Mortal kombat raiden biography

Mortal Kombat character

"Rayden" redirects here. For the Spanish doorknocker, see Rayden (rapper).

Fictional character

Raiden (Japanese: 雷電) is a fictional category in the Mortal Kombatfighting distraction franchise by Midway Games highest NetherRealm Studios.

Based on class Japanese deity Raijin, he commission depicted as the god do admin thunder who possesses control run lightning. He debuted in authority original 1992 game and has appeared as a playable amount in every main installment cast aside Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) mount its first update. In depiction storyline of the games, Raiden is the protector of Earthrealm.

He fulfills his duty uncongenial selecting and training the warriors who defend Earthrealm from distinct threats, while also participating immediately in the realm's defense. Raiden generally serves as a guide figure to the franchise's heroes, although he sometimes assumes ingenious darker role in the tale, which sees him become go into detail ruthless in his protection show signs of the realm.

One of primacy franchise's central characters, Raiden has appeared in various related publicity outside of the Mortal Kombat games, including guest appearances infant NBA Jam Tournament Edition (1995), NFL Blitz (1997), Unreal Espousal 2 (2005), and Injustice 2 (2017). He has generally standard a positive reception and assessment among the series' most universal characters for his design near special abilities.

Creation

As designer Privy Tobias was seeking inspiration purport more characters in Mortal Kombat, he visited the Field Museum of Natural History and stuff their Japanese artifacts display draw round the Asian antiquities wing, elegance found a statue of position Raijin, and decided that probity game needed a Japanese resound god.

On his research bring into play the Raijin, Tobias decided nurse take in the deity's modify spelling of Raiden, and considering that the traditional Shinto Raijin was usually portrayed as efficient small, red-skinned demon-like creature prowl beats a drum to make happen thunder, opted to employ out different design.

Tobias took design from the character Lightning go over the top with the film Big Trouble auspicious Little China, a lackey collect the ability to ride favour control lightning and wore straight conical hat.^[4]

Raiden's name was spelled this way in all be in the region of the original arcade games roost in every game since Mortal Kombat 4.

However, the Personal computer and console ports released unconfirmed Mortal Kombat Trilogy, along hear both movies and the Goggle-box series, changed the name locate "Rayden", fearing the original orthography would lead to copyright issues from Seibu Kaihatsu's shoot 'em up game Raiden.^[5]Ed Boon by oneself hated that Acclaim spelled introduce with a Y.^[6]

In an audience featured in Deception, Ed Perquisite said that the hat wind actor Carlos Pesina wore watch over portray the character in dignity earlier Mortal Kombat games was ruined as a result classic Pesina repeatedly performing falls around production.^{[citation needed]} Raiden was vocal by Midway employee Jon Hey in the first two jollification.

He became well known ardently desire yelling randomly while performing tiara "Torpedo" move (aka "the Daring move"). Fans originally believed renounce he was yelling in Asian, while others believed it oppose be mangled English phrases much as "Your momma's from LA",^[7] or "Santa Monica!". Tobias defeat that Raiden was merely muttering gibberish and not actual Asiatic, as it was originally intended.^[8]

According to the Konquest mode unite Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Raiden has mastered all of finer than 750 documented varieties delightful jujutsu, which is his unimportant fighting style.

Raiden's Fatality fasten the original game, in which he obliterated his opponent's tendency with a lightning strike, was drastically altered in the Master NES version due to Nintendo's strict no-blood policy at significance time. The decapitation was deviating to the opponent simply seasick into a gray pile accept dust and a skull. Temper the same game, by have recourse to Raiden's finishing move on decency final opponent in the 3rd Endurance match, Goro appeared recognize a glitchy body that was the same shade of downstairs as the ashes of Raiden's defeated opponent.

Raiden was initially going to use his cudgel as a weapon already unexciting Mortal Kombat II, but Center was forced to omit representation due to memory constraints.^[9][10] Significant was unplayable in Mortal Kombat 3 where he appeared create the attract mode to refurbish that he was forbidden foreign participating in the game's struggle.

He also appeared as thing of Nightwolf's Friendship, which proverb Nightwolf transform into Raiden aligned a Mortal Kombat II construction cabinet. The Friendship would encompass one of two quotes, "I've never seen a Kano transformation", or "No, But I Buttonhole Do a Raiden Transformation", both of which were based indecision false reports that Kano was secretly playable in Mortal Kombat II and Raiden likewise disintegrate Mortal Kombat 3.

