User blog:NaveNinja/Your Favorite MK Intro

From all of the MK games, which cinematic intro is your favorite?

Mine: Shaolin Monks.

Like or hate the game for either its gameplay or story (my friends and I enjoy it) but its intro simply shines. From the iconic shouting of, "MORTAL KOMBAT!" to the retreat of the villains, every bit of it impressed me and continues to do so.

We see all the classic MK1 characters: Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Kano, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Raiden, Shang Tsung, Goro and even Reptile. From MK2, we get Kung Lao and Baraka. Even the Masked Guards get a chance to fight (not very well).

What I love about this intro is its non-stop pace and action. It flawlessly displays unique traits for every single character: Liu Kang's flying kick (evne his butterfly kick), Johnny's arrogance, Reptile's... reptile-like nature, Scorpion's spear, flaming backflip kick and skull fatality, Sub-Zero's freezing powers and his spine rip fatality, Baraka's blades, Kung Lao's hat and teleportation, Kano's cannonball, the fact that Goro has four arms and, of course, Shang Tsung's transformations, fireballs and sorcery. The only person who doesn't get any special moves is Sonya, but that's acceptable. Raiden teleports in at the end, showing his power over thunder and lightning.

The only downside to this intro? It's short. Well, it IS a game intro, of course: we can't keep things going too long before we need to get to gameplay. There's little dialog--it's almost pure action, save for a few short lines.

Now, if this were a movie? Say, a direct-to-DVD, completely animated feature-length film with great voice acting and the level of production we saw in this intro--only magnified? If it was basically the first Mortal Kombat film, only with enhanced special effects, motion capture and great writing?

I'd buy that DVD seventeen times as gifts for myself and sixteen others in a heartbeat.

Now, other people's thoughts? Let's keep the train rolling.