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Shao Kahn predictions and guesses

Lun

proud TERF!
So, Shao Kahn is probably the final character whose gameplay will be revealed.

Before that happens, anyone wants to make wild guesses as to how he will play, and then we'll see if those guesses come true?

Here's my theories!

1) He's going to have an unmasked option, and his face will be a mix of his Malibu comics face and the face of the actor in the second movie.

2) He's going to have a taunt move which probably makes his attacks stronger for a while.

3) He's going to have a fatality where he turns into some dragon-like beast, like in that second movie.

4) His draconic look has nothing to do with Onaga, and that's simply how he looks now.

5) In story mode, he's going to lose to everyone?
 
1) Broken tier at low-to-intermediate skill levels, but, easily exposed by high level players (a Goro / Darkseid / Jason type of character)

2) May be more "sorcerer-y" in his move-set this time around (he's actually a sorcerer behind the macho gimp superficies)

3) Taunts may be incorporated into his actual combat, as distinct from being a separate special ability, in line with the more talkative nature of the chars. in recent NRS offerings (laughter may still be a dedicated special, however)

4) Like 90% of the roster, he may be given a teleport (and it would actually make some sense for him to have... being a sorcerer)

5) Will cause actual rage quitting online

PS: I'd actually be okay with him playing completely different from the other combatants -- e.g., no jumping (Shao Kahn ninja-flipping through the air just seems... weird), rather, teleportation and armour on shoulder charges etc.; slow, but, most normals and specials stagger opponents with heaps of +frames...
 

callMEcrazy

Alone is where to find me.
25-29 characters is not enough for a base roster. Not for an 11th game in a series that has accumulated over 70 playable characters over the years. It should have been 35, at least. There's many fan favorites and long-absent characters that could have been included.
I doubt very much that NRS will borrow anything from the 2nd MK movie. It was a disaster and very few people remember it fondly.

I also doubt very much that anyone other than Liu Kang will beat him. Kotal may put up a decent fight - and I think he should - but he'll ultimately succumb to Shao Kahn's immense power. Shao is just too important a character to put others over.
 

t3kwytch3r

Stone-Kold-Zoner
1: He won't have his iconic rising knee attack, but will have his shoulder charge

2: His projectiles will be the slowest but hardest hitting in the game

3: One of his specials will be a chargeable / delayable up close launcher similar to f3 in Injustice

4: His fatalities will be both one of the best and one of the worst of the game (Top 5 / Bottom 5)
 

Lun

proud TERF!
I doubt very much that NRS will borrow anything from the 2nd MK movie. It was a disaster and very few people remember it fondly.
And yet, I still feel his face and his dragon shapeshift will be inspired from that crappy movie.

I dunno. Ever since I saw Shao Kahn's redesign, my thought was "they wouldn't bother suddenly giving him reptilian features if he does't turn into a dragon".
 

t3kwytch3r

Stone-Kold-Zoner
Why do you think so?
I don't see it fitting within the Meta of the game we've seen so far. It wouldn't be as good of an advancing move as the shoulder charge and not nearly as good an anti-air as some new move such as a high hammer swing.

I could be wrong but i just don't see it happening. If it is in, i'd bet it won't be too special of a special.
 

SaltShaker

In Zoning We Trust
I think his core specials will be-

-Shoulder Charge
-Up Knee or Up Shoulder
-Hammer Toss

Think he'll have some armored chargeable move as a kustom or variation.

He'll be a scrub killer type of character regardless of tier. Will be among the top characters in +frames on block and pushback.

He won't be involved in the story as people think he is, his portion will be small. Likely relegated to just one section of one chapter.

His look is just an updated look, and has nothing to do with that Onaga nonsense. That old arc is forever dead.



* I really, really, really hope that Shao's fight with Kotal isn't a chapter story battle where you play as Kotal to defeat Shao Kahn. I have a bad feeling. That would be an utter disgrace to have the iconic powered God Boss Shao Kahn lose to the fraudulent Kotal Fraud that can't even beat Kung Jin or Jacqui. It would be worse than Stryker beating Kintaro, than Retired Jax beating Liu Kang. It would be the worst travesty in the history of NRS story telling. NRS please. *
 

Parasurama

Dragon
I am looking forward to Shao Kahn. I want him to be an upclose powerhouse that can space with zoning options like his previous appearances. His shoulder bash will be plus on block but high. I really hope they dont make like Darkseid - Zoning/mix ups.

I will only try play Kang and the real Kahn for the beginning of this game - I hope they cover bad match ups for each other.
 

Lokheit

Noob
- He's going to feature his hammer AND spear into his moveset. (IIRC it was leaked that the spear was one of the kustomizables).

- Taunts are going to be base moveset to buff himself. Customs might add to the buffs.

- Contrary to what everyone thinks, he won't lose to everyone in story mode. We know he destroys Kotal Kahn (that said, that fight is probably not a playable one).

PS: I'd actually be okay with him playing completely different from the other combatants -- e.g., no jumping (Shao Kahn ninja-flipping through the air just seems... weird), rather, teleportation and armour on shoulder charges etc.; slow, but, most normals and specials stagger opponents with heaps of +frames...
But he can have tough bad-ass jump attacks (Minute 3:03):


I can see him having hammer swing and foot stomp air attacks without looking like ninja-flipping.
 

xenogorgeous

.... they mostly come at night. Mostly.
  1. He will be badass mofo :D
  2. He will kill Kotal
  3. He will use his taunts as buffers in his gameplay
  4. He will be kool in the story mode :)
  5. He will be the tallest kombatant
  6. He will do some mention about Mileena in story mode .... :p
  7. His fatalities will be brutal and over the top as always
  8. He will be awesome ! ;)
 

VSC_Supreme

TYM's #1 L taker.
He'll have his hammer throw move from MK9, which will cause a lot of grief online, but otherwise be useless.
 

Eddy Wang

Skarlet scientist
  1. Arrow toss
  2. Hammer toss
  3. Hammer smash
  4. Grab and toss
  5. Taunt (damage buff)
  6. Shoulder Charge
  7. Upward Shoulder Charge
  8. Laugh (Defense buff)
  9. Fireball
  10. Push Kick
For those who want a reference in the push kick, which has been Shao Kahn's stapple since MK2, just watch this video
 

REYTHEGREAT

..........................
He will probably be slow, unsafe, bad normals but will have some of the best specials in the game. What i really want is for him to have good footsies, good buttons and some mix ups.
 

Lun

proud TERF!
Some people are saying Shao Kahn will defeat Kotal Kahn in story mode, and yet somehow I feel the opposite will happen. One of those wtf moments like when Sindel killed half the roster.
 
One variation has to be nothing but taunts and unblockable shoulder charges that take 1/4 of your health :D . Safer prediction he's a good mid-range footsie character like everyone else.