No. I think any synonym to the devil is boring. Just make something up.

Of course you may think exactly the opposite of what I'm saying, and I can't back up my opinion really. It boils down completely to your personal outlook. Its just how I feel about it.

PS: Its not a case where I'm offended about the use of a biblical term. I think the devil is just overused in every form of media. I know "Kintaro" is based off an actual name too, but thats less of a blatant reference than lucifer of satan. I think Sheeva is the only other comparably big name, but to be honest...no matter waht they do to her I'm not going to like her...so I can care less, haha.

Calling him Lucifer instead of Satan is the same as calling Darth Vader Anakin Skywalker in a sense. Still, I wouldn't mind if he was in with some other Satan based name, like Apollyon, Abaddon, Belial, or Beelzebub. Something different to Satan or Lucifer. What I'd love to see even more is if he is a hidden character you have to fight in the Netherrealm. Something like a Double Flawless with a Brutality. Even better if they go vague with his name, something like Fallen One, Father of Lies, Wicked One, something like that.

Something that always irked me about Mortal Kombat is the lack of gods though. Raiden, Fujin, Shinook, I think that pretty much covers it. I'm not sure about Shao Kahn, since he technically stole his realm when he was an advisor to Onaga, and I've never heard Onaga referred to as a god. I'd like to see more gods, specifically ones from other realms.

Why the assumption that Lucifer goes straight to a devil character?
Or even that a devil character means one simplistic played out thing?

Mortal Kombat is a vehicle. It is an established concept into which you can transpose existing concepts, which will either reflect new angles based on the existing elements, or take on new dimensions based on the trademark aesthetic and circumstances of MK. In some respects, MK could benefit greatly from absorbing existing fictional concepts, not just to the extent where Raiden becomes an almost unrelated figure with a borrowed name, but even to a degree like MK3's urbanization and sci-fi elements (as a contrast to the fantasy of MKII).

Cyborgs are a pretty played out fictional premise, but in MK, we've come to be accustomed to a fairly instantly recognisable tone and approach to cybernetic characters. There are plenty of comparisons to be made between Cyrax, Sektor, Smoke, Jax and other popular cyborg characters, but they've been incorporated into the MK mythology very well and helped it expand and develop new corners.

Lucifer could be a hulking red demon, a slick business man, a six-winged angel, a travelling conman, a monstrous beast, an animal horned swine, a red suited horny devil, trident waving authoritarian, tortorous sadist, or any combination of these things.

Pleasantly enough, a lot of people in this thread have already recognised the potential to use existing mythology in Mortal Kombat to instantly give Lucifer an MK bent. As a protectoral god of the NetherRealm, or something along those lines, it instantly has a fundamental, basic, simplistic reason to exist beyond the backstory beat of being defeated by Shinnok. There is an infinite wealth of possibilities to then further design a character who either plays very specifically to the aesthetic and conceptual designs of MK, or brings something completely new to the table.

Lucifer could source a wide variety of mythological associations, or take on brand new definitions. In a world where the series actually moves forward and needs to take on new major characters and catalysts for storylines, this is something that already exists in the canon. It isn't necessarily the only possibility, but why not make use of what's there?

Jerrod is already playable. But his name is Ermac. :P
On topic, wouldn't mind seeing him or being called Lucifer or some other name like Abaddon.

I don't think the character should be axed or abandoned. I just think that its an over-played, overly recognizable name. But again...100% preference and I cant back up a reason why my way of thinking is "right:.

And some of you might yell at changing the name of a character. But I feel like hes so obscure that changing his name would be tolerable.

Here's your new MK character :P

Granted, the bar for characterization and storytelling isn't set very high right now by MK, but do you not think some of those assumptions might make for interesting twists in an MK version of the character? Is a familiar name really such a problem in a series populated by characters called Scorpion, Smoke, and Reptile?

Well difference here is the name lucifer is so commonly associated with interpretations of the devil. But you make a good point in saying other names are just as uncreative.

Thing for me is, that since lucifer is so obscure and minor....the MK team has the luxury of changing his name without getting a backlash. They don't need to keep being uncreative.I mean, Reptile is by no stretch a creative name....but the characters so well established that changing his name now would be blasphemy.

It's true the name Lucifer doesn't have to be as the Christain version, but that's what's most associated. And unlike the original name of Raiden, the name Lucifer I believe has been milked far much more.
Or maybe it's just because I've watched too many movies of this type, very snazzy dresser I might add, I love the suits.
I'd rather have Shinnok be the be all, end all Netherrealm character. Ever since his takeover, there's only new opposition.