Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks

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Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Developer(s)	Midway L.A.
Publisher(s)	Midway
Designer(s)	Adam Puhl, John Edwards
Series	Mortal Kombat
Release date(s)	September 16th, 2005
Genre(s)	Beat 'em up
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Mature (M) BBFC: 18 OFLC: MA15+
Platform(s)	PS2, Xbox

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is the ninth game in the controversial Mortal Kombat series. Shaolin Monks was developed and published by Midway for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox and was released September 16th, 2005 in the United States. In October 2004, the president of Midway, David F. Zucker, called the release of 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]

[edit] Gameplay

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is an action-adventure game that spans the events of Mortal Kombat II, starting with the aftermath of the first Mortal Kombat. The game centers on two members of the Shaolin Order, Liu Kang and Kung Lao, as they travel through the realms in an attempt to thwart Shang Tsung's plans to dominate Earthrealm.

The game features three main modes of play. Aside from a single-player mode, the game has a co-operative mode, where two players can work together through the game, with access to some areas and items that are inaccessible in single-player mode. There is also a versus mode, where two players can fight against each other in some of the arenas featured in the game.

In addition to Liu Kang and Kung Lao, the game features other characters from the Mortal Kombat series. Some are there to aid the main characters, including Raiden, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Jax Briggs and Sub-Zero, while others serve as the game's bosses, including Kitana, Mileena, Jade, Reptile, Baraka, Goro, Scorpion and Kano. Some of these can be unlocked to become playable characters in the various modes of the game.

Shaolin Monks has a gameplay device called the Multi-Directional Kombat System, which gives players the ability to attack any of the enemies that surround them fluidly. The engine allows the player to maintain combo attacks across multiple enemies, and even continue their combos after launching an enemy into the air through a powerful attack or a throw. The main characters also have many of the special moves that they've had in the fighting games of the series. Combos and special moves are upgradeable through the earning of experience points. These are mainly gained through defeating opponents, with the combo system multiplying the value. The environment plays a vital role in the game, as there are several hazards that will instantly kill an enemy, such as pits in the floor or rotating wheels of spikes. Using some of the environment in this manner, as well as attacking or destroying certain objects, serve as a puzzle-solving element to unlock secrets in the game.

The game also includes a common feature of the Mortal Kombat series, fatalities. Except for fatalities performed on Bosses, the method of performing one in Shaolin Monks is different from that of the main fighting games of the series. Using combos on enemies increases a fatality meter. Once that meter has reached a certain level, a fatality may be performed, regardless of an opponent's level of health. The main characters have the ability to perform several different fatality moves, some of which are 3D updated versions of fatalities from the first and second Mortal Kombat games. The player can also unlock the ability to do Multalities, which are fatalities performed on multiple enemies at once. The concept of Brutalities from Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 have also been brought back, though with a different function. Once the move has been performed, the player will be able to give more devastating attacks for a limited time.

A method for unlocking a Survival Mode in Shaolin Monks was published in April 2006, a full seven months since the game was released. Survival Mode comprises nine challenges, which vary in difficulty. These challenges feature recurring bosses and enemies, as well as exclusive arenas. The process for unlocking Survival Mode is featured on several MK related websites. [1]

Another contribution to this game is an unlockable emulated version of Mortal Kombat II. Whilst the means to unlock the game are included in the PAL release of Shaolin Monks (the completion of side missions given to the player or players by Smoke), Mortal Kombat II itself is not included in this version.

The locations in Shaolin Monks are based on arenas originally featured in Mortal Kombat II, as well as some from the first Mortal Kombat, and one from Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. Throughout the game are coded messages written vertically, translatable through references in unlockable concept art. The symbol for "LIZARD" is repeated several times within Reptile's Lair in the Living Forest. Several banners surrounding and en-route to a treetop area of the Living Forest, where Mileena is found, read "TOASTY" once translated. In the Soul Tombs, the glowing symbols above the entrances to two alternate routes translate as "FIRE" and "WIND". The door leading into the Foundry, as well as showing the player's tournament victories, has symbols which read "LIU KANG WILL DIR" (NOT die), referencing (though technically predicting) Liu Kang's death in Deadly Alliance.

[edit] Story

The battle raged furiously on Shang Tsung's island fortress in the Lost Sea. While the demon sorcerer watches from his throne, several fights occur: Sonya Blade vs. Kano, Johnny Cage vs. Reptile, and Sub-Zero vs. Scorpion.

The Shaolin monk Liu Kang confronts Shang Tsung and is met instead by two of his masked guards. Liu Kang defeats them and fights the sorcerer. Shang Tsung gains the advantage and proceeds to consume Liu Kang's soul but is interrupted by a disguised Kung Lao. Kung Lao throws his bladed hat at one of Baraka's henchmen, decapitating him. Baraka ducks and avoids the hat, but narrowly. Kung Lao proceeds to fight Baraka and Liu Kang continues fighting Shang Tsung. Although the sorcerer tries morphing into various fighters, Liu Kang punches him several times and finishes him with the Flying Kick, sending Shang Tsung through a pillar. Weakened, Shang Tsung tries to get up, but the room quakes.

