Taking into consideration the recent release patterns in the fighting franchise, Mortal Kombat 11 should be seeing the light of day sometime next year. The only thing is that NetherRealm Studios is yet to drop the official word and has assured fans that everyone involved is working hard on the next project.
While a teaser trailer is being awaited, why not use the time to look back at previous installments and craft a wishlist for characters to return? These are faces that were introduced fairly early in the series, with backstories that were more or less left untouched down the road.
NetherRealm Studios has already proven with Mortal Kombat X that it does not shy away from introducing new characters. On that note, there is hope that the developer will consider bringing back some old names with Mortal Kombat 11 as well.
Fujin
Fujin was one of the guardians of Shinnok and made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat 4 when the fallen god escaped his prison. He is one of the few remaining deities in the fight against evil and was personally chosen by Raiden as the new protector of Earth, a role that he fulfilled until Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. Since then, he has only made brief cameos in both the 2011 reboot and the recent Mortal Kombat X.
Fujin is the god of wind, much like Raiden is of thunder. He can manipulate the element for all sorts of attacks such as sending tornadoes and pressurized projectiles from afar. The winds around him are his to command, giving him the ability to levitate and create cyclones to suck in his opponents.
In terms of strength, Fujin is often compared with Raiden as they both are immortal beings. If the rumors are true that Raiden will go dark in Mortal Kombat 11, there would be no better replacement than Fujin.
Motaro
Motaro is a centaur-like creature with the body of a stallion and the torso of a man. He made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat 3 and remains to this day as one of the most difficult bosses in the franchise.
He has both incredible strength and speed, owing to his four-legged race. He can send opponents flying with just a single punch and then instantly appear behind them using teleportation. Motaro is also immune to projectile attacks, or at least he was before he lost most of his abilities in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.
Motaro made a small cameo appearance in the 2011 reboot where he was taken out by Raiden during the invasion. While it was suggested that he died at the hands of the thunder god, the franchise itself ascertains that resurrections and surprise returns are never out of the question.
Taking into account the core installments, Motaro has only made a significant appearance in just two of them. It is time that the Centaurian took his rightful place in Mortal Kombat 11.
Nitara
Nitara is a bat-winged vampire who feeds on life energy in order to remain alive. Her sole goal is to restore her original realm, making her one of the few morally neutral characters in the expansive narrative. She was first introduced in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, making a cameo appearance in Mortal Kombat: Deception and returning in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for the last time.
Nitara can use her giant wings to cover ample ground, either advancing towards or retreating from the opponent in little time. Her powers revolve around blood, where she literally spits projectiles of blood. She can also drain her prey to renew her own strength.
Nitara is an extremely underrated character in the franchise. She was highly wished to return in Mortal Kombat X but that never happened. Her storyline and desire for blood need to be elaborated further. Mortal Kombat 11 allows for that to happen.
Onaga
Onaga, also known as the Dragon King, once ruled over Outworld with an unstoppable army until Shao Kahn, who served as one of his chief advisers, fatally poisoned him. He made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat: Deception when he was inadvertently brought back to life by Quan Chi.
Onaga is one of the strongest beings in the entire franchise and someone who even Shao Kahn fears to face. He possess great regenerative abilities, is completely immune to magic, and can exhale vicious streams of fire. In addition to his incredible strength, giant dragon wings allow him to take flight as well.
Onaga has been missing in action since Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, being watered down to just making a small cameo appearance in the 2011 reboot as part of a vision received by Raiden. He is one antagonist that was never given the proper time to cement himself in the narrative. The forces of good will likely have their hands full should Onaga and his mighty army return in Mortal Kombat 11.
Reiko
Reiko is a warlord with a penchant for brutality and a desire to rule. He made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat 4 where he led the armies of Shinnok against the defenders of Earth. When the fallen god was defeated, Reiko took the opportunity to sit on the empty throne. He returned later in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon to take the throne once again but this time with more power and savagery.
Reiko made a small cameo appearance in the 2011 reboot where he could be seen fighting in the background of the “Pit” stage. He played no part in the narrative and was also completely missing from Mortal Kombat X. However, an accompanying comic book series revealed him as a successor to the throne at the end of the reboot but with a rather grim ending.
Reiko is a powerful fighter with a brilliant tactical mind. He is skilled in throwing stacks of shurikens and baiting his opponents to expose their weaknesses. He can also use teleportation to make his attacks even more deadlier by reappearing from above, behind, or the ground to land damage.
Reiko has always maintained similarities with Shao Kahn, which includes wearing his iconic helmet and copying some of his moves. However, he has somewhat lost his way in the storyline over the years. Could he return in Mortal Kombat 11 to lead his armies against Earth once again?
What other characters are you hoping to see in Mortal Kombat 11? Let us know in the comments below.
Mortal Kombat 11 is rumored for a release in spring next year for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. NetherRealm Studios should be dropping the official teaser in the coming months.
