Op-Ed: why we should want our favourite characters to not return in MK11

[Cursa]

You know all those beloved and iconic characters from previous games...scrap em we need more teenage sidekicks

Or you could scrap em so we can get more Kotal Khan's, D'vorah's, and Erron Black's. Who were all very well accepted characters by the community and have become extremely popular for being a relatively minor character in just one game.

Not like he's even saying to take them all out, it's just a good idea to add new characters in order to appeal to a bigger audience.
The OG characters are there for people who enjoy them, and the new characters are there to appeal to a new audience. Out of the kids I liked Takeda the most, Cassie and Kung Jin were alright except for how they played out in the story (Cassie beating Shinnok and Kung Jin is a total dick for someone who hasn't actually done anything cool). Jacqui can give me a pass.

The outworld characters were basically all well received aside from Ferra/Torr, and are in the process of being "iconic" for the next generation of MK players, if NRS plays their cards right.

Also kinda depends on why you want them back, because if it's for gameplay then it just comes across as kinda lazy if NRS just makes their MKX characters the same with some really minor differences. Raider/Sub-zero come to mind for IJ2, where they were different enough because of how the game worked but half their strings were still the same. For Sub, B2, F2, F3, S1, D3 were all just basically the same animations with some different mechanics for IJ2 specifically.

 

[God Confirm]

Yea but the amount of people who's favourite character is Ermac vs the amount of people who would be happy seeing Ermac go is probably more in the latter's favour.

If you add Ermac every single game his fan base will slowly die out, particularly if NRS doesn't vary his moves a whole lot, or improve on his story, because then there's no point in buying MK2142 even if you're an Ermac fan and Ermac is in it. It just becomes the old CoD of fighting games. New game, same old story with some minor features pasted over it.

But people will buy it because it's MK anyway so what's even the point of this entire thread and all it's comments

this is so silly. You think people will stop enjoying their favorite character just because they get to play them once every 4 years? Nobody is identical in any version. People like their characters. MKX recieved the most negative reaction to the cast that I know of, and SFV the same thing, and MvCi too, all for trying to replace staples with equivalents. We KNOW this isn't what people want. And if you're the type of low attention span guy that doesn't want to play the same character twice in a game, well half the cast is usually dedicated to that.

 

[Cursa]

this is so silly. You think people will stop enjoying their favorite character just because they get to play them once every 4 years? Nobody is identical in any version. People like their characters. MKX recieved the most negative reaction to the cast that I know of, and SFV the same thing, and MvCi too, all for trying to replace staples with equivalents. We KNOW this isn't what people want. And if you're the type of low attention span guy that doesn't want to play the same character twice in a game, well half the cast is usually dedicated to that.

I'll take it back and just say I don't want 70% MKX characters personally. Fans of characters can hope for characters and I'll just hope for new ones.

is that allowed or

 

[Swindle]

I'm confident that, and the reaction to the "kids," was being tested in Mortal Kombat X.

Why did they have to make the gay one such a weirdo? You had one job, NRS.

 

[God Confirm]

I'll take it back and just say I don't want 70% MKX characters personally. Fans of characters can hope for characters and I'll just hope for new ones.

is that allowed or

you can want whatever you want, who cares?

its when you start telling other people that they shouldn't actually want their favorite characters back, just because of what other people want, doesn't make sense. Especially when you do this for every character. Just thinking about it for more than a minute should tell you why

 

[God Confirm]

Why did they have to make the gay one such a weirdo? You had one job, NRS.

I thought he was actually pretty cool

Cassie and Jacqui were boring and recycled as hell tho

 

[Cursa]

you can want whatever you want, who cares?

its when you start telling other people that they shouldn't actually want their favorite characters back, just because of what other people want, doesn't make sense. Especially when you do this for every character. Just thinking about it for more than a minute should tell you why

Yeah you'll have to forgive me if I did, but I didn't mean to tell anyone what they should and shouldn't think.

All I'm saying is that I think some more new faces and less of the same old faces would be refreshing and help the community grow a little more, introduce some people who normally wouldn't buy MK's.

