We're going to look to the MEDIA to form our opinions on rather or not we think the stories have been horrible? REALLY? I cannot take you seriously. I don't give a rat's ass about what the MEDIA thinks. The media is trying to sell a game and make money. If I think a story is crap- then I think it's crap- I don't care what Game Informer or IGN thinks. I don't form my opinions on what the MEDIA or the MAINSTREAM or what a few vocal fanboys on social media has to say. I'm confidant with standing on my own two feet with my own brain- always have been, always will. So media praise does not influence me.

Also, I've stated numerous times that the writing has been crap since Armageddon(with it weakening a bit with Deception)- that includes what came after, MK9 and MKX, so you feeling the need to inform me that time traveling has been in this franchise since 2011 is mute considering I've already stated this ship has been sinking since 2006.

And STOP with the Rain, Khameleon, and 3D era character jabs. This has NOTHING to do with that. Rain, Khameleon, Fujin, Sareena, Nitara, Li Mei, Havik, Reiko ect inclusion wouldn't stop this franchise from having shitty writing.

This also isn't about Sonya. I LOVE Sonya.

I don't like half-ass story-telling from the franchise that had once mastered it. Is all I'm saying.

I hope Sonya dies, with her young self too, and Johnny and the whole Briggs family too.

I'm getting fckng bored with this special forces bs, in the future games Cassie is more than enough for that title. Instead, bring back some awesome 3D era characters, or make some badass new ones. The last cool game was deception, where they could come up with some new and cool stuff, and not struggling with the same characters game after game over and over and over again.

MK(2011) had dire consequences. Almost all the good guys were "killed off" and turned into revenants to fight for the Netherrealm, when they eventually invade. But then MKX happened and somehow Sonya and Johnny were able to take on all those revenants, the entire Netherrealm, and Shinnok - all by themselves, and the Earth knew a 20 year peave, the longest peace-time in the series to date.

And now we are getting another time travel story to semi-undo the last time-travel story. Kronika's goal isn't to undo Raiden's changes.... she's pushing her own agenda of having Shinnok win. But that's just a plot point. NRS's goal here is to undo some of the changes they made and combine the old with the new. So the first time-travel had consequences and now they are using time-travel again to fix it. It sets a bad precendent.

It's been well known that gaming sites and magazines give good reviews, highly praise games, and outright avoid being negative about stuff - while in return they get early-access to the game. Sometime even exclusive access, which leads to increases in sales / clicks / web-traffic. They're mostly shills just like most (if not all) mainstream media.

MK(2011) and MKX had the most cinematic story in any fighting game. But that's because it's presented like a movie. It also doesn't mean they were the best stories told, or the best story modes. Just good cinematography. It's like Zack Snyder - a great action director and cinematographer, but certainly not a great writer.

So, basically, what you say is gospel, what people with actual experience and knowledge in the industry say is just "because they get paid"

Conspiracy theories at their worst.

Look, I am not saying that NRS stories (and most importantly story modes) couldn't be improved, I am just saying that they are the best so far, at least in terms of fighting games.

You may like them or not, but complaining of the story just because young Sonya might survive her old version is dumb considering that preserving their classic human characters it's their point.

The idea itself is not bad at all, a lot will rely on execution, but complaining without knowing anything about the story is just complaining for the sake of it

No sir, I don't need MEDIAS to tell me how to think, but I if my opinion gets validated by experts and majority of people, then maybe, is your opinion at fault or a bit on the nose

If you are really disappointed in the lore, why do you keep on playing the games, why do you keep on following the series, why do you post in a forum? Why bother at all?

I used to be a great Dragon Age, Final Fantasy and other games enthusiast, but all those series somehow turned to shit. I don't go in their forum complaining just for the sake of complaining.

And yes, despite your weak arguments, the whole point of your complaint is that the story will revolve around Sonya and other Earthrealm based characters, had it been all about edenians you would go screaming "how interesting this story is". And no shit, you really hate Sonya by the way you speak of her in every thread.