A scene from the battle with Goro

Emerging from a hallway, Goro appears and moves in on any fighter he sees. With Goro distracting everyone else, Shang Tsung creates a portal to Outworld and retreats. He's soon followed by Baraka, Goro, Reptile, Kano, and strangely Scorpion. Raiden appears afterwards and warns the remaining fighters to get off the island palace for it's collapsing into the sea. Everyone evacuates except Liu Kang and Kung Lao who fall into Goro's Lair.

Liu Kang battling Tarkatan warriors outside the Wu Shi Academy

They escape back to the Wu Shi Academy but Baraka and the Tarkata launch an attack on the Wu Shi Academy and capture Sonya. Raiden confirms that Shang Tsung is trying to lure Liu Kang and his allies to Outworld where he can order his henchmen to attack them and bide his time for power. If he's successful, Shang Tsung will conquer Earth without winning a Mortal Kombat tournament, which is cheating.

The Shaolin Monks, Liu Kang and Kung Lao, journey through the nightmarish realm of Outworld to stop the sorcerer's plot. They are guided by Raiden and assisted by Johnny Cage. Throughout their journeys, they are joined by a mysterious princess named Kitana, meet familiar foes and eventually save Sonya and stop Shang Tsung. But the sorcerer is not the only person who wants Earth; the Emperor of Outworld wants Earth for his realm and he will stop at nothing until he gets it.

[edit] Differences between Shaolin Monks and the Mortal Kombat storyline

• The official Mortal Kombat II comic book was believed to be canon since it was written by John Tobias, the co-creator of the Mortal Kombat series. The comic is contradicted by the story presented in Shaolin Monks. While the fundamental basics remain the same (Shang Tsung's island crumbles, the Shaolin temples are destroyed, Shang Tsung regains his youth, the Earthrealm warriors are lured into Outworld etc.), the details and order of many events and whom fought whom are largely different between the two.
• Sub-Zero's scar has never officially been explained in the Mortal Kombat storyline until Shaolin Monks. Shaolin Monks invalidated the long held fan theory that he was scarred by the Lin Kuei when he left the clan in Mortal Kombat 3 by having him scarred in a fight with Kung Lao.^{[citation needed]} His bio in Mortal Kombat Trilogy states that he was marked by death by the Lin Kuei. Shaun Himmerick, the producer of Shaolin Monks, has stated in an online chat "Fight Night" held at the fan site Mortal Kombat Online that the term "marked for death" was meant figuratively. [2]
• Kung Lao was not present at the first tournament. He met with Liu Kang afterwards, at the ruins of the Shaolin Temple. In Shaolin Monks, he had sneaked onto Shang Tsung's island during the tournament, and posed as one of his guards.
• Liu Kang was present when the Tarkata attacked the Shaolin Temple, and helped to fight them off. His Mortal Kombat II bio made clear he was not present at the battle.
• Liu Kang was portrayed as being naive and Kung Lao as being arrogant and jealous of Liu Kang's victory in the tournament. Neither of these attributes were shown in character storylines of previous games. They were also portrayed as somewhat immature at times (for example, Kung Lao constantly referring to Kitana as Liu Kang's "girlfriend" and Liu sharply responding to Kung Lao with "she's not my girlfriend!").
• The elder Sub-Zero was killed by Scorpion at the end of the first tournament. In Shaolin Monks, he survived the tournament, and was eventually killed by Scorpion sometime later.
• Goro was defeated by Liu Kang in the first tournament, and he was lost in the aftermath. His Outworld allies believed that he had been killed by Kang, only for him to return in Mortal Kombat 4. In Shaolin Monks, Goro survived the original Mortal Kombat tournament, and returned with Shang Tsung to Outworld. He was later "killed" there by Johnny Cage.
• Besides Goro, a few others of the MK character roster were "killed" in Shaolin Monks (Jade, Baraka, Reptile, Kano, Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn), all of which have appeared in games set after this one (made before and afterwards). Their deaths and subsequent resurrections are left unexplained.
• Raiden was shown doing various things that seem impossible or downright illogical (losing to the old Shang Tsung and being able to turn Shao Kahn to stone).
• Shang Tsung is seen restoring his own youth with a combination of fresh souls and powerful magic. However, his MKII bio and the comic state that it was Shao Kahn who restored his youth and strength.
• Reptile says that he doesn't serve Shang Tsung, when the player meets him for the first time. His Mortal Kombat II bio states that he had served as Tsung's bodyguard during the first tournament.
• The younger Sub-Zero and Noob Saibot meet in Shaolin Monks, and Sub-Zero is somewhat aware of Noob’s true identity. Noob-Smoke’s ending in Mortal Kombat: Deception mentioned that Noob hadn’t seen his brother since before he died, but it wasn’t known if Sub-Zero had seen him or knew of his true identity.
• Kitana is shown having had full knowledge of what Shao Kahn did to her family for quite a while (thus, she had fought against his rule during that time), and is put under a holding spell to gain her loyalty. In her Mortal Kombat II ending, it tells that Kitana had learned of her true past during her years as an assassin, and only feigns loyalty to the Emperor, with no spell involved.
• Shaolin Monks introduced the idea that during Kitana's days as an assassin for Shao Kahn, she was placed under a spell to erase her memories of her original parents and what Kahn had done to them. This idea is not contradicted anywhere else in the MK series, however.
• Jax, a member of the U.S. Special Forces, had the ability to open portals in Shaolin Monks. This technology didn't exist until the Outer World Investigation Agency was created after Mortal Kombat 3, when Shao Kahn had invaded Earthrealm. Until that point, only sorcerers (like Shang Tsung) and deities (like Raiden) could open portals.
• Quan Chi is seen bearing tattoos. However, this contradicts the story leading up to Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. During this time, he discovered markings that revealed secrets about his amulet, then burned those same markings onto his skin.
• Scorpion was shown to suddenly attack Liu Kang and Kung Lao. This gave the impression that Scorpion had an evil alignment, even though Scorpion has been a neutral character throughout the course of the MK timeline.
• Reptile’s lizard-like features are more evident here than in MKII. Originally, Reptile had covered his true appearance with a human-like skin suit and mask, before abandoning the suit in MK4, and his de-evolution sometime before Deadly Alliance.
• At the end of the game, it was revealed that Shao Kahn was in possession of Quan Chi’s amulet, and Quan Chi himself is seen retrieving it. This spurred a controversy among fans of the series, because it was believed that Quan Chi had the amulet since the end of Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (set before the first Mortal Kombat), and it isn’t known how Kahn came to have it.
• The map in the pause menu shows the locations of all places previously visited by the main characters. The map is clearly not a map of Earth or anywhere in Earthrealm, so it is assumed that this is a map of Outworld. Despite this, it displays locations that have been visited in Earthrealm, such as the Wu Shi Academy
• The location of the "Warrior Shrine" arena was assumed to be on Shang Tsung's island, but now it's located near the Shaolin Temples.

