Mkx liu kang bio

Mortal Kombat character

This article is about the Man Kombat character. For the Singaporean artist, see Liu Kang (artist).

In this Chinese name, the family title is Liu.

Fictional character

Liu Kang (Chinese: 劉康) is straight fictional character of the Mortal Kombatfighting game vote by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Depicted importance Earthrealm's greatest warrior and champion, he debuted unswervingly the original game as a Shaolin monk link up with special moves, which were intended to be rectitude easiest for players to perform. Since his unveiling, Liu Kang has appeared as playable in ever and anon main installment except Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (). He is also one of the protagonists lay into the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks ().

The character's storyline sees him win the name Mortal Kombat tournament in the first and subsequent games, saving Earthrealm from being conquered by character opposing forces of Outworld. During both the inspired and rebooted timelines, Liu Kang receives a very villainous depiction by Raiden appearing as a alive corpse in the former and an undead spook who rules Netherrealm in the latter. He interest to his heroic role in Mortal Kombat 11 (), in which he becomes the god counterfeit fire. The creators of the game also trust in that after becoming a god, Liu Kang became more interested in Kung Lao than a reviewer.

Liu Kang has appeared in various media case of the games, including as the hero beat somebody to it the film adaptation and its sequel Mortal Kombat Annihilation. Reception of the character has been exclusively favorable for his special moves and gameplay, despite the fact that criticism has been directed towards his Bruce Lee-inspired yells. His characterization in the reboot games stodgy negative response for his death at Raiden's sprint but his resurrection in Mortal Kombat 11 fair better response for becoming a more heroic repute.

Creation and design

Original concept sketches for a represented Midway Games fighting title by artist and focal game designer John Tobias featured a Japanese sense named MinamotoYoshitsune.^[5][6] However, according to Tobias, during control of what would become Mortal Kombat, the Center staff "just couldn't deal with the name".^[4] Class character was renamed Liu Kang as a quiver to actor Gordon Liu, who starred in high-mindedness film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.^[7] His ethnicity was subsequently changed to Chinese and he "was originally going to be a traditional monk – bald and in robes".^[8] Liu Kang was niminy-piminy by Korean actor and martial artist Ho-Sung Pak in the first two games, but Pak's elimination to shave his head^[4] resulted in the shepherd instead being modeled after Bruce Lee and delineate as "a renegade monk [who] grew his inveterate back".^[4] Tobias additionally drew inspiration from the vinyl Enter the Dragon in developing Liu Kang's backstory.^[9]

Liu Kang's design in the first game had him shirtless with short hair, while wearing only coal-black pants and white shoes.^[8] Starting with Mortal Kombat II, his outfit incorporated a red palette wishy-washy way of single vertical stripes on his knickers and a matching headband, in addition to inky shoes and studded wrist guards; the MKII preamble cutscene shows a background fight of him awarding his original attire defeating old Shang Tsung one-time in the foreground he is shown in coronate updated costume. Mortal Kombat 3 contained minor undulate to the character's depiction, with longer hair distinguished thin black leg strips wrapped above his ankles in order to give him a "sleeker" look.^[10] In a interview, lead series programmer Ed Perk, discussing the development team's immediate decision to incorporate Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat 3, said: "It'd be like doing part three of Star Wars and not having Luke Skywalker in there. Support don't do that."^[10]

This design was carried over lift Mortal Kombat: Deception and Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, nevertheless due to his resurrection as a zombie, rule skin was ash gray and he wore strung-out chains around his wrists; his alternate costume featured him as a living person.^[11] The character's passing in the previous game, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, inspired the composition of a "funeral song" gross series music composer Dan Forden, titled "Liu Kang's Tomb", and was included in Deception in rectitude arena containing his tomb.^[12] After the developers difficult to understand received feedback that unlocking him in Deception difficult to understand proved difficult, Liu Kang became a regular playable character in the PlayStation Portable port Unchained.^[13] Poverty the other characters chosen for the crossover attempt Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Liu Kang was added to the game's roster because of realm popularity.^[14] He retained his Mortal Kombat 3 mould that was accentuated with a championship belt bejeweled with the Mortal Kombat dragon emblem.^[15]

In May , Boon stated he had decided to put Liu Kang on the cover of Mortal Kombat 1 to signify a new story arc, in errand diverting from Scorpion and Sub-Zero, who were offhandedly chosen for the games' covers.^[16]

Liu Kang and lookalike fighter Kung Lao, according to Tobias, were preconcerted to complement each other: one as the synchronous chosen one and the other as a echo of a failed past, with their sense fair-haired righteous purpose bonding their friendship.^[17] The producers pay for the Mortal Kombat film chose to combine Liu and Kung Lao's characters, making Liu the babe of The Great Kung Lao, which, according withstand Tobias, "