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Top 10 Worst Mortal Kombat Characters



By  Justin Carreiro     12:30 PM    Labels:,,,,,, 

We all have our favourite characters - they're the ones we've mastered and tend to go to when it comes time for a match. Whether it's their interesting backstory or fighting style, they're a favourite for a reason. But what about the unlikable fighters?

For every new addition in a video game fighting roster, there's bound to be one or two other characters that fail to make a mark. The Mortal Kombat series is a polarizing one for one. I love the series! It's one of my favourite fighting series, but more often than not, I've scratched my head (or yelled) at certain characters who I've had to play as simply to get their final ending. Similar to what I've done in the past for the TEKKEN and Resident Evil series, I've creating another Top 10 list. This one, however, is least favourite characters.

Note: As with any ranked list, this is my opinion and chosen based on my thoughts for their story, fighting style and design. You may have your own opinions and choices.


10. Jarek
First Appearance: Mortal Kombat: Special Forces

Jarek is a generic Kano clone to me. In fact, he was actually designed that way! He was essentially created as a substitution for the villainous character to fight alongside (then against) Sonya Blade and Jax. Even his ending during Mortal Kombat 4 is less to be desired. He has nearly the exact same moves, attitudes and character backstory. Let's just say I wasn't exactly heartbroken when he didn't return for any of the future selective character rosters.

9. Darrius
First Appearance: Mortal Kombat: Deception

Darrius isn't a bad character; he has his (very tiny) moments in Deception. The problem is that he doesn't stand out from all the many other Mortal Kombat characters - and there are a lot of them in this series! His one note character design, generic fighting moves, and barely-there backstory make him a forgettable character in comparison. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he was only created to serve a point for one of the other realms introduced in Deception. However, from the characters on this list, I think with a little reworking and updating, he could be a better fighter/character in the future.

8. Meat
First Appearance: Mortal Kombat 4

What do we know about Meat? He's a character who was a failed creation of Shang Tsung and he's completely skinless. That's it! Meat looks and fights like a character that was quickly slapped together because the designers needed to add another fighter to the roster. His fighting is average at best and there is no distinction to him that makes him stand out as who he could've been. If I ever had to describe him, he is a background/peripheral character getting his story told but not worth your time. It's harsh, but it's true. 

7. Dairou
First Appearance: Mortal Kombat: Deception

Meh. Dairou is an average and mediocre character in comparison to some of the more fleshed out fighters. There is little explained about him except that he is a mercenary and was jailed for killing the man who murdered his family. While I enjoy a bit of his special attacks and fatalities (particularly the "Tombstone Drop"), he falls flat everywhere else. Similar to others on this list, he is completely forgettable.

6. Hsu Hao
First Appearance: Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance

Two words: generic minion. There's nothing about Hsu Hao that stands out above more developed characters. It's no surprise Deadly Alliance was his only main entry into the series, with exception to Armageddon where everyone returned. In a video game where all the main starring characters were retired, Hsu Hao felt like a filler character mean't to support another character's, and organization's, backstory. What a waste...

5. Ermac
First Appearance: Mortal Kombat 3

"Ermac?!" I know, you must be scratching your head wondering why I even included him. He's not here because of his fighting moves, character design or backstory. In fact, I quite like his villainous nature and his inclusion in some fighting rosters - he's a powerful fighter. But that's why I also don't like him: he's too powerful. This is of personal preference completely, and I understand that I will get flack for this, but I detest fighting against/with Ermac. I like a challenge, but some players have used him to death to get the easy win. We can't all agree on certain fighters.

4. Shujinko
First Appearance: Mortal Kombat: Deception

Shujinko is a debated character for me. His fighting style is a combination of moves from different Mortal Kombat fighters; it makes him unique from other copycats but yet he doesn't feel original. We go on this adventure with him and see his story progress; though in the end, it's like we know nothing about him. I do have sympathy for him being manipulated by a more powerful and strong-willed evil. However, if he wasn't so insufferable from the moment you start the campaign, I wouldn't have found so much pleasure at getting the chance to stop using him the second the story mode was over.

