Reptile - Biography

In the original Mortal Kombat, Reptile is a mystrious hidden enemy character, unplayable and with no biography.^[14][5] Hints regarding the conditions of how to unlock the fight against him are conveyed by Reptile randomly appearing prior to other matches.^[6]

In Mortal Kombat II, Reptile returns as a playable character and a member of a reptilian race called Raptors,^[15] who were pulled into Outworld and enslaved by Shao Kahn. Promised the revival of his people in turn for his loyalty, Reptile serves Kahn as Shang Tsung‘s bodyguard.^[16] Ordered to kill Kitana during the events of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3,^[17] he is defeated and exiled, but reappears in Mortal Kombat 4 as Shinnok‘s minion.^[10] By Deadly Alliance, Reptile returns to Kahn’s service. He overhears Shang Tsung plotting to kill Kahn, but en route to warn his master, he meets a female vampire who offers knowledge of his race.^[9] Reptile pledges his loyalties to her, though eventually realizes she is merely using him and sets out to kill her. Instead of the vampire he finds Onaga’s dragon egg instead,^[18] which transforms Reptile into Onaga’s avatar, leading to the events of Deception^[11] and ending with his defeat at the game’s conclusion.^[19] Separated from Onaga as a result, Reptile returns in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. In Konquest mode in Armageddon, he appears in the Red Dragon lair commanding Daegon’s dragon Caro to close the portal but refused. Taven battles Reptile in combat and emerges victorious.

Reptile also appears in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, appearing in the game’s opening sequence and later as a boss.^[20] During development, producer Shaun Himmerick noted that Reptile was included in the game because the character was one of Himmerick’s favorite in the series.^[12] Originally included in NBA Jam Tournament Edition alongside other Mortal Kombat characters as an unlockable player, he was eventually removed from later versions of the game at the request of the NBA.^[21]

Reptile reappears in the 2011 Mortal Kombat video game, retelling his role from the first tournaments. Not only as a playable character, but also includes a recreation of the original hidden battle at the bottom of the pit, in his original green ninja alternate outfit. In addition to this, he is seen in cyborg version during a match in the new “Challenge Tower”, as he puts on the cyborg costume of a “Unit 5″.

[edit] Gameplay

As a secret character in the first Mortal Kombat, Reptile features a hybrid of Sub-Zero’s and Scorpion’s attacks, such as the former’s freezing projectile and the latter’s harpoon.^[22] When made a playable character for later installments, his moves were changed completely. His “Forceball” attack creates an energy ball from his hands, while his “Acid Spit” attack produces a higher, faster projectile. Reptile can slide towards the opponent, or turn invisible for a brief period of time or until hit.^[23] Later titles in the series modify these moves, such as splitting the Forceball attack into slow and fast variants,^[8] or remove moves in favor of different attacks, only to return them in the next installment.^[24]

Reptile’s Fatalities in Mortal Kombat II consist of revealing his reptilian face in order to devour the opponent’s head, or turning invisible and severing the opponent’s torso.^[23] Later finishing moves expand upon the concept, ranging from regurgitating acid upon the opponent to leaping upon their body and gnawing the flesh from their skulls.^[8][24] In a series retrospective, the Mortal Kombat development team named Reptile’s finishers as some of their favorites from the series.^[25]

Reptile - Biography