I think we'll get the general premise of MK4's story with Shinnok and Quan Chi being the main villains of the game. About what the other characters can do, that all really depends on how they are portrayed, because it's possible we'll get changes in their personalities/motivations.

I would say that Reiko would still mostly be a mysterious character who probably doesn't do too much aside from serving Shinnok. In MK: Armageddon, we get the idea that he doesn't like Quan Chi too much, so that aspect may or may not be present. It's possible that Reiko's story may still tie into Shao Kahn, and it could be something for later.

Kai could simply be someone that Raiden discovers and recruits, sort of taking Liu Kang's and Kung Lao's place. Jarek might likely tie more into Kano's story since Kano didn't die (IIRC). He's a little bit tough to pull off, because there still isn't too much to his character. For Tanya, I suppose she's simply just trying to survive and is picking the winning side. With her character, it would be a nice change if she wasn't someone power hungry but instead someone that simply takes pleasure in making others miserable.

I mostly agree with Sub-Zero.

I think they are going to bring a lot of the MK4 characters back for the simple fact that Earthrealm is in a terrible state and doesn't have many warriors left. They are most likely going to bring back most of the MK4 characters, one main being Fujin obviously, the other being Kai, and so on so forth.

Keep in mind that I don't think Goro is dead and he was the sub-boss of MK4. We may see a return of him aswell.

For Tanya, I really don't see her being that useful in the next game. Sure, sh'eel be a nice character to see, but I don't think she is going to take a big part in the story.

Same with Reiko. This whole shenanigans with Reiko taking over Kahn and all this is total bullshit. Looking forward to see what happens with everyone, actually.

Hopefully Razor comes in here and totally owns us all lol.

Even though Shinnok and Quan Chi will probably be the major threats, i doubt this will cover only MK4 or the Netherealm vs Earthrealm. Characters such as Tanya, Reiko, Fujin and Kai will most likely be an important part of it.

Since the old timeline will be altered a lot for all characters though, i think some characters from MKDA and later will end up involved in this war for whatever reason. Their storyline will be different from everything they were before and this is the only good reason why they had the reboot imo.

So other than Raiden, Fujin, Johnny and Sonya. Shinnok, Reiko, Tanya and the characters that matter the most about the old Netherealm war, i suspect a lot of "I do this. But end up like that this time. Do you like me better now?"

"I start there, but i turned and now follow him/her to there."

And a lot of these interrogations for all characters are still vowed to appear imo. I remember how excited i always was when waiting for a new MK game and still i am. The matter is, i ended disapointed with the story most of the time so i'm not getting my hopes too high.

So, even if it is the Netherealm war that ends up covered (I don't see why Moloch and Drahmin wouldn't end up on the bad guys side.) I sense more of it will be mentioned and still there probably won't be anything to do with the whole: Liu and Raiden won so thundergod was made Elder God and everyone is happy. Just like they did with MK9, other characters will most likely have the spot so i'm expecting something way different from MK4.

To answer the question in the thread title, I don't think that we know anything at this point. Sure, the ending to the story mode leads any longtime MK fan in that direction since we know what came next in the original timeline.

But given all that's changed due to Raiden altering that timeline, I'd say that you have the framework for an invasion, but anything underneath that plot umbrella? I'd say anything goes.

That could mean lots of new characters, or good guys controlled by Quan Chi, or perhaps plotpoints for undoing some deaths (do we really think Sub Zero will be only automated in the next game?), or a greater focus on MK4 characters or even post MK4 characters.

They have a lot of ways that they can go here in terms of characters and what they do during this invasion. Will it simply lead toward the Deadly Alliance? Would it need to if Shao Khan and Liu Kang are already dead? Would this somehow lead to the Dragon King's awakening?

If they're going to redo the MK timeline, I REALLY hope they don't simply follow MK4 to MK:DA to MK:D etc. We've seen all of that already. You changed things, so now you should have to set a course for a new direction.

Personally, I'd LOVE to see Shinnok's invasion stopped completely about half way through the storyline with whatever comes next, and I'd really prefer that not have anything to do with Shang Tsung/Quan Chi or the Dragon King.

I want them to show fans that they really made a fork in the road and that newer and better things than one what came in the 3D era are on the horizon.

Shinnok and Quan Chi will pose again as threat number 1 and 2 respectively, but some plot elements will be changed:
Sindel won't be hypnotized in her Throne Room
The betrayal of Tanya will occur in a different way
More backstory for Reiko and Kai and maybe Sareena
Additional characters (Rain, Skarlet and Kenshi are a given, but we'll see new comers and few characters from the 3D trilogy).

Thta's my quick prediction...

How is it like MK 4?
It will mostly have Shinnok and the forces of the Netherrealm invading.

Tanya?
Tanya would still be serving Shinnok I think, and probably be a rat in the good guy's army.

Kai?
With the heroes all dead I'm sure Raiden will go searching for worthy defenders of the realm and he will most likely meet up with Kai.

Reiko?
Well with Khan dead I would think it would just make him more determined to become to take his place, that is if Shinnok let's him.

Jarek?
He'll probably just be a henchman for Kano, who is still alive this time around. That is if he comes back at all. I could see him being dropped from the roster forever.

Of course these are just my theories.

I think the next game could cover characters from the whole 3D era, so hopefully we get most of the fan favourites from that era.

Reiko, Kenshi (in story) and my biggest miss Havik !

One would think that many Earthrealm villains like the Tekunin will now team up with the rest of the heroes. It would sound absurd if Shinnok would invade Outworld and Earthrealm in the same time even though they are both in his plans.