I for one am excited about this game and the story/lore more than anything else, if the story will turn out to be shit so be it, but right now I am not in the position to judge without prejudice and biased mindset.

There is no need to pay medias when you have the best presentation the best facial animations and the best graphics of them all.

There is no other fighting game that makes story modes as good as NRS. Not only NRS is untopped, but also unmatched.

The story modes of MK 9 and X had such an impact that Dead or Alive Street Fighter V and Tekken 7 felt forced to add one in their games. NRS created a whole new paradigm shift for fighting games. Their merits are so vast and undeniable that palms greasing some internet site or gaming magazine is totally useless and not worth the time or money.

[QUOTE]

It's been well known that gaming sites and magazines give good reviews, highly praise games, and outright avoid being negative about stuff - while in return they get early-access to the game. Sometime even exclusive access, which leads to increases in sales / clicks / web-traffic. They're mostly shills just like most (if not all) mainstream media.

MK(2011) and MKX had the most cinematic story in any fighting game. But that's because it's presented like a movie. It also doesn't mean they were the best stories told, or the best story modes. Just good cinematography. It's like Zack Snyder - a great action director and cinematographer, but certainly not a great writer.

[/QUOTE]

1) No Sonya and Jax barely took out Jax Scorpion and Sub-zero, three fighters well within their capabilities. Shinnok was defeated mostly by Johnny Cage, but also Raiden, Fujin and Sonya played a role.

Shinnok was not defeated, simply imprisoned by a warrior who happened to have inherited the very same power to defeat a God. Random and unexpected, as the victory happened but sensed. Also, their victory wasn't without consequences, the whole blood God saga and the Netherrealm royal couple were a direct consequence of their victory and the stupidity of Scorpion, which is in line with his character. So 20 years of peace my ass...

2) we know shit about Kronika's agenda, that's why I suggest to wait to play the actual game before judging.

I have the impression that despite all the strings that Kronika and Raiden are going to pull, the future is immutable or mutable only for the worsr. Also, Kronika's role is not to have Shinnok win, that would be a contradiction to her role of "keeper of the balance between good and evil" her goal is to bring back the old timeline, the one in which Earth is destroyed, something that Raiden cannot allow to happen. In all this, we don't even know what role will White Raiden play, as an ally to his dark persona or an entire faction of his own And Kotal, what about him? Will he help Raiden or he will face Shao Kahn on his own?

There are a lot of interesting things to look forward

NRS goal is not to undo the changes made by mkx, otherwise they wouldn't have added multiple paths to the story mode of mk11.

Their point is to merge the timelines so we could still have human, young characters in the next few games. Nobody cared for old Sonya, Kano and Johnny Cage. All the people online picked their young skins in MK X (I for one loved most of the tournament costumes), not the standard looks.

Considering that all other popular characters have thousands of years and many more to live, this is a good idea to allow the heroes to still stick around.

It's a well known fact this practice happens. And no, they don't "pay" them, that would be illegal. It's a sort of unspoken agreement. There have been times when a site/magazine has given bad reviews and that publisher will refuse to send that site/mag info or early access for all their other games. Practically blacklisting them. Numerous people in the industry: devs; publishers; critics; have admitted to this happening - and has been happening since the 90's. It doesn't matter how big or good a studio is, this is an industry wide thing.

And it's clear NRS /WB do this too. Look at the exclusives IGN have been getting. Look at all the Youtubers who've been invited to the studio and press events to butter them up.

Saying NRS and MK are too good to do this is naive at best. It's outright ignorant to think they don't when they're practically flaunting it.

_______

Sonya single-handedly defeated Jax, Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Quan Chi.
Johnny single-handedly took out Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Smoke, and Jax. And stood up to Shinnok easily (with his anti-Shinnok deus ex machina trigged like a "MY BULMA!" moment) until Raiden trapped him.

The Blood God comic event happened when Cassie was an adult. Between imprisoning Shinnok and that happening, Earth was not attacked or invaded. At least not any major threat, to the point Johnny was a stay-at-home dad for most of that time.

