No.. NO... a thousand times, NO!

I'd sooner have someone like Johnny Cage or Sub-Zero than Raiden

I say it depends on the scenario. MK4 in both the old, and new, possibly, I'd say he should take things head on, but other times, no.

When it comes to MK4, I can kind of understand Raiden being the main hero to take down Shinnok. However, I generally have to say that Raiden shouldn't be the main protagonist. They should really focus on him being the Protector God of Earth and perhaps that Gandalf-type mentor to the heroes. I think that when it comes to having main protagonists, NRS really needs to be careful in how they do them. Have them developed into the role and make good use of them.

Raiden has stolen the spotlight since the opening of MK:DA. They killed off Liu Kang not once but twice just to give all the attention to Raiden. I'm not a huge fan of Raiden's gameplay, but he's a good main protagonist. He's also the only one that can mirror Shao Kahn.
I think that Raiden needs to look different in the next game. That look has run it's course. I thought his looks in MK:D were the best. His gameplay has always been a bit difficult as well. Remember his MK1 fatality? Geesh :(
As for Liu Kang. He may not be the star anymore, but he's a lot easier to use. He kills Raiden in gameplay, so easily!

Raiden being the main protagonist in this game only works because it's his visions that lead to the reboot and his choices that lead to the new outcomes, for the most part, it wouldn't have worked if Raiden was a background or secondary character for this game.

The only other time I want to see Raiden as a prominent force is for the Netherrealm invasion, this is one of Raiden's chances to shine because he has a centuries' long rivalry with Shinnok, but he still needs to share some of the spot light with Sonya, Johnny Cage, Kai, Kenshi etc, this will probably be one of the few times these characters get to take on a leadership role.

Why would I want to have a idiot for a main character?

Meh. He's not really an idiot, it's the developers faults. I want him to actually do something right in the next game, and own Shinnok. The only time I got excited in this games story mode with Raiden, was when Shao Kahn killed KL and he said "I will rip the flesh from your bones" and started up his lightning bolt. But.. In the end. He didn't do anything as until the end of the game.

In my opinion, he does work as the main character. He should be for the next game, definitely, but more badass and that he fights more.

I gotta agree that a mortal should be the main character of Mortal Kombat.

But beyond that...I just don't like Raiden as a good guy much anymore at all. I'm sick of what a boring personality he has. They're never going to give him that cynical sense of humor Chris Lambert/Jeff Meek had like they should, so I've just given up on the idea of "white" Raiden ever being a good character.

For a long time, I wanted Raiden's retirement at the end of 4 to stick. I don't like him being in Deadly Alliance instead of Fujin. But it ended up working out alright I guess, since he became Dark Raiden, and I want more Dark Raiden. If he can't be funny, at least going crazy is more personality.
I guess the fact that we're back to lame ol' white Raiden is just one more thing that makes the reboot not worth following for me.

Mortal Kombat is actually a movie and Johnny Cage is the main character.

I love Raiden, but, I definitely don't like him as the main character, and this is something that I feel has happened not only in MK9, but also in MKD (despite Shujinko) and even MKvsDC.

I understand why, though, but, as much as I love him, I feel that its less interesting with him being featured as the star instead of someone less powerful with more odds against him or her.

I too have felt that Raiden has stepped in as the main character despite the obvious involvement of the other heroes, and I'm not sure I like it anymore.

I love his personality and it was great in MKDA, MKvsDC and MK9, but, like someone else said, he needs to evolve and be more of a "background mentor" than "in your face" guide.

I certainly hope to see more of him in the next game, but, interfering a lot less and more of a background role. I rather see the other characters set up in this dangerous time.

liu kang

kung lao

johnny cage

sonya

sub-zero

fujin

shang tsung

mokap

these are all characters that would make a better protagonist than raiden. nrs should keep raiden as a mentor instead of a hero.

That list does make more sense than Raiden

He is supposed to be a god and gods are supposed to all knowing and awsome... didn't get that impression from the game. The main character can't be too perfect (or its boring) but he's a god so he can't be too lame...
I think he should have been a side character.

I agree with Icebaby, I actually really got into Raiden because of his Mortal Kombat movie portrayal, he was dripping with personality, even though he's a good and benevolent diety in the movies too, he still has a snarky, sarcastic and humorous side and that was the reason why I liked Raiden in the old games, though I will admit his hat, thunder dive, and lightning didn't hurt any either. He also made the phrase, " I don't think so" cool and bad ass, just saying.


Raiden wasn't horrible in this game, but this was not a portrayal that lifted him up as a character, it was like the sequel to the original MK movie, Annihilation, which featured a new actor, who wasn't half as interesting or cool as the original movie's Raiden, he was all kinds of amazing.