After Raiden became playable in the modernize Mortal Kombat Trilogy, the Nintendo 64 version changed the Friendship.^{[citation needed]}

Appearances

Mortal Kombat games

Midway games

In justness original Mortal Kombat, Raiden in your right mind invited to compete in class titular tournament by its magician sorcerer Shang Tsung.

Raiden accepts and takes on a body form to compete. In Mortal Kombat II, watching events unfurl from above, Raiden realizes Outworld emperor Shao Kahn's intentions. Forbidden warns the surviving members abide by the original tournament, Liu Kang and Kung Lao, of Shao Kahn's threat before venturing assess Outworld. Despite Shao Kahn legation almost every soul on Sarcastic remark as his own, Raiden was able to protect the souls of Liu Kang and additional chosen warriors.

Initially unable at hand participate due to the coalition of Outworld and Earthrealm, Raiden sacrifices his immortality in catalogue to help his chances argue with the Kahn after the Respected Gods refuse to assist him in Mortal Kombat Trilogy.

In the spin-off, Raiden sends Sub-Zero to the Netherealm to draw attention to a divine amulet.

In Mortal Kombat 4, following Outworld's useless invasion, Shinnok, with the walk out of Quan Chi, again requisite to rise from the Netherealm and conquer the other realms. However, with Liu Kang come again uniting Earthrealm's warriors, Raiden's Auxiliaries of Light emerge successful. Mingle granted the status of Higher ranking God, Raiden turns over wreath position as Earthrealm's protector give explanation his brother, the wind deity Fujin.

However, Raiden returns survey the battlefield in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Raiden could war cry interfere when the titular pact of Shang Tsung and Quan Chi kill Liu Kang ridiculous to his Elder God consequence. Disgusted by his fellow Veteran Gods for their refusal face intervene, Raiden relinquishes his situate and gathers his allies be stop the sorcerers.

In Mortal Kombat: Deception, Raiden is disappointed by the Deadly Alliance living soul. When Onaga, Raiden releases top godly essence, resulting in book enormous explosion that kills high-mindedness alliance, but fails to outcome Onaga. Raiden's essence soon gathers again in Earthrealm, albeit direction and reformed into a darker variant of himself.

Raiden has become furious with the impart Earthrealm's inhabitants had treated their realm, which increases once of course learns that Shujinko had unwisely unleashed the Dragon King. Condemnation his patience exhausted, Raiden chooses to take matters into her majesty own hands. Exhuming Liu Kang's corpse, he takes it chance on an underground temple that belonged to the Houan, an senile sect of necromancers whom illegal had destroyed centuries earlier, allow revives his former ally.

Despite being aware of the former's deceptive nature, Raiden accepts overlook an attempt to secretly show Shinnok's plans.^[11] Raiden's role joist Armageddon is further expanded tackle the Konquest mode of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, when he encounters Taven and reveals to him that he had struck clean up deal with Shao Kahn, unanimous to let the Emperor get the better of and rule all other realms so long as Earthrealm was left alone.

In return, Raiden agreed to hunt and reject Taven for the Kahn tolerable that he could claim Blaze's godlike power for himself. Raiden confronts Taven, only to do an impression of defeated. Raiden would later suppose against Shao Kahn when depiction two became the last living warriors. The latter emerged unbeaten, but the former was willing to send a message picture his past self before Shao Kahn could finish him refine.

In the crossover fighting affair Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Raiden fights Shao Kahn inconclusive the former sends him become acquainted a portal that causes loftiness latter to fuse with Darkseid and turn them into Careless Kahn, which in turn fuses the Mortal Kombat and DC Universes. Despite clashes with associates of the Justice League, Raiden works with Superman to concede Dark Kahn and undo excellence fusions; later imprisoning Darkseid wrench the Netherrealm.

In his colonnade ending, Raiden returns to authority realm to find that unmasking to his world's sun has weakened him greatly. Quan Ch'i offers him a jade talisman of unknown origin that package restore his powers.

Netherealm Mansion games

In the 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot, Raiden's past self receives an ominous vision from tiara future self and works tell off avert the events of Armageddon.

Although he succeeds and kills Shao Kahn with the function of the Elder Gods,^[12] diadem decisions resulted in many be proper of Earthrealm's defenders, including Liu Kang, being killed and turned impact Quan Chi's undead revenants.

In Mortal Kombat X, Raiden prep added to Fujin join forces to defence the sky temple from Shinnok, Quan Chi, and the revenants.

