Xbox-Exclusive Mortal Kombat Character Nixed for Mysterious Reasons

[Tom Goldman]

Xbox-Exclusive Mortal Kombat Character Nixed for Mysterious Reasons

NetherRealm Studios had an Xbox 360-exclusive character planned for Mortal Kombat, but it didn't make the final cut.

When Mortal Kombat [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108696-Kratos-Throws-Down-in-New-Mortal-Kombat-Trailer] reboot, Xbox 360 fans may have wondered what exclusive was coming their way. As it turns out, it was nothing. Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon has revealed that NetherRealm also wanted to give Xbox 360 fans something to look forward to, but wasn't able.

Boon told Eurogamer that the development team definitely wanted an exclusive character for the Xbox 360 version. "Unfortunately, the circumstances didn't allow us to make a 360-exclusive," he said. "I'm not allowed to talk too much about it, but I can tell you we certainly wanted to do an exclusive for 360, but that's all I can say. It was not a decision we made where we said, oh, let's not do one for the 360."

Boon mentioned two potential Xbox 360-exclusive characters that would have fit in the Mortal Kombat universe: Marcus Fenix from Halo [http://www.amazon.com/Gears-War-3-Xbox-360/dp/B002I0H79C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303264461&sr=8-1]. "Anybody who's really knowledgeable about the Xbox video games, the big titles, names like Master Chief from Halo, Marcus Fenix from Gears of War, and any other Xbox-exclusive title, is going to come up in a conversation in talking about it," he added. "So clearly we've discussed it."

Anyone with both an Xbox 360 and a PlayStation 3 has an incentive to purchase the PS3 version over the 360 version thanks to Kratos, so it seems like it would have been in Microsoft's best interest to work with NetherRealm to get an exclusive character out there, not that it was definitely an issue with Microsoft. It could have been that Microsoft just didn't have a character suitable to hand over to NetherRealm that it was wiling to see stabbed, dismembered, dissolved by acid, chopped in half, burnt to a crisp, decapitated, impaled by spikes, or eaten by a dragon.

Source: Eurogamer [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-04-19-mk-dev-wanted-xbox-exclusive-character].

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[JMan]

Kratos isn't that great in the game anyway. I've got it for the PS3 and I only played as him once. His fatality is awesome but that's the only thing I like about him in the game.

 

[Chase Yojimbo]

maybe they could use a character from one of Xbox's Arcade Games seems about right doesn't it? get Pacman in there!

EDIT: SPLOSION MAN!

 

[gigastar]

I guess this year really is the year of the PS3.

It could have been that Microsoft just didn't have a character suitable to hand over to NetherRealm that it was wiling to see stabbed, dismembered, dissolved by acid, chopped in half, burnt to a crisp, decapitated, impaled by spikes, or eaten by a dragon.

You forgot frozen.

 

[MadCapMunchkin]

Pity. I would enjoying putting Scorpion's spears through ANY character from Gears of War.

 

[Joabbuac]

Kratos is the perfect fit for MK, not sure anyone on Xbox is.

 

[WanderingFool]

Anyone remember the game Kameo or something? I just remembered that game while thinking of a Xbox character for MK... chuckled at it for some reason...

 

[BehattedWanderer]

I could see the gun from Gears being a fatality move, but in a world of visceral hand-to-blades combat, guns don't really play as big a part.

 

[josemlopes]

Wait, a Microsoft character willing to die in horrible conditions like acid or dismemberment?

Thats easy.

Next please

 

[Frank_Sinatra_]

Kratos is the perfect fit for MK, not sure anyone on Xbox is.

You could argue that Ryu Hayabusa from Ninja Gaiden would fit in well, but the Xbox can't really hold it up over the PS3 as an exclusive as there's been a Ninja Gaiden game on the PS3.

