Actually, that is what Liu Kang is. If not then what is he? He is a human who trained to get those powers.

Wait, what? Scorpion throwing fire powder? Show me.

I just watched some combo videos with all of Scorpion's variations, and even watched them in the Hanzo costume in case they "humanized" his moves like they did with Sektor and Cyrax in MK9. I do not see him throwing fire powder. In fact, Hanzo Scorpion even crawls out of a flaming Hell portal in his end-round animation, which is definitely not something Scorpion can do with flash cotton unless he was trained by Criss Angel. Are you confusing the particle effects (which are supposed to be ashes drifting) for "fire powder" or something?

And Shinnok doesn't need to use the amulet to shoot. Look at his rising fireballs. He uses the amulet to shoot because that is apparently something that it can do, so why not use it? It's like a signature weapon.

Magic in MK isn't being "replaced" with high-tech gadgets. Of all the new characters, only Jacqui seems to have no overt magical powers (Ferra/Torr almost counts, but come on, Torr is definitely not "normal"). Of the other seven, only two even use a technological assist (maybe three if you count Erron Black, but I don't because his guns have an obvious magical influence and are therefore "magic weapons"). That is decidedly less tech than MK3 introduced with far fewer characters. MK3 had Sektor and Cyrax, Kabal, Stryker, and Jax and Smoke started fighting with tech they never had before.

So if you're going to gripe about too much technology in MK, at least be fair and say that at least they're making an improvement since the hallowed Age of Tobias.

In the end, what really makes a Mortal Kombat character (and always has) is the ability to survive the kinds of injuries that would kill a normal mortal. When Sub-Zero freezes a human soldier, they're fucking dead. When he freezes Johnny Cage, it's just "unpleasantly cold" and doesn't even damage his life bar (for reasons I've never understood). When Kung Lao cleaves a Tarkatan grunt in half with his hat, they're finished. Do the same to Baraka, and you can literally just staple him back together like they did in MK Gold and he's good to go. That is the one and only thing that makes Baraka stand above any other Tarkatan, or Stryker stand above any other humans. Lin Kuei mooks and your average Edenian godling may have magic, but magic doesn't make them worth shit in Mortal Kombat if they can't take a punch.

Surviving an onslaught of Fatality-worthy injuries and continuing to fight until the announcer gives you permission to die is THE Mortal Kombat superpower. Everything else is just fluff. Kano can kill with his knife anyone that Liu Kang can kill by turning into a dragon, or that Sektor can kill with a rocket, or that Fujin can kill just by blowing people really, really hard. Your weapon of choice really doesn't matter as long as you have Kombat Powers, and that's why MK has (and should be allowed to have) so much diversity.




I'm afraid you have me wrong. Yes, I am a fan of this game. Yes, I will support it against knee-jerk criticisms that don't really have a strong basis. No, I do not think that MKX, or any of the other games, is above reproach and I don't support it "no matter what." If you had actually been reading my posts with any level of comprehension beyond "oh geez, that clueless fanboy with the Toasty avatar is saying things again" then you would have noticed that I have plenty of criticisms to offer. I took one whole post griping about how the Story Mode has the crippled pacing of a Parkinson's patient trying to run the American Ninja Warrior course. Jacqui is a boring character (though that might change later if Jax actually dies and she gets any kind of new character dimension from it). Takeda is, sadly, almost as boring -- although I tend to give him a pass because he looks and plays so cool, which is really the only saving grace of Kung Lao in MK2-4, too. I sympathize with the KP2 Resistance Movement, even if my opinion on it isn't as extreme as some people's and I don't personally blame the NRS team for it so much as WB.

My issue here is just that some critics either don't seem to know what they're talking about, or they're just making shit up to gripe about (see: Scorpion fire powder? Really?). In your case, I think that the game just has too much of a military atmosphere for your personal, subjective taste (and there's not a thing wrong with that!) but your distaste for it has blinded you to the fact that it makes a lot more objective sense than you give it credit for. And I suspect that it's because you don't like the whole army thing that you seem to be so biased against the four new heroes, accusing them specifically of being poorly developed when they're more developed than most of the new Outworlders, and more developed than most veteran characters started out, but you don't complain about them. Your feelings about the game may not be wrong, but the arguments you chose to justify those feelings are more than a little unfair.

I miss the old timeline when Johnny Cage also worked to get his powers, "trained by great masters from around the world" to do impossible feats that moviegoers and critics can't believe are actually real. I liked that story a lot better than MK9, in which he was born with these powers and yet he never questioned how weird that was and somehow managed to have zero knowledge of the supernatural.

