Line #94 MythologyGag/MortalKombat9


1	''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' could as well be considered a celebration of the best of the franchise, given [[MythologyGag the tons of nods towards the series mythos]], both the original continuity and the extraofficial material.
2	----
3	!Character moves and poses
4	* Johnny Cage's autographed headshot friendship from ''2'' and the movie is also referenced in his Babality in this game, where it's replaced by a doodle version.
5	* Kitana's X-Ray makes heavy use of the teleport spin shown in [[VideoGame/MortalKombatVsDCUniverse the DC crossover]].
6	* Liu Kang's X-Ray Move starts a butterfly kick followed by an uppercut to the chin and then a high kick to the chin. The first two moves are a homage to his Fatality in the first game, the only non-fatal Fatality in the series.
7	** When he wins a round, he makes a gesture of respect and disappears in fire. That's the same thing he does in his ''3'' fatality, right before the arcade console falls on his opponent's head.
8	* Mileena's X-Ray move is essentially her "Rapid Stab" fatality from ''2''.
9	* Noob Saibot's fighting stance is the same as [[spoiler:Sub-Zero's in the first two games and ''Mythologies'', referencing his status as the original Sub-Zero.]]
10	* In the intro movie of ''Deception'', Quan Chi opens a portal to escape when he realizes that Raiden's going to try and kamikaze Onaga. He opens the same portal when he tags out during a tag match during ''9''.
11	* Shang Tsung's opening quote in ''9'' is "YourSoulIsMine!", his catch phrase from [[Film/MortalKombatTheMovie the first film]].
12	* Sonya Blade's KissOfDeath special is a kiss made with chemical-dust, the same trick she uses in ''Film/MortalKombatAnnihilation''.
13	** Her X-Ray move has her [[MurderousThighs breaking a neck with her legs]], much like she did to Kano in [[Film/MortalKombatTheMovie the original movie]].
14	* Sub-Zero tags out using the Tombstone teleport from ''MK vs. DC''.
15
16	!Fatalities
17	* Goro has his "Limb Rip" fatality from ''Deception'', rechristened "Torn Apart".
18	* Jade has her pole impale fatality from ''3''.
19	* Jax starts his "Three Points!" fatality with Superman's Ground Pound from ''MK vs. DCU''. The entirety of the Fatality is also similar to Shao Kahn's "Fore!" fatality from ''Deception'', except that he uses his hands and feet instead of a weapon.
20	** He also starts his "Smash and Grab" fatality with his "Head Clap" fatality from ''2'' and ''4''.
21	* Johnny Cage combines his headshot uppercut from ''1'' & ''2'' and later his Torso Rip from ''2'' in his "Heads Up!" fatality.
22	* Kabal has his "Hook Up" fatality from ''Deception'', only this time he [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe cuts]] his opponent vertically instead of horizontally.
23	* Kano has his Heart Rip fatality from ''1'' as the first part of his "Eat Your Heart Out!" fatality.
24	* Kung Lao's "Razor's Edge" fatality is taken from ''Shaolin Monks''.
25	** He combines his "Hat Decapitation" from ''2'' with his "Body Slice" also from ''2'' in his "Hat Trick" fatality.
26	* Liu Kang's "The Spirit Within" fatality is his "Dragon's Bite" fataity from ''2'' and ''4''.
27	* Mileena ends her "Be Mine" fatality with her "Ferocious Bite" from ''Deception''. Her "Rip Off" Fatality copies one of Kira's Fatalities from the same game, using her Sai in place of Kira's Dragon Teeth (and the name itself could be interpreted as a {{Pun}} as a result).
28	* Nightwolf ends his "Ascension" fatality with his "Spiritual Teleportation" fatality from ''3''.
29	* Quan Chi has his "Beatdown" fatality from ''4''. It starts with Havik's "Batter Up!" fatality from ''Deception''.
30	* Reptile has his "Yummy!" head eating fatality from ''2'' in his Klassic costume.
31	** His "Acid Yak" fatality starts in the same way he would kill Liu Kang in his stage in ''Shaolin Monks''.
32	* Scorpion has his "Toasty!" fatality from ''1'' and ''2'' in his Klassic costume.
33	** His "Nether-Gates" fatality is a rehash of his "Lava Pool" fatality from ''MK vs. DC''.
