Shang Tsung is a lock, has to be.

In a Raiden mirror match intro Raiden says "that sorcerer is long dead."

This doesn't mean he won't be playable but it certainly isn't a good sign for Shang fans

Haha okay, so he uses the word sorcerer and you're thinking Shang Tsung is out. Odd conclusions fans jump to sometimes.

He literally references Shang in the intro bud, chill with the passive aggressive https://youtu.be/oChmPB0b0-8

Well, to be fair, Shang Tsung is the only character in the series that could make himself look like the other characters. Even Shinnok, who wasn’t a sorcerer, didn’t do that in MK4. Quan Chi’s the only other sorcerer in the series and that was never a power he used.

I don’t think it’s an odd conclusion to jump to, though I’d still be surprised if he missed this game. Perhaps Raiden’s just not aware he’s returned yet? Who knows. Having a time bending story that goes all the way back to beginning and not having Shang Tsung play a decent sized role, at least enough to make the roster, would seem like a strange choice to me.

That's not what you said, you said "that sorcerer" as if he never actually used the name Shang Tsung. Still, this is clearly meant as a reference to Tsung's morphing abilities and indeed in this timeline he is dead and they wouldn't show us an intro where they would make it obvious he is coming back. That would spoil the fun.

Dude... Did you even watch the video?

Raiden 1: “Your illusion bores me, Shang Tsung!”

Raiden 2: “That evil sorcerer is long dead”

Raiden 1: “Just who are you, impostor?”

Did you follow the convo? I know he said it after the video was posted, but prior it was as if the other guy just assumed it was Shang. Chill.

Shang is 100% in

I didn't recall exactly what was said in the intro except for that tidbit, I did know Shang Tsung's name was used. I figured you would watch it before assuming they didn't use his name.

and newt27 agreed

Edit: Oh, and to be clear I never said I thought he was out. I very clearly said that this doesn't mean he won't be playable.

Shang could still be back due to the time travel elements, Baraka is back and he was killed in MKX.

Shang Tsung, out of all the non-confirmed characters is probably my biggest hope for this game. I really do think Shang Tsung is an interesting character. Back in the day I think he was the most villainous character back in the day; even though Shao Kahn was the big bad, he was always the sly puppeteer pulling the strings in the background. In Mortal Kombat 2011, I feel like they squandered a lot of his potential and gave all of that devious background plotting to Quan Chi instead. His "death" in MK9 was also very underwhelming.

I think it's time for them to give it another go with Shang and do it right this time. And if MKX's story has permanance, it means there is currently a void to fill for the "evil sorcerer" role. Let's make it Shang!

Yeah fuck Quan Chi.

Bring Shang back.

Not only does Shang Tsung need to come back, but he also needs to be a major threat again. No more of this "I beg of you mastah!" bullshit.

I agree, he needs to be a real threat this time.

UMmmm..guys. Why are you fighting? The game is about going to the past. And you're arguing about dialogue sayings "that sorcerer is long dead." The game is about time travel shit, of course Shang Tsung is back. He's 100% in.

I don't think anyone is really arguing.

I mean, I don't agree that he is 100% in. I would be pretty surprised if he missed two games in a row since he is somewhat of a staple of the franchise, though.

I hope to the Elder Gods he’s in! He’s been my main in every game he’s been in. I think his Soul Steal fatality would make a great Brutality in mk11

I want him to have a Soul Steal fatality since it was missing from 9 :(

Why do people keep taking death seriously when people literally stroll out of hell in this universe?

On topic, I would say it would be a major missed opportunity to not follow through with all the hints of Shang's imminent return in MKX. But NRS has been known to hint and build at plot threads in previous MK games only to drop them completely in the next game.

Liu Kang coming back through Kano.

Most plots involving Reptile. The only one they ever followed through with was Onaga.

Every plot thread in MK:Deception

All of Armageddon.

if he is in he better be able to turn into any of the characters during the match not just the character you are fighting against, i really hate how they get rid of the best moves for certain characters

Shang Tsung losing the morph in previous games and having it restricted to only a single character in MK9 was due to memory limitations. Current gen consoles are more capable in that respect, but characters are also more sophisticated. I wonder if it would even be possible to implement.

that sounds like excuses they can do it if they try, just like sonya and her bicycle kick she lost it after mk vs dc and that was really dumb of them. i know the game has variations but come on shang without his morphing power would be like sub zero without his ice it's not very character like,

If anything they could tie his morphing to him simply mimicking select character moves. So say he has Sub-Zero's freeze ball, he morphs into Sub-Zero for a quick minute, then he morphs into Kano for Kano ball. Pretty much how we saw him use it in the Shaolin Monks opening cinematic.

@Kitana147 It wasn't just an excuse back in the day. It had to do with the game being on disk. How it wasn't as easy for the game to pick up that data from the disk instantaneously and it would require the game to load the character in.

But now that we install games on everything, I wonder if it could be done now?

If he can simply morph into the character he’s facing that would be fine with me. I just hope that if he is in he gets a Soul Steal fatality/brutality. I really missed it in mk9 because of the joker one they put in :(