To be fair, Reptile's powers are kinda inconsistent.

Again, because he loses it at the slightest fucking bump.

Whenever a character has a superpower that would be totally fucking broken if they could use it all day, every day, like Liu turning into a dragon or Shang Tsung's ability to shapeshift and copy the moves of pretty much anyone he meets, the obvious answer for why they DON'T do it all day every day is because it takes too much energy or concentration to hold that form. In gameplay, they represent this a number of ways. (Shang's morphs have a time limit, Fatalities can only be done when the opponent is too weak to fight back, and Reptile loses his invisibility when you hit him.)

Reptile's invisibility only makes sense as such a case since he does indeed not walk around with it on all day every day, even though he'd never lose a fight if he just left it on at all times.
Changing just your skin to one color has to be much easier than blending everything, clothing included into multicolored backgrounds. Not to mention, if he's invisible, then it's difficult for him to interact with his own allies too. But if he's just in disguise, it actually makes social situations easier, because being a Saurian in Outworld is probably like being a black guy in the South during the 1800's. Who in that situation would NOT want to try and look like everybody else?

If there was any accuracy to the notion that this game specifically adheres to the aesthetic of the early games, I'm pretty sure a handful of you wouldn't be posting. That simply isn't true. It's fair to say we're yet to have any definitive vision of those early games, so it's reasonable that there would be substantial changes, but it isn't reasonable to suggest this is adhering to them at all. I also do not believe it's at all reasonable to assume this is a conceited effort to finally deliver a definitive vision of this period of games. Like most other entries, it seems to be aimlessly tweaking because that's just what they do, and what is expected of them by many fans.

I think you're giving the MK team far too much credit for the delibrate nature of any references or consideration for the tapestry of the story. I think we're getting a pretty half-hearted do-over of a period that's long been referred to as the glory day, and we're getting the usual slap of paint with it.

Expecting your interpretation of a checklist of facts to be an unimpeachable map of logic also isn't reasonable. Which is why there would be discussion and disdain for these unremarkable and uninspiring decisions.

Are we still talking about Reptile?

I never ONCE inferred half the things you claimed I just did. The only things I mentioned were straight from the lips of the MK team themselves. I've seen and read every interview from every website and magazine, and unanimously they're agreeing that this new MK is a retelling and reimagining of the MK1-3 era. Boon himself was very excited to tell the old stories in a way he felt the earliest games and their limited technology couldn't properly convey.

This entire game is a love-letter to the fans and caters heavily to nostalgia. There's a reason they keep saying, over and over, that the cast will consist of fan-favorites of the MK1-3 era, that the fighting style is old-school, that the levels are old-school, that the moves are old-school... if everything, EVERYTHING, about the game is a throwback to the early MK era, why would one NOT assume that the aesthetics of the world and characters be consistent with that same era, at least to a healthy degree?

I'm sorry you feel this game is a "half-hearted do-over", but from everything I've seen and read, the team, and the fans, couldn't be more excited to see the series re-emerge into relevance, popularity, and greatness. The reception have been the best I've ever seen an MK game, and the team is obviously excited and eager to churn out a product that isn't limited by the time and money constraints that Midway forced upon them.

Don't infer that I have some ramrod stiff logic that everyone must abide by. I mentioned, several times prior, that I honestly have little opinion on the look and final design of the game. I'm just as eager for change as I am for nostalgia. I'm more than happy with Reptile's design. I'm more than happy with Kung Lao's design. I won't presume to know the "right" path for MK, but I'm eager to see the journey. But, I will give the MK team credit where I believe credit is due. I think they have a very solid vision for this game. It feels like a second-wind after the bloated Armageddon and the neutered MKvsDC, and it sounds and feels like it's the MK game the fans, and the team, have been wanting for years.

I prefer the MK9 costume. They nailed it this time around. I like the pic, but reptile isnt human. I used to hate that they removed his human look and made him completely reptilian. Over the years I've wanted a human alt at least, but to tell you the truth. Now I can't see myself playing as a human reptile(sounds weird to say aloud lol) anymore. That isn't reptile any longer. The mk team had more technology and could finally take the chance in mk 4 and start making him unique. Make him his own character. I absolutely love the way he looks and that he doesn't borrow anything from any of the other fighters anymore. He's one of a kind. I can't wait to whoop some ass with him spring next year.
EDIT: As far as the arguments go. All the people that say he doesnt' look human enough. Ed said this is a "Re Imagining" meaning characters aren't going to be exactly the same. So what? Reptile is Reptilian from the start. I'ts a welcome change for me.

I'm not entirely convinced you're reading what I actually said, as opposed to some sort of stiff inversion of your own opinions, but never the less, I'll try to meet you on your own terms...

As far as the issue of aesthetics goes, you need only look at the thing. Sure, it's referencial in nature, but quite thankfully, it isn't aesthetically similar to the original games. Even the lazy logics of a "ninja" swapped cowl and mask deserve that much credit.

