Shao Kahn is known as the recurring, most badass villain of the Mortal Kombat franchise. Not even Shinnok a fallen Elder God comes close to how badass he is. I would like to remember the struggle of defeating the big guy himself in Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3/Ultimate/Trilogy and lately Mortal Kombat (2011).
Mortal Kombat II is what some may call as a huge improvement of the very first game except with the balancing issues. Yes, balancing issues. Kintaro was probably the hardest boss for many players. Shao Kahn entered as a much more intimidating final boss than Shang Tsung. Shang Tsung may have morphed but Shao Kahn could beat several people up in a couple of seconds. Not everyone figured out an effective strategy for it.
Shao Kahn's rule didn't stop in Mortal Kombat II. He returned for three more games namely the failed Mortal Kombat 3, the successful Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 and the console exclusive Mortal Kombat Trilogy. He was playable the first time but it made two player matches super frustrating especially he had that MUCH damage. In these games, he not only unleashed that painful hammer and rising attack of his - he practically got beefed up to the point that sometimes, you'd be forced to cheat in MK Trilogy using the secret menu. I did it a couple of times until I figured out how to defeat him without using it. But still... you know the frustration of imbalanced gameplay right?
Shao Kahn was later demoted to extra during Deception (Game Cube version), Unchained (PSP exclusive) and Armageddon (that game SUCKS) but he still was powerful but not as powerful. Then he won the Battle of Armageddon. Not even his former superior Onaga was able to defeat him. He somehow defeated Onaga presumably after Blaze's destruction gave the third disastrous outcome. He would later return again in Mortal Kombat (2011) as the final boss.
Mortal Kombat II is what some may call as a huge improvement of the very first game except with the balancing issues. Yes, balancing issues. Kintaro was probably the hardest boss for many players. Shao Kahn entered as a much more intimidating final boss than Shang Tsung. Shang Tsung may have morphed but Shao Kahn could beat several people up in a couple of seconds. Not everyone figured out an effective strategy for it.
Shao Kahn's rule didn't stop in Mortal Kombat II. He returned for three more games namely the failed Mortal Kombat 3, the successful Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 and the console exclusive Mortal Kombat Trilogy. He was playable the first time but it made two player matches super frustrating especially he had that MUCH damage. In these games, he not only unleashed that painful hammer and rising attack of his - he practically got beefed up to the point that sometimes, you'd be forced to cheat in MK Trilogy using the secret menu. I did it a couple of times until I figured out how to defeat him without using it. But still... you know the frustration of imbalanced gameplay right?
Shao Kahn was later demoted to extra during Deception (Game Cube version), Unchained (PSP exclusive) and Armageddon (that game SUCKS) but he still was powerful but not as powerful. Then he won the Battle of Armageddon. Not even his former superior Onaga was able to defeat him. He somehow defeated Onaga presumably after Blaze's destruction gave the third disastrous outcome. He would later return again in Mortal Kombat (2011) as the final boss.
Mortal Kombat (2011) gave us a combination of the two Kahns with some new gimmicks. He now had several ways to use his hammer aside from just whacking it. He would use his extremely damaging hammer in his super painful X-Ray attack. He would also throw his hammer and it's an unblockable attack that leaves you open. He used his spear attack from Mortal Kombat II. His death animation was VERY similar to that minus the arena shifts added with the combo before he explodes.
For the reboot, I thought it's the easiest of the three battles for this reason - smoother controls and easier to perform combos. Sure, it's not easy and I admit I was knocked out FIVE to TEN times by this guy on the first day. My first day score was to reach Goro/Kintaro and got knocked out once. Shao Kahn was pure rage energy but the easier controls made him easier to deal with than the old school versions of him. It's still difficult but reasonably difficult. I still think of how developers had a good reason to give him all his painful attacks because the controls are much easier this time around.
For the reboot, I thought it's the easiest of the three battles for this reason - smoother controls and easier to perform combos. Sure, it's not easy and I admit I was knocked out FIVE to TEN times by this guy on the first day. My first day score was to reach Goro/Kintaro and got knocked out once. Shao Kahn was pure rage energy but the easier controls made him easier to deal with than the old school versions of him. It's still difficult but reasonably difficult. I still think of how developers had a good reason to give him all his painful attacks because the controls are much easier this time around.
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