For my own reasons, I just want brand new gameplans and shit, which is what I am hoping for MK11. If they completely revamp some existing characters, wouldn't be my first option, I'd want new ones first, but I'd still be content with it.

I just want MK11, not MKX.5 with 4-5 new/returning chars

 

[God Confirm]

We get new faces every game. Final MKX roster, only 15 of the 33 characters were playable in MK9. 18 of them were new, and only 4 of those 18 were even established characters. You can have your favorites return and at the same time have new characters, it's not mutually exclusive, in fact returning characters should take much less effort in design and make it easier to make a larger overall, balanced cast that provides for both character fans and people looking for fresh designs. Not sure why that's a problem.

 

[Aramonde]

Read about halfway but i get your point and i 100% agree. Some characters need to sit out a game. My favorite character is Quan Chi and i wouldn't mind if he sat out a game as long as some 3D era characters get a chance (FUJIN!!!!!)

Scorpion and Sub will always be in but we don't need Kitana, Liu, Sonya, Jax, Johnny, Mileena, Lao and Reptile in every damn game!!!

 

[spitefulsnake]

Are people forgetting NRS already did this with past MK's and it failed? I remember when mk3 first released people hated on the game because scorpion (their most iconic character mind you ! ) plus many other classic characters like reptile, kitana, mileena, baraka johnny cage and raiden was nowhere to be found. Ultimate mk3 ( which released in the same year in arcades ) obviously fixed a lot of these issues but my point is Umk3 was NRS response to that negative feedback from fans.

I'm not saying every game should have every character return but killing off or just straight up omiting classic characters isn't the answer ether. New characters are always welcome but those characters can't replace why people buy MK in the first place. You have to balance the two IMO.

 

[Juxtapose]

Why did they have to make the gay one such a weirdo? You had one job, NRS.

What did you find weird about him?

 

[Juxtapose]

...Umk3 was NRS response to that negative feedback from fans.

Was it though? I thought Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was already planned (considering the relatively short turn-around time) and that Midway was simply pulling a Capcom in attempting to extend the life of their game with additional content.

 

[Swindle]

What did you find weird about him?

Aside from Cassie, the new kids had very ill-defined personalities. Each one just cracked wise, and their dialogue was totally interchangeable between them. They had no character arc, and ultimately anything they went through in the story amounted to nothing in the end. They were all weird, tbh.

 

[Juxtapose]

Aside from Cassie, the new kids had very ill-defined personalities. Each one just cracked wise, and their dialogue was totally interchangeable between them. They had no character arc, and ultimately anything they went through in the story amounted to nothing in the end. They were all weird, tbh.

Fair enough. For me they honestly didn't bother me because as much as I love the franchise, the truth is most of the story is really a male soap opera with the dialogue boiling down to "Hey you, let's fight." "Them's fighting words!"

Considering that's what we generally get from the established veteran characters, I didn't have that kind of an issue with the "wonder kids."

 

[spitefulsnake]

Was it though? I thought Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was already planned (considering the relatively short turn-around time) and that Midway was simply pulling a Capcom in attempting to extend the life of their game with additional content.

Mk3 and Ultimate mk3 released in the same year at the arcades. Let that sink in. I'm sure midway had a hand in that considering Boon amitted that midway would have them rush out arcades while they where still coding the game. It was a mess and arcade store owners where pissed watching their big investment collect dust because no one was playing it. Midway had to do something fast thus umk3 was rushed out to replace it.

 

[Juxtapose]

Mk3 and Ultimate mk3 released in the same year at the arcades. Let that sink in.

That actually implies to me more that it was already planned to be made and released, and not done in response to criticisms, but of course we'll never know unless Boon or someone actually comes out and says so.

 

[God Confirm]

That actually implies to me more that it was already planned to be made and released, and not done in response to criticisms, but of course we'll never know unless Boon or someone actually comes out and says so.

we still won't know, Boon is known to lie to save face, and nrs will take any measure to avoid admitting they made a mistake.

 

[Juxtapose]

we still won't know, Boon is known to lie to save face, and nrs will take any measure to avoid admitting they made a mistake.

