Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)
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| Scorpion | |
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| Game series | Mortal Kombat series |
| First game | Mortal Kombat (1992) |
| Voiced by | Ed Boon (games and films) Patrick Seitz (MKvsDC) |
| Live action actor(s) | Daniel Pesina (MK, MKII) John Turk (UMK3, MKT) Sal Divita (MK:SM) Chris Casamassa (first film, Conquest) J.J. Perry (second film) Anthony Demarco (Live Tour) |
| Information | |
| Origin | Earthrealm (reborn in Netherealm) |
| Weapons | Axe (UMK3, MKT) Broadsword (MK4) Ninja Sword (MK:DA) Mugai Ryu (MK:D, MK:U, MK:A) |
Scorpion is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat video game series.
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[edit] About Scorpion
Formerly a human ninja, Scorpion is a hellspawned revenant, inexorably seeking vengeance against those responsible for the destruction of his clan and the death of his family. Although essentially neutral in allegiance, Scorpion will ally with anyone who can assist his plans of revenge. He was once manipulated by Quan Chi, who promised him life in exchange for his impressive combat abilities in order to defeat Sub-Zero. Since Scorpion is a spectre, sorcery and supernatural anomalies have proven effective against him in battle, though none have ever succeeded in destroying him in an absolute sense.
[edit] Storyline
"Scorpion" was the code name of one of the Shirai Ryu's finest warriors: a ninja assassin named Hanzo Hasashi. His father, a former clansman, forbade his son from joining as he did not wish him to live an assassin's life, but his request fell on deaf ears because Hanzo wanted a comfortable life for his wife and son.
In Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, Scorpion is the boss character from the first stage fighting the elder Sub-Zero. He was enlisted by Quan Chi to find a map hidden in a Shaolin temple, a task also given to Sub-Zero. After Scorpion is killed by Sub-Zero, he acts as a boss character in the Netherrealm, trying to kill Sub-Zero once again.
In the first Mortal Kombat game Scorpion is introduced as a dead warrior who enters into the Mortal Kombat tournament to kill Sub-Zero, the man who killed him. Scorpion manages to kill his target, but later learns that Sub-Zero plans to compete in the second tournament. Enraged at the idea that his nemesis has somehow returned, Scorpion tracks him down during the tournament. He realizes that this Sub-Zero was actually his killer's younger brother, who was sent to complete his brother's failed mission of assassinating the tournament's host Shang Tsung. As a result, Scorpion vows to serve as the new Sub-Zero's guardian in atonement for killing his older brother.
Scorpion does not return to the series until Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 when Shao Kahn tried to conquer the Netherealm after his invasion of Earth and enlisted the ninja in his forces. Scorpion's allegiance to Kahn quickly dissolved when he discovered that Sub-Zero was one of Earth's chosen warriors, with whom he then sided in their final showdown with Kahn. However, in Mortal Kombat 4 he is tricked by Quan Chi to believe that the younger Sub-Zero was actually involved in the deaths of his family and clan and join Quan Chi. Scorpion emerges victorious, but when Quan Chi reveals afterward the truth, Scorpion grabs him to send him to the Netherealm.
In Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Scorpion is attacked by the demons Drahmin and Moloch, who freed Quan Chi from the Netherealm. Scorpion continues hunting Quan Chi until Drahmin and Moloch once again attack him. After escaping from them he meets the Elder Gods, who give him a new mission to seek and destroy Onaga before he unmade the realms during the events of Mortal Kombat: Deception. In the Konquest mode of MK: Armageddon, Scorpion cuts a deal with the Elder Gods to serve them in exchange for the resurrection of the Shirai Ryu clan. However, the clan is revived like Scorpion himself. Scorpion vows to gain vengeance on the Elder Gods by removing the two elements crucial to their plans, Taven and Daegon, who were the only means of preventing Armageddon.
In Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, a character called "Inferno Scorpion" is featured. After the original Scorpion is defeated by Liu Kang and Kung Lao, the monks are confronted by a more formidable version sporting the flaming skull instead of his mask.
