Just a month after its theatrical debut, Mortal Kombat II has become available to buy or rent on digital. Neither it nor its 2021 predecessor performed especially well at the box office, but such is the strength of the Mortal Kombat brand that a third installment has already been greenlit. Mortal Kombat‘s iconic status is due in large part to its memorable character designs, which range from technicolor ninjas to ancient gods.
When bringing these Kombatants to the big screen, the films’ artists and costume designers made numerous changes, such as decking out Scorpion in heavy samurai armor or giving Jade a buzz cut. Some of these deviations from the games were received better than others, but in any adaptation of a beloved franchise, fans respond best to accuracy to the source material. So which costumes from the two most recent Mortal Kombat films were closest to those from the fighting games that inspired them?
Mortal Kombat II Made Raiden More Faithful to the Games
Raiden’s costume in the 2021 Mortal Kombat film was not particularly accurate to the games. It included some of the Thunder God’s trademark elements, like his kasa hat and his white and blue color palette, but it was a mostly original design that emphasized his regality with ornate armor and gold details. This was a deviation from the games, because despite his divinity, Raiden has traditionally worn more modest attire.
The second film remained closer to the source material by simplifying Raiden’s outfit. It was reminiscent of his costumes from Mortal Kombat 4 and the 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot, the latter of which is generally called Mortal Kombat 9 by fans. As a result, the character was instantly recognizable as Raiden, though this design cannot be considered quite as faithful as those that adapted a particular costume from the games.
Kung Lao’s Costume Foreshadowed His Story in Mortal Kombat II
Kung Lao’s appearance has changed frequently over the course of the games, so there were many potential directions to take the character in live action. Lao’s outfit in both films was based on his primary costume from Mortal Kombat 11, which was less colorful and more heavily armored than most of his other designs. This was a fitting choice, because Lao was an undead Revenant in Mortal Kombat 11, and the same was true in the Mortal Kombat II film, as Shang Tsung had stolen his soul.
However, the films’ take on Lao was far from a one-to-one translation of Mortal Kombat 11. Details such as the texture of his armor and the color of his pants differed. Additionally, Lao and his fellow Revenants looked more human than their game counterparts, who had cracked gray skin and glowing orange eyes. Still, the live-action Lao was clearly rooted in Mortal Kombat 11, which was the most recent game installment at the time of the 2021 film’s release.
The First Mortal Kombat Film Updated a Classic Goro Design
Adaptations of Mortal Kombat have mostly focused on human and humanlike characters, but the Mortal Kombat franchise would not be complete without some monsters. As such, the 2021 film included Goro, a member of the four-armed Shokan species. This version of Goro was clearly inspired by his Mortal Kombat 9 iteration, as evidenced by the diagonal strap across his chest and the Shokan symbol on his belt, two details absent from his other designs.
Goro was a fully CGI character, so he could have looked exactly like his game counterpart if the filmmakers wished, but that was not the case. He wore an elaborately decorated wrap around his waist instead of just a loincloth, and there was some fur draped over his shoulders. These felt like natural additions to the design, making it more complex without deviating much from Goro’s traditional appearance.
Uncaged Fury Referenced an Iconic Johnny Cage Costume
Throughout most of the film, protagonist Johnny Cage wore a simple outfit that did not closely match any particular design from the games. However, the film opened with a scene from one of Johnny’s in-universe movies, Uncaged Fury. In it, he wore a bright blue jacket emblazoned with his initials and a silver belt buckle reading “Cage.” This was nearly identical to Johnny’s alternate costume from Mortal Kombat 11, albeit with the addition of a white shirt beneath his jacket.
The film’s version of Johnny was older and less confident than his counterpart from the games, so such a flashy, self-aggrandizing look would not have suited him under ordinary circumstances. Reimagining it as a costume from one of his cheesy action flicks was a perfect way to pay homage to Mortal Kombat 11‘s memorable design while remaining true to his live-action characterization.
Bi-Han’s New Look Was Ripped Straight From Mortal Kombat 11
The Mortal Kombat films’ most game-accurate costume was easily that worn by Bi-Han in the second installment. Having been killed by Scorpion in the first film, Bi-Han returned as a shadowy Wraith, whom fans of the games will know by the name Noob Saibot. In the games, Noob began as an all-black palette swap of Sub-Zero, but Mortal Kombat 11 gave him a more distinct appearance that called to mind the Grim Reaper.
This dark, heavily armored ensemble already fit the films’ design sensibilities, so it was barely altered in the transition to live-action. Even with some minor adjustments, like his armor becoming shinier, Noob’s costume was a perfect adaptation of Mortal Kombat 11, and fans loved it. Mortal Kombat III‘s character designs should follow the example set by Noob in Mortal Kombat II.
- Video Game(s)
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Mortal Kombat (2011), Mortal Kombat 2, Mortal Kombat X, Mortal Kombat 4, Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat 11, Mortal Kombat Legacy, Mortal Kombat Deception, Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Mortal Kombat: Unchained, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Mortal Kombat: Onslaught
- First TV Show
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Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
- Created by
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Ed Boon, John Tobias