3. Liu Kang
First Appearance: Mortal Kombat (Original)

I detest Liu Kang. Ever since the original Mortal Kombat game on Super Nintendo, I find him to be so generic as a character. He's written as the "be-all-end-all" fighter who is the only one that can stop the villains. It even makes him sanctimonious, like his attitude at the end of the Mortal Kombat reboot. He's (more or less) been in every Mortal Kombat video game and nothing has changed about him - at least the other main characters have grown. His flying spinning kick and fireball deliver too much damage for one character; I find him frustrating to fight whenever I compete against him online. Some gamers absolutely LOVE Liu Kang (he is a main star, after all) but, in my opinion, not having him in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance felt like a breath of fresh air.

2. Motaro
First Appearance: Mortal Kombat 3

Let's get this out of the way - Motaro is no Goro or Kintaro. His creation and addition to the series is somewhat of a joke. A centaur with overpowered attacks and a larger than necessary character design? Please no. While he had to return for the reboot of the series, I won't deny that it was a joy to see him quickly dispatched from the storyline. The concept might've sounded original in the beginning, but the execution just didn't work.

1. Mokap
First Appearance: Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance

Rounding out the best of the worst is Mokap. Can someone honestly say Mokap is their favourite character? (Or even a good idea?!) He is the epitome of last minute, filler characters. His character is supposed to be an average motion capture human actor with martial arts and fighting skills who is continually pulled into the world of Mortal Kombat. To sum all that up: he's the low-rent Johnny Cage. I hate wasted opportunities and filler spaces in a complex fighting roster; we only get so many spots to play as a character to hear their backstory, whether main character or secret. To think of all the potential characters who could've made their introduction to the series...but we got stuck with Mokap. I'm not having any of it. Mokap earns the title of the worst Mortal Kombat character.

Agree or disagree with the rankings? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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About Justin Carreiro

Justin is a longtime TV buff and gamer. He loves chatting about shows, playing video and board games, and his not-so-secret love for reality tv. He is also a fan of horror movies, music and a bookworm at heart. He spends his time in Toronto working in PR and Social Media.

3 comments:

  1. What a fucking horrible list Where the fuck is Kobra , D'Vorah , Kintaro , Khameleon , Mavado , and Ashrah
    Motaro , Ermac , Liu Kang , Darrius , Hsu Hao , And Jarek doesn't belong on the list

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    Replies
    1. Darrius, Hsu Hao and Jarek belong the list. You are the only one you love Hsu Hao. WTF and D'vorah don't belong. I don't know why people hate her just because she killed Mileena, Baraka and Scorpion. Who Cares? It's just a story.

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  2. I disagree on Ermac and Liu Kang, but agreed on the rest.

    Ermac is too powerful? Did you not play as Rain in UMK3/MKT? He was 10 times easier to play as than Ermac. Also Liu Kang didn't need any damn development since his backstory was explained from the first game and its pretty obvious he was going to be the series star. Killing him off in Deadly Alliance enhanced the character as he was a zombie in Deception and Armageddon, which also led to Raiden's heel turn.

    The problem with Motaro is he wasn't utilized in any game following MK3 up until Armageddon. He could have been a sub-boss for Onaga instead of Noob/Smoke in Deception since he was left for dead anyway by Shao Kahn and the Shokan in his Armageddon storyline. A lot of these guys were one shot deals from MK4 to Deception so its hard to fault someone for having limited exposure. For example Dairou is a mercenary so he could be written into any game as a hired gun working for Kahn, Quan Chi, Raiden, etc but they chose not to utilize him in Armageddon, MK9 or MK10.

    I still say Mokap and Meat was just Ed Boon mentally jacking off in a production meeting and somebody took him seriously enough to create real characters and backstory for them.

    ReplyDelete