Scorpion has a skull on his hip. His hand reaches the skull than he throws fire. It goes real fast, but you can see it even afterwards. Maybe it ́s not fire powder but its something in the skull that results the fire.


No, im defintly not griping about too much technology. There is nothing wrong with adding some technology, but replacing special powers with tech, stones/ amulets sure is to me.

With this im not saying nobody should own an effective stone. I just dont think the stones, skulls etc. should become THE reason for the special powers. Cause i can already see NRS giving sub zero some capsules in the future that make him shoot ice.


And what is you saying with "the hollowed age of Tobias"? Are you reffering to the first 4 games being hollow

The skull has fire inside it. When Scorpion is standing neutral, you can see the orange glow around it and on Scorpion's side emitted from the skull. Many of Scorpion's special moves leave a flame trail and his win pose has fire coming out from his eyes. There is no fire powder. That is just nonsense.

Hallowed not hollowed.

Hallowed means revered or something held in hgh regard.

Forget fire powder, it's the skull on his hip that i meant that results the flames. I was reffering to one of his special move "minion grab". There he grabs the skull to summon the fire.

I dont know what the reason for NRS was to include this skull to summon fire. variations maybe?

He summons a Minion. The description of the Inferno variation is:

"Gains the ability to summon a Demonic Minion."

The fire just accompinies the Minion. It is just part of the variation. That is all.

Ok so it's part of the variation. Thanks for the description.

So we wasted a whole page speaking about fire powder and Shinnok shooting fireballs out if Amulet, which is the source of 90% of his powers?

This is not fanboyism, this is Fanatism.

Yes, this game's military influence is one of the reasons why this game didn't' feel like an MK game to me. It's the first game in the series' 20 years history that a game is so heavily influenced by military, and where most of its main storylines revolve around it. Like I mentioned before, I don't mind military - at all. I think it makes sense in MK, but in a very subtle, and low-scale way.

The four characters - Cassie, Jacquie, Takeda, and Kung Jin - were seen as better developed because the entire game's story followed them and gave them all pretty much all the screen time of the game. If you had given that time to other characters when the first debuted - they would have obviously been better developed. Most veterans debuted when games only allowed for a bio and an arcade ending. These four were given the luxury of debuting in the the first next-gen MK game, and given all the screen time of what should have been the best MK story told in cinematic video. They had in-screen dialogue, interactions, everything. Not to mention the power levels and importance they were given all throughout story mode - even given the stroy's climax to Cassie Cage by defeating Shinnok. That's why they are seemed developed, because we saw a lot of them.

Now, characters and story are just two reasons why I don't like this game. As I mentioned before, the artistic presentation of this game was the worst it's ever been. MK1-MK3 (even MK4) MK:DA & MK:D all had that dark, mysitcal, dark-ambience, gritty, Asian-influence style look & feel. MK:D's Main Menu captured exactly what MK should feel and sound like. Check it out here -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHhDhuIDHoM. Let's not forget MK3's classic Character Select Screen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrRL8DozJ5Y which just makes so fucking pumped to play Mortal Kombat.
Also, MK:DA's Intro is by far the best intro of any MK game. There is a reason why many of us consider MK:DA to be the best game in the franchise's history alongside MK2, because it did everything right. Story, the roster, the soundtrack, arenas, the content, and character's costumes were on point. Just imagine what MKX could have been if it followed the look and feel of MKDA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWvkOvJynF4

Yeah you know I'm not even sure that holds up these days. With how they portrayed Shinnok in MKX I get the feeling NRS was just trying to simplify his story into him always being this sort of evil god who was like the god of death or some bullshit.

I don't think that change is necessarily bad. Yes, MKX is different, but couldn't we tell by the trailers leading up to release that this was a new direction for MK, story-wise?

Whether or not you like the story's stronger focus on Special Forces is a personal preference. Personally, I thought it was a natural progression for the next generation of fighters after MK9's reboot.

Yeah, it was different, but I felt the echoes of MK3 and MK4 in the story mode. And I don't feel that MK has "lost it's essence" as the OP puts it. The story still had plenty of fantasy/sci-fi elements (D'Vorah? Kotal Kahn? Shinnnok?) and eastern influences (Raiden's temple, the animosity between ninja factions)-- It's just the four main characters, the "new generation", now operate as a special task force within Special Forces. And who knows if it will be that way for the next game?

Also the story mode was a cracking-good time. It was like the Mortal Kombat blockbuster I've always wanted.

