I don't know about redeemed, but definitely improved.

He's certainly still as devious a schemer as he always has been, but seeing him more fleshed-out made him way more intimidating. I think the incorporation of his plan with the Jinsei and having his corrupted form just added to that.

The only thing i'm not too keen on is the corrupted form's AI. Flame, flame, flame, flame, flame.... I mean, really? Can't they make a boss that doesn't have cheap tactics?

That was below the belt damn

I said he should return. I never Said he should return as the next boss- that can be for someone else.

And this is fucking Mortal Kombat- you really think Shinnok is going to remain a head for the rest of eternity? There's people who are called "writers"- they can take care of that through a little thing I call "story telling"

Is it bad that I love the idea of Shinnok as a decapitated head that rolls around "DO THIS PLOT DEVICE FOR ME AND I'LL MAKE IT WORTH YOUR WHILE!"

Thats proper Mortal Kombat comedy there.

I can read, thank you. I clearly saw that you didn't say anything about Shinnok being the next boss. I was basically taking the whole "I wish he'd return for the next one," in general. I never said anything about him being a boss either, but villain-wise, he'd overstays his welcome if he does.

And also, I get that you love to throw out your smartass personality from time to time, I however, don't like it. So chill out with the attitude, why don't you? Kay honeybuns? Thanks.

People saying Shao Kahn is better are just some nostalgia fanatics.
Always felt that Shao Kahn is overrated.
The guy looks like a stripper...nuff said

I tried Shinnok. Meh, sold the game a week later. Can't handle it.

lolol somewhere frabn is angrily shaking his head

Lmfao

No. Not yet, but the game definitely tried.

The only thing we found out about Shinnok is what we alerady suspected. There is literally nothing here, that could not have been found out by putting two and two together based on MK4.


Shinnok is an omnicidal egotist. We have no motivation, nothing. He is the stock standard random powerful god of darkness. Worse yet, is the stock clichefest and idiot balling. The last act of the story is a pretty badly written piece of work, on par with most avergae fanfiction.

They tried. They failed, because they did not really want to make something unique even in its own territory.

He was more charming than in MK4 though both storywise and in gameplay he still felt ineffectual and hiding behind others' dirty jobs rather than manipulating the events at least by attempting to communicate with Quan Chi from the amulet. Even in the only segment of the story where his authentic power is shown, he is taken down by none other than Cassie Cage. I Think in theory he is a deep character with a potential and charism (in some parts, even more than Shao Kahn), but his practical, in-game engagements just never seem to live up to his status. Perhaps it was the "unfortunate" order of events, i.e. he might have been more successful had Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung not taken the positions of all-time favourite arch villains before him.

By that logic NO villain should ever return because they might overstay their welcome. If that was the case we'd have no Mileenas or iconic re-curring villains of any sort. That's fucking idiotic. Kahn got played out because he had the same role as a boss for decades- except for Deception he was never just a regular dude with his own story.

Shinnok returning not as a boss but a normal character with his own story like everyone else is not asking for too much, if anything it would show that NRS actually utilizes their characters instead of dumping them the next game

And don't sit here and act innocent- you were every bit of a nasty hag as I was. Don't like the attitude? Then try giving some respect your own damn self, pookiebear.

Well, he's definitely more well-known with the casual crowd now, so that's a plus (and hopefully increases his chances in future games). And I really enjoy how they solidified his individuality with bone weapons and constructs. There were hints of it before, but Shinnok was one of the characters that shined with the variation system showing off his abilities. He's no longer the "Shang Tsung ripoff", but now "the bone dude."

But I personally felt Shinnok was indeed too simple of a villain this time around. Too much of a "death to all" and "destroy everything" kind of omnicidal villain that we've seen before. Shinnok, being older than the universe itself, should've had a fascinatingly grandiose and complex plan. I would've liked his backstory explored a bit more...really get into the head of a being so ancient and what makes him tick. But I think that's probably too much to expect from NRS' writers...

