extend to the GI Joes, other than for the male characters.

And All-Over Threshold's and WB Media

Now the problem comes with the non-game media, all of which were promoted to either kids or teens aka selling sex to children, as it is known in the entertainment industry.

Mortal Kombat: The Animated Video: The Journey Begins

First, Sonya was sexualized in the animated film along with Goro, Cage, and Kang. You can see other glimpses of this with the other fighters outside of Goro's cave when he and Shang welcome them.

Mortal Kombat: The Live Tour

Second, the Live Tour. As stated, Playboy model Kerri Hoskins was used in this show. For kids. She was dressed in her MK3 costume. The sex appeal of other characters purmuated throughout.

The Ultimate Guide to Mortal Kombat CDROM

Kerri Hoskins made an appearance again in a sweaty workout video included on The Ultimate Guide to Mortal Kombat CDROM. Again, sold to kids.

Mortal Kombat: The Movie

The first movie toned down Sonya's attire, pitting her in more military grade clothes when fighting. But... the original script gave her a shower scene. And lets not forget the leather dress she wore during her captured scene. But the sexiest attire award goes to Talisa Soto for her skin tight clothes, corset, and excessive clevage. Lets not forget Alison Savitch getting all goo goo eyed for Lii Kang's shirtless and sweaty fight with Shang during the laserdisc audio commentary. And Goro's buldging miscles and the gallons of baby oil drenching all the Outworld hooded guards. Oh... and lets not forget that Sonya was originally cast by a Playboy model - but because Kasanoff and her didnt get along he cites Cameron Diaz, who was a sex symbol in the cross-promoted film, The Mask. And how can we forget Cage ball-busting Goro, a fetish by the way. All of this sold to kids.

Mortal Kombat Annihilation

Annihilation is jam-packed with sexualization. We see another toned down approach to Sonya (who I believe was played by a Playboy model) but Jade's outfits rule here, especially her near-nakedness in the snow. Lets not forget the mudfight, hyped by Kasanoff himself in interviews, and Kitana, Mileena, Sindel, and especially Sheeva. Again, sold to kids.

Mortal Kombat: The Animated Series: Defenders of the Realm

Defenders of the Realm actually did use some too and it was promoted to even younger kids. Sonya, Ruby, and Sheeva come to mind.

Mortal Kombat: The Live Series Conquest

But the winner who takes the cake, packed with Playboy models and sleaze-film model-actresses goes to Conquest. Add to the fact most of these girls' nipples were protruding through their clothes because the production budget didn't include bras and quite a few girls were implied nude (I believe there were a couple sex scenes).

Threshold Entertainment's MK Site

In fact, the sex appeal was so bad, Threshold dedicated its site to Babes, spotlighting a Babe with photos and even her film scenes. They even had an archive of this... and I preserved it on my Web site.

Federation of the Martial Arts

Federation of the Martial Arts had sex appeal too but it was so blocky from the low quality videos.

Rebirth and Legacy

These WB properties joined the former GI Joe toy line in reducing the sex appeal. In fact I recall Mileena and Kitana really only having any, not so much for Sonya. I believe DCU also reduced sex appeal.

MK9 Game

Hilariously this WB produced game notoriously heightened it in sooo many ways, moreso than any other game in the fact EVERY female was now sexualized. Add to the fact it eas crosspromoted with Playboy and BTS videos of several girls from the video game contributed to this proliferation of sex appeal, which radiated across other properties too until the MeToo movement surfaced in 2016.

Konklusion

Again, most of us aren't upset by the removal of scantily-clad clothing for females. We're upset about the reasoning being no one goes into battle scantily-clad yet many males are and dont wear any armor. Stop twisting it when Boon and team already stated these as the reasons. It's a catch-22 that should also be applied to males.

