Ryu and Ken. Kazuya and Jin. Siegfried and Nightmare. Who knew that preventing games, a whole style constructed across the basis of letting gamers have interaction in epic clashes between characters, might be stuffed with such antagonism? Okay, in all probability everybody. But the reality is that not certainly one of them feels completely full and not using a good old school rivalry embedded someplace inside its character choose display.
This sentiment applies tenfold to Mortal Kombat, a franchise that has paid extra consideration to story than best preventing franchises – to the purpose that its characters, lore and places have been tailored quite a few occasions in mediums exterior the core video games. There are the 2 live-action motion pictures, a somewhat kick-ass internet collection known as Mortal Kombat: Legacy, and lots others. However, no interpretation showcases the long-lasting ninja versus ninja rivalry between Scorpion and Sub-Zero higher than the late ‘90s TV present Mortal Kombat Conquest.
That’s as a result of it was right here the place numerous points of the MK mythology might be explored free from the bounds that got here from the event format. It facilities on former Shaolin monk and normal hat-throwing badass Kung Lao as he navigates a pre-industrial Earth whereas preventing the forces of Outworld in a bid to avoid wasting the world. It was tacky ‘monster of the week’ affair for all the appropriate causes, and featured an episode titled “The Serpent and the Ice”, which gave us a definitive reply as to who would win in a struggle: Scorpion or Sub-Zero?
Before discussing it in-depth, nevertheless, let’s weigh up the attributes of each opponents in true fanboy-esque style.
Appearance/costume
Considering Sub-Zero and Scorpion began life as little greater than cloth-laden palette swaps of one another, each characters have performed nicely to forge their very own identification over the a long time. Aesthetically, Scorpion’s yellow apparel has turn out to be immediately recognizable, and absolutely aligns along with his fetish for all issues fireplace and hellish. His finest costume by far has to the be the one from 2002’s Deadly Alliance, the place he started strapping swords to his again and donned a extra hooded look – a glance set to return in MK11.
Deadly Alliance additionally noticed a marked change for Sub-Zero’s look because it was right here the place his bulging arms began to glow blue for the primary time. Suddenly, the chilly risk he exudes was higher represented visually. More so than Scorpion the frozen Lin Kuei warrior has usually retained a garbed robe-like outfit, which says quite a bit for the way assured he’s about not getting hit, however his general aesthetic? Less so.
Verdict: The man is an undead warrior who makes use of a masks to cowl up his flaming cranium. It needs to be Scorpion.
Powers
The concept for Sub-Zero’s numerous freeze-based particular strikes initially got here from how collection creator, Ed Boon, wished to offer gamers a strategy to land a free hit. It labored, and the iceman’s frozen ability set has continued to evolve ever since. His normal freeze blast (generally known as ice ball) may give gamers a pleasant benefit every time an enemy proves too quick to handle, however the ice slide that lets him skate from both aspect of the display can be a cool and efficient strategy to cowl floor.
Being an undead ninja warrior, Scorpion’s mastery of fireplace and chains makes him a power to be reckoned with. The character is commonly the primary selection for a brand new participant, not least as a result of they might have heard the long-lasting “Get over here!” scream he offers when unleashing his spear assault. In live-action interpretations this spear is often depicted as a snake creature taking pictures out from his hand. This makes Scorpion’s talents much more unsettling, but it surely’s simply dispatched with a easy slice.
Verdict: Fire might soften ice however Sub-Zero simply edges it right here. Having the flexibility to freeze enemies in any place is a robust benefit.
History
Scorpion and Sub-Zero are each disturbed ninja warriors, as you may think – albeit for their very own distinct causes. The fashionable Sub-Zero entered the event after Scorpion killed his brother within the first go round, the place being educated by an historical faction of assassins often called the Lin Kuei has rendered him a cool and calculated killer. Scorpion, however, is the maker of his personal insanity and subsequently extra of a unfastened cannon. Any affection he as soon as had has been changed by vengeance, fueled by the hatred of those that butchered his household.
Verdict: Sub-Zero’s humanity stays intact and nonetheless lives by a code. Scorpion wins this one for his tragic backstory and the attention-grabbing standing he has since discovered himself caught in.
The On-Screen Fight
‘The Serpent and the Ice‘ was prefaced in Conquest by two tales the place Sub-Zero and Scorpion each represented their very own particular person threats to our heroes. This episode begins with Shao Khan aiming to get the leg up on Kung Lao and crew by having the titular ninjas crew as much as take them down. What initially begins as a frosty partnership finally offers strategy to a four-minute struggle sequence the place each gloriously come to blows. What follows is probably finest described as commonplace definition fan service at its most interesting.
This struggle was the end result of a battle Mortal Kombat fanatics had performed out numerous occasions over themselves both at house or in arcades, and made up for the stark disappointment that got here from when the 2 briefly traded fists in 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. In an attention-grabbing little bit of trivia the Sub-Zero martial artist, JJ Perry, really performed Scorpion in Annihilation – whereas Conquest’s Scorpion is performed by Chris Casamassa, who additionally performed him within the first film.
The backstory of every ninja has some liberties taken in Conquest when in comparison with how it’s within the games, a very good instance being what initially sparks the struggle: Scorpion killing Sub-Zero’s sister. Kung Lao makes an attempt to cause with the ice warrior by pleading, “[we were] both raised from childhood for one thing, to fight.” But the present holds its nerve and reminds us of why we must always by no means root for the lesser of two evils, having Sub-Zero reply, “I was raised to kill.”
From right here the 2 fabled rivals duke it out for near 4 minutes, shortly realizing that every has powers which might be simply countered by the opposite, in order that they preserve the fight largely hand-to-hand. Don’t misunderstand, this was virtually actually a contrivance to maintain the VFX finances applicable to TV, however in a method works within the sequence’s favor by grounding the duel and giving it private stakes.
There are flips galore, extra somersaults than you’ll be able to shoot an ice ball at, and it quickly turns into obvious that the 2 are evenly matched as they need to be. The struggle finally concludes when Scorpion’s snake is frozen by Sub-Zero’s maintain, weakening the undead ninja so that he’s compelled to lose his honor and flee. It was a detailed contest, solidifying the idea that – at the very least within the live-action realm – Sub-Zero barely wins out over Scorpion by having the ethical high-ground, in addition to the slight edge in bare-knuckle ability.
And there you’ve it. According to Mortal Kombat Conquest, simply this as soon as, ice beats out fireplace.
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