I think I liked it better when Liu Kang was the main character. Raiden's sort of the person who already knew everything there is to know about everything to do with Mortal Kombat, yet he's the one who has the least at stake. If he loses Earthrealm, oh well, he can just go chill with the other gods in the heavens.

Liu Kang or any other mortal works better becuase they do hold stakes; If they lose Mortal Kombat life as they know it will come to an end. They're also the ones who learn and change a lot as the story progresses. The most any of them know about Mortal Kombat is the old myths and legends. I'm sure even someone like Liu Kang wouldn't be completely unfazed by actually witnessing the crazy stuff that's going on.

Liu Kang also makes a good main character becuase he doesn't have a lot of background that the audiance has to worry about. It's not because he's a bland character, but because his role is happening during the story, not before it.

However, I do like that the friendship/student-teacher relationship was screwed up at the end of this story mode, I think it would be cool to see Raiden and Liu Kang both fighting for Good, but on different sides, maybe with Liu Kang making the more logical choices while Raiden makes choices that are guided by his visions.

At least the Raiden in this game didn't show us his amazing ability to have his hair up in a pony tail for one scene and having it down in another scene.

Truly amazing powers that Raiden had in Annihilation, truly remarkable!

MK Annihilation was such a bad movie. The man that played Raiden, James Remar, is a good actor. He currently plays Dexter's father on the show 'Dexter'
Also, If you ever saw 'The Warriors' he plays Ajax. MK Annihilation was just a really, really BAD MOVIE! I'm going to say that they probably didn't have quite the same budget that they had for MK1 ;)

Quoted for truth

Raiden really shouldn't be the main character of the series. He's a god; it takes the fun out of the whole rising above insurmountable odds aspect of the various invasions and schemes of the series villains. The focus should always be on the chosen group of heroes and their allies, because that makes the story actually interesting; the odds are stacked against them, and they have to overcome them.

Repeating. Mortal Kombat is not an alternate reality or a tournament, it is simply a movie staring Johnny Cage.

The first Mortal Kombat tournament was legit, but if you beat it with cage it explains that he goes on and uses the tournament as inspiration for the movies.


So the truth is that Johnny Cage was the star of the original game, wich was a real tournament. All subsequent mortal kombat games are based on movies starring Johnny Cage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2h0gUV0lDc

Also if you youngins played the old games youd know that Johnny Cage is also Scorpion and Sub-Zero.

I don't think the MK team's good at making a central character for us to follow; they sucked with the gullible Shujinko, don't know how Taven did, but I've little confidence in that considering how bad it was to have Raiden as the lead this time. He's supposed to be the badass mentor, the God everyone goes to for advice, not the one leading the charge through terrible examples.
MK's a game with numerous strong characters, any of whom could lead well with the right direction and writing, but given the streak of poor central characters, it's safe to say that there shouldn't be a single main character with a detailed cast of over 60.

Depends on the situation and the game.

In MK1: no (and he wasnt for that part of the story, new and old version)

In MK2: no (and he wasnt for that part of the story, new and old version)

In MK3: In the new version yes, in the old version no (although possibly
major, just not THE main)

In MK4: Upcoming or Original version...HELL YEAH!

In MK5: No, and Imo he wasn't anyway. Kung Lao was. The end of DA
going into Deception to me was more comparable to Yoda in Attack
of the Clones, where he does the last major fight but still isnt THE
main like Anakin or Obi-Wan

MK6: No, and he wsn't anyway. Not even close. Shujinko, Scorpion,
Nightwolf, I could go on n on.

MK7: No, and until the end (Armegedon intro) he wasn't anyway. Major yes,
not main though.

MKvsDC: Who gives a **** to be honest lol.

MK9: Yes, in the grand scheme of things, and it makes sense for him to be
especially by the time you get to the 3rd part of the story.


And people need to SERIOUSLY stop *****ing about how raiden is a idot who supposedly "ruined" everything. He got random flash backs of a alternate life that weren't very clear. He didn't get all the info at one time, he saw the flashbacks when something happened that triggered a memeory. ANY character in that situation is bound to F up in some fashion way or form under those circumstances, I don't give a damn how wise they are. Also, its just the begining of whats going into the next chapter, so if your asses can wait and find out what happens to the characters of MK in the next game or two you might end up being pleasently surprised!

The only idiot here is you buddy.

Honestly, Raiden did what he could with limited information. Original Raiden didn't send back anything more than three words and a few confusing images of strange events. What the hell was Raiden meant to do with that? Seriously?

Raiden did a bloody good job keeping everyone alive as much as he possibly could. His misjudgements were made on lack of proper knowledge. Original Raiden gave him sweet fuck all to work with and Raiden did a bloody good job considering the circumstances.