Well I ve lurking around these forums for a time now but I think I will add my 2 cents about the female clothing debacle

While i understand where the complaints about the amounts shown by the girls comes from I think what we got int he game was a solution for a problem nobody was really complaining about, I ́d be lying if I said i was bothered by the eye candy, but when I sat down and i thought about it it wasnt as silly as it may initially seem: To use the most notoriouse xample of MK9 Jade and Kitana and the argument that they look more like strippers than badass ninjas, whioch may be quite true but that perception stems from the fact that when we picture a "badass ninja" we imagine a character fresh from Assasins Creed with a hoddie, covered in light armor, gadgets, hidden blades, mini crossbows performing aerial takedowns while running from roof to roof

While this is a valid expectation, it also ignores that there more efficient ways to asssasin somebody. And what easier way to get some political enemy into the Knife ́s reach than with an alluring female? This was ,in fact, a very common practive in courtly intrigues throughout history, king, emperor and nobles would use attractive courtesans, princesses and noblewomen to gain political leverage over their opponents maybe spying while maintening a faux romance to pur soem poison during a romantic dinner, In this way it would be in Shao Kahn ́s interest to make look Jade and Kitana alluring and available as to obtain political advantange over his opponents. Keep your friends close, your enemies closer

Jade and kitana were Shao kahn ́s topa ssasins, which tells me that he probably valued them only because their effiency and kombat prowess but by their versatility aswell, Im sure there would be situations that were more subtle assasanations would be more preferable over a bombastic assault with magic fans and an enchanted bo.

Another thing that bugs about is the perception that the exy looks of MK9 females are objetively ridiculous, for us? Maybe. But for them? I mean why do we have to make a race of extradimensional beings conform to our own standards of modesty? I like modesty, Im a Christian after all. But Im also someone who loves to writte fantasy and stories in other worlds. To cover up the girls because what us, easily offended earthrealmers might think is lame, what if such clothing is indeed modest for Edenian or Outworlder women? What if Edenian or Outworlder culture actually considers showing skin as a mark of confidence/pride/*insert positive attribute here*? See even in our real life Cultures standards of modesty vary: there types of female clothing in India that includes a small blouse that reveal much of the midtriff, the neck and the back. Such clothing could be considered nothing short of scandalous by other societies: Such as many islamized cultures and the Amish while being considered perfectly normal in their own context

I will concede that Sonya ́s portryal was silly in MK9, but I think that is tied to the larger problem that both Sonya and jax have corrying since the days of the original trilogy , and that was that there werent as interesting as the rest of the cast and i cans ee that the thought process to revamp them was to make Jax more of a badass and an all-american hero and make Sonya a no-nonsense operator and dial up the sex appeal. And these transformations were not complete until MK10 with advent of Jacqui and the Cage Family where the story place them in role where they had to look a part: Sonya was a general and Jax was a veteran with PTSD, so they had to tone it down for them. In this case I can accept this logic and its OK, its perfect.

But with Outworld girls you can smell the political contrivance from miles away. Its funny indeed that this a perfect example of horsehoe theory: What the outrage of conservatives and religious folks could not achive, left-leaning women liberators provided xD Its also quite sad, because I always thought of Mortal Kombat as a series with a bit more of spine, and that would not bend to overzealous moral busy bodies. But I was wrong, time will tell if we go full circle and they self-censor the blood aswell...

You virgins still pressed over this? Good lord.

What a smart response. Nevermind the derogatory and snarky tone to refer to people that is simply explaining their point. Im sure you get laid constantly with that attitude...

Double posted......

I don't know what the fuck is going on here, but I can vividly recall on MKO there being a plethora of people bitching about how the women are dressed too scandalous and it wasn't realistic. People started posting pictures of how bad ass the females look in other games, but were clothed.

Now, when NRS tries to appease those fucking people, we even more people bitching about how the women are TOO clothed and don't look like scandalous sluts in bikinis. Where were you turds to combat the aforementioned whiners that insisted on fully clothed females? Had you voiced your concerns before, maybe you could have prevented the "realistic" outfits.

Hell, I would be willing to bet a million bucks that a lot of the ones complaining now are the same people who complained years ago that the women were too scantily clad. Instead of expecting you people to make up your minds, NRS should have been smart enough to feature BOTH types of clothing. I haven't unlocked all the costumes yet, so I don't know if they even did that. Considering all the whining, I have to assume they didn't.

There was no reason NRS couldn't have catered to both ends of the spectrum. Shame on them for not doing that.

I was going to make a comment about the type of people that now work in NRS, and why we're seeing all these unwanted changes to our video game (yes, it is ours - what are they without their fans?), but God forbid I express my own opinion that would offend snow flakes.

I'm a dick magnet. So yup. I do.

Oh, I apologize , your snarky remarks are an obvious sign you spend a lot of time around dicks ;)...

What's wrong with that? Are they supposed to prefer cucumbers or something? Idiota.