[edit] Game information
Scorpion's spear taunts were voiced by Ed Boon in the games and both films. However, only two of the taunts were included in the home versions of MK and MKII due to memory constraints; The now-famous cries of "Come here!" and "Get over here!" played randomly whenever the spear was used. The phrase "Toasty!," according to MK co-creator John Tobias, first originated as "You're Toast!" which was a taunt bandied among the programmers during MKII game-testing sessions.[1]
Scorpion was one of four selected characters to appear in the cover for a special edition of MK: Deception released for the Xbox, which included a metallic character card. In Krypt UI of Deadly Alliance, the player can buy a fifteen-second video entitled "Cooking with Scorpion," which showed him chopping various meats, tenderizing a steak, and decorating a cake.
In addition to the MK series, Scorpion appeared in three other Midway titles, NBA Jam Tournament Edition, MLB Slugfest: Loaded, and Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy.
[edit] Character development
Scorpion appeared in the first four MK titles simply as a yellow palette swap of Sub-Zero, though the original costume used for filming in the first two games was red. According to the back-story of the first game, his outfit is said to have mocked the Lin Kuei, after former Lin Kuei member Takeda developed Ninjutsu, then left the clan and founded the rival Shirai Ryu. In the games after MK4, his outfit was enhanced with two swords on his back and his kunai attached to a rope tied to his belt.
Boon has openly admitted that his favorite character has always been Scorpion because he kicks ass. While he and all the male ninjas were absent from MK3 due to Daniel Pesina being fired by Midway, he was later added to UMK3 after John Turk did the motion capture for the male ninjas.
[edit] Cultural impact
[edit] In other media
Scorpion was played by Chris Casamassa in the first Mortal Kombat film. His spear was changed to a living metal snake-like entity that shot from a slit in his palm and could fly to a limited extent. Scorpion's rivalry with Sub-Zero was only mentioned in passing by Shang Tsung in the storyline, which instead had them both serving as his guardians. He was defeated by Johnny Cage in the tournament.
In the animated film Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins, Scorpion was again depicted as a henchmen to Shang Tsung along with Sub-Zero and the two battled Liu Kang, Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade on the sorcerer's orders before the fight was halted by Raiden. According to the film, Scorpion's soul would be forever lost unless he defeated Sub-Zero himself.
Scorpion also appeared briefly in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, in which he kidnapped Kitana after inconclusively dueling the younger Sub-Zero. He was played by J.J. Perry.
Scorpion appeared in one episode of Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, titled "Sting of the Scorpion," in which he fought, and was defeated by, Liu Kang. His voice actor was uncredited. He also appeared in several episodes of Mortal Kombat: Conquest with an origin unrelated to the games, and was again played by Chris Casamassa.
Scorpion was portrayed in Malibu Comics' MK comic series as an evil entity, a spectre consumed by revenge against Sub-Zero who had decided to kill those close to him as well before killing him personally. In the conclusion of the Blood & Thunder miniseries, he had a short fight with Kitana (who stopped him from murdering an unconscious Sub-Zero) that ultimately led to his demise. During the Battlewave miniseries, Shao Kahn returned Scorpion to the living world using a mystical gem called the "Deathstone," which also allowed him to resurrect an army of undead soldiers under his control. Scorpion became Shao Kahn's general, while his army replaced the mutants that engrossed his ranks.
In the Mortal Kombat novelization by Jeff Rovin, Scorpion was a combination of sorts of a father and a son; Sub-Zero killed the father, a former Lin Kuei member named Yong Park, in front of his family. Yong's spirit merged with his son Tsui's body, in order to seek revenge under the form of Scorpion.
Scorpion guest starred on an episode of Drawn Together, depicted as a cut-out from Mortal Kombat: Deception.
[edit] Critical reception
UGO.com listed Scorpion at number one on their "Top 11 Mortal Kombat Characters" article, describing him as their "favorite asskicker" while also stating approval for his augmented abilities and attitude with each title.[2] They additionally noted his signature fatality as one of their favorites in the series.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Making of MK3 (6:26) - YouTube
- ^ Noob Saibot - Top 11 Mortal Kombat Characters. UGO.com. Retrieved on 2008-12-23
- ^ Scorpion - Top 11 Mortal Kombat Characters. UGO.com. Retrieved on 2008-12-23
[edit] External links
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