Liu Kang and Kitana ruling outworld came after MKX so that's irrelevant to the 20 time skip where nothing happened (other than the comic, but that was set after the time skip too).

_______

“Kronika is the boss of bosses. All the Mortal Kombat events that have happened, since MK1, she’s the one kind of architecting everything that’s happened. Everything that’s happened has occurred according to her plan, with the goal of having Shinnok be the final victor.” -Ed Boon

In the story trailer Kronika herself says she's not happy with how things turned out, and plans to merge the timelines. So yes.... we do know shit about Kronika's agenda. It's been spelt out for us my the characters and the games developers.

NRS used time-travel in MK(2011) as a soft reboot. They took that opportunity to retcon stuff. Time-travel is used all the time in comics to retcon and reboot characters and story arcs (relevant due to NRS strong ties to comics and the fact the games writers is a comicbook writer). There were a lot of things that have happened in the new timeline that a lot of fans have not liked. The gameplay of the NRS-era games has been highly priased... the biggest criticism the games have gotten is the story.

So, considering how time-travel is often used, and has been used by the series and the industries in which the staff have worked in - coupled with the fact they outright state they plan to merge timelines - it's very safe to assume that re-using time-travel is a way for them to bring the best of both worlds (translation: ditch the stuff that was hated / didn't work out). MK(2011) is to DC's Flashpoint as MK11 is to Rebirth.

This isn't a bad thing. Some stuff like the revenant arc needs to be undone / resolved. The problem is when it's going to be used to ditch the good things, like: Sonya and Johhny not being 1-dimentional, boring characters and actually getting development for the first time in nearly 30 years; Scorpion being able to move on from "REVENGE!!"; Mileena maturing and also getting good development.

NRS-era has had some good ideas and plot points. Yet, the execution has mostly sucked and is coupled with just as many bad ideas like the revenants and Raiden being a moron.

I wouldn't take seriously what Ed Boon says, he often overlook and oversimplify things. For now I stick to what Dom Cianciolo (the guy who actually deals with the story) says.

If Kronika is the keeper of balance between good and evil it could only mean that either there is a replacement for Raiden or Shinnok should not be the winner.

Also people/deity agendas are not just "I do this, and done". Kronika is seen summoning warriors from the past, even ones we do not have an idea of who they are (Kollector) or people that should be stay dead for the good of the Realms (Shao Kahn). That's why I say that we don't know shit about Kronika and her agenda.

Also, if Kronika is so powerful, why does she need Shinnok or Shao Kahn? Again, her agenda is mysterious for the most part, imo.

Also, Cassie wasn't adult during the comic book story. She needed to corrupt a bouncer to enter the club, that means that she and Jacqui are less than 21 and of legal age to enter boot camp, so they are barely 18. Not kids, but not even adults.

Dude, take you pick, paid shills? People easily won over by presentation over the content within. The more cinematic you make a game these days the more every moron will clap.

I mean come on dude what kind of argument is that? (Note I'm not calling you a moron up there. But come on that is quite a weak argument.)

@lastfighter89

So, basically, what you say is gospel, what people with actual experience and knowledge in the industry say is just "because they get paid"

I don't care what the people in the industry say regardless if they get paid or if they're on here licking NRS boots straps every chance they get for free like you do. I just don't care period- my opinion is only based on how Ahnka feels.

Look, I am not saying that NRS stories (and most importantly story modes) couldn't be improved, I am just saying that they are the best so far, at least in terms of fighting games.

That isn't saying much. Fighting games have never been known for their stories- Mortal Kombat was the sole exception. The only fighting game that I could think of that ever came close to Mortal Kombat's lore was Tao Feng and that barely counts considering it flopped(Gone way too son) and was a creation of John Tobias. Mortal Kombat have always been the best in fighting game story and now it's still the best because there's no other competition in that field despite the fact the writing has deteriorated significantly. It's like when a film plummets 70% at the box office during week 2 and you still try to save face by saying "WELL IT'S STILL NUMBER 1" yeah- that's because there's no other competition - fact still remains it's still losing a significant amount of money.

