Shao Kahn continues to exist as one of the greatest video game villains. So great that even the fallen Elder God known as Shinnok or even his former master Onaga just can't overshadow him. Shao Kahn was supposedly dead in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance but it's revealed that he used a decoy. Shao Kahn ultimately won Mortal Kombat: Armageddon which was retconned that he defeated Blaze rather than that he emerged the victor when the third unexpected outcome came to be. Onaga was a cool concept that made Shao Kahn greater. The fact Shao Kahn dared to poison Onaga or made the latter's followers swear loyalty to him makes him the greatest villain ever. Nobody can deny Shao Kahn totally owned the scene that even Onaga the former emperor of Outworld can't overshadow.
The reboot continuity does some questionably idiotic plots that will make the Nostalgia Critic cringe if he reviewed the story mode
Now, I think about the Netherrealm continuity and some things I didn't like about it. Sure, I like Kabal's story of being a former Black Dragon gone straight before the invasion. However, Shao Kahn seems to become rather a brute force of stupidity and a near mindless thug. Shao Kahn returned in Mortal Kombat (2011) or MK9 to establish his status as the main antagonist once more. However, it seems that he's becoming more of a darker version of Dr. Evil than he is a bigger threat.
One of the many plots that I didn't like is how Shao Kahn ordered Mileena's creation much later. I kind of liked the plot better when Kitana was raised alongside Mileena than Kitana discoverers Mileena's creation much later in life. I think I like how Shao Kahn (in the original timeline) orchestrated Mileena's creation and raised the clone as a daughter for a long time. The new Mileena doesn't have the cunning that the original Mileena had. I think that's just the start of where I think Shao Kahn just utterly went wrong. Shao Kahn goes full Bond villain when he ends up revealing everything about why Mileena was created. Why Shao Kahn never told Shang Tsung to create Mileena while Kitana was growing up is something. Shao Kahn probably wanted a puppet daughter. However, I think I still prefer the Mileena that had a more mature, cunning personality than the reboot Mileena.
This Shao Kahn displays too much confidence like a cartoon villain in the arena game. I think one of the dumbest things is Kitana's death sentence. Mileena was supposed to replace Kitana. Why not just have Kitana killed immediately and then let Mileena take her place? Another thing worth pointing out is how Shao Kahn acts so invincible even after the tenth tournament against Earthrealm was forfeited. This overconfidence has Shao Kahn snap Kung Lao's neck like a twig which provokes Liu Kang into attacking him. This Shao Kahn doesn't even take any responsibility. Shao Kahn blames Shang Tsung for forfeiting the plan to conquer Earthrealm when HE WAS THE ONE WHO LOST THE FREAKING TOURNAMENT. I think Nostalgia Critic would totally overreact if he reviewed the story mode of MK9.
Need I mention the plan to revive Sindel? The original timeline had Shao Kahn revive Sindel in Earthrealm so he can step into it. However, in the new continuity, Quan Chi was added not just as a playable character for the Trilogy part but also as the one to revive Sindel. Sindel was revived because her death provided a barrier. Shao Kahn's original plan is now Quan Chi's plan? I think the scriptwriters may have done a huge idiotic plot there. Shao Kahn actually gets so gullible as to let Quan Chi manipulate him. It wasn't much like that in the original timeline. I even think the plot where Shao Kahn sacrifices Shang Tsung to empower Sindel is kind of f***ed up. Sure, Sindel did write off nearly the whole cast. However, it just shows Shao Kahn has become evil for evil's sake when he did it IN FRONT OF HIS SUBORDINATES. Isn't that any way to inspire loyalty? Shao Kahn just seems to act like he wants to be as evil as evil gets. Shao Kahn doesn't seem to have a rationale either.
I think the most stupid part is where Shao Kahn enters Earthrealm. Shao Kahn should've known Raiden surrendering was too good to be true. Raiden wouldn't easily surrender to Shao Kahn. Raiden did this so the fury of the Elder Gods will fall upon Shao Kahn. I think Shao Kahn decided to gloat about it by hammering Raiden thus provoking the Elder Gods. Shao Kahn here ends up becoming so easily duped that the Elder Gods finally took him away for punishment. How's that for idiocy?
The fanservice that he is in Mortal Kombat 11
Shao Kahn was hyped-up fanservice. I remembered I pre-ordered the game to play as Shao Kahn. I did pre-order Mortal Kombat X for the PS3 but it got canceled so I ended up getting a game in exchange since I can't get a refund. I think Netherrealm bit off more than it can chew when it tried to do so. Instead, they released the completed edition as a compensation package. Then Mortal Kombat 11 came with the promise of Shao Kahn's return, Yes, Shao Kahn was going to be playable again and he's got a history of getting depowered and playable in some games. Though, Mortal Kombat Trilogy infamously has balance issues because of the playable bosses.
Shao Kahn is added to the story when Kronika brings characters from certain periods. Kabal is brought without his scarring yet and was brought back before his redemption. Kronika brings back Shao Kahn promising him his throne back. I think the whole hype of playing as Shao Kahn is ruined with the story mode. I didn't have much of a problem with the hype of playing as Goro in Mortal Kombat X because he was just a pre-order bonus. Here, Shao Kahn is a character IN THE GAME so why is he a pre-order bonus? Why not just add Shao Kahn as a playable character from the start or make him the playable depowered sub-boss instead? I think the game got too focused on being as gory as possible (some fatalities take too long to finish) that the story got compromised. I think Mortal Kombat's lore is more interesting than its violence. The violence should be just icing on the cake for a Rated M series!
The whole point is that Shao Kahn is defeated by Kitana SO FAST EVENTUALLY. I think it's just as nonsensical as other previous plots. I still feel Liu Kang defeating Shinnok in Mortal Kombat 4 didn't make sense. I still feel Johnny Cage and Cassie Cage defeating Shinnok in Mortal Kombat X is as dumb as Hulk smashing Loki. Shao Kahn is blinded and captured. Kitana should've finished him to save Outworld. However, a newer idiotic plot happens in the highway robbery called Aftermath. I think Aftermath totally has that idiotic retcon where Sindel was evil all along. Shao Kahn ends up becoming the lovey-dovey idiot with Sindel because of the dumb retcon. But that's NOT the only part where Shao Kahn becomes so stupid.
The next part is where Shao Kahn ends up becoming too trusting of his serpent of a sorcerer, Shang Tsung. Shang Tsung has been known to be a backstabber and has been planning to overthrow Shao Kahn for his convenience. Apparently, it's a karmic circle since Shao Kahn did overthrow Onaga so him getting a treacherous adviser is indeed inevitable. Shao Kahn becomes way too trusting of Shang Tsung. It's very OOC for that to happen. Letting Shang Tsung wear Kronika's crown is also a fatal mistake. Shao Kahn should've seized the crown ASAP for HIMSELF. Instead, Shao Kahn and Sindel had it COMING when they let Shang Tsung hold on to the crown. I can't decide which is more idiotic than this plot or Kronika getting defeated by Shang Tsung himself. Either way, Shao Kahn and Sindel ended up dead as a result of their stupidity. Just made me think it's so weird how a great villain ended up becoming a cartoon villain in a game not geared for children.
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