[edit] 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 well-received 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 after the first game, and through the second, 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.

Recent information confirms that "Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks" has sold over one million copies.^[2].

Despite the games success there were some issues with the game that fans took note of. The game has only four playable characters in story mode, all of which are male. Kitana was the only playable female in the entire game, but she was available only in versus mode.

Sonya Blade fights Kitana

The game's storyline also recieved critcism for ignoring and/or changing many storyline events in other Mortal Kombat games. There are also controversial matters in the game's story that don't necessarily pertain to alterations, so much as story elements that were never explained but had a long history of fanon behind them. Namely the origin of Sub-Zero's scar and Kitana being placed under a spell. Some characters seemed to have been portrayed differently than in previous games. Others also felt that the Liu Kang/Kitana relationship was poorly developed.

Buddhist monks in the U.S. as well as around the world where the game was released were offended by the TV commercial (which had a lot of blood) with the violence as well as the game itself since Buddhism is a peaceful religion and that Raiden looks like a Buddhist/Taoist god. Since Shaolin Monks are not supposed to commit murder or suffer excommunication, the way Liu Kang and Kung Lao (being Buddhist monks trained to fight) are portrayed here were considered offensive by religious Buddhists as well.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Glitches

• When fighting Kintaro, Shao Kahn has disappeared off his throne, although his voice can still be heard.
• When the player completes Smoke's missions in the European version of the game, he says that Mortal Kombat II has been unlocked in the main menu. However, it is impossible to unlock MKII in the European version of the game.
• The PS2 version has clipping problems for the enemies and causes the game to slow down. 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.
• After fighting Reptile, and climbing back up the wall, if the player jumps just before reaching the ledge at the top, they may fall back down to the ground inside the wall. If the player runs too far into the wall, they will get fatalities by two reptiles, even though he is dead.

[edit] Trivia

• After the players death the "Game Over" sequence features messages. They can either reference other MK characters (e.g. "Who will win, Stryker or Cyrax?", "Who is Kenshi? Why is He Blind?", or even "Sheeva, Sheeva, SHEEVA!"); give extremely subtle hints for completing the game such as "Only Smoke knows how to play MK2" (as in how to play Mortal Kombat II For Xbox and NTSC Playstation 2 only though the message still appears in the PAL PS2 version), "Have you fed all the trees?" (as in feeding the trees in the Living Forest to gain access to Reptile's Lair), "Find Noob, he will reveal many secrets" and "Boss Rush Mode?" (an oblique reference to the hidden Survival Mode in this game); or even downright silly such as "Find Mustapha", "Free Princess Melewski", or "Tell your friends". One in particular, "Kano Transformations," is a reference to a statistic in the Mortal Kombat II arcade operator reports screen as well as a reference to Nightwolf's friendship in MK3.
• Although some fans pass the game off as non-canon, it would appear that the MK team considers it as canon in the place of MKII. This is shown in Kung Lao's Armageddon ending which mentions a rivalry between him and Liu Kang which was introduced in Shaolin Monks.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Official websites:

• Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks

Other websites:

• Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks media and information archive at Total Mortal Kombat
• Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks at MobyGames
• Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks Comprehensive Strategy Guide at Kamidogu