Boss-worthy, yes they shouldn't return. Villains, no. Shinnok doesn't seem like the kind of character that can just be on the sidelines. He's not like a Shang Tsung where he can easily return whenever and pose a threat. He's a fucking fallen god for heaven's sake. He should be this most threatening creature to ever go against Earthrealm.

But let's take away that title, let's take away his threatening abilities, he'd just be another lackluster boss that can't get anywhere. In fact, he was. Getting defeated by a character so many were aggravated became the main star of X. Yeah, he sure made his presence. They sure redeemed him.

/sarcasm.

And please tell me how in the fuck was I rude to you in just saying, "no thanks"? You're the one that lashed out at me first. Oh wait, this article of you certainly does describe you so perfectly. Now everything makes fucking sense. You're a joke. Reply to get the last laugh like always, I'm done wasting my time with you.

Yeah, even the Impostor variation which is a general nod to his original MK4 appearance is only really one unique move - steal one special attack from the opponent. He holds well enough on his own to not even need it, but it's neat that it allows him to gain some of their brutalities too.

I saw some people balk at Shinnok having a dash move...I see why he has it(an I use it constantly). He's a distance fighter...all of his specials are designed to keep opponents far away from him, but he needs to be able to close the gap aggressively as well. So when you're fighting him, or playing against a player that is keeping you at a distance, but you manage to close on him, then all of a sudden he rushes you down...it catches you off-guard even if you are familiar with the character. I've accumulated many an online win becuase of how unexpected that is.

Well you know you're doing well if a group of losers takes the time to dedicate an entire hate page to you. I don't know rather to be flattered or creeped out but I've seen that over a year ago. Gotta love it. Glad to see you endorse such a hate mongering page built to do nothing but humiliate and break others down though. Good stuff.

And I don't care about your opinion. I want Shinnok back- no half-ass bullshit excuse you try to hurl will change that. :)

I will say, he has some of the best variations in-game.

He was aight, his voice and attacks didn't do too much for me this time around.

I feel like he's better off like he was in Mythologies - he's got no moveset in that, but his demeanor and body language. Quieter, creepy looking, and his final form was less generic looking and just weirder.

A more untouchable, "have-to-outwit" kinda thing would be cool for him though it might translate to a shitty final boss in a MK game I suppose.

Definately he was awesome in MKX but I kind of wish they held him off for one more game I would've preferred to see him as a string puller in this game perhaps with a powered up Liu Kang as the boss.

Sort of like the emperor and darth vader in Star Wars keep shinnok somewhat in the shadows whilst Liu Kang leads the charge against earthrealm then next game bring him in as the ultimate bad guy! Because while I was very happy with shinnok in this game having him get beat by the cages sort of cheapened him I reckon

His baby skeleton hands either ruin him, or make him my favorite I honestly can't tell

Ugh, those damned baby hands. Necromancer was going to be my go to variation for him too.

I feel you there man, Necromancer seamed the most interesting one, and they totally ruined it with those hands.
It actually doesn't look THAT bad with his Wrathful costume, but I still don't know what the hell were they thinking, and did enyone even see how stupid it looks with his default one?

Still waiting for some god-send modder to replace them with green eyes as variation indicator...

Anyway, his representation was cool, but it was obvious that the proper way to handle him in story mode (grand battle with other Elder Gods on heaven and maybe destruction of some worlds) would require a lot of expensive cinematics to create, so they oped to go the cheap way and pulled that retarded green energy out their ass (god, how I hate that crap)...

They could have given him bone armor instead of making his arms look ridiculous.

Shinnok was redeemed in some ways and not so redeemed in others. His design, voice, and mannerisms were all fantastic. I was watching his intros yesterday and was having multiple nerdgasms over how cool he is.

Storywise, uhhh he wasn't done justice. He constantly jumps back and forth from looking like an unstable force to looking like a joke. I'm a firm believer of suspending disbelief, but there are limits. Likes some others said, it might have to do with the writers not being that complex.