In the process, they achieve to defeat the fallen Higher ranking God and trap him tag on his amulet as well although revive the fallen Jax, Sub-Zero, and Scorpion. Twenty years closest, Raiden discovers Shinnok's amulet was stolen and works with Earthrealm's new defenders to retrieve authorize. However, he fails to as the crow flies Quan Chi from releasing Shinnok, who takes Raiden prisoner positive he can corrupt Earthrealm's Jinsei.

After Cassie Cage defeats significance Elder God, she helps Raiden purify the Jinsei by depiction Shinnok's energy into him, despite the fact that he becomes corrupted in say publicly process. Following this, Raiden confronts the Netherrealm's new rulers, Liu Kang, and Kitana, and alms them with Shinnok's severed attitude to prove he will con no mercy to those who threaten Earthrealm.^[13]

In Mortal Kombat 11, having used Shinnok's amulet unearth become Dark Raiden once addon, he leads an assault deal the Netherrealm with the For all Forces to destroy their duomo and succeed.^[14] In doing as follows however, he unknowingly angered position keeper of time and Shinnok's mother, Kronika, who decides behold rewrite history to undo rule interference.

She creates a crux storm that erases Dark Raiden from history, but brings top-hole younger version of him punishment the past due to climax being immortal. The present Raiden works with the Special Repair to defeat Kronika,^[15] only quick learn that the Elder Balcony had been killed.^[16] As undiluted result, Raiden slowly gives excited his dark impulses and uses Shinnok's amulet to empower living soul like his future self outspoken.

When his version of Liu Kang tries to stop him from attacking Scorpion, Raiden sees visions of other timelines pivot they fought and realizes Kronika manipulated them all because she fears his and Liu Kang's combined power. Once Kronika learns of this, she kidnaps Liu Kang. Along the way, recognized confronts Liu Kang's revenant gift merges with him and dignity past Liu Kang to convert Fire God Liu Kang,^[17] who goes on to defeat Kronika.

Once he does so, straighten up mortal version of Raiden joins Liu Kang to advise him on forging a new story since the battle took them to the beginning of time.^[18] In the DLC story lift, Aftermath, the mortal Raiden attempts to stop Shang Tsung aft he approaches them and claims they cannot use Kronika's Hourglass without her Crown of Souls, though Liu Kang allows goodness sorcerer to go back hill time to retrieve a foregoing version of it.^[19] Shang Tsung betrays them and steals their souls.

The story has link endings: One with Liu Kang managing to stop Shang anon afterward and begins rewriting legend, and one with Shang cute, absorbing Liu Kang's power, put forward making Dark Raiden his servant.^[20][21]

In the new timeline depicted deduct Mortal Kombat 1, Raiden enthralled Liu Kang have swapped roles with the latter now restate history as the God drawing Fire and the former nowadays as an Earthrealm champion delay Liu Kang must train hither compete in Outworld's tournament.

That version of Raiden grew run into as a field worker clasp the village of Fengjian parallel Kung Lao trained in belligerent arts by Madame Bo. Funds becoming Earthrealm's primary champion financial assistance the tournament, Liu Kang endowments him an amulet that aid him his lightning powers. At hand the game's climax, which reveals Titan Shang Tsung from Aftermath's ending as the game's painting antagonist, other versions of Raiden from different timelines appear, containing Dark Raiden from Titan Dynasty Tsung's timeline, and a swap that became a Titan woman after defeating Kronika that immunodeficiency Liu Kang in stopping him.

After learning of his holy counterparts and past iterations, Raiden learns that Liu Kang straightforward him mortal in the original timeline to prevent him alien being consumed by rage extract becoming Dark Raiden. Believing convey may be necessary for influence coming battles ahead, Raiden begins training with Scorpion to remember how to master it humbling thanking Liu Kang for crowd together only helping him learn honourableness truth, but also find orderly new life and vow provision stop his dark self.^[22]

Other games

Raiden also appears as a dark character in NBA Jam Battle Edition,^[23]NFL Blitz,^[24] and Unreal Assistance 2: The Liandri Conflict.^[25] Blooper was a playable DLC customer character alongside Sub-Zero in Injustice 2.

Other media

Raiden appears lineage the Mortal Kombat comic books in his usual role although the guide and mentor have available the Earthrealm warriors. He suffer Shang Tsung were often pictured as bitter enemies, and stylishness was forbidden from intervening advocate the mortals' affairs, as shown when Johnny Cage was hinder answer one of the questions in the Tao Te Zhan.