 

[SelectivelyEvil13]

Kratos really sold the idea for me and has me considering Mortal Kombat (PS3), in spite of the fact that I am terrible at fighting games. It's a shame that the 360 doesn't get anything, because I'm sure they could have implemented a cool character that wasn't Gears or Halo related. Truthfully, either of those would have repelled me out of being overdone. We get it, the Xbox has Gears of War and Halo for the thousandth time, but not everyone raves over either of those. Regardless, Marcus Fenix would be a joke to watch, relying exclusively on chainsawing people to death as he jumps half a foot while desperately searching for chest-high walls to use (somehow), while the Chief, well, it's over, already, it's over. I'd much prefer Conker - Put Rare to good use for once, Microsoft!

 

[OldAccount]

Epic owns all it's Gears characters and probably didn't want to hand them to another developer. I'm not sure what the excuse is for the Chief since Microsoft owns the licensing rights not Bungie and you'd think Microsoft would want the Xbox version to actually sell.

I wasn't likely to buy the game anyway (I'm not all that into fighters) but this one did catch my eye and I was kinda half considering it. Now with this info I can write off the possibility of buying it.

 

[Tom Goldman]

I'd much prefer Conker - Put Rare to good use for once, Microsoft!

Oh my god. It would have been so awesome.

 

[josemlopes]

Epic owns all it's Gears characters and probably didn't want to hand them to another developer. I'm not sure what the excuse is for the Chief since Microsoft owns the licensing rights not Bungie and you'd think Microsoft would want the Xbox version to actually sell.

I wasn't likely to buy the game anyway (I'm not all that into fighters) but this one did catch my eye and I was kinda half considering it. Now with this info I can write off the possibility of buying it.

You will use the fact that you dont get a exclusive character to pass this game? That isnt a very good excuse at all. A good excuse would be something like "I am not into fighting games (like you said) and there are some games coming out that are more into what I like."

I actually dont know why I am typing this, its really not of my business to judge what you think, lol, but oh well, I already typed it so I am not going to delete what I said.

Its 4 am in the morning here, so... I am gonna go now...

 

[ChupathingyX]

What's the difference between Marcus Phoenix Fenix and Master Chief anyway? They're both just power-armoured, crappy one-liner spewing, macho tough guys.

Even though I'm a PS3 player I think the Arbiter from Halo would be the best XBox exclusive character to play as. At least he could use his energy sword for some serious mutilation. Although, he still wouldn't really fit with everyone else.

 

[OldAccount]

Epic owns all it's Gears characters and probably didn't want to hand them to another developer. I'm not sure what the excuse is for the Chief since Microsoft owns the licensing rights not Bungie and you'd think Microsoft would want the Xbox version to actually sell.

I wasn't likely to buy the game anyway (I'm not all that into fighters) but this one did catch my eye and I was kinda half considering it. Now with this info I can write off the possibility of buying it.

You will use the fact that you dont get a exclusive character to pass this game? That isnt a very good excuse at all. A good excuse would be something like "I am not into fighting games (like you said) and there are some games coming out that are more into what I like."

I actually dont know why I am typing this, its really not of my business to judge what you think, lol, but oh well, I already typed it so I am not going to delete what I said.

Its 4 am in the morning here, so... I am gonna go now...

It's not the only reason I passed. It just made the decision a little easier.

 

[OldAccount]

Thane from ME2 would have been neat, or maybe Jack with her biotic powers. Alas.

What's the difference between Marcus Phoenix Fenix and Master Chief anyway? They're both just power-armoured, crappy one-liner spewing, macho tough guys.

Even though I'm a PS3 player I think the Arbiter from Halo would be the best XBox exclusive character to play as. At least he could use his energy sword for some serious mutilation. Although, he still wouldn't really fit with everyone else.

No reason why Cheif couldn't use the energy sword.

 

[Mumorpuger]

Actually, I'm not a huge fan of the cross-story fighting game cameos (MvC excluded... there's no story, just fighting). All the Soul Calibur cameos make me cringe in fact... so to this I give a hearty "oh well."