Mortal Kombat/Shout Out: Difference between revisions

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* Let's start with the obvious: '''[[Bruce Lee Clone|Liu Kang]]'''.

** In ''2'', ''4'', and ''9'', he can turn into a dragon which resembles the logo of the series.

** His X-Ray Move in ''9'' starts a butterfly kick followed by a uppercut to the chin and then a high kick to the chin. The first two moves are a homage to his Fatality in the first game, the only non-fatal Fatality in the series.

** When he wins a round in ''9'', he makes a gesture of respect and disappears in fire. That's the same thing he does in his ''3'' fatality, right before the arcade console falls on his opponent's head.

** ''Deadly Alliance'' has a fake cereal advertisement showing Kano eating a bowl of [http://images.wikia.com/mk/images/e/e7/Kan-Os.jpg Kan-Os.]

* '''Raiden''''s most iconic traits, namely his electric powers and his [[All Asians Wear Conical Straw Hats|conical straw hat]], were both designed after Lightning, one of the three servants of Lo Pan from the movie [[Big Trouble in Little China]].

** Also in ''vs. DCU'', his trademark Torpedo special is renamed as "The Superman".

** Raiden's second fatality in ''9'', "Just a Scratch", is a reference to [[Monty Python and The Holy Grail|Monty Python's Black Knight scene in the Search for the Holy Grail]].

* '''Johnny Cage''' was inspired directly off of [[Jean Claude Van Damme]]'s character in the movie ''Bloodsport''.

** In ''Deadly Alliance'', apparently, he was a contestant in [[Smash TV]]. From the same game, one of Johnny's films was entitled ''[[Enter the Dragon|Exiting the Dragon of Death]]''. He starred opposite Hong Kong action star [[Jackie Chan|Channie Jack]].

*** The autographed headshot is also referenced in Cage's Babality animation in ''9'', where it's replaced by a doodle version.

** In ''Shaolin Monks'', in the fight between Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Goro, Johnny intervenes and finishes off Goro. This is both a mirror of his rivalry with him, and a nod to the final scene of the Cage vs. Goro battle in the first movie.

* '''Sonya''' is inspired by the karate champion and movie actress Cynthia Rothrock.

** In the Krypt of ''Deadly Alliance'', one can unlock a picture of [http://images.wikia.com/mk/images/a/ab/Lifeguard_Sonya_Blade.jpg Lifeguard Sonya.] Her [[Walking Swimsuit Scene|red bikini]] makes her heavily resemble Pamela Anderson of ''[[Baywatch]]'' fame.

* In the first game, '''Shang Tsung''''s role is similar to that of Mr. Han from ''[[Enter the Dragon]].'' His [[Evil Sorcerer]]-ness, however, is pure [[Big Trouble in Little China|Lo Pan]].

** One of his Challenge Tower episodes is titled "[[Rise From Your Grave|Arise From Your Grave]]", referencing the infamous ''[[Altered Beast]]'' quote.

** Since the early artwork for ''MK3'' lacked names by which to differentiate characters, most people thought that {{spoiler|Cyborg Smoke}} was actually Sub-Zero. In ''9'', {{spoiler|Cyber Sub-Zero becomes a fully-realized character.}}

** In ''9'', during Sub's chapter, he has a conversation that is very similar to his lines in the second movie.

* The Courtyard music has been arranged into a hip-hop rendition for the Street stage in ''3''.

 

** Her affections towards Liu Kang (that began in the fourth game) [[Ret Canon|were ported over from their relationship in the movies.]]

** In ''9'', her chapter during story mode contains a scene very much like one found in [[Alien|Alien: Resurrection]] where she finds a lab filled with progressively more human half-breed clones of herself.

** In ''MK vs. DC'', his ending is very similar to Cyborg's origin story.

** In his Arcade Ladder ending, {{spoiler|he makes a deal with Havik from ''Deception'' so that he can take over the Netherrealm. This could be a reference to how Havik started out as an alternate design for Noob named "Skab".}}

** Noob's fighting stance in ''9'' is the same as {{spoiler|Sub-Zero's in the first two games and ''Mythologies'', referencing his status as the original Sub-Zero.}}

* '''Jade''''s [[Chainmail Bikini|alternate costume]] in ''9'' looks strikingly similar to that of [[Return of the Jedi|Slave Leia's]], right down to [[Braids of Action|her hairstyle.]]

