Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Developer(s)	Midway L.A.
Publisher(s)	Midway
Designer(s)	Adam Puhl, John Edwards
Series	Mortal Kombat ;
Platform(s)	PS2, Xbox
Release	September 16, 2005
Genre(s)	Beat 'em up
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is the ninth game in the controversial and bloody Mortal Kombat series. Shaolin Monks was developed and published by Midway for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox and was released September 16, 2005 in the United States. A GameCube version is also being developed, but its release date is not known at this time. In October 2004, the president of Midway, David F. Zucker, called the release of Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks the "first step toward delivering something that Mortal Kombat fans have been calling for: a new game set in the Mortal Kombat universe every year." [1]

Gameplay

Template:Spoiler Shaolin Monks takes place during the Mortal Kombat II timeline with the opening scene of the game depicting the final moments of the first Mortal Kombat tournament. As Shang Tsung, Goro, and other evil enemies escape to Outworld, the warriors from The Order of Light in close pursuit, Liu Kang and Kung Lao, are stranded within Tsung's crumbling island.

The game centers on Liu Kang and Kung Lao as they travel through the different realms in order to stop Shang Tsung. In addition to Liu Kang and Kung Lao, there are characters for you to unlock in both the co-op and versus modes. Several other characters appear in order to help, including Johnny Cage, Jax and Raiden while many others must be defeated including Goro, Reptile, Mileena, Kitana, Jade, and Baraka.

Also included is a Ko-op mode wherein two players can work together to get through the game. Special team attacks become available only in this mode as well as some areas and items. Sub-Zero and Scorpion can be unlocked as playable characters in the Ko-op mode. In addition to these two and the two main characters, four other characters can be unlocked in the versus mode: Reptile, Kitana, Baraka, and Johnny Cage.

Shaolin Monks has a gameplay device called the Multi-Direction Fighting Engine which allows the player to deal with many enemies surrounding the player fluidly while maintaining the ability to link combo attacks across multiple enemies. The engine also allows the player to continue their combos after launching an enemy into the air through a powerful attack or a throw. Various other moves can be performed against an enemy including using one as a shield against other attacks and propelling the player off the back of one into another enemy. The environment also plays a vital role in the game as there are several hazards that will instantly kill an enemy which range from a mere pit in the floor to rotating wheels of spikes. Many hazards also play a part in solving a puzzle in a specific area.

Included are some fatalities from the original Mortal Kombat II game that get some updates with new technology in the 3D world. There are also some more new fatalities for the characters to give the players variety in regards to the one-fatality per character in Deadly Alliance. The player can unlock the ability to do Multalities, which is a fatality performed on multiple enemies at one time. Brutalities from Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 have also been brought back and upgraded to the 3D world.

A good contribution to this game is the unlockable version of Mortal Kombat II, whilst not the complete original version of the game (there are no difficulty differences, and fatalities are either different, or some do not work), opening this is not difficult, all that has to be done is complete the 5 missions given to you by Smoke in a hidden section of the living forest and is accessed in the main menu's Kontent screen. (note: although Smoke's missions are available in the European release, Mortal Kombat II is not unlockable). The original backgrounds of Mortal Kombat II were used as the basis for the areas and environments of Shaolin Monks.

Throughout the game are coded messages written vertically, translatable through the references of Concept 86 and 87, unlockable pieces of Concept Art via Ko-Op, exclusively. The text on the tournament victories wall in the Portal (later leading to the Foundry) reads "LIU KANG WILL DIE", obviously referencing (though technically predicting) Liu Kang's death during Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. Several banners surrounding and en-route to Mileena's arena in the Living Forest treetop area read "TOASTY" once translated. Two glowing symbols above the entrances to the alternate routes in the Soul Tombs read "FIRE" and "WIND", respectively. The symbol for "LIZARD" is repeated several times within Reptile's Lair in the Living Forest, most notably as the activator of the statue challenges.

Deaths

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Template:Spoiler At the end of every boss battle (with the exception of the battles between the Oni Warlord, the Orochi Hellbeast, Sub-Zero, and Mileena), a fatality is performed on the boss.

Jade - Mileena's sais get jammed into her eye sockets.

Reptile - Strangled to death.

Baraka - Impaled by soul swords, then blown up by Screaming Skulls.

Goro - Killed by Johnny Cage's Shadow Kick.

Ermac - Crushed by a large stone.

Scorpion - Hurled into lava, comes back out as Inferno Scorpion.

Inferno Scorpion - Pulled into the lava by Bloody Skeltons, gives a thumbs-up sign (a reference to Terminator 2: Judgement Day).

Kano - Jax knocks him into the prison stand and wheels it up to the ceiling, crushing him.

Shang Tsung - Neck snapped (this a reference to the intro of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance where Shang Tsung broke Liu Kang's neck in a similar fashion).

Kintaro - Arms, then head ripped off.

Shao Kahn - Raiden turns him into stone, then both Kang and Lao shatter him.

Reaction

The game has received enthusiastic reviews from critics and gamers alike, especially in comparison with the previous two spin-offs (Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero and Mortal Kombat: Special Forces), which were critical and commercial failures. Among the game's strongest points include its efficient and simple gameplay and a likeable soundtrack - many songs are actually re-mixes of Mortal Kombat I and II tracks - as well as having a large arsenal of gruesome finishing moves that can be performed at almost any time.

