Summary
Mortal Kombathas captivated players with its intense combat mechanisms, gruesome fatality animations, and diverse cast since its inception in 1992. As the launch of the 25th installment,Mortal Kombat 1, draws nearer, announcements of iconic characters making the cast have surfaced in recent weeks, recently including Sindel. However, the confirmed roster still has spaces for NetherRealm Studios to fill, and discussions have ensued regarding characters that deserve to appear in the landmark title. Fujin, a regular supporting character in previous editions, is one of the fan favorites, and the wind-bender has a solid case to makeMortal Kombat 1’s roster.
Character lore is a driving factor behind fans pushing for the involvement of their favoritefighters inMortal Kombat 1, and there’s plenty in Fujin’s tale to justify his inclusion. His saga began inMortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, although it wasn’t untilMortal Kombat 4that Fujin first took on the mantle of a playable character in the series, teaming up with Raiden to defend Earthrealm from Shinnok’s aggression. AfterMortal Kombat 4, Fujin faded into the background of the franchise’s events again, making cameo appearances in various spinoffs, and he returned as a playable character inMortal Kombat 11after a long hiatus.
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Fujin’s Storyline From MK11 Makes a Great Case for His Return
Brought intoMortal Kombat 11as part of theAftermath DLC alongside RoboCop and Sheeva, players could delve deeper into his mysterious lore and his relationship with Raiden through interactions with the protagonists, further expanding the already multilayered narratives ofMortal Kombat. Fujin’s case for inclusion inMortal Kombat 1lies in his heavy involvement withMortal Kombat 11’s endgame as NetherRealm picks up where Aftermath left off. With Kronika defeated at the hands of Liu Kang and Raiden, the wind god was set free from his captivity and embarked on a mission to retrieve Kronika’s destroyed crown, a crucial component for resetting the timeline. Fujin’s involvement inMortal Kombat 1should be a no-brainer to bring the new era of Liu Kang and Raiden’s visions to fruition since the upcoming installment focuses on the God of Fire’s new timeline.
The developer has kept a slow but deliberate pace in revealing information concerningMortal Kombat 1, keeping fans on their toes with precious breadcrumbs, and there’s so much yet to come to light about the complexities of Raiden and Fujin’s camaraderie. The prequel dropped a lore bombshell with its revelation ofFujin as Raiden’s younger brother, and this piece of lore could be even more important now that Raiden is a mortal.
However, as players went deeper intoMK11, the brothers had a falling out due to Raiden’s unhappiness with Fujin’s newfound friendship with humans stemming from his position as Earthrealm’s protector. Raiden assumed his brother would weaken because of the relationship, but Fujin proved him wrong, instead growing stronger and gaining the admiration of the people of Earthrealm. The brothers have joined forces multiple times in previous editions, like their defense of the Sky Temple from Shinnok andSindel inMortal Kombat X, and Raiden’s return inMortal Kombat 1has raised questions in light of their strained relationship.
Given their past battles, it wouldn’t be outlandish to expect an alliance between these former gods in the revised timeline, and this is another justification for Fujin’s appearance. The dynamic potential of a Fujin and Raiden partnership is something to look out for, as their complementary powers of thunder and wind would be a menace to adversaries inMortal Kombat 1. With an appearance either as a DLC character or a cameo, Fujin’s inclusion could mark a step in the right direction for theMortal Kombatfranchise to keep its promise of an expansive installment.
Mortal Kombat 1releases on September 19 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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