The idea itself is not bad at all, a lot will rely on execution, but complaining without knowing anything about the story is just complaining for the sake of it

And that's the part that I don't have faith in. I have seen their execution before- it's shit. I don't have to know every thing, if I want to give my opinion I'm going to give it. If I want to judge every thing on a one second clip- that's my right. Why are you taking it so personal? Are you on the story team? You're mighty touchy about negative opinions on your precious MK11.

No sir, I don't need MEDIAS to tell me how to think, but I if my opinion gets validated by experts and majority of people, then maybe, is your opinion at fault or a bit on the nose

An opinion cannot be wrong. It's an opinion. Please look up the definition.

If you are really disappointed in the lore, why do you keep on playing the games, why do you keep on following the series, why do you post in a forum? Why bother at all? I used to be a great Dragon Age, Final Fantasy and other games enthusiast, but all those series somehow turned to shit. I don't go in their forum complaining just for the sake of complaining.

I do not plan on purchasing MK11. That being said, regardless of my opinion- I am a fan of this franchise and I have every right to participate in conversation surrounding this game- just because what I have to say isn't pleasing to you doesn't mean I should shut up and go away. That's quite ugly and selfish of you to suggest. I'm every bit of a fan of this franchise as you are and THAT'S why I hold NRS's feet to the fire- because I GIVE A DAMN! I don't just sit back and worship their every move and coddle them- I speak up, I speak loud, and fight for what I think is in the best interest for this franchise. THAT'S being a fan in my book.

And yes, despite your weak arguments, the whole point of your complaint is that the story will revolve around Sonya and other Earthrealm based characters, had it been all about edenians you would go screaming "how interesting this story is".

Nice, you saw my post in the other thread about how cool a story about a war between Outworld/Edenia would be and tried to use it against me here. I have no issue with Earthrealm characters. Hell, even Jacqui is starting to grow on me. I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH BAD WRITING AND STORY TELLING! Jeez. Stop trying to undercut what I'm saying my dismissing my arguments as the rantings of a bitter child.

And no shit, you really hate Sonya by the way you speak of her in every thread.

Really? I have never BASHED Sonya. I have made some snide remarks about Cassie, but I haven't attacked Sonya. Sonya is one of my favorites. Yes, what a shock, I actually like a Trilogy era character. Call TMZ.

I for one am excited about this game and the story/lore more than anything else,

You don't say...

if the story will turn out to be shit so be it, but right now I am not in the position to judge without prejudice and biased mindset.

But I am, because I have been scorned by them for years. Prejudice isn't always a bad thing. And judge I will.

Me: "...20 years of peace..."
You: "It wasn't 20 years, the Blood god event happened after 18 years"
Yeeeeahhh... Close enough.

______

I never said the MK games look bad. In fact I praised the presentation and cinematography. I agree it's the best looking fighting game out there. But that doesn't mean the writing is good. That's what people are saying is the problem - the story - which is often limited by the way Chapters play out (characters never win a fight unless the player is actively playing as them. It cheapens some characters, having them lose fights they should easily win). The way the story mode is structured, and written, is the problem.... not the way it looks.

______

You: "We dont' know anything about the character"
Me: "Yes we do, here are quotes from the big boss of NRS who has the final say on everything - as well as quotes from the actual game itself"
You: "You can't trust those!"

Erm... yes, I can. And even if Boon got something wrong, he still made a statement giving information which we can then base our speculation on. It literally disproves your point that we "don't know shit".

Name me one single fighting game that does story mode better than MK. One, just one. And explain me why after decades of "real competitive fighting games have to resource to waste on silly story mode", Tekken and other jumped the wagon.

Again, by no means MK story mode are perfect, but they are the best around.

Mortal Kombat story is just "good VS evil", is not the story, but how you tell it, and presentation, graphics and animations are top notch in NRS games.

