Summary
Fans have been weighing in on the recent reveal that Scorpion could have a different identity inMortal Kombat 1. NetherRealm made it clear that the latestMortal Kombatgame would be a continuity reboot for the long-running fighting game franchise, one that features new versions ofclassicMortal Kombatfighterswith revamped backstories and relationships. One prime example of this ethos is present in Scorpion, the fire-wielding undead ninja who has been the mascot ofMortal Kombatsince its very first installment.
Scorpion’s new backstory inMortal Kombat 1is striking different from his portrayal in the oldMKtimeline, and quite ironic to boot. Instead of being the sworn enemy of Sub-Zero and the Lin Kuei as he was before, Scorpion will instead be their brother and ally in the battle to save EarthRelam from the returning Shang Tsung. This revelation spawned theories that Scorpion may be acompletely different person inMortal Kombat 1, and story director Dominic Cianciolo seemingly confirmed this by naming Kuai Liang (the second Sub-Zero in the originalMKcontinuity) as Scorpion during last week’s San Diego Comic-Con.
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As is the case with any major change to established lore, the reveal that Kuai Liang could be the Scorpion ofMortal Kombat 1has sparked much debate online. Reddit user Raz0712 asked about the twist on r/MortalKombat, prompting a mix of different reactions. Some users are against the idea of anyone but Hanzo Hasashi using the Scorpion identity, likening it to having Clark Kent as Batman and finding it confusing and unnecessary. Others find it strange that Kuai Liang, a character known for wielding ice powers, now commands fire in Liu Kang’s altered timeline.
While most of the responses to Raz0712’s post skew negative, many users are at least willing to see how NetherRealm executesKuai Liang’s story inMortal Kombat 1before passing judgment. The more positive users note that having Kuai Liang as Scorpion opens the door for Bi-Han to remain as Sub-Zero for longer than the original timeline, where he was killed and resurrected as Noob Saibot early on. Others, like user EntrancedForever, are fine with it as long as Hanzo Hasashi still appears in a different capacity, especially if he can break free from “MK’s endless cycles of dead wives and children.”
Hanzo’s original backstory and rivalry with the Lin Kuei are some of the most iconic character dynamics inthe originalMortal Kombatlore, so the thought of changing or even outright removing them is a controversial subject for hardcore fans. Thankfully, most of the Reddit replies toMortal Kombat 1’s Scorpion twist have been fairly civil, with most willing to wait and see how this new Lin Kuei storyline plays out this fall.
Mortal Kombat 1launches September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S
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