** Like Smoke above, in ''9'' she's revealed to be spying on Kitana in the Living Forest during Kitana's chapter, much like in ''MK2''.

 

* '''Cyrax''' and '''Sektor''' seems to be ripped right out of ''[[Predator]]''. If you ever had doubts about this one, {{spoiler|Cyber Sub-Zero}} from ''9'' makes it even more obvious.

** Cyrax's self-destruct fatality has him typing some kind of sequence in a panel in his pulse, like the Predator himself. Later games show that Sektor and {{spoiler|Cyber Sub-Zero}} have similar panels.

** Cyrax uses a [[Star Wars|"Sabre of Light"]] in ''4''. In the PS2 games, Sektor also uses that and was renamed as "Pulse Blades": A blue one (green in ''Armageddon'') for Cyrax, and two red ones for Sektor.

** Cyrax and Sektor were called "Mustard and Ketchup" during development. In ''Deadly Alliance'', Cyrax has a combo named Mustard and another named Ketchup in reference to this.

* The gas mask '''Kabal''' wears? A tribute to [[Star Wars|Tusken Raiders]].

** Speaking of ''[[Star Wars]]'', Kabal was burnt alive, horrifically scarred, and forced to wear a respirator & hide behind a mask the rest of his life? Remind anyone else of Darth Vader?

** This may also be a [[Take That|reference]] to the fact that ''9'' is [[Banned in China|Banned In Australia]].

** Her namesake is Shiva, the (male) [[Hindu Mythology]] destroyer god with [[Multi-Armed and Dangerous|multiple limbs]]. Like Shiva, Sheeva has extra arms and is turned into a destroyer goddess in her ''Armageddon'' ending.

** In ''Armaggedon'', Stryker wears a very futuristic suit, giving him a passing ressemblance to the main character from ''[[Street Fighter]] 2010: The Final Fight'', which was originally [[Dolled-Up Installment|an unrelated game remodeled to serve as a spinoff for the series]]. It's worth noticing that in the original game, the character was actually named Stryker instead being passed off as Ken Masters.

** Stryker's design in ''9'' serves as a visual update to his old look from ''3'', but also has some elements from his incarnation in ''Defenders of the Realm''.

 

 

* The original '''Quan Chi''' is somehow similar to [[Spawn]]'s demon-in-the-guise-of-an-evil-clown, Violator.

** In the ''Deception'' intro, Quan Chi opens a portal to escape when he realizes that Raiden's going to try and kamikaze Onaga. He opens the same portal when he tags out during a tag match during ''9''.

* '''Jarek''''s ''Armageddon'' bio calls his treatment at the hands of Jax "brutality", [[Call Back|directly referencing]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvfP5BQxaw Jax's words to him] from Jax's ending in ''4''.

 

* '''Li Mei''' might have started as an [[Expy]] of Mileena, with her general appearance, use of Sai as weapons, and color scheme. From ''Deception'' onwards, Li Mei was revisited, and now has a notable smaller physique, uses a sword instead of Sais, and wears a suit of armor in battle.

* '''Nitara''''s character design is a tribute to [[Final Fantasy VII|Vincent Valentine]].

** Many of her Konquest mode messages in ''Deadly Alliance'' are references to different rock bands and songs performed by them. What's more, her alternate costume surely brings to mind [[Kiss]]...

** Her [http://images.wikia.com/mk/images/5/5f/Nitara%27s_Blood_Energy_Drink.jpg Blood Energy Drink] promo is a parody of most energy drinks in general.

* '''Mokap''' (according to his a piece of artwork unlocked in the Krypt) did motion capture for a Johnny Cage movie lampshading [[Running Gag|his repeated string of deaths throughout the series]] called ''Mortal Kombat: The Death of Johnny Cage''. Additionally, [http://images.wikia.com/mk/images/8/8a/Mortal_Kombat_Deadly_Alliance_Movie.jpg the film's poster] is an homage to other movies' posters, ''Army Of Darkness'' in the middle.

