Mortal Kombat: 9 Unpopular Opinions About The Games, According To Reddit

Ever since the original game’s release in 1992, Mortal Kombat has dominated the fighting game genre. The reasons for the franchise’s seemingly unending popularity are multiple. Many people love the fighting mechanics of the games. Others love the classic characters and lore. And, of course, the series is far more violent than any other fighting franchise. In fact, it was this violence that made it so popular in the first place.

And while fans can agree on many things regarding the Mortal Kombat franchise, not everything can be considered universal. As it turns out, many people harbor unpopular opinions about many aspects of the series.

9 Sick Of The Main Characters

There are a few characters who have become mainstays of the Mortal Kombat franchise. Some of the best Mortal Kombat characters are also some of the oldest, including Sonya Blade, Liu Kang, and Scorpion. It’s hard to imagine a game without them.

But that’s what Reddit user 11BloodyShadow11 wants. In their own words, “I’m sick of Kano. I’m sick of Liu Kang. I’m sick of Sonya and I’m even sick of Johnny Cage. Take a break, will ya?” Most fans disagree as the best and most popular games in the franchise like Mortal Kombat 11 prominently feature these characters. Johnny Cage is a particular favorite and fans wondered why Cage wasn’t in the latest Mortal Kombat movie.

8 Mortal Kombat 11 Is The Worst

Mortal Kombat 11 was a huge success upon release. It received strong reviews, earning an 88 score on Metacritic and winning some industry awards, including Fighting Game of the Year at the 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. It is also a huge seller, moving approximately 12 million copies.

It’s quite obvious that the game is widely beloved and popular. However, Reddit user ace-cabbage disagrees, writing, “Mk11 is the worst thing to happen to Mk, and we need new writers ASAP.” The user doesn’t offer any explanation as to why the game is so bad but with the overwhelming critical and commercial success of the game, it stands to reason their opinion is unpopular and wrong.

7 Shujinko Is The Best Protagonist

The Mortal Kombat franchise is filled with memorable heroes and villains. When asked, fans will typically give the same responses – Scorpion, Sub Zero, Liu Kang, etc. Many of Mortal Kombat’s best characters are in the 2021 movie. And even though the franchise has introduced numerous new characters throughout the years, many fans prefer the originals.

Which is why it’s so surprising to hear that this deleted Reddit user considers “Shujinko [to be] the best protagonist in the series.” Shujinko is certainly a deep cut, having only appeared fully in Deception, Unchained, and Armageddon. He isn’t a major figure like Liu Kang and his role in the franchise’s overall narrative is minimal at best.

6 Fatalities Are Boring

Fatalities have long been the signature aspect of the series. They are what generated the initial controversy aimed at the series, and the best fatalities in such games as Mortal Kombat 11 continue to astound fans with the degree of violence and creativity involved. Unfortunately, not everyone enjoys the cinematic fatalities, and some consider them nothing more than an old-school inclusion.

Reddit user mxnpro writes, “Cinematic fatalities and X-Rays have lost their appeal for me. They’re too long and repetitive and no longer shocking. I get they’re the identifying feature of the MK franchise, but they feel like a relic of the past.” This opinion is clearly unpopular as many fans look forward to the creative ways the game’s producers come up with new ways to kill their characters.

5 Loving Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

Mortal Kombat found itself in a bit of a dry spell throughout the 2000s, offering up many middling releases that didn’t earn the acclaim or popularity of its earlier successes. One of these titles was 2006’s Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. The game earned mixed reviews from critics (76 on Metacritic) and fans alike, with much of the criticism aimed at the outdated engine.

In short, few people actually love the game. That is, aside from CGProV. As they write, “I love Armageddon, I guess that’s sort of a semi popular opinion because I’m definitely not alone in that but it’s not the most loved MK.” The user is correct in that the game is generally shunned by fans and is not as popular as some other titles such as Mortal Kombat X.

4 Scorpion Doesn’t Deserve The Attention

Even amongst the franchise’s most beloved characters, Scorpion holds a special place in many fans’ hearts. He’s arguably the most popular character in the entire series, he’s one of the most powerful characters in Mortal Kombat, and his popularity has unendingly reigned for over 20 years. But it seems like some people are getting a little sick of him.

This Reddit user writes, “I know he’s [Ed Boon’s] favorite but Scorpion does not deserve all the attention he gets…Let’s celebrate the story. Not Scorpion.” It seems like the over-saturation of his character is starting to get to some fans but that shouldn’t prevent the character from being used. He’s a key figure in the franchise and should be employed in any future games or multimedia adaptations.

3 Liking Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero

Released for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 back in 1997, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero is often regarded as the worst MK game of all time. It contains some of the most embarrassing cutscenes in the history of gaming, the controls are horrendous, and it contained a divisive flip from fighting game to action-adventure.

But not everyone hates it. Reddit user Squidmaster616 writes, “I LOVE Mythologies Sub-Zero. I think its an excellent game, released at the wrong time.” This claim is a bit dubious as the game would’ve failed in any time period due to its poor graphics and weak gameplay.

2 Mortal Kombat 4 Isn’t Bad

For many, Mortal Kombat 4 was the beginning of the end (or at least the beginning of the infamous 3D era slump). The reasons for this game’s notoriety are many. In some ways, the game was simply too ambitious for its own good, complete with clunky 3D gameplay and an even worse attempt at expanding the series’ lore.

The game is also filled with some of the series’ worst dialogue and voice acting. However, the game certainly has its defenders, including Reddit user BlackEquis, who states simply, “MK4 is not that bad.” The user fails to elaborate and that is probably because it’s an unpopular opinion that can’t be legitimately supported.  To many fans, MK4 was one of the series lowest points and future games have avoided its’ mistakes.

1 Not Caring About The Story

It seems like the story of Mortal Kombat would be largely ignored by the franchise’s player base. Mortal Kombat is mostly known for its blood and fighting, and that is what people come for. But that’s certainly not the case. Many people take the story seriously and follow it through its complex, winding, and often confusing storytelling.

But Reddit user sgtcoolbeans isn’t having any of it. They write, “I couldn’t care less for the story. I don’t care if the characters in the roster are part of the cannon or not. I just want to play a good fighting game.” While this may have been a popular opinion when the first game came out, it’s simply not one that is held by fans of the franchise today. As seen by the recent success of the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie, fans seem to enjoy it when the franchise builds its lore and explores the backgrounds of each character.

About The Author

Nathan Sharp
(852 Articles Published)

Nathan Sharp is a writer from outside Toronto, Ontario. He has a love of movies and television, having enjoyed them for more than twenty years. His preferences include drama, action, and horror, with the former being a particular point of interest and fascination.

He also has a love of video games, particularly those of Rockstar.

Whether it be about film, television, or video games, Nathan loves a good discussion and has written hundreds of articles for Screen Rant.

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