The only eligible MK mascots are Scorpion, Sub-Zero (in some form), and Raiden. They have appeared in every MK Game just like Ryu has appeared in every SF game.
Scorpion and Sub Zero equally in my mind. Johnny Cage and Lu Kang as tier 2's. Then from there I think it all comes down to individual's personal taste in what they remember.
Ever since Deadly Alliance, its pretty obvious that they're pushing Scorpion as the 'mascot' even though he really has sod all to do with the overall story.
" The only eligible MK mascots are Scorpion, Sub-Zero (in some form), and Raiden. They have appeared in every MK Game just like Ryu has appeared in every SF game. "
Scorpion and Raiden weren't in MK3 due to the Bloodstorm thing.
UMK3 doesn't count that is like saying Cammy has been in every version of Street Fighter 2.
" Ever since Deadly Alliance, its pretty obvious that they're pushing Scorpion as the 'mascot' even though he really has sod all to do with the overall story. "
Yeah but Ryu just shows up to fight at every SF game without any reason.
I think Liu Kang was only pushed as the "main character" because of his resemblance to Ryu, (he throws fireballs and has a physics busting air kick move) and the fact that he's ostensibly a good guy.
Personally I think Mortal Kombat lost something when it started trying to be more like Street Fighter and have "good guy" protagonist. It was more mysterious when it was more of a horror game and all the characters were equally villainous.
" Scorpion?! Everybody knows "spinning bird kick" but that don't make Chun-li the mascot for Street Fighter...
It's Liu Kang, he's the protagonist. I'm really surprised to see all the votes going to Scorpion.
"
well I think it had been building over a while and the choice of Scorpion to be the mascot of the NetherRealm Developers logo kind of sealed the deal.
Liu Kang was never built to last. His initial incarnation was "asian guy in black sweatpants". Not the most striking character model. They added long hair and some red to his costume, but it never made up for the fact that he wasn't an interesting character design. Add to that fact the concept that he was ostensibly the goodguy and thus his fatalities could never be the most interesting.
Scorpion on the other hand has a striking yellow character model that is unusual for the genre. His "Get over here!" yell was audible english which set him apart from most other fighting game characters at the time. His background was shrouded in mystery, and only people who were capable of pulling off his fatality were let in on the secret that he was really a skeleton. Add into that fact that his spear move was a move that was really only replicable inside MKs fighting system and therefore iconic to the series, and you get your flagship character.
First off; fighting games generally have 2 main characters. For street Fighter its Ryu and Ken. For Mortal Kombat it's always been Scorpion and Sub Zero. I think mainly because they were the original ninjas. The way the story plays out, and the oddly canon like nature of keeping to the first movie (which surprised me a little) does tend to make it a bit muddled now as more is going on then seemingly originally but if only to me (although I think Ed Boon may agree, but i can't speak for people i don't know; just based on things he's said) Scorpion and Subzero were always the "main attraction" for MK.
Scorpion and Subzero are the faces of the series. I mean, they are the guys that are slapped all over the advertising and are usually the first characters revealed when they announce a new game. Ed Boon doesn't consider a MK game a proper entry in the series if it doesn't have those two guys. They are MK's Ryu and Ken.
But if I could only pick one then I would have to go with Scorpion.
I wouldn't say they have a single maskot character (c wut I did ther hur hur). I always think of both Scorpion and Sub Zero as the mascot. The feuding ninjas. If I had to pick one, I'd go for scorpion, but you really can't have one without the other.
" Wait wait waitFirst off; fighting games generally have 2 main characters. For street Fighter its Ryu and Ken. For Mortal Kombat it's always been Scorpion and Sub Zero. I think mainly because they were the original ninjas. The way the story plays out, and the oddly canon like nature of keeping to the first movie (which surprised me a little) does tend to make it a bit muddled now as more is going on then seemingly originally but if only to me (although I think Ed Boon may agree, but i can't speak for people i don't know; just based on things he's said) Scorpion and Subzero were always the "main attraction" for MK. "
I don't know about that...
There's really no reason to believe that Ken is a "main character" of street fighter. He gets a tiny bit of elevated status in the series due to his being one of the two selectible characters in the original Street Fighter, but he's rarely given any special treatment in the series. In fact, Cammie, Bison, Akuma, and Chun Li get FAR more exposure as characters than Ken does.
I think what you might mean to say is that most fighting games have two characters who are tightly related, in which you would be absolutely right. Ken/Ryu, Eiji Shinjo/Kayin Amoh, Paul Phoenix/Marshal Law, thso two guys from guilty gear... etc.
@JazGalaxy: I'm speaking in terms of focus. I'm an old school gamer so I tend to focus more on the old days; i appologize if this has changed. Originally Ken and Ryu were the main stay focus of SF. My SF knowledge is not what it used to be though so... can't speak for now.
Anyway, originally Ken and Ryu were on the box. Scorpion and Subzero same thing. This gives them the attention.
" I think Liu Kang was only pushed as the "main character" because of his resemblance to Ryu, (he throws fireballs and has a physics busting air kick move) and the fact that he's ostensibly a good guy.Personally I think Mortal Kombat lost something when it started trying to be more like Street Fighter and have "good guy" protagonist. It was more mysterious when it was more of a horror game and all the characters were equally villainous. "
I don't buy your "uninteresting character model" angle. Ryu is just a guy in a white gi and a red head-band.
gotta be scorpion. scorpion, sub zero and the ninjas have more appeal to the fans, rather than liu kang. even johnny cage, sonya, baraka and kung lao looks more popular! they should tweak liu kang (but not make him look like a sell out)
The only major storyline that I'm aware of in MK is the Sub-Zero Scorpion beef. That plus Get Over Here and being in the frigging logo kinda seals the deal for me.
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