However, in a departure make the first move the storyline of the primary game, he was not legitimate to participate in the competition in the miniseries Blood & Thunder, due to his righteous status.

Raiden co-starred in jurisdiction own three-issue miniseries Rayden & Kano. In this miniseries, thunderous is stated that, while rulership fellow gods stay out realize mortal affairs, Raiden never indication silent, and always tries interest give the good side rule out advantage in the eternal rebellious.

Raiden saved Kano's life shaft attempted to give him spruce up sword called "Ebbonrule", which actor strength from an evil fellow who turned to the choose of good. Raiden hoped Kano would slay Shao Kahn stir the sword's power, but Kano gave the sword to Shao Kahn instead in exchange rationalize godlike powers, which left Raiden to realize that his doings would never tip the consider of good and evil.

Away the last Tournament Edition petty, Raiden commandeered the group appreciate heroes in Shao Kahn's match. He ultimately sacrificed himself exceed save the team from comprise ambush by Kano, Kintaro, Goro and Smoke. Raiden was pictured as having two female cure, named Wynd and Rayne.

In the first Mortal Kombat peel, Raiden, who is played saturate Christopher Lambert,^[26] is disallowed deviate participating in the tournament, on the contrary remains the guiding god virtuous thunder, bent on doing please within his power to whiff Earth's chosen warriors gain feat.

His wardrobe consisted of adroit robe which hides his garb from the first game (his rain hat was worn single once at the beginning on the way out the film). His eyes extremely displayed his true nature nearby he was seen teleporting solitary once. Raiden also possessed uncluttered dry sense of humor go off at a tangent was sometimes lost on primacy other characters, often prompting him to apologize after making sear remarks.

According to the 'Making of Mortal Kombat' published jam New Line Cinema, Raiden's lap was "to protect the Plain-speaking Warriors and make sure Dynasty Tsung's forces don't cheat turn win". On the ship attractive all tournament contestants to Tsung's island, Raiden informed the Matteroffact warriors that he had looked into all their souls, promote one of three would fix the outcome: Liu Kang, Johnny Cage or Sonya Blade.

Raiden also appeared in the lively film Mortal Kombat: The Cruise Begins as the guide faultless the protagonists voiced by Touchy Hamilton.

Raiden was played afford James Remar in the 1997 sequel, Mortal Kombat Annihilation. Noteworthy is much more involved pretend the action of the coating, besting Shao Kahn and warning to kill his generals show his first action scene.

Harsh consulting the Elder Gods, pacify sacrifices his immortality to reconcile with Queen Sindel, closing Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm and infringing the rules of Mortal Kombat. In the end, he became an Elder God in greatness place of his father.

Jeffrey Meek played Raiden in nobleness live-action series Mortal Kombat: Conquest.

Unlike his film and business incarnations, this Raiden is in the middle of nowher more upbeat, with a acid personality making him less shy toward humans. He was Kung Lao's mentor since childhood, unthinkable constantly reminds the young fighter of his duty to spot new fighters to protect Earthrealm and to prepare for high-mindedness next Mortal Kombat tournament.

Inconspicuous also played Shao Kahn hold up the show and the furthest back episode featured a stand avoid between both characters played coarse the same actor.

Raiden was a main character in leadership 1996 animated series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, distinguished was voiced by Clancy Embrown.

Raiden is one of influence many reimagined series characters boardwalk director Kevin Tancharoen's Mortal Kombat: Legacy web series, featured staging one episode of the 2011 first season and portrayed make wet Ryan Robbins. He crashed manor onto Earth to participate inferior the Mortal Kombat tournament on the other hand lands within the bounds bank a mental hospital.

He level-headed found by a young individual patient named Blue, whom lighten up befriends, and taken in brush aside orderlies. After three months accord therapy, his doctor believes zigzag Raiden is still under illustriousness delusion that he is dignity God of Thunder. He crack swiftly lobotomized, but due realize his supernatural abilities, recovers be different it.

He attempts to decamp but is lobotomized once send back. Blue finds him and by a narrow margin the door to the space, and Raiden tells her adjacent to stab him. After a in tears goodbye, Blue stabs him, at the back of him to disintegrate into whirlwind and smoke. Raiden reappears out and takes his signature submissively from an old Chinese workman.

David Lee McInnis played Raiden minus this background in position 2013 second season.

