Kung Lao Revealed!

Some of us are complaining because NRS pushes so much about the idea of new things and new characters and whatnot, yet reveal all of these old characters. If you look at the current ratio of old to new playable characters right now, it's 4:7. So far, for a game that's about new beginnings and a new story, we've gotten more old characters. Not to mention that NRS just constantly emphasized more story, yet the inclusion of Kung Lao seemingly negates the whole point of his death in the last game. Any writer/author will tell you that things like -- it was all a dream, a wizard did it, or anybody can die yet not die are -- major plot cop-outs.

So, some of the fans are left thinking: "Well, what do you want? You want a new game, yet you reveal old characters? And you want a more story-driven game, yet so far reveal a character that completely negates his death scene in the last game?"

And the worst part about this Kung Lao reveal is that a ton of casual fans who don't pay attention to the story (trust me, there are a lot) will now just spam NRS for wanting their faves in. And, if NRS is stupid enough, they'll listen to them. Creating a chain that leads us all the way back into the 3D-era of games.

And of course, of course, we know nothing about how Kung Lao is back in this game yet. We don't even know if that is Kung Lao, but that doesn't change the fact that now a ton of people are going to say: "Kung Lao was in? I want x character in."

Personally for me, though, I'm just happy we got a reveal on New Year's.

Oh, but like I've said before: Fighting games have never been strong story-wise. If you want to be invested in a story, fighting games in general are a bad place to look. MMORPG's have better stories, and action-adventure games do too. Fighting games, though? Nah. So, as fans, we're barking up the wrong tree to look for a legitimate plot.
 
Damn going through pages of posts on the matter in the Media thread and this thread was a battle in itself.

All I'm going to say is that I'm a really big fan of his, but I'm a bigger fan of story than the individual characters. Therefore, I believe its a travesty that he's returned in MKX.

HOWEVER.

The only way I find this justifiable is that since Shang Tsung/Sindel was "killed" by Nightwolf, all of Shang Tsung's consumed souls departed. Justifiable due to Kung Lao's MK9 Ending, Great Kung Lao's soul could enter his fallen descendant's body. I could see a main focal point for this "new" Kung Lao's story in MKX, as having a goal to free the rest of the fallen Earth Warriors from Quan Chi's control.

Assuming the fan fiction I just wrote above is true of course.

Oh and he looks like shit, so while I appreciate more info NRS (albeit leaked material), please fix him up before release.
 
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creative name said:
Some of us are complaining because NRS pushes so much about the idea of new things and new characters and whatnot, yet reveal all of these old characters. If you look at the current ratio of old to new playable characters right now, it's 4:7. So far, for a game that's about new beginnings and a new story, we've gotten more old characters. Not to mention that NRS just constantly emphasized more story, yet the inclusion of Kung Lao seemingly negates the whole point of his death in the last game. Any writer/author will tell you that things like -- it was all a dream, a wizard did it, or anybody can die yet not die are -- major plot cop-outs.

So, some of the fans are left thinking: "Well, what do you want? You want a new game, yet you reveal old characters? And you want a more story-driven game, yet so far reveal a character that completely negates his death scene in the last game?"

And the worst part about this Kung Lao reveal is that a ton of casual fans who don't pay attention to the story (trust me, there are a lot) will now just spam NRS for wanting their faves in. And, if NRS is stupid enough, they'll listen to them. Creating a chain that leads us all the way back into the 3D-era of games.

And of course, of course, we know nothing about how Kung Lao is back in this game yet. We don't even know if that is Kung Lao, but that doesn't change the fact that now a ton of people are going to say: "Kung Lao was in? I want x character in."
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Yes. Exactly.
Thank you.
If I say this, though, somehow I'm a fanboy in 1 extreme side of the speculum.
What's wrong with asking for continuity and not having things constantly retconned, for once?
 
creative name said:
Some of us are complaining because NRS pushes so much about the idea of new things and new characters and whatnot, yet reveal all of these old characters. If you look at the current ratio of old to new playable characters right now, it's 4:7. So far, for a game that's about new beginnings and a new story, we've gotten more old characters. Not to mention that NRS just constantly emphasized more story, yet the inclusion of Kung Lao seemingly negates the whole point of his death in the last game. Any writer/author will tell you that things like -- it was all a dream, a wizard did it, or anybody can die yet not die are -- major plot cop-outs.

So, some of the fans are left thinking: "Well, what do you want? You want a new game, yet you reveal old characters? And you want a more story-driven game, yet so far reveal a character that completely negates his death scene in the last game?"

And the worst part about this Kung Lao reveal is that a ton of casual fans who don't pay attention to the story (trust me, there are a lot) will now just spam NRS for wanting their faves in. And, if NRS is stupid enough, they'll listen to them. Creating a chain that leads us all the way back into the 3D-era of games.

And of course, of course, we know nothing about how Kung Lao is back in this game yet. We don't even know if that is Kung Lao, but that doesn't change the fact that now a ton of people are going to say: "Kung Lao was in? I want x character in."

Personally for me, though, I'm just happy we got a reveal on New Year's.

