Li Mei
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Li Mei is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series.
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[edit] About Li Mei
Li Mei was introduced in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance as a variant of a well-known archetype in most fighting games: she is a girl/young woman fighting against a supreme crime organization or overlord who did her wrong and fights at impossible odds. She is somewhat of a tragic hero.
[edit] Storyline
Li Mei's village was forced into slavery to help construct Shang Tsung's palace around the soulnado, which had been a long-time legend of her people. In attacking Kano, however, she gained the attention of Quan Chi, who promised her freedom if she could win a tournament. Around this time she befriended an old warrior among her enslaved villiagers; the supposed "Champion of the Elder Gods" Shujinko, captured by Kano during his 40 year quest for the Kamidogu. Shujinko offered to train her even though he felt that her chances in the Deadly Alliance's "tournament" were slim. She later journeyed to a nearby forest were she was attacked by Moloch and Drahmin. She escaped through the trees as Shang Tsung came and formed an alliance with the Oni.
In Mortal Kombat: Deception, Li Mei returned (most of the newly-introduced fighters did not). Though her ending in Deadly Alliance depicted her winning Quan Chi's tournament, and "winning" the right to be imprisoned forever in one of the Dragon King's soldiers' bodies, Deception had Bo' Rai Cho rescuing her from this fate. However, he was apparently only partially successful, and Li Mei took on some of the aspects of one of these ancient warriors. As such, she is far more battle-oriented in this game, wearing armor, for example.
In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon's Konquest mode, Li Mei is seen fighting Shinnok in the Netherealm. She begins to gain the upper hand on him until Taven (who is unaware that Shinnok turned evil) appears and demands that she gets away from "Lord Shinnok". Li Mei attempts to attack Taven for interfering, but is defeated and flees. Shinnok later reveals that this was all created as a test for Taven, thus making it unclear if this was the real Li Mei.
In Li Mei's Armageddon ending, she defeats Blaze and uses her new powers to trap Quan Chi and Shang Tsung in an obelisk, where they will be forced to fight off attackers forever.[1]
[edit] Combat characteristics
[edit] Signature moves
- Nova Blast: Li Mei shoots out a ball of sparkling energy at her opponent. (MK:DA, MK:D, MK:U, MK:A)
- Carnival Spin: Li Mei spins in an impossible circular fashion, kicking the opponent into the air on one leg without having it leave the ground. This move is borrowed from Reiko. (MK:DA, MK:D, MK:U, MK:A)
- Flying Furry: Li Mei flies forward at the opponent and punches them multiple times in the face. (MK:DA, MK:D, MK:U, MK:A)
- Flipping Heel Kick: Li Mei flips forward in a circular motion, kicking her opponent on the head. (MK:DA, MK:D, MK:U, MK:A)
[edit] Appearance
Along her presentations at Deadly Alliance and Deception, Li Mei mostly wears clothes which reveals most of her body. In Deception, due to her almost-successful soul transport to Onaga's army, she gained some warrior aspect as mentioned, so she wears more battle-oriented and armor like clothes, while still revealing her body.
Li Mei had a large face makeover between Deadly Alliance and Deception. In Deadly Alliance she had big, green eyes and big lips, however, in Deception she had small, brown eyes and smaller lips. Her alternate costume in Deception still keeps her Deadly Alliance face model.
[edit] Trivia
- She has a joke picture in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance that promotes her as a supermodel.
- Li Mei is rather notable in Deadly Alliance for having four special moves; most characters have only two or three. She retains all of these moves in later games.
- In her Armageddon Trading Card, Ed Boon referred to Li Mei as a "sexy bombshell character."
- Ed Boon also stated in her Trading Card that the Team specifically gave her a revealing outfit and provocative moves (i.e., her Carnival Spin kick).
- In Deception's Konquest mode, she is the only who learns from Shujinko, rather than teaching him. This is no doubt due to her implied youthfulness and inexperience.
