Actually i have a list of all the characters i think mk should keep and drop.

Keep-
Lui Kang
Raiden
Sub-Zero
Scorpion
Shao Kahn
Kabal
Shinnok
Jax
Sonya
Ashrah
Ermac
Mileena
Kitana
Baraka
Dairou
Reptile
Smoke
Quan Chi
Kai
Kano
Goro
Shang Tsung
Reiko

There are more but i wont list them all

Drops-
Noob Saibot
Tanya
Bo Rai Cho
Kintaro
Havik
Darrius
Dairou
Rain (i like him but his story sucks)
Stryker
Sektor
Cyrax (one of my favs but he doesnt have much to look forward to.)
Johnny Cage (no fun at all)

there are some.

As for new characters i say yes to that. MKD's new characters kind of sucked so i think they could improve on that very well.

I'm not sure why MK fans can't seem to let go of the old characters. Everyone seems to want about 20 characters to return for what is supposed to be a rebirth of the franchise. Personally, I'd hope the MK team follows something like this:

1) 2 Characters survive Armageddon, but neither can be from MK1 or MK2, as nearly all of those characters have been in at least two sequels. I'd rather they delve further into two characters that we don't know alot about, or characters that have appeal/intrigue/potential, but have never really been developed. Suggestions might include Mavado, Ashrah, Fujin, Drahmin, Kai, Sareena etc.

2) 2 characters that are brand new, but come from existing groups (ie Lin Kuei, Black Dragon, Red Dragon, Special Forces, Brotherhood of the Shadow, the Tarkatans, Reptiles' race, the Vampires etc etc) There should be a certain level of familiarity as far as characters go in the game, even if that level is small, it should still be there. I would also suggest here that maybe we see a character from the Shinrai Ryu, as unlike most other groups, we've only seen Scorpion from this group and no one else really (I mean in the main fighting games, I'd rather not think about MK:SF)

3) Everyone else should be from new races, new places. I'd personally like to see MK return to Earth and leave the other realms in the past, though I'm sure there's alot of people that would disagree with me on that. Regardless, the vast majority of ideas should try to be new.

4) So that means no characters who are searching for characters from the past. This is not a good plotline in my eyes because it doesn't give the character anything else to do really. So their story is basically limited to the point that even with a great ending, the story for that character as a whole will be less than it could've otherwise been. I don't mind references to characters in the past (say a Shaolin warrior that was taught by Kung Lao or Liu Kang for example) but very few characters should be dominated by the past. Maybe one that is haunted by living up to the past character's legacy, but there shouldn't be a ton of plotlines that are controlled by the past.

I could go on, but to me, those are the most important parts. Keep a small amount of familiarity, but don't be afraid to take MK fans into uncharted waters. We've followed from 2D to 3D, several dozen new characters, new game modes, new offshoots etc. I feel like I'm kinda ready for a new storyline with new characters and new gameplay ideas and new graphics. Just my opinion though. They should study the other fighters out there and figure out ways to make MK better than itself and everything else.

I have similar desires to Baraka407, except slightly different

1) between 2 and 5 old characters (2 old school, 2 created for DA and/or D)
- One who is aged and acts as a aged trainer of some characters in the future (preferably Kung Lao)
- Scorpion (Asif he isnt gonna be in, im just being realistic)
- and any 2 fighters created in DA or D. I thought a number of these characters had great potential for good plotlines, it would be a waist for them all to be dropped IMO, but 2 only.
- Raiden (either in the game, or present as a plot device)

2) I like the idea of new characters with ties to past characters, such as coming from a clan, but im thinking 3 specific ones:
- A new Sub-Zero (As with scorp, im being realistic, but i think this would be a good point to have a youthful successor)
- A new Tarkatan (I love the tarkatans on the whole, would hate to loose them in general)
- A new Shaolin Monk like character (as trained under Kung Lao)

Other than that, i wholehartedly agree that new races / new locals / few past ties are important.