Many have suggested that Mileena would inherit the rule of Outworld but I don't think that he's mentally stable enough for the task in this time line. Hopefully Ermac and Reptile are more able to reach their legacies of Edenia and Zaterra this time. Raiden should rip in four pieces and give space for the god of wind.

first, liu kang is not dead he is just baddly burned. and all of thoughs who have died always make it in the next tournament. look at scorpion and johny cage. and remember raiden is enlightened. he knows all the fighters that have been up to armegedon. he can call upon them if necessary. and besides kitana, kung lao, smoke, sindel, ermac, stryker, kano, millena, and cyrax, sector, alought of thoughs character werent in the first mk4 cut. and subzero and scorpion are customary in an mk game. and shinok dosent need the original characters who helped. in the end he said that both earth realm and out world ar in a terrible state. and dont you think that quan chi isnt going to side with sub-zero, like he did with scorpion in mk4. the only thing you should worried, or not, about is that liu kang is going to be healed in time of the invasion. and right now scorpion is fine he dosent want revenge. sub-zero does. so rest assure your favorite characters will come back.

Um... what?

@Just_A_Tarkata

Kind of hard to follow. But i think that the heroes being trapped in the Netherealm since the reboot is a sign that things will likely happen differently this time. Even though Liu might not be dead, having him ready for Shinnok's invasion would be a little deja vue no? After what happend to him in MK9 i doubt he'll be up to destroy the very next threat.

I also think that the characters that weren't in the original MK4 for whatever reason isn't a factor this time around.

sorry my writing isnt great cuz i cant do the spaces like you guys


but yeah liu not dead hes just burnt and even if liu kang is in the next things will be differnt hopefuly

wow it worked

mabey baraka should save the day

Um, could you please stop spamming this thread? If you don't know how this site works, read the FAQ please.

The topic isn't talking about returning characters from the previous game, my topic is about how much of the MK4 story will be changed since obviously that's the next direction in the story it's heading towards. Nowhere am I talking about the fates of the characters who died in latest game.

ok i wasnt spaming i was conversing but fine

Well do you have anything to actually contribute to the main topic then if you were "not spamming?"

Such as, how much the story is going to change. How much will the MK4 debuted characters' stories are going to be since characters that interacted with them are either dead or nowhere in the picture? The whole amulet shindig?

we've pretty much covered every possible out come to the story. new people ermac returns souls raiden request to bring them back. its basically mk4 all over again accept this time a round the others will be fighting for netherream un less wut if the story is to set out and rree them

Umm... Why would Ermac return souls when he's unwillingly evil in this game? He's not a good guy, he's not going to just hand them over become some god happened to mess things up big time. He's still evil unless a big change happens to him in the story, and that depends if he returns for the next game, which we do not know at this current moment.

We haven't covered every possible outcome to the story because we don't know what's going to be happening to the characters who would be introduced during this time. That's the whole point of this thread, to figure out THEIR fates, not those who are dead. Who cares about them for right now, they're dead, they're in the Netherrealm right now. Their souls meaning nothing right now in this thread.

It's not MK4 all over again if important events changed. Such as how I pointed it out in Tanya's situation. Sindel and Kitana are dead, Sindel was captured during this time when Shinnok invaded and it was Tanya who helped them enter Edenia. As far as I'm concerned, Edenia was not mentioned at all throughout this story, and since it played a huge role in MK4, since events changed, I doubt it has a significant role that it did in the previous timeline. So no, it's not MK4 because these characters have been effected greatly upon the significant changes throughout this game's story.

I'm not getting my hopes too high for Quan Chi in the near future. Kind of confused but is he already in possession of Shinnok's Amulet? I'm predicting a bad fate for him this time though.

I would really love for Tanya to become a more relevant or say important part of the story on her own but with the current state outworld could be in? And the Netherealm? Probably won't see her rise to power as soon as next game imo. She'll be a servant still for a time.

Nitara? Doesn't have much to do with the original Netherealm war but since it might involve Outworldians this time who knows. She doesn't seem to have a clear side chosen either but i had a thought about her turning at some point during her next apperance. Maybe it's irrelevant but i keep thinking about her ability to get in the Netherealm and get out, carrying someone with her (Reference to her DA ending). Whenever the good guys would need it. But she could end up betraying them.

She could simply start as a Netherealm prisoner and a Shinnok servant this time though. But i don't think she'll turn her back on her race completly so she might still end up without any development whatesome ever.

Kenshi: Simply next hero, that's what i'd do. But i doubt it'll happen at all.

As for Outworld: Bo Rai Cho and Li Mei are likely to join the good side. Involve their universe this time entangled with the Netherealm and Earthrealm and they have to do something.

I really wish Raiden will remain a guide, no matter how bad things can turn out for him. Guess he still has Shujinko, Kai, Taven and Fujin and Johnny or Sonya to rely on when things get ugly. (I really sense that they will.)

The war between order and chaos? Think might still happen a little later but as soon as next game, Hotaru could be part of the resistance to Shinnok. As an extremist in my point of view but sometimes, they get the job done.

Back in the MKD times i've had an idea to bring back Jarek. I was thinking that the black dragon clan could have acquired the Lin Kuei technology and trying to make one of them a cyborg. Jarek could be that new, half human/half cyborg character. Whatever they're up to, Kano could be willing to make Sonya suffer that same fate. She would have to be saved or something. And i think Kano lived this time so...

This is just in part what i think the future might be holding for the characters but 50% of the time and more i end up being wrong.

I still believe it will be deadly alliance and deception all in one big story line.

What and why makes you say that?

wasnt deadly aliance mostly about liu kang dying and shinok isnt part of deadly aliance

so what is he gonna walk around taking over earth real wile there out fighting shang tsung quan chi and onaga.

wait a seconed raiden joined the aliance to beat onaga o.O