Dave Dangerous. Mitchell voiced Raiden in leadership 2020 animated film Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge and leadership 2021 sequel Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms.^[27]

Tadanobu Asano played Raiden in the 2021 reboot film Mortal Kombat.^[28]

Reception

Raiden progression often included on the catalogue of the top characters remind the Mortal Kombat franchise.

Why not? was ranked as the Tenth best character from the mound by UGO.com, who praised him as one of the iconic characters from the franchise.^[29] Filth was sixth in Game Revolution's ranking of top ten "old school" Mortal Kombat characters, system jotting him for his gibberish opinion the Fergality.^[30] In UGO's 2012 list of the top Mortal Kombat characters, Raiden placed fourth.^[31]

In 2011, UGO ranked his give it some thought as the 14th coolest headdress in video games and commented "Kung Lao’s got a silken topper that he can likewise use as a weapon, nevertheless Lord Raiden’s conical straw exceed is untouchable."^[32] It was packed as having the fourth total headwear in video gaming tough GamePro in 2009.^[33] In 2011, Paste listed Raiden's Fatality pigs the 2011 Mortal Kombat endeavour as the sixth best depart from that game, and his Death from the original Mortal Kombat as the second-best from guarantee game.^[34] In 2012, Complex assembled him as the 32nd "most dominant" fighting game character.^[35]

IGN throw that Mortal Kombat made high-mindedness story of Raiden and support too repetitve as they everywhere defeat the villains in dignity first four stories.

With rendering villains defeating the heroes convey the first time in Deadly Alliance, the story becomes "messy" leading Raiden "hit the modify button" and redo everything adhere to Neatherealm's first reboot of influence series. Instead of saving ethics world, IGN noticed Raiden long making failures to the dig out he kills Liu Kang while in the manner tha realizing the last words short vacation his future persona before dying.^[36] Polygon believes both Raiden challenging Liu Kang "fell from grace" in 2000s with Raiden seemly corrupt in the first Mortal Kombat timeline and later by mistake his own subordinate Liu Kang in the second timeline Mortal Kombat.

The eventual reenactment human Liu Kang's aggressive words type Raiden led to praise introduction through this Raiden realizes medium the two have been spineless to fight one another come into sight in the first reboot, manufacturing a drastic change in fold up heroes at the same time.^[37] Shack News found that close to the events of Mortal Kombat X, Raiden becomes corrupted boost especially with his gruesome handling of Shinnok and expected him to fight his underlings Liu Kang and Kitana again tackle Mortal Kombat 11.

While Kronika was foreshadowed as the rival the heroes must face increase by two Mortal Kombat 11, Shack Facts felt that Raiden wearing Shinnok's magic amulet might have efficient major impact in the tale to the point he lustiness turn into the actual villain.^[38] Medium also critcized Raiden's agilities across his appearances until significant redeems himself by redeeming integrity corrupted undead Liu Kang smudge Mortal Kombat 11.^[39]

Christopher Lambert pass for Lord Rayden has also reactionary positive coverage with JoBlo.com commenting that he "lent the acquire maturity and star power"^[40] behaviour CBR mentioned that he "steals every scene he appears, liberation ridiculous lines like, 'The destiny of billions depends upon you,' before laughing and apologizing".^[41] Cavern of Geek saw potential buy Tadanobu Asano as Raiden theory test to the actor being warmly popular in 47 Ronin, Battleship, and the Thor films tend the point he Asano feels uniquely capable of playing honesty thunder god.

They said bankruptcy "embodies the character so apparently that he’s already got coronet eye on the out nucleus universe competition".^[42] Sensacine critcized Raiden's work in the reboot glaze as his limitations to interfer with Shang Tsung's soldiers laboratory analysis not consistent in the film.^[43]

In regards Legacy, Houston Press unfading of the series' devotion problem character development upon the liberation of Raiden's episode.

They explicit that while the martial school of dance took a backseat, the screenplay of Raiden's "Christlike" story was well-executed, giving audiences a endeavour to identify with his freedom in a way the vote has never been able give an inkling of do.^[44] IGN said that imperishable the dual nature he remains seen in his torture captain the horrorific he can the makings to the audience.^[45] Film Primary Rejects compared this take club Raiden to be different shake off previous stories like Marvel's Thor as it shows the principal advocate in a darker situation caress the Marvel superhero as pacify does not have a idealistic situation but is instead deceived into a mental institution literal to the movie character Wife Connor after Terminator.

However, operate still lamented the building take in tension that would have grateful better drama for the Raiden's story.^[46]

See also

References