34	** His "Split Decision" fatality starts with the "Spear Slice" fatality from ''2''. (only this time done with a sword)
35	* Shang Tsung inherits ComicBook/TheJoker's fatality from ''MK vs. DCU'', called "Bang! Bang!". The only differences are that he turns into a generic MonsterClown and the results are far more gruesome. He even strikes ''exactly'' the same pose the Joker did after the kill.
36	** His "Identity Theft" fatality is Liu Kang's "Soul Invasion" fatality from ''Deception''.
37	* Shao Kahn's "Home Run" fatality is taken from ''Deception''.
38	* Sheeva does a variation of her Skin Rip fatality from ''3''.
39	* Sonya has her "Scissor Split" fatality from ''4''.
40	* Stryker does his Taser fatality from ''3'', but this time close to his enemy, before headshotting him, in his "Time Served" fatality.
41	** He also has a variation of his "Explosives" fatality from ''3'' as "Have a Blast".
42	* Sub Zero has his "Spine Rip" fatality from ''1'' in his Klassic costume.
43	** His "Spinal Smash" fatality is similar to his "Freeze and Throw" fatality from ''Deception''.
44	** His "Have An Ice Day" fatality starts in the same way as his "Below Freezing" fatality from ''Deception'', except that he doesn't destroy the lower part.
45
46	!Costumes
47	* '''Main''':
48	** Ermac: Comes from ''Deception''/''Armageddon'' era.
49	** Mileena: Comes from her alt in ''Deception''.
50	** Shang Tsung: Comes from ''MK vs. DC''.
51	** Stryker: A mix of his old ''3'' look, plus stuff from his ''Defenders of the Realm'' appearance.
52	** Rain: Comes from ''Armageddon''.
53	** [[spoiler:Cyber Sub-Zero]]: The mask he wears is based on the one that Smoke wore in ''Deception'' and ''Armageddon''.
54	* '''Main Alternate''':
55	** Raiden: Evil!Raiden costume from ''Deception'' and ''Armageddon''.
56	** Shang Tsung: [=MK1=] boss costume; his older self.
57	** Jade: Comes from ''Deception''/''Armageddon'' era.
58	* '''Other Alternates''':
59	** Scorpion: [=MK1=]/2 ([[DownloadableContent Klassic Pack]]); [=MK3=] (Vita)
60	** Sub-Zero: [=MK1=]/2 ([[DownloadableContent Klassic Pack]]); [=MK3=] (Vita); Unmasked![=MK3=] (Free update)
61	** Reptile: [=MK1=]/2 ([[DownloadableContent Klassic Pack]]); [=MK3=] (Vita)
62	** Smoke: [=MK2=] (Free update); [=MK3=] (Vita)
63	** Noob Saibot: [=MK2=] (Free update); [=MK3=] (Vita)
64	** Ermac: [[DevelopmentGag MK1]] ([[DownloadableContent Klassic Pack]]); [=MK3=] (Vita)
65	** [[DownloadableContent Rain]]: [=MK3=] (Vita)
66	** Kitana: [=MK2=] ([[DownloadableContent Klassic Pack]]); [=MK3=] ([[DownloadableContent Klassic Pack]])
67	** Mileena: [=MK2=] (Vita); [=MK3=] ([[DownloadableContent Klassic Pack]])
68	** Jade: [=MK2=] ([[DownloadableContent Klassic Pack]])
69	** Sektor: [=MK3=] ([[DownloadableContent Klassic Pack]])
70	** Cyrax: [=MK3=] ([[DownloadableContent Klassic Pack]])
71	** [[spoiler:Cyber Sub-Zero]]: [[ComicBook/MortalKombatMalibuComics Hydro]] (Free update)
72	** [[UrbanLegendOfZelda Skarlet]]: [=MK2=] (Vita); [=MK3=] (Vita)
73	* Noob Saibot's Player 2 coloration for his [=MK2=] costume turns his shade into Smoke, referencing their team-up in ''Deception''.
74	* In the cartoon adaptation, ''WesternAnimation/MortalKombatDefendersOfTheRealm'', Cyrax and Sektor were respectively shown to be Asian and Black before automation. The showing of Cyrax and Sektor's human forms reveal that the reverse actually applies within canon.
75	* Sub-Zero's unmasked [=MK3=] costume also more resembles the outfit he wore in a flashback episode of ''Defenders of the Realm''.
76
77	!Stages
78	* The Courtyard music has been arranged into a hip-hop rendition for the Street stage in ''3''.
79	* The Subway stage fatality is a CallBack to ''[=MK3=]'' and its variants, where the subway stage and its fatality made their debut, only now it's much gorier.