Buying into spin isn't exactly the sign of a great impartial arbiter.
Especially not when that spin has included generous acknowledgment of the fact that they've said much the same before, and it was a lie. You need only look between the lines to clearly see that this is not a radical change in the way a Mortal Kombat game is constructed. Not conceptually, not technically. If you genuinely feel this is a radical shift, more power to you and your fellow "fans." I wish I was so easily convinced, pleased, or fooled.

I don't know why the reception of the game would have anything to do with this conversation, but it's obviously undeniable. This is one of the first MK games in recent years to receive this attention, but of course, that's also been quickly followed by a massive decline. A decline of such degree that it's gone from a #1 rating game on some sites, down to the 4000's. I would speculate this might be a fair indication of how far this brand of dunder-headed, unattractive nostalgia will take them, but that's neither here nor there in terms fo the specifics of this discussion. It's just the underlying throughline.

MK fans have never had a reputation for being discernable costumers, or doyens of fashion. If appreciating an army of uniform characters is the claim to being an MK fan, then I won't argue. A spade, however, remains a spade, with all the insight that you would expect of such. I think it's crass to suggest there's any great difference in creative intent or design to this game, compared to the MKvsDC entry that it borrows heavily from, or the other games that are also self-evident in promotional claims, or in details such as animation and concept. Warner Brothers might have nicer catering and six months more patience for them, but this is not a new MK team, and a lot of the same ticks are still very evident to anyone willing to look.

Which, again, isn't really what the Reptile talk is about, even if it's an underlying throughline. Giving them credit where credit is due is great, and I certainly support the indulgence of plausibility, but what my previous post ended on was that the assertion of a checklist of facts does not support the unimpeachable assumption that A plus B equals C. Which is what you seem to suggest in reference to Reptile and the logics that govern his design. MK is still riddled with gaps and inconsistencies.

I don't know how you read the previous reply, but I would speculate it's representative of the entire structure of this conversation. That a certain brand of fan has settled for one way of looking at things, and assumes that way to it's illogical conclusion.

Picture looks uninspired and rehearses basically the MK2 look with more decorum. No thanks.

The picture actually looks like all of Reptiles past appearences with his stance looking like UMK3 and Reptillian skin like MK4 and beyond.

@Mick Lucifer:

So to make a long story short, you're scared that they'll half-ass this game, right? And don't think the new resources or management will change a thing.

I've never seen you talk about the game's development up to this point, and you just said you see chinks in it that more casual fans might miss, so...grab the mic and speak up

I like the design more than the bird look that we're stuck with.
I can't wait to see his alternate in MK9, hopefully it reconciles what we've seen so far. God willing, we have a second alternate too.

In-gameplay things are certainly not canon. Can Liu Kang even turn into a dragon? I don't know; can he summon an arcade cabinet? Can Scorpion turn into a scorpion? Did he learn that trick in the Netherrealm? How about Cage uppercutting somebody's head off? He is just human after all. Can Shao Khan take hammerspace to its literal extreme?

You could say the same about Reptile's invisibility, but that is much more akin to Sub-Zero's freeze than anything mentioned above.

Of course, his invisibility must have some form of kryptonite, but think outside the trope. There is absolutely nothing that points to it being concentration. Why can't it be pain? Or emotion? Reptile cannot use invisibility when his adrenaline rises. Bam. Explanation. Now suddenly he can sneak around MK1 invisible all he wants, while still not being able to just creep up and force himself on Liu Kang.

Except for obvious jokes or things that aren't consistent with the character's established capabilities, like the arcade cabinet, Jax growing into a giant, Kabal's face being so ugly it literally scares people to death...in short, finishers specifically from MK3, I consider all special moves in the games canon.

And Johnny Cage is not "just a human", he's a human who trained with "great masters from around the world" and learned to harness his Chi into superhuman abilities, and his whole reason for attending MK1 is to prove the techniques he uses in his movies are really him, not special effects (unlike in the movie, which downplayed all the chi powers and said he was just trying to prove he didn't use stunt doubles) So of course he really can punch heads off.
Frankly, I think people who question the canonicity of special moves are being stupid about it. We've seen characters use them in cut scenes, of course the powers are a real part of the story.



The simplest answer is always the best and concentration makes way more sense than all of those. In fact, everything you suggested are things which can break concentration. Adrenaline is the worst suggestion because in a fight, his adrenaline would have already risen before doing the move, yet he still does it while fighting all the time. But the reason isn't even important, really. The important thing is just that Reptile cannot be invisible 24/7.

Besides, as Garlador pointed out, Reptile is a member of a slave race, wherein said slavery is so bad it's actually driving them to extinction. Realistically, one would think his people are victims of intense racism. His own allies think of him as inferior, a dumb animal, probably outright disgusting. The human disguise is much more of a social cover than it is a stealth trick.

Love his MK 1 and 2 look, 4 on up he looks and plays weakier!

im vs you

this

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