I don't think it should be ALL new characters, but I do think after Armageddon most of the "classics" should be killed off or retire. Most of any returning characters should consist of ones from MK4-MKD. The underdeveloped ones who only have a game or two under their belt.

Only a small few of pre-MK4 characters should return. In my humble opinion, they should be:
- Mileena. She has a lot of untapped potential and should she finally let go of her hatred for Kitana in Armageddon, I'd be very interested in seeing where she goes from there.
- Ermac. His return was very well received and I can see him evolving into one of the main heroes in the future, sort of like how Sub-Zero did.
- Jade. Even though she's considered a "classic," we still know very little about Jade. I can see her as sort of the "next generation Kitana." That doesn't mean she should go back to being a Kitana-clone, but I can see her taking Kitana's place after she retires. I'd also like to see Jade get a chance to develope into more of her own character.
- Scorpion will be back whether we like it or not.
- Sub-Zero is the same. Although, maybe we'll see a new Sub-Zero in the next generation. Perhaps the current one will retire and pass the mantle onto another? But either way, Sub-Zero's certain to return.
- Raiden....maybe. I think in Armageddon, Raiden should either die heroically, or they should set him up as a future villain. IMO, Raiden should only return in the next gen as a bad guy. Otherwise, leave him out.

Anyone else who returns should be more recent characters who haven't had as much chance to develope or are just too new to get rid of:
- Sareena. Too much potential to throw away.
- Fujin. Should take Raiden's place as Earth's defender and develope into his own character.
- Havik. Too soon to throw away, good potential, and can easily fit in the future.
- Nitara. Same deal as Havik, really.
- Drahmin. He has a really cool story and I can see him developing into a cool character....he just needs better moves.
- Li Mei. I can see her surviving the Onaga ordeal and returning in the future either as reformed hero or fully corrupted villainess.
- Kenshi. One of the better new characters. IMO, he's still too new to get rid of so soon.
- Kira. I can see Kira surviving as the next generation of Black/Red Dragon. I think she has potential.
- Dairou. I think Dairou can be improved. I think if they make him more like his original concept from MK:DA, he could be cool.
- Ashrah....maybe.

That's who, IMO, should return. Five or six "classics," nine or ten returning, and say ten or so brand new characters would make a healthy roster.

i say all new. some characters that i would like to see are-

Tekunin warrior
Shi ryu clan member
a new god (good and bad.) *wind and lighting, may i sugges rinjin/ryujin.? or perhaps hotei?lol (look em up if u dont know em.)
lin kui warrior
a new race.
another human like person (liu, lao, jinko, ri cho.)
a shaokan or centar
a new ninja like clan.
new clan similar to red/black dragons. or even a red/black dragon member
one of darrius' revelutionaries

i say all new and like 2 or 3 legends

Keepers

Scorpion (He'll never be gone)
Sub-Zero (Same thing)
Darrius
Hotaru (I see big potential in the Order/Chaos storyline)
Havik
Kira (Kano's replacement)
Li Mei
Kenshi
Kabal
Kai
Nitara
Reiko
Ashrah
Drahmin
Stryker
Kung Lao
Sareena
Fujin (As Raiden's replacement)

18 is a lot, but they don't need to all be together in the same game. I just think that those guys should stay.

Something they should do to make everything seem fresh is ditch the ninja look. Sub-Zero could stay unmasked, and Scorpion could become human again or something. They need to stay as far away from those costumes as possible.

thats a good idea about scorpion finaly becoming human. it could happen. The elder gods reward him for completing his duties as champion.