80	** The theme was also remixed for this game.
81	* The Dead Pool retains its Stage Fatality from ''2''.
82	* The Pit in both variants keep their Stage Fatality from ''1''.
83	* The Living Forest allows the players to feed their opponents to the titular trees, like in ''Shaolin Monks''.
84	* The cutscene-only Wu Shi Academy is kept intact from it's selectable appearance from ''MK vs. DC''.
85
86	!Arcade ladder endings
87	* Ermac's Arcade Ladder ending reveals that [[spoiler:one of the souls within his body is that of the late King Jerrod of Edenia (i.e. Sindel's husband and Kitana's father), who takes control of Ermac's body and returns to rule and protect Edenia alongside his family]]. This is a clever and very, ''very'' subtle nod to him being often paired up with [[spoiler:Sindel]] in ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'' and ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy'' during Endurance matches.
88	* The narration in Sub-Zero's Arcade Ladder ending refers to [[spoiler:Subby & Scorpion]] as the [[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance "Deadly Alliance"]].
89	* The way Shao Kahn explodes at the end of each Arcade Ladder is reminiscent of the way Dark Kahn explodes in ''MK vs. DCU''.
90
91	!Story mode
92	* The structure of the Story Mode itself is taken from the DC crossover.
93	* Raiden [[ContinuityNod mentions]] Bi-Han!Sub-Zero's intervention [[VideoGame/MortalKombatMythologiesSubZero against Shinnok's forces]] after [[spoiler:he's cremated by Scorpion and all that is left of him is his skull and spine in an ironic reference to his own fatality in the first game]].
94	* Chapter 2, Sonya Blade's, involves her fighting against Kitana and Jade in a two-on-one match. This includes a multitude of Easter eggs that one would likely not realize at first. Chapters 1-5 covered the events of the first game even though Kitana didn't debut until ''VideoGame/MortalKombatII'', however she was [[WhatCouldHaveBeen originally conceived as a prototype NPC character named "Kitsune"]] who was to be the daughter of Shang Tsung (then named "Shang Lao"). Thus her appearance in the early part of the story mode is both a DevelopmentGag and MythologyGag in reference to her role in the 1995 ''Film/MortalKombatTheMovie''. In regard to Jade, the creators of the aforementioned film had planned to include a fight between Sonya and Jade which was ultimately never shot, though it is included in the novelization of the movie.
95	* Smoke's chapter has him spying on Shang Tsung and Kano behind a tree in the Living Forest, much like he did on the player back in ''[=MK2=]''.
96	* During Kuai-Liang!Sub-Zero's chapter, he has a conversation that is very similar to his lines in ''Film/MortalKombatAnnihilation''.
97	* Kitana's affections towards Liu Kang [[RetCanon were also ported over from their relationship in the movies.]]
98	* Jade is revealed to be spying on Kitana in the Living Forest during Kitana's chapter, much like in ''[=MK2=]''.
99	* Kung Lao being disguised as a Guard and revealing himself in Scorpion's chapter is a nod to the intro of ''Shaolin Monks'', where he did the same.
100	** There's also a subtle nod to Liu Kang and Kung Lao's bickering about [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend Kitana's relationship to Liu Kang]] in Kung Lao's chapter.
101	--> '''Kung Lao''': ''I hope your girlfriend is worth Lord Raiden's anger, Liu Kang.''
102	--> '''Liu Kang''': ''Notice that I am ignoring you.''
103	* During the story mode, Kung Lao faces off against the tandem of Quan Chi & Shang Tsung. Quan Chi even remarks that Kung Lao doesn't stand a chance "against this [[TitleDrop Deadly Alliance]]".
104	* In Chapter 15 (which takes place during the [=MK3=] portion of the story line), Nightwolf fights against and defeats Quan Chi. In ''WesternAnimation/MortalKombatDefendersOfTheRealm'' (which is set during the events of the third game), Nightwolf was the lone member of the Defenders of Earthrealm who could overcome and break the spell cast by Quan Chi.
105	* Kabal and Stryker being partners in the police may reference a line by Rain in ''Film/MortalKombatAnnihilation'' where he claims to have killed them both in battle.
106	* Several characters refer to the BadFuture where Shao Kahn wins as "Armageddon". Sure enough, the plot of the game hinges upon you being able to avert the events of the game of that same name.
