Mortal Kombat’s Latest Reveal Proves It’s Time To Pull One Iconic Fighter Off the Bench

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On August 1, 2025, during the Evo Las Vegas Ultimate Fighting Game Tournament and festival, Digital Eclipse unveiled that pre-orders and physical versions of the forthcoming “Mortal Kombat: Legacy Bundle” are now open for purchase. As of now, a definitive release date for “Mortal Kombat: Legacy Bundle” hasn’t been set, but it will be available physically on Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5 starting at $49.99. Apart from the standard version of the “bundle,” fans can also pre-order the Deluxe and Collector’s Edition, with the latter offering a controller-holder statue of a legendary Mortal Kombat character who is due for a comeback: four-armed Shokan Goro.

Mortal Kombat’s Goro Explained

Amongst the myriad fearsome characters and beasts that have been part of the Mortal Kombat universe since its inception 33 years ago, none are perhaps as widely recognized as the half-human, half-dragon Shokan hailing from Outworld. The first appearance of these creatures was in the original arcade version of Mortal Kombat released in 1992, where players were introduced to Prince Goro, a formidable Shokan warrior who served as the game’s initial sub-boss before facing off against its final boss, Shang Tsung. For five centuries, Goro was the unchallenged champion of the Mortal Kombat tournament, having won nine consecutive tournaments and defeating the Earthrealm champion, Great Kung Lao, in a significant victory. However, his attempt to claim a tenth tournament title for Shao Kahn, Emperor of Outworld, was foiled by the latest Earthrealm champion, Liu Kang, who emerged victorious from the tournament.

Although Goro wasn’t initially a playable character in the original Mortal Kombat arcade game, he quickly gained popularity among fans. He has appeared in numerous Mortal Kombat games since, either as a sub-boss, playable fighter, or background cameo. Interestingly, Goro also played a significant role as the main antagonist in the 1995 Mortal Kombat film and was voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. In the 2021 Mortal Kombat reboot film, he was voiced by Angus Sampson. Despite being an iconic villain in Mortal Kombat, Goro is not as frequently playable as other antagonists, appearing playable only in a few instances.

  • 1993’s Mortal Kombat (Game Boy)
  • Mortal Kombat Trilogy
  • Mortal Kombat 4
  • Mortal Kombat Gold (Sega Dreamcast)
  • Mortal Kombat: Deception (GameCube)
  • Mortal Kombat: Unchained
  • Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
  • Mortal Kombat X

Goro’s Legacy and Role in Mortal Kombat’s New Timeline

Since NetherRealm Studios took over the development of Mortal Kombat from Midway Games, the character Goro has taken a back seat in major roles within the Mortal Kombat games. In 2011’s Mortal Kombat, he appears but is only an NPC during the game’s campaign. He is mentioned briefly in Mortal Kombat X’s storyline, with Goro appearing fully in the game as a pre-order bonus or DLC character. Despite being shown to be alive and active in both Mortal Kombat X and its comic tie-ins, Goro is only depicted as a corpse on his throne in Mortal Kombat 11. However, dialogues between Baraka and Sheeva in Mortal Kombat 11 suggest that Goro was possessed by the Dragon King Onaga and came close to destroying Outworld before being killed by Kotal Kahn.

In the first installment of Mortal Kombat, Goro, traditionally a villain, lived a more peaceful life due to a new timeline established by Titan Liu Kang. Instead of serving Shao Kahn and Shang Tsung as he had in previous versions, Goro became a loyal soldier under Empress Sindel’s command, specifically under General Shao. He often appears as a supporting character in the campaign of Mortal Kombat 1, either alongside General Shao or as an alternate timeline version of himself, armed with four of Shao Kahn’s Wrath Hammers. Unfortunately, Goro couldn’t be played as a standard fighter in Mortal Kombat 1; instead, he was transformed into a supportive Kameo Fighter.

Goro’s Potential Role in Future Mortal Kombat Games

In the near future, the iconic character Goro could regain significance not just with the Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection re-release, but also in potential upcoming Mortal Kombat games. For instance, the numerous character-focused Tower Endings in Mortal Kombat 1 hint at General Shao, Reiko, and Goro challenging Empress Mileena’s rule over Outworld. If this rebellion becomes the main storyline for Mortal Kombat 2, it would be fitting for Goro to take on a more crucial role as one of General Shao’s top commanders. It remains uncertain if the Kameo Fighters from Mortal Kombat 1 will make a comeback, but if not, NetherRealm Studios should aim to reinstate or introduce Goro as an imposing sub-boss or playable character once more in Mortal Kombat 2.

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2025-08-04 23:10