"Sheeva isn't interesting, nobody cares about Sheeva."
O contraire, I aim to prove right here right now that Sheeva is an incredibly interesting character with a deep lore, and many stylistic changes, and here low-status in the game is just the result of mismanagement.
Sheeva was introduced in 1995 with MK3. Her story was that she was a member of the Shokahn, personal protector of Queen Sindel. She had bitter rivalry with Motaro because the Shokan and the Centaurians were bitter enemies. Also interesting she was completely stop motion whereas most other characters in the game were digitized actors.
Long story short, during MK3/UMK3 she is sent to compete for Shao Kahn in Earthrealm, and while she is doing this (loyally), he betrays her and leads an offensive against the Shokan. When she get's back and learns of this betrayal, she prepares to lead her people into battle. The Shokan know that they cannot win this battle, but they are a pride people who prefer to go down swinging (Proud and Brave). Just before this battle can occur Kahn loses Earthrealm. Sheeva decides to take revenge on Motaru and colludes with Kano to do so, but of course trusting Kano is never a good idea. Kano stabs her in the back metaphorically by outing her assassination plot to Shao Kahn, and then Kahn stabs her in the back literally. So you have this powerful, proud, loyal, and strong honest woman who is killed by a stab in the back. Her story is quite tragic.
Sheeva reappears in Mortal Kombat Armageddon, and depending on how you take it, you could make a case that she had to some how escape the Netherealm (she did after all die in MK3). Nobody in that game has much story, but in her ending she is actually uses the Komidogu to become a goddess and rebuild the realms in her image (you know... kinda like Liu Kang gets to do in the ending of MK11... isn't that interesting?).
More interesting is her radical redesign in this game. She is significantly darker and has a more elegant, perhaps even royal appearance:
In Mortal Kombat 2011 Sheeva returns but has a very small role, she is simply Shao Kahns Jailor, though her character traits of loyalty, pride, and honesty remain present.
Her art in this game is a throwback to MK3. Lightened and barbaric again:
Between Mortal Kombat 9 and Mortal Kombat X, Sheeva does a lot. The problem is that there is no mention of any of it in MK:X. You had to have the comics. So much in fact that this is a copy and paste job from the MKWiki:
After the death of the Shokan King Gorbak, Sheeva won the battle royal contest for the crown of the Shokan, becoming the queen of her people. Sheeva joined the Shokan with Kotal Kahn in accompanying him to Shang Tsung's Island. However, Sheeva does not have the Shokan join the battle, not wanting to waste Shokan lives after the massacre at Z'unkahrah.
Sheeva allows the Shokan to place wagers on the battle between Kotal and Reiko, wagering her coin on Kotal. Sheeva tells Kintaro that while she will honor their commitment to Kotal in helping him kill Reiko and Mileena, she muses that if the battle does not go in the emperor's favor, the Shokan may instead avenge his death.
When Sheeva learns of Kintaro defying her orders and sending scouts onto Shang Tsung's Island, she becomes enraged, and threateningly draws her sword. Sheeva restrains herself from executing Kintaro due to the Shokan's low population after the battle of Z'unkahrah. When one of the Shokan informs Sheeva of the scout's ship's return, carrying the dismembered corpses of the scouts, Sheeva plants her sword before Kintaro and tells him to carry their deaths on his conscience.
When Sheeva asks a Shokan with a scope to tell her what is happening on the beach, and learns someone is holding something sparkling necklace that is getting brighter and brighter, Sheeva quickly realizes what is happening and orders everyone to brace for impact. Too late however, as a blast strikes the ship, igniting the explosives they were carrying. Sheeva survives and rescues Kintaro, ordering him to mark the deed and declares that once they are on the island, she orders him to fight.
Arriving on the island shore, Sheeva spots several Red Dragon soldiers standing over a body and contemplating burning it. As she and Kintaro sneak up on them, preparing to attack, the soldiers are suddenly attacked and devoured by a swarm of bees swarming from the body. The bees merge together to reveal D'Vorah, who rudely greets the Shokan.
Sheeva reins Kintaro in, and after D'Vorah angrily accuses Sheeva for failing to protect Kotal Kahn, even threatening Sheeva with one of her poison tipped pincers, Sheeva calmly explains that Havik killed her entire battalion when he sank her ship. D'Vorah orders the two Shokan to follow her, and when Sheeva questions where, D'Vorah reveals Kotal Kahn hid emergency supplies before invading the island and they will use them to bring in reinforcements to fight Havik.
Sheeva joins with D'Vorah and Kotal Kahn's other fighters alongside with Kintaro in confronting Havik's Blood Code enslaved champions. While Sheeva battles Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade at the same time, deflecting their attacks easily, she asks Kintaro if this is the glorious battle he hoped for as he is being attacked by Cassie Cage and Jacqui Briggs.
Sheeva would focus her attentions on the possessed Johnny Cage, and when Kintaro called to his queen in shock over their opponents strength, Sheeva ordered him to break them, while stomping on Johnny and throwing him into a nearby pillar, and told Kintaro that Blood Magik was enhancing their power while reminding him he was Shokan. Sheeva would then watch in horror as the possessed Sonya killed Kintaro by ripping his head off, calling her champion's name in shock.
After those possessed by Havik were freed from his control, Sheeva mourned the fallen Kintaro, kneeling by his body. When Sonya Blade attempted to apologize for her actions, Sheeva told her to say no more, and that Kintaro had died a warrior's death.
MORTAL KOMBAT 11:
Still reigning as Queen of the Shokan, Sheeva is approached by a time-displaced
Kitana, who urges her to side with
Kotal Kahn over
Shao Kahn as the two emperors war for
Outworld's throne. Sheeva admires Kitana's passionate plea, but refuses to be persuaded, admitting that while under Kotal's rule, the Shokan fared somewhat better than under Shao Kahn's, she refuses to take a side as it was still too early to say which Kahn would ultimately triumph. Just then,
Liu Kang and
Kung Lao arrive to inform Kitana of Kotal Kahn's capture in the
Tarkatan Kamp.
Rising from her throne, Sheeva states that the Shokan would not come to the aid of a Kahn in chains, and though Kitana insisted with Earthrealm's aid they could secure victory, Sheeva was adamant that there would be no victory without the Tarkatans, telling Kitana that if they could be swayed to join Kotal, then it would be advantageous to join him. Kitana then swore to Sheeva that she would return with the Tarkatans by her side to secure the Shokan to Kotal's side.
Kitana ultimately sways
Baraka and the Tarkatans to join with her, convincing Sheeva and the Shokan join with her as well, Kitana leading them as they marched on the koliseum to save Kotal Kahn from execution. After Kitana defeated Shao Kahn, Sheeva, joined with Baraka, approached the paralyzed Kotal Kahn, the Osh-Tekk apologizing for not serving their people better and was present as Kotal passed the title of Kahn to Kitana.
Sheeva and the Shokan joined Kitana, Baraka, and the Tarkatans in storming
Kronika's Keep, but what became of her after Kronika rewound time is unknown.