Dick: As in a person who conduces in an inappropriate manner to the annoyance of others.

And yeah thats hardly an ideal situation, unless you are some sort fo masoquist. I dont like being around dicks. Do you?

Also, Why in spanish? Porque si lo queres asi , asi lo tendras, chango ;)

Spanish?!? STOP ASSUMING MY NATIONALITY YOU RACISTTSSS!11!!1! .........It was Italian

Oh? My mistake, signore

I fucking know it’s like what the fuck are they doing??! They’re destroying the fucking franchise that’s what! MK doesn’t even feel the same anymore all this bullshit like people trying to say it doesn’t matter IT FUCKING MATTERS! It’s one of the many elements that make up the MK universe and Ed Boon’s sitting there trying to Justify downgrading his franchise it’s BULLSHIT, I hope to God somebody who is actually dedicated to the franchise comes along and does it justice a lot like MK9 did for the franchise

I couldn’t agree more anyone who can’t see that sexualization was and IS a major element of MK then they are fucking stupid and aren’t a fan PERIOD!

@gorostilllives Dude is REALISTICNESS even a subject when it comes to this I mean fucking seriously?? Your talking about what to wear to the fight when every 10 sec someone gets a bone snapped and gets right back up like it never happened, this argument is ridiculous at best, the games should stick to their roots and what made them great to begin with PERIOD!

@balkcsiaboot your way right they should at least make it an option I mean this is bullshit

@ryousanko that speech was amazing bro I couldn’t agree more

@balkcsiaboot you e totally got a point but when the games where out and great I was just enjoying them and had no idea this argument was even happening it’s only now that I’m starting to noticed what they’ve done to the design of the characters and it’s bullshit

I would totally listen man because this shots gotta stop

There is a double standard at play here: men being hyper masculine is sexy -- if you are attracted to men. If you like men, you typically like men who are masculine / have a masculine physique. If you like women, you typically like women who are feminine / have a feminine physique (there's a spectrum of tastes here, but for a vast majority of the population, this is true -- if you don't believe me, go watch both straight and gay porn).

The double standard is that men still have hyper masculine physiques (Geras & Jax... god damn), where as women do not have hyper feminine physiques.

I think the sex-appeal (for straight men) being toned down is probably two fold: one, maybe as an artist having more realistic / thematic costuming is more interesting; and two, there is a pretty obnoxious PC culture that you'd have to deal with if you decided to keep things unrealistically "sexy".

It's naive to think that current PC culture didn't play some role in toning down the sexual component to Mortal Kombat -- in a way the game could be seen as promoting unhealthy, unrealistic standards of beauty & promoting violence against women (really violence in general, but it sounds worse if you say it's against women). I think, if it is true that violent video games do not inspire violence, then, necessarily, hyper sexualized video games would also not inspire unhealthy sexual preferences (ironic, given that most people who would complain about the sexual nature of MK games probably would agree you can't choose who you're attracted to -- and if mortal kombat can inspire unrealistic attractions toward women, then I think it should also stand to reason that some kind of conversion therapy would work... I think this is total BS (obviously), as we are attracted to general feature sets -- and it's very hard to say how much of this is obtained via environment / inherent).

There is a false premise that is just being accepted by the side that is chastising those who want women in skimpy outfits -- and that is that it is wrong to want that -- that it is wrong to want characters to besexualized for the sake of sexualization. This I find very ironic when commenting on a game that glorifies violence. A large part of the MK appeal (besides incredible net code and great mechanics) is that it is a game of extremes; and extremes are fun and cool. I want hyper masculinity & femininity & violence. I want everything in the game to be over the top and bombastic. Sex & violence are fun -- you wouldn't be playing mortal kombat if you didn't think that on some level. Obviously the real use of force is never okay unless it's in self-defense. But in a video game -- it's fun. Same goes for sex -- hetero or homo. Sex. is. fun. And it's fine as an art direction to steer away from it -- but it doesn't seem like an entirely artistic move (if we're going for realistic or functional... matches would be over on the first krushing or fatal blow... and lets be honest, a lot of specials... also magic...). Ultimately, this move seems like one of cowardice, which isn't in the vein of mortal kombat, and I think that is why so many are upset with the lack of hyper sexualization -- in MK9 the developers were not afraid to put Mileena in the Flesh Pit costume -- in MK11, really the only female character that has any sex appeal is Sindel.