Most companies will either lie, or omit full truth to save face, believe me. Boon has admitted certain mistakes, or things he hasn't liked before though. Also keep in mind if we ever do hear, we could hear from someone other than him (i.e. Tobias, or any number of other former Midway employees).

Regardless, I think we can all agree that is is a good thing Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was released.

 

[God Confirm]

Most companies will either lie, or omit full truth to save face, believe me. Boon has admitted certain mistakes, or things he hasn't liked before though. Also keep in mind if we ever do hear, we could hear from someone other than him (i.e. Tobias, or any number of other former Midway employees).

Regardless, I think we can all agree that is is a good thing Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was released.

I'm not saying it's unique to NRS or Boon, I'm just saying they are no exception, which is exactly why any statement of theirs that refuses to acknowledge bad reception to a product, is not going to be concrete evidence of anything

 

[MKF30]

It's not even so much "lying" but not being allowed to say certain things from WB, it's the same with DC when people interview writers they have to watch every little thing they say, part of their contracts.

I agree with @Juxtapose they all do it it's definitely not exclusive to NRS. As for developers, they all mess up sometimes don't care if it's NRS or Capcom. Nobody is perfect.

 

[TamedLizard]

Awesome write up. A lot of solid points. The series (and some characters) would certainly be better off if they don't come back for a game, especially if their only purpose in a sequel is to be jobbers (again).

Hell, Reptile served as vessel to Onaga in Deception and missed the playable roster, but guess what? It's still one of my favorite MK games to date, if not my favorite.

I hated the Kids just as much as the next guy, but with that said, it wasn't all bad. Takeda at least offered some new, unique gameplay design and the same could be said of a few of the other's variations like Shaolin or Spec Ops.

As for development and depth, I think Kung Jin shines here (as much as possible, anyway). That scene in the past where him and Raiden exchange dialogue at Sky Temple, that was good!! Maybe it's just because I can relate deeply to his inner struggle, but Kung Jin showed dynamic in that scene that the other kids couldn't even dream of. Self loathing and self doubt being the big ones, especially since those both clash with what is otherwise his cocky persona.

 

[Blade4693]

It felt and looked dull because there was no f****** color for the most part , which includes some of the characters and their costumes. Sonya, Cassie, Jacqui, Takeda, all just look so bleh. Most of the stages too. I liked the mystical and colorful MK. Funny thing is MK9, and all the ones before it had plenty of color and were still "dark" at the same time.

I blame this on the Special Forces/military focus. It's boring and bland. It's not about the iconic characters. Street Fighter brings back every world warrior at some point and most people in the SF community don't complain about it or get sick of them.

But even after all of that, I do think some could sit out if only because I want to see some of the 3D era characters make their first playable Netherrealm debut.

 

[SaSSolino]

A Sonya fanbase exists?

 

[Juxtapose]

But even after all of that, I do think some could sit out if only because I want to see some of the 3D era characters make their first playable Netherrealm debut.

The thing is, most of the 3D era characters, while certainly having fan bases, were not overall well received. For those who didn't read the Mortal Kombat X comics, many showed up and were killed in said series (not that death is perma in the franchise, but it seemed to me to be making a point of culling the lesser characters while still including them in a fashion).

Taking out a Johnny Cage and adding in a Kobra would be, in my opinion, a big mistake. Taking out Johnny for Cassie though, or Mileena for a new character, that would be alright.

 

[juicepouch]

This was pretty interesting to reason through, +1 for a well thought out post. I enjoyed reading it.

I do question, though- Is it oversaturation that makes us bored of characters like Ermac and Reptile, or is it bad writing? To follow your pro wrestling analogy, Roman Reigns is the current day John Cena. Did John Cena suck because he was always the guy and always winning? I think so. But I also think he was a source of constant vitriol because the writing around him was so consistently bad, and I think a lot of MK characters have the same problems. If the only backstory you get is "Rise above hate and beat the bad guy" like John Cena or "I'm a reptile jobber" like Reptile, it's not hard to see why fans of either grow at best, indifferent, and at worst, hateful.

That's just my quick take on this idea, curious what you think. Also to be clear I didn't read any of the replies so if someone already touched on this then forgive me.