Change is not bad, change is good. I'd much rather MKX move forward that stagnate in the same characters/plots of decades past (remember how shitty Armageddon was?) At least we know Netherrealm are trying, unlike some other game studios who are content to keep rehashing the same stories year after year.

Story has always been a strong point for Mortal Kombat as a franchise. And dammit if the story in MKX wasn't the best since MKD. I mean, MK9 was aight, but it was a reboot, it cleared the way for the real big changes. It was like The Force Awakens of MK games. And this right here is a third golden era for MK. I love it.

You complain about the ending, yet suggest one of the most cliche cop-outs possible would make for a better alternative? How many times in comics, books, movies, TV, and video games do we need to do the, "It was a clone/doppelgänger/look-alike!" twist?

In Mortal Kombat alone, we have seen it at least twice in the last generation. The Shao Kahn that Quan Chi and Shang Tsung killed in Deadly Alliance was a "clone", and the real one came back a game later. The Goro killed by Noob Saibot before Deadly Alliance - the one with character development and a friendship with Kitana - was a different Shokan and the real Goro sided with Shao Kahn on his return.
That did nothing but stifle the development of all characters involved. Goro was reset back to being Shao Kahn's evil lackey. Quan Chi and Shang Tsung, powerful and cunning sorcerers, somehow did not think to make sure they killed the real Shao Kahn. Meanwhile, the real Shao Kahn has been hiding just behind the curtain all along, waiting to completely undermine the threat of both the Deadly Alliance and Onaga.

You want to go down that road again? It would piss on the development of Johnny and Cassie to have all their effort go into fighting a Shinnok doppelgänger, only for him to reappear in the next game as if nothing happened. This is also assuming that Raiden, Quan Chi, the Revenants, and everybody else familiar with Shinnok would not realize they've been dealing with a fake Shinnok.
Then let's look at what the actual ending of MKX contributes. Shinnok is still around; being reduced to a decapitated head t'is but a flesh wound in Mortal Kombat terms for an Elder God. He might even be in the next game in some capacity. Liu Kang and Kitana are de facto contenders to rule the Netherrealm, which would be a huge development on their continuing grudge against Raiden. Raiden threw Shinnok's head down at their feet as a way of dropping the mic after threatening the two of them to stay out of Earthrealm. And Cassie putting the beatdown on Shinnok reaffirms that Johnny comes from impressive, mysterious warrior stock that gets passed along in his family.

The only disappointment for me was they didn't go crazier with Corrupted Shinnok, by going back to his demonic design from Mythologies and making him less typically humanoid. Other than that, I think he was done far more justice in this game than he ever was since his introduction.

Everyone knew that MKX was going to focus on the so-called 'next generation' of fighters, and that the story would focus on the events post-MK9 and 25 years later in the story. However, no one knew that the actual story was going to be so poorly presented. The way the writers decided to tell the story did nothing good for the classic characters of MK (which have the biggest fan base) by dedicating close to 2+HR of screen time to four new characters and the Cage family, at the cost of other characters.

This game had no need to focus so much on the SF and military-style. No need. This is the first MK game so heavily influenced by military apart from the spin-off MK:Special Forces.

I never said the game didn't have any mystical, magic, or Asian-influences, or what makes MK - MK. It has it. But the actual presentation and execution is what makes all of that not memorable at all. I think the writers just threw things together to try to have that 'MK-feel' but what they really wanted to do was tell a story about military kids in a military force trying to save the world. They did a good job with the latter, rather than have the game feel like a Mortal Kombat universe. I don't know what to expect what the next game has, but this game has left a real sour taste in my mouth with what the creators see MK to be. I think they are trying too hard to cater to another target audience, and alienating core fans of the series.

The story had some good spots, and not everything was garbage. A lot of it was, but the story had some interesting spots. Shinnoks head rolling on the floor, Quan Chi getting killed by Scorpion (even though the lead-up and the fight was really stupid), and Liu Kang pairing up with Kitana. However, when at the cost of just completely shitting on every other character but the four new heroes, and neglecting other characters that could have easily risen to the top in this game, I find a lot more negatives then positives. A lot more.

Your point about rehashing - the creators had a good story depicted between MK:DA and MK:D that expanded the MK universe and was really fresh from what we had in the past, but staying true to its style. The team then got lazy and decided to create MK:A, throwing away the work of two really solid games, and cornering themselves into hole that they could not get out of. Then, we get MK9 - they thought they needed to reboot the series because of the absolute mess they did in MKA. So yes, Netherealm has rehashed the story because they stopped caring about the story for about 11 years. We had to go back in time and do a quick rehash of the first three games because NRS knew the game would sell well. Instead of sticking with the original timeline and putting effort into fixing what was MKA, they had the need to just say 'hm, let's go back in time, present the story again, and retcon it'. And what did we get? Just an absolutely mess that lead to core characters getting killed by Sindel, Sub-Zero getting turned into Cyber-Zero, and other stupidities that I can't remember right now. I really liked the game because I was able to play classic stages, classic characters, but it really hurt MK's story.

