Summary
- The Raiden ending of Mortal Kombat 1 sees him in a precarious position, as he could easily head down a dark path in a future sequel.
- Raiden is at odds with Liu Kang despite their many shared goals, and it remains to be seen whether he'll let his personal feelings get in the way of the greater good.
- Other, alternate Raidens offer a sneak peek into what Raiden's future could hold, and not all the options are pretty.
The following contains spoilers for Mortal Kombat 1.
As Mortal Kombat 1 kicks off, fans are basking in a new era. Liu Kang, as the Fire God, has reshaped reality, but he's stunned to learn all isn't as it seems. There's a Titan version of Shang Tsung running loose as well, making incursions and looking to shatter this paradise. The iconic villain doesn't like anyone but him messing with space and time, so he wants to enslave all timelines, beginning with Liu Kang's.
This leads to a high-octane Mortal Kombat 1 ending that nods heavily to Armageddon. Here, gamers get to pick a Chosen One to defeat Shang Tsung and help Liu Kang reset the realms. Once Raiden is selected, as much as it seems like it'll be a happy ending, there's a macabre edge hinting at something sinister to come after the victory.
Mortal Kombat's Raiden Ends Victorious But Angry
Raiden's animated finale confirms he is ticked off over what Liu Kang did. He learns Liu Kang retooled reality, all while keeping it secret once he got Kronika's power after MK11. But seeing as Liu Kang needed allies from all over the Multiverse, he had to bring other Raidens in. The Titan Raiden who once broke bad ends up helping the new Raiden, but the latter doesn't like how he's been robbed of his agency.
Raiden sees Liu Kang as exerting too much control. He's keeping his feelings secret because he wants to be Liu Kang's champion for a Mortal Kombat 1 sequel. But learning key insight from the older Raiden has changed his perspective. He wants a say in his destiny and clearly, Liu Kang robbed him of picking his own fate. What further annoys Raiden is how Liu Kang didn't give a reason for making him mortal. Raiden should be a god of lightning and thunder, but MK1 only grants him this power via an amulet.
It's surprising because Raiden spends most of Mortal Kombat 1's story mode educating Kung Lao on scrubbing his ego. But something's off, as Raiden seems like he wants his power back to near-invincible levels. Sure, it'll be for the greater good, but Raiden's always susceptible to corruption when he goes about things his way. Thus, it feels like Raiden 2.0 has planted his own seeds that could open a similar path to the dark side.
Mortal Kombat's Raiden Joins the Shirai Ryu
Raiden's finale has him wanting to explore the power of rage. He thinks this will give him the edge, but he underestimates how it ruined the one who fought Shinnok and became a monster, too. That Raiden used people like pawns, which is why Kronika intervened to remake the timestream, and why Liu Kang had to mend things in a better way. Nonetheless, Raiden 2.0 thinks Scorpion (the Kuai Liang version) can help him harness the fury -- something Liu Kang's temple won't partake in.
The clip shows Kuai burning Raiden with his fire, unleashing the lightning from his body. It's uncertain how this is all linked, but fans are eager to learn more in an MK sequel. This finale does seem to be canon as well, leaving gamers wondering how Liu Kang would take to Raiden leaving the Shaolin monks, and how Kung Lao would have reacted.
It's understandable that Raiden would want honesty, transparency, and accountability. Still, he should trust and listen to a Liu Kang who just wants what's good for him. Sadly, Raiden behaves much more selfishly than selflessly in his ending, leaving loyalists hoping maybe Scorpion can help him heal. Kuai tried to do the same for Bi-Han, and he has tempered Smoke's aggression. The Shirai Ryu may also be able to help, after all, which is what Scorpion wants after leaving a bloodthirsty Lin Kuei.
Mortal Kombat's Raiden Cannot Afford to Turn Evil
Firstly, Kung Lao and the Shaolin need their champion. Liu Kang senses new incursions, and after Raiden won the celebratory tournament, everyone knows he's a unique weapon. Outworld is now under Mileena's rule, who wants to work with Raiden and Co. So now's not the best time to jeopardize the alliance. Plus, if Raiden's arrogance hits a fever pitch, it could affect other students like Shujinko. All this would cause turmoil and strife in Earthrealm's crew, as they are only the sum of all their parts.
Ultimately, whether it's good or evil, Raiden could become a more nuanced version of his former self. The old Raiden went to the extreme in trying to protect reality -- something he learned his lesson over. But Raiden 2.0 isn't following history and extracting the right lessons. Thus, he could make the same mistake while thinking he has it all under control. To that point, he'd be more unforgivable, especially knowing how the old one atoned.
Redemption cured Raiden 1.0 and allowed him to aid on this mission. So fans have to hope the new Raiden doesn't lose himself in the belly of the beast and act out of character. Old Raiden showed him a road map so that he could be proactive. Sadly, Raiden 2.0 is taking the wrong meaning from it all and letting his pride get the better of him, which could weaken the treaty and make Earthrealm as vulnerable as ever. Whether Liu Kang has to erase or adjust him, or if tyrants storm this reality when Raiden causes bickering, there will be giant consequences for Raiden seeking external, superficial strength.
Mortal Kombat 1 (Standard Edition) is now available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.