FF XV had a great story buried under non-sensical mobile games, animes, cg movies, DLCs, Books etc. I take any day a wrong story told the right way than a good one told horribly.

And ffxv was just an example, I am asking you to find me a better fighting game with a better story mode.

Dudeeeeee. We don't know shit about Kronika's agenda (verbatim), not about Kronika herself, calm down.

Dom Cianciolo said that she wants to preserve balance. If the rumors are true, Kronika has a really emotional reason to wish Shinnok's victory, but those are rumors.

Right now I still confirm we know nothing about Kronika's motives, why she does rebuild the Netherrealm castle or brings back other characters from the past.

I'd wait and see instead of exhibit my conceit of knowing everything when it's clear that there are a lot of things you don't know (unless you are a NRS employee).

If Kronika is really Shinnok's mama, I'd hate to see who the daddy is

@lastfighter89

I never claimed to know her motives. Nor has anyone implied they know everything - except you with your first sarcastic remark "Woah, the game already released and everyone played story mode to the end?"

I'm just saying we've been informed of her goals, and from there we can speculate on the story. Heck, you did this yourself, which is fine because that's the point of these discussions: To discussion our thoughts and opinions.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't speculate about the lore (heck, is the most interesting thing to do here on MK online), I'm just saying that we don't know enough to judge the story mode of the game and the few things we know are vague and certainly not set in stone.

That's a fair thought.

But I also feel that with NRS past and the bit I know thus far- that I am in a position to judge and assume. I guess guilty until proven innocent. Haha.

For the same reason media praised X-Men: Days of Future Past. They don't know shit about the lore.

Anyone who knows about Days of Future Past knows the film butchered the comic arc heavily, so much they took Shadowcat, who the story is actually about, and made her a minor character, the writers revealed they did because "Wolverine is more popular."

The same applies to MKX. The story was actually mess if you know the lore. Boon wanted to skip over Deadly Alliance, Deception, and [most of] MK4 so badly he threw the aftermath of MK9 25 years into the future, creating a clusterfuck of subplots comprehensible only to those who are not familiar with the overall storyline.

The biggest offense was the the story didn't even follow a central plot. The story trailer advertised Mileena as the main antagonist, but she died halfway through. The second half of the story made no sense because of it.

So to be quite frank, I doubt the capacity of anyone who says the MKX story was good.

Personally I think that the story mode of MK X is waaaaaaay better than 9.

Shinnok is one of the few characters that improved in the new storyline and no, I don't know what you are talking about Mileena was never promoted or advertised as the main villain

Ed Boon said "the main villain is a surprise, returning character", which fits Shinnok

Also the ending of MK9 teased Shinnok and Quan Chi as the main villains.

But was he the main villain?

Or was he the final villain?

Shinnok appears in the first 15 minutes of the story, and in the last 15 minutes of the story. You cannot possibly consider that a main antagonist. Shinnok being the boss of the game makes it even worse. Of he's the main antagonist, what the hell was the rest of the story for? It had nothing to do with him. You see my point? The story was hella flawed.

Amen!

Shinnok was useless ultimately. I think we would've preferred the story simply focus on the war between Kotal/Mileena instead of trying to toss Shinnok's invasion in there. It was a mess!

No coherency! That's my biggest problem with the writing now.

The story has always been multi-faceted.

We have Earth we have Outworld and we need a common enemy

In the post credit scene of MK9 Shinnok wanted to conquer Outworld too, in MK X he kinda forgots it.

Also Kotal Kahn was supposed to be a reclutant ally of Raiden and fight the common foe of Shinnok Yes the story lacked coherence from what was teased in MK 9, but Shinnok in 30 minutes did alone what Shao Kahn couldn't do in the entire story of MK 9.

Shinnok at least felt threatening Shao Kahn never. So I see an improvement.

Also 30 minutes of screen time is decent for a villain, especially if the overall length of the story is 2/3 hours.

Shinnok was the final and MAIN villain of MK X and NRS did a great job with him.