** He is a tribute to Carlos Pesina, the guy who did some of the '''[[Motion Capture|MO]]'''[[Motion Capture|tion]] '''[[Motion Capture|CAP]]'''[[Motion Capture|ture]] for ''Deadly Alliance''.

** The narration in {{spoiler|Sub-Zero}}'s Arcade Ladder ending uses the name to refer to {{spoiler|Subby & Scorpion}}.

 

* '''Shujinko''' borrows his alternate outfit from the villain of the movie ''[[Master of the Flying Guillotine]]'' and his visuals from ''[[Kill Bill]]'''s Pai Mei.

* '''Darrius''' is basically an Expy of Jax. Take a good look at a couple of his finishing moves.

** His alternate costume is basically Black Belt Jones with [[Cool Shades]].

** His backstory also has shades of [[The Matrix|Morpheus]].

** She also has a strong resemblance to the main character of ''[[Blood Rayne]]''.

* '''Kobra''' is a mixture of [[The Karate Kid|Johnny Lawrence]] and [[Street Fighter|Ken Masters]].

 

* The whole plot of the game (the heroes and villains from the DCU teaming up to fight against the heroes and villains from the MKU) may be a reference to the [[JLA-Avengers]] crossover.

* '''Deathstroke''''s ending has him forming a clan of ninjas whose designs mirror several of the ninjas in the MK universe

* '''[[Lex Luthor]]''' forms the Deadly Alliance with Quan Chi.

** His fighting style is a near perfect copy of Sektor's.

{{quote| '''Joker:''' ''KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHN!''<br />

[Beat]<br />

* '''Catwoman''''s ending has her earning the power to turn into a cheetah. While this is kind of farfetched, Catwoman could've learned how to perform an "animality".

 

* The "X-Ray" effect used in certain brutal moves from the game will be quite familiar to any fan of Sonny Chiba movies.

{{quote| ''"The hands of Death could not defeat me. The Sisters of Fate could not hold me. And '''you will not see the end of this day!''' I will have my revenge!"''}}

* The Challenge Tower, being composed of non-canon mini-games, is choke-full of Shout-outs.

** Challenge Nº 15: [[The Walking Dead|Walking Dead]]

** Challenge Nº 47: [[Ghostbusters|Who Ya Gonna Call?]]

** Challenge Nº 53: [[Frankenstein]].

** Challenge Nº 71: [[Legacy Character|The Great Kung Lao.]]

** Challenge Nº 81: [[When Bears Attack|When Brigands Attack!]]

** Challenge N° 86: [[The Muppets|It's Not Easy]] (a match between [[Don't Explain the Joke|green-clad]] Jade and Reptile)

** Challenge N° 95: [[Coming to America|Soul Glow]]

** Challenge N° 116: [[Kiss Kiss Bang Bang]]

** Challenge N° 134: [[New Jack City|New Jax City]]

** Challenge N° 188: [[Altered Beast|Arise From Your Grave]]

** Challenge N° 193: [[Monty Python and The Holy Grail|I'm Not Dead Yet]]

** Challenge N° 266: The Duel (in which the following exchange happens:)

{{quote| '''Stryker''': Draw on the count of 3, partner!<br />

'''CPU-controlled Stryker''': [[South Park|I'm not your partner, buddy!]]<br />

'''Stryker''': [[South Park|I'm not your buddy, pal!]] }}

* '''Freddy Krueger''' has several Fatalities that are reminiscent of the most infamous kills of [[Nightmare On Elm Street|his home franchise]]:

** In one, after stabbing his opponent with both sets of claws, he drags him down into a hole that has just appeared. This is then followed by a geyser of blood, similar to how he killed Glen, Nancy's boyfriend, in the very first movie.

** Many of his combos are named after lines from the movies, such as "Now You're Playing With Power" or "Never Sleep Again".

* The stage Fatality for the city stage (having the opponent run over by a car) bears a striking similarity to the ending of the fourth ''[[Final Destination]]'' movie, complete with an X-ray view despite not being an X-ray attack, and leaves a twitching beheaded corpse similar to the first death in that movie.

 

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