Oh, but like I've said before: Fighting games have never been strong story-wise. If you want to be invested in a story, fighting games in general are a bad place to look. MMORPG's have better stories, and action-adventure games do too. Fighting games, though? Nah. So, as fans, we're barking up the wrong tree to look for a legitimate plot.
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zing

why is this so hard for people to get? KLs inclusion basically pissed on the whole story of mk9
 
i really dont think so, i really dont see it....how would they explain it? QC rez'd............bland, boring, unoriginal....its the only explanation....and its meh
 
creative name said:
Oh, but like I've said before: Fighting games have never been strong story-wise. If you want to be invested in a story, fighting games in general are a bad place to look. MMORPG's have better stories, and action-adventure games do too. Fighting games, though? Nah. So, as fans, we're barking up the wrong tree to look for a legitimate plot.
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Mortal Kombat has a pretty good story going for it, though. The lore is fantastic. In fact, MK9's Story Mode was wildly successful.

The problem is, NRS is too afraid to take chances. They have a very vocal fan base. Some people want this and that to happen regardless of how it may cheapen the story. Other people want to see the series evolve and become something greater, which means sacrificing certain characters along the way.

NRS needs to grow some balls and do what makes sense for the series. Being a fighting game series does not automatically mean they should surrender good story telling in favor of an all star cast classic characters.

Time to break the mold, people.
 
Guys what if this is shujinko. Remember in mkd he said that kung lao is his idol and he wants to honor kung lao
 
Elias6999 said:
You guys actually think they will listen to fan requests? Dumb things like reviving Jax isn't going to happen, they aren't dumb.
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I think Kung Lao was most likely plan early on since Ed Boon did hinted him a while back. I remember Ed Boon saying that he was never out of the game ;). Besides the roster has been finished and plan out for a while now.
 
While it is true fighting games are not known for making good stories (Street Fighter I'm looking at you!), I truly believe that franchises like Mortal Kombat and Tekken are changing this. When we now play MK, we know we should expect an elaborate story mode to explain a few things.

I personally thought MK9 storyline was lacking, while still good, it was better than the atrocious MK vs DC. Injustice's storymode was far, FAR BETTER! I can only imagine X will be the best one yet. Don't give me wrong, but I think MK does invest A LOT in its story and in its characters now. Long are the day of clones and nonsensical plotholes.

I only have one problem with the inclusion of Kung Lao: MK4 characters' chances are now very slim... Unlike many people here, I have grown to like 3D era characters and I realize now they're just as much part of MK as the 2D characters... In some twisted way, I do miss Bo' Rai Cho or Hotaru... Oh well... As long as Tanya and Reiko are in X, I'm happy but...
 
Marcelino Rodrigues said:
I only have one problem with the inclusion of Kung Lao: MK4 characters' chances are now very slim...
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How do you figure?
If anything, IMO, it's starting to look like MK GOLD version 2.0.
Shinnok, Tanya, Fujin, Reiko, Kitana, Mileena, Reptile, Johnny, Sonya and Baraka being in wouldn't really surprise me.
I do agree that if most of those characters are in, that it wouldn't leave much space for the DA thru Armageddon characters, though.
 
FOR THE PEOPLE SAYING KUNG LAO IS NOT A MAJOR ICON:

First off, I am not a Kung Lao fan at all. I got my ass whooped by him online by people who spammed the same damn combo. However, let's keep in mind a few things.

1. Kung Lao sitting out multiple games has not been a common thing. He has been in: Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat III, Mortal Kombat 4 (Gold), Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance, Mortal Kombat Armageddon, and Mortal Kombat: 2011. That is a lengthy string of consecutive games.

2. He is one of the few characters to have their own game, which was Shaolin Monks.

3. The character is wildly popular with fans.


If you take those things into consideration, him being anything less than an icon is hard to prove. Again, I'm not a fan of him and did not want him to be in it but I understand. Also, keep in mind this could be the first time that the Great Kung Lao is playable, not just regular old "I'm in Liu Kang's shadow" Kung Lao. I'm just hoping he's some sort of plot device to introduce either a completely new hero or (fingers crossed) Kai to become the champion of Mortal Kombat.
 
[MENTION=18534]reikoiskahn[/MENTION]
You act as if Kung Lao is Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden and Liu Kang status type popular, which he's not.
He's nowhere near as popular as the big 4 of MK.
Even in Shaolin Monks, Kung Lao was still Liu Kang's shadow.

reikoiskahn said:
Also, keep in mind this could be the first time that the Great Kung Lao is playable, not just regular old "I'm in Liu Kang's shadow" Kung Lao. I'm just hoping he's some sort of plot device to introduce either a completely new hero or (fingers crossed) Kai to become the champion of Mortal Kombat.
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I wouldn't mind that being the case, but this is coming off like NRS just retconned Kung Lao's MK9 death in MKX.
 
Elias6999 said:
I doubt Kenshi and Kabal will make it, Kabal is dead...
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Yes. Yes indeed. Who are we looking at as the newest addition to this game roster, again? Wasn't he dead too?

The can of worms has been opened! Though he may not be the same Kung Lao we know... Sub-Zero is also someone else, remember.
 
Commander said:
You act as if Kung Lao is Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden and Liu Kang status type popular, which he's not.
He's nowhere near as popular as the big 4 of MK.
Even in Shaolin Monks, Kung Lao was still Liu Kang's shadow.

Trust me, I know where you're coming from but Kung Lao IS very popular. Top four? Maybe not but I wouldn't be surprised if he was the fifth most popular character of all time. It sucks but it is true. Here's the kicker: I knew guys who, before Mortal Kombat 2011, did not give a damn about Kung Lao. Their favorites were the typical choices (Scorpion, Sub-Zero, etc.) before the game dropped. Then, after seeing how he played, they immediately claimed he was their favorite out of nowhere. Some fans are shifty like that but money does talk.

PS~ How do I change my profile picture on here?
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