The Mortal Kombat franchise had its own original materials. However, the non-canon adaptations ended up influencing the game lore. The 1995 Mortal Kombat movie also had a pseudo-sequel in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm (MK: DOTR) and the non-canon prequel Mortal Kombat Conquest. We also had the failed Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (MK Annihilation).
Goro's status after the first tournament from the Malibu Comics
While the official continuity had it that Goro was presumed dead - the Malibu Comics just didn't. I guess the popularity of Goro over Kintaro just can't be contested huh? Malibu Comics made a featured clash between the two titans and Goro WON. This one really makes you think about how it affected later games. The non-canon (though possibly a retcon) MK Shaolin Monks made Goro return to Outworld after the first tournament. In MK9, Goro did return to Outworld safe and sound after the first tournament where Liu Kang defeated him. Kintaro's story to avenge Goro eventually never happened. I guess Kintaro, though stronger and more agile, just doesn't get as much love as his predecessor ever will, huh?
Liu Kang x Kitana shipping
Believe it or not - the idea was NOT originally from the game. Instead, it was really from the MK movie where Liu Kang and Kitana started to have a forbidden attraction. Liu Kang is a Shaolin warrior and Kitana is the Princess of Edenia. The relationship was retro-actively included in MK2 and went onwards. In fact, the scene was somewhat reenacted in the Story Mode of MK9 where both of them met in the FIRST TOURNAMENT. The relationship was further developed (in a twisted way) when both Liu Kang and Kitana took over the Netherrealm in MKX - something that would cause the Nostalgia Critic to cringe. I still want to believe Raiden appointed them but warned them not to cross the boundaries.
Trevor Goddard as Kano
Kano is known to be originally Japanese-American but was later retconned as Australian. Although Kano was short-lived in the movie - the character impact was rather good. Just think that after the move - Kano had a retcon. The late Goddard was somewhat revived in later MK games such as when his iconic look was heavily used in MK vs. DC and MK9. Even Kano's knife was later used especially in MK9 where it was highlighted in his intro. I bet Nostalgia Critic will have fun making the reference if ever he will review MK9's Story Mode.
Linden Ashby and Brigitte Wilson as both Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade
While looking at the movie and the characters getting older - it's somewhat obvious that Netherrealm has been copying from them. First, the relationship was brought into the games though they came into fruition in MK9 up to MK11. I mean, it's just amazing how the older versions of Johnny and Sonya somewhat look like the older versions of the actresses. Yes, Sonya in MKX really looks like an older Brigitte. Not to mention, MK9 Sonya's face looks like Brigitte too.
Shang Tsung's influence by his actor Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa
The implementation wasn't always direct. We only started to see the Kabai Singh inspiration (also acted by Tagawa) used as the character model from MK vs. DC to MK9. MK9 would pay tribute to the actor when Andrew Kishino made his own rendition of "Your soul is mine!" taken from the movie. Not to mention, MK9 did have slight hints of Shang Tsung's rather creepy on/off lust for Sonya. One could also consider how Shang Tsung in MK9 had a working relationship with Kano like in the movies. MK11 further brought it in when the likeness and voice of the actor were used. Though I wonder why Warner Bros. didn't bother to get Tagawa for MK9? I mean, it would be so cool if Tagawa were in MK9 delivering all those lines in a calm but rather frightening way. His classic line "It has begun!" was later carried in MK11 along with other lines from the movie.
Goro getting hurt by Johnny Cage's nut punch
If you remember, Johnny Cage's nut punch didn't really stun Goro but only damaged him. In MK2 - you just can't nut job both Kintaro and Shao Kahn. Eventually, Goro could be nut punched in his return in MK4/Gold by Johnny Cage. The idea was later carried over to the reboot games. In MK9 - the bosses could be nut-punched by Johnny himself!
Quan Chi was originally from MK:DOTR
The cartoon series based on an M17 game came in. However unlike Conan the Adventurer - the series never produced a second season for a reason. I guess it so critically flopped. However, one character made it from this failed cartoon to the games. Quan Chi though made his first two appearances in two FAILED games namely MK Mythologies which featured Bi Han and MK4/Gold which also didn't do well either. He did appear in two solid games but nobody can deny MKX's story mode is lackluster and forever in MK9's shadow.
Zara in MK: DOTR would most likely inspire Tanya
Zara was presented as a traitor to her people and an enemy of Kitana. Well, Zara never made it to the games but a character like her was presented in Tanya. However, Tanya herself would forever be looked down on since MK4 as a "cheap Kitana clone" or in MKX as yet another poorly developed character. Plus, the intro between her and Tremor is really just too random of a plot presumably due to wokes.
The Deadly Alliance
The idea DID NOT originally come from MKDA but from MK Conquest. The series took place in 1998 after MK4 was a failed follow-up. Quan Chi was known to be a cool-headed, scheming sorcerer and so was Shang Tsung. Both had a team-up in the TV series and later fought against each other. Well, that's exactly what happened in MK Deception at the very beginning. Both Quan Chi and Shang Tsung ended their deadly alliance. Later in MK9 - both had a tag-team in the second tournament but were defeated by Kung Lao.
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