MKX should have been an awesome game with a crazy story - because it showed a lot of promise and good - and seeemed like it could spin the mess of MK9 into a positive, but what we got was a real let-down. I don't know what the next game is going to be like, because I lost all my trust in NRS to create a game that does justice to the MK universe.

I completely agree with you.
I think many will agree that MK4-MKA weren't amazing games at all. What had us coming back for more was the incredible story in those games.

Then MK9 came along and pretty much destroyed that RICH story that took years to develop.
When we thought things couldn't get worse for MK's story, it did! MKX took away MK's essence like you mentioned. I hope that NRS manage to bring back MK's essence because if they don't, they will lose their hardcore fans.

The "rich" story, quoting your own words, reached a point of non-return with MK: Armageddon.

After Armageddon the team had two choices:
1) a Hard reset option, keeping only Scorpion and Sub-Zero and then introducing 20-something new, debuting characters;this was the initial idea between 2006-2008.
2) a soft reset or reboot of rhe story line with a new beginning, exactly what they did with MK 9 and what they've promised after Mk vs DCU.


Of course they went with the second option, and they made the right decision.

You know why? Because the average MK fan has always lived by jumping the wagon, aligning him/herself with the major party.

In the 2000s the major party was like "The new characters suck, f*ck Hotaru, I wanted Sonya in MK: Deception, and I clearly remember defending the choices of Ed Boon back then.
I was one of the few defending the classic characters.

Now we are living the exact, but opposite situation: the majority of people wants more characters, stage and atmospehere from the 3D games.


Now, considering how blind some people are (Cassie is a clone of Johnny with SRS) I have only oine suggestion to give to Ed Boon.

Go straight your way and stop listening to the fan.

Yeah I agree. I personally don't like the atmosphere of MKX as much as MK9 or the other main entry games (especially MK1-3 which were perfect IMO) but I think NRS just needs to make what they want to make and how they want to make it. The fan base is so divided on every little thing that there is no way they are going to make everybody happy so they just need to do what they want to do IMO.

Mk Armageddon's konquest was even better. Taven's journey literally expanded MK's universe with wonderful stories and filled the lack of extra bios.




I disagree. NRS should listen to its fans.
It's our obligation to make them aware that they were wrong and to get them to deliver a better game next time.

The fans do not have unified voice. The vast majority of fans speaks for themselves and not for the fan base. NRS should not listen to the fans when they are so divided. NRS should make the game they want and let the fans judge for themselves without having to appease a sect of them.

Yup.

In 2-3 games time there will be a bunch of people clamouring for the days of X.

"BRING BACK VARIATIONS"

"BRING BACK FACTIONS"

"BRING BACK KUNG JIN, FERRA/TORR, D'VORAH"

The fan base has pretty much hated every game on release since MK3 and then promptly demanded that the games be more like it further down the line.

Nostaglia is a powerful thing. By the time MK11 comes round people will be harking back to this game and using it to complain about that one. It happens everytime a game rolls around.

By 2-3 games time, MKX will be a "classic" that everyone, quite literally everyone, had fantastic time playing with beautiful memories.

My memories of MKX will be the game with awful netcode, the game that snubbed Fujin twice in the same game, the game that left out Tag, and the game that had those pointless Faction Wars. Oh and the game that decided that hardcore fans don't mean shit.

So yeah, I can honestly say that looking back my memories of this game won't be positive.

You say that now but let us wait about 2 games later. Looking at the release schedule that would probably be about in 8 years time.That is a very long time. I really do doubt it because MK9 had even worse netcode than MKX and Fujin was not in it and so on. Yet, I am pretty sure if someone recollects their thoughts about MK9, no one will mention this.

It is the same with Deception. When that game came out it was blasted but now people remember it with fondness for some reason and want it on PS4.

Time is a great healer I guess.

What if MK XI has:

Fujin killed off screen
Two variations per characters, with a lot of recylced stuff
8 dlc characters, all of them being guests
Expanded pay to win faction wars
Even worse net code
Still no tag team
???

If MK11 is worse than MKX in terms of what you listed then I'll say fuck it and drop MK altogether. Because to do worse than this game after all the success MKX had means it's time to abandon ship.