I agree with baraka Totally, We should see more of Scorpions Race, Or atleast more reptile, You can never have to much reptile... Like Cereal

i will pretend mk:a is not cannon since a "mass revival" is just totally unrealistic.

so therefore take the approach from the start of mkda and all those that *likely died in mk4 should stay dead.

should stay dead:
stryker
mokap
sheeva
goro
liu kang
shinnok

should die
kira -kano clone - why take a clone when the original is better?
jarek - same as above (mk team obviously likes the moveset since kano was cloned 2x)
hsu hao
motaro
moloch
shujinko
sonya
nitara - never liked a vampire in mk
mileena
nightwolf
kahn

should keep one in each group:
sindel
jade
kitana

sector
cyrax
smoke (perhaps all three of these die but a new character can be made from the spare parts???)

reptile
dragon king - fix this story line - can give dragon king forceballs and kirehashi blade and tone down as a regular fighter or resolve the reptile/dragon king question.

kenshi
ermac unfortunately both popular but have similar powers perhaps tie ones death to the others story - keeps wrist gauntlets or weapon or vest to fight in their honour

kabal
mavado i tend to lead towards mavado just coz i think the black dragon should die

cage
kobra simialr personalities i think but perhaps an evil hollywood-esque character takes over the mantle...cage is getting older...

should not die but doesnt necessarily have to be playable in next game
sub
scorp
kung lao
noob
shang
quan
li mei
bo rai cho
frost purely coz i would like to see sub as a hidden character and frost become a red dragon member
jax
baraka
raiden - at least for plot
kano
drahmin

characters that i think were less popular but have big potential from MKA so can potential kill all or few of them off:
blaze
ashrah
dairou
havik
hotaru
reiko although his mka media shows lotsa potential
fujin
tanya
rain
kai
kintaro

I'd still like to see the game set before MK1 so some old characters such as kitana, shang tsung and sindel can be included, but some new ones can be introduced aswell e.g i know he aint new but the great Kung Lao for example

i dont care who they keep as long as there are

sub
scorp
kung lao cs i lovd him in DA
reptile as ninja

other than that they can all be new

For the next MK game. I bet evil raiden will be the boss.

Well now that we know that a ton of characters are gonna die. For me I would like for them to keep:
Scorpion (for sure is gonna be there.)
Sub-Zero (Same as scorp.)
Raiden (I would like to see him again, but then again he has been in all of the games pretty much,except for 3 i think.)
Taven (maybe if he survives, and be in the next game.)
Fujin (yeah, I guess I could see himin there since he has been only in one game, and could possibly take Raiden's place.)
A new member of the Shokan
I don't know, can't think right now, that's it for right now I guess.

once there was a cattle high on ludacris hill he got high off cocain and now hes paying medical bills

I'm all for wiping the slate completely clean after Armageddon. If they want to truly end this current part of the MK story then I don't really see a need for any of the characters returning. At most have maybe three returning characters if you have to (I have no idea why most MK fans just can't cope without their favorite characters, heaven forbid you find new and better ones!) and it won't hurt the series none. It's been done in other fighting games successfully and in some cases end up being better than the majority of the old cast like in SF3.

Wipe the slate clean, do away with the old cast.

I hope most ot the characters do not make it. I have seen great big lists that people have compiled with about half of the characters on one side with the Heading "Survivors" and the other half "Dead". It just seems stupid of them to list so many survivors. Boon has stated that this is the last game for this group of characters so i do indeed beleive there will be around 0,1 or 2 survivors.

I just hope the oldies are mentioned in future MK games, as legends or myths. It would be quite nostalgic.



This is what i mean, its just totally unrealistic, Boon stated he will be wiping the slate clean.

I do think it's ridiculous for the supposed next gen game to consist of mostly returning characters....especially ones who've ha dplenty of spotlight given to them....but I think it'd be real stupid for Boon to clear out EVERY character but two....especially since we already know who those 2 are going to be.
Characters like Havik, Sareena, Nitara, and a few others have barely had a chance to fully develope and have plenty to offer to the future storyline. Or characters who may have been around for a while, but have always been secondary. Like Jade's been around since MK2, yet she's always been second-fiddle to Kitana. Mileena too actually. Fujin a.k.a Raiden's sidekick.
They should clear out the overdone or primary characters. The main heroes and main villains or just characters who've had a constant presence and give the secondary characters the spotlight in the next gen. I think it's stupid to throw them away for the mere principle of "wiping the slate clean."

I stand by the list I posted.


EDIT: And for the record, I didn't choose based on favorites. The only character I listed that I REALLY want back is Sareena. And I do think she deserves it.
I'd be disappointed if some didn't come back, but I'd live. And some others I couldn't care less about...I was just being fair.

You havea good point but i would rather ahve them all gone.

I don't want all new characters because MOST of the new characters suck.

Out of the 60+, here are 20 of the characters they should keep ...

Scorpion
Sub-Zero
Baraka
Shang Tsung
Quan Chi
Johnny Cage
Raiden
Smoke
Ermac
Kabal
Kano
Goro
Kintaro
Shao Kahn
Kung Lao
Mileena
Onaga
Noob Saibot
Stryker
Ashrah

Keep most of them, but some new ones would be cool like a samurai or a pirate, heck any new character from the Middle Ages would work.

I think that there should be a 9 returning characters in the next gen MKs.

-Scorpion : we all know this is going to happen, but i hope that they take him to a new level. I would like to see him totally revamped, get rid of the royalty look and make him more of the the beast from hell that we all know he is.

- Frost : Replacing Sub-Zero. She kills him in MKA (speculation) and takes his spot. Scorpion in MKA (speculation) now wants to kill her for not letting him finish the job himself.

- Jade : like stated earlier in the post replacing Kitana and making her more of her own character

- Reiko : lots of mystery behind this character, plus an awsome design of a character.

- Kira : Sucked in MK:D because of lack of originality... continue the story of the Black Dragon, and make her original... totally new moves.

- Fugin : Replace Raiden / Rayden - new protector of Earth Realm against a new threat. Raiden / Rayden went evil, so he takes over.

- Raiden / Rayden : Evil now, Fugins enemy.

- Kung Lao : Takes Bo Ri Cho's role of teacher, continues the legacy of the Kung Lao family and Shaolin Monks. He plays teacher to 1 or 2 new characters in the game... hopefully 2, and later in the story one is good and the other turns evil. - Sereena : loved her from first sight in MKM:S-Z. Great looking character, and mostly new, at least in the actual fighting games. Love to see her continue on... but have little story to build off of as of now.

thats my thoughts... thanks for reading

I'd have only 4 characters move into the next generation of Mortal Kombat.

Those 4 would be

1. Sub-Zero
2. Scorpion
3. Raiden
4. Kung Lao

Have the next generation take place 500 years after Armageddon.

The Sub-Zero from Armageddon would be long dead from old age. He would pass his legacy down upon a disciple who earned the name Sub-Zero and that name was carried for years.

Scorpion would forever be a plauge on the one who earns the rank of Sub-Zero, now you might think it is a bad idea but i'd consider Scorpion to be a ghost that is feared by all the Mortal Kombat characters. Scorpion's role is to make Sub-Zero's life a living hell because of the events of Armageddon. Scorpion will forever haunt the descendants of Sub-Zero. But the next generation has a lot in store for him.

Raiden would still be around and he would be so disapointed in himself for what has happened during the events of Armageddon. He would take blame for the death of all the classic warriors and he would loose hope in everything. Raiden would have been in exhile for a long time and he would be forced to take action in the next generation.

And Kung Lao he would hold the title of Mortal Kombat champion thanks to Liu Kang who gave him the title. Kung Lao would not want to hold it but he was forced to. Liu Kang made an ultimate sacrifice in the past and in order for the Shaolin to be alive Kung Lao must be alive. Forever haunted by the burden his shaolin brother had laid upon him, Kung Lao enters the new generation as a mentor and guide to the Earthrealm warriors and waits for the day when one of the warrors defeat him in battle to let his body and soul rest.

Kill all characters. I would even prefer that the next Mortal Kombat would have nothing to do with the established series so far. End it.