107
108	!Challenge Tower & Bonus CT
109	* Challenges Nº 30/60/90/120/180/210: [[VideoGame/MortalKombatShaolinMonks Shaolin Monk: Act 1/2/3/4/5/Final Act]]
110	* Challenge Nº 71: [[LegacyCharacter The Great]] [[Series/MortalKombatConquest Kung Lao.]]
111	* Challenge Nº 85: [[VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon Arm-ageddon]]
112	* Challenge Nº 148: [[WesternAnimation/MortalKombatDefendersOfTheRealm It's Kombat Time!]] ([[DontExplainTheJoke You're playing as Sonya, who had this as her catchphrase in that adaptation.]])
113	* Challenge Nº 248: [[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance Deadly Dalliance]], featuring a magical fight between Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, the titular Deadly Alliance.
114	** Challenge Nº 256 is also called Deadly Alliance, but this time it has Raiden fighting against Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, a nod to the intro of ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception''.
115	* Bonus Challenge Nº 16: [[VideoGame/MortalKombat3 It's Official, You Suck!]]
116	* Bonus Challenge Nº 32: Meat Johnnnny! has Johnny becoming Meat, the infamous ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' character glitch PromotedToPlayable for ''VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon''.
117	* Bonus Challenge Nº 55 has Tremor from ''VideoGame/MortalKombatSpecialForces'' as an opponent. Later, BC Nº 100 (Forgotten Warrior) and BC Nº 148 (Tremor) feature him as a playable character.
118	* Bonus Challenge Nº 79: [[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception Hara-Kiri]]
119	* The summary for the very last challenge on the Bonus Challenge Tower simply reads "[[VideoGame/MortalKombat3 There is no knowledge that is not power.]]"
120	* One of the Test Your Balance failures in the PS Vita involves the character getting thrown down a large shaft a la ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4''[='=]s GameOver [[HaveANiceDeath screen]]. The end results can include either impacting on the bottom of the pit like the Pit II stage fatality in [=MKII=] or being sliced into pieces by rotating saws like the Pit 3's stage fatality in [=MK3=].
121
122	!Raiden's Visions:
123	* ''VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon''
124	** Raiden fighting against Taven, in order to [[spoiler:prevent him from stopping the bad guys led by Quan Chi to reach Argus' Pyramid]].
125	** Raiden making a deal with the aforementioned bad guys.
126	* ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception''
127	** Raiden, now a bad guy, reanimating Liu Kang's corpse.
128	** Raiden, Shang Tsung and Quan Chi trying to stop Onaga, a reference to the intro.
129	** Also from the same intro, Raiden battling Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, the Deadly Alliance from the previous game.
130	* ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance''
131	** Raiden telling the Earthrealm warriors about the Deadly Alliance.
132	** Raiden receiving the request of Kuai Liang, the new Lin Kuei leader, to join Earthrealm's cause (Sub-Zero's DA ending).
133	** Near a portal in the Special Forces base.
134	** Raiden finding the deceased Liu Kang's corpse.
135	* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4''
136	** Raiden battling Shinnok, reference to ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4''.
137	* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat3''
138	** Liu Kang's attempt to stop Shao Kahn's invasion.
139	** The Tarkatans wreaking havoc in Earthrealm.
140	** Johnny Cage being impaled by Motaro.
141	** Raiden discussing with Nightwolf about Sindel's resurrection.
142	** Jax getting his cybernetic arms implanted.
143	** Smoke's capture and automation.
144	** The Soulnado.
145	* ''VideoGame/MortalKombatII''
146	** Liu Kang finishing Shao Kahn.
147	** Kano and Sonya being captured in the Collisseum.
148	** Sonya battling the Tarkatans, being outnumbered and captured.
149	* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1992''
150	** Liu Kang defeating Shang Tsung.
151	** The birth of Noob Saibot as a result of Scorpion killing Sub-Zero.
152	** Reptile attacking Johnny Cage.
153
154	!Other
155	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak2DJoQxq40 The character selection screen]] is similar to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfztnGIHwUA the one from]] ''Deadly Alliance''.
156	* Noob Saibot's reveal trailer uses Ermac as his tag-team partner. This, plus his fighting style, reference ''[[Film/MortalKombatAnnihilation Annihilation]]'', wherein Ermac spawned Noob to double-team Sonya.
157	* The insignia used by the Lin Kuei starting from this game is derived from the one featured in Series/MortalKombatConquest.

Context MythologyGag / MortalKombat9