Unlike Mythologies and Special Forces, which were prequels to the original Mortal Kombat, this one takes place between the first and second games, which gives experienced players a sense of nostalgia especially when venturing to familiar sights like the two Pits, the Kombat Tomb, the Living Forest, the Tower, and the Portal.

The PS2 version had few clipping problems for the enemies and causes the game to slow down; the only way to stop it is to defeat the enemy that's halfway through a wall. The Xbox version has similar issues as well as a bug that makes experience points go up at random times. The game also has a glitch where the map appears to show a series of slanted ones and "/" marks down many rows for a split second.

Much criticism is directed at the game's storyline because many feel it completely ignored and changed the majority of the events of Mortal Kombat II (ex. Kitana being under a spell, Scorpion trying to kill Liu Kang and Kung Lao for no reason, and Goro being killed by Johnny Cage in the game even though in Mortal Kombat II it was stated that Goro was killed during the original Mortal Kombat Tournament), and many feel flabbergasted that even with a person hired to write the script and check for continuity between games that many events were retconned. Many, especially long-time fans and storyline enthusiasts, regard its story as a what-if tale, although this may be for moot: it seems implied by the makers of the game and series that this game is to be considered canon and replace Mortal Kombat II in the timeline.

Differences Between Shaolin Monks and Mortal Kombat II Storyline

The official Mortal Kombat II comic book was believed to be canon since it was written by John Tobias himself.

Kung Lao's original story was that he did not want to be the Champion of Mortal Kombat and was more of a quiet, brooding, reluctant hero who only fought when he had to. Instead, Kung Lao is depicted as being arrogant and shows resentment towards Liu Kang for winning the Mortal Kombat Tournament and desires to be Champion himself.

Liu Kang was not present when the Tarkatas attacked the Shaolin Temple, his Mortal Kombat II bio made this very clear. In the game, he is present and helps fight off the Tarkata.

Raiden is said to warn the Earthrealm warriors of what is happening, but also according to his Mortal Kombat II bio, he disappears after doing so, believed to have ventured into Outworld alone. Here, Raiden (although actually a disguised Shang Tsung, but still nonetheless a change) guides Liu Kang and Kung Lao through Outworld, thus the Raiden disappearing is never known until the end of the game when originally, all of the Earthrealm warriors knew that Raiden had disappeared.

The final battle in Mortal Kombat goes about differently according to the Mortal Kombat II comic. After Liu Kang defeated Goro, becoming the new champion of Mortal Kombat, Shang Tsung challenged Liu Kang to Mortal Kombat, forcing all the other fighters into an alliance. Kano, Sonya and Johnny Cage fight an enraged Goro at the Pit while Raiden along with Scorpion and Sub-Zero fight Shang Tsung's army on the beach. After Liu Kang defeats Shang Tsung, the island begins to crumble and Liu Kang escapes on his own. Scorpion fights with Sub-Zero, killing him and then turns to ash. At the Pit, the bridge breaks and Goro, Sonya and Kano all fall to their apparent deaths while Johnny Cage manages to grab onto the edge and is saved by Raiden. In Shaolin Monks, the fighters are all at Shang Tsung's palace fighting one another, Scorpion vs. Sub-Zero, Sonya vs. Kano, Johnny Cage vs. Reptile, with no mention of Liu Kang defeating Goro. Kung Lao, who was disguised as a masked guard saves Liu Kang when Shang Tsung tries to devour his soul and then fights with Baraka, who was never confirmed to be at the tournament either. Just as Liu Kang lands his Flying Kick on Shang Tsung, Goro comes out and attacks all the Earthrealm warriors. Shang Tsung opens a portal and escapes to Outworld with Goro, Kano, Baraka, Reptile, and most strangely among fans, Scorpion following him through. It begs the question as to how Scorpion could've gotten back to kill Sub-Zero and why you see Reptile on the Pit bridge later on.

In his Mortal Kombat II bio, it is stated that Shao Kahn was the one who gave Shang Tsung his youth back which set Mortal Kombat II's story into motion. In Shaolin Monks, he gets his youth back at the Soul Tombs.

Aside from a brief mention of the character, there is further information about the impending Sindel resurrection in Mortal Kombat 3.

There is no actual tournament in Shaolin Monks.

There is no mention of Sub-Zero's mission to complete his brother's failed assignment to assassinate Shang Tsung. Instead it is implied that his Mortal Kombat 3 story is taking place at the time.

Goro is not thought to be dead after Mortal Kombat, nor does it seem he goes into exile until he reemerges in Mortal Kombat 4, since Kitana and Mileena know where he is.

In Noob-Smoke's Mortal Kombat: Deception ending, it is mentioned that Sub-Zero and Noob Saibot have not seen each other since before Noob Saibot became a wraith.

Quan Chi getting the amulet at the end of the game spurred a huge controversy among fans of the series. It is believed that Quan Chi had it since the end of Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero. Here, it is rather strange that Shao Kahn has it and Quan Chi gets it from him.

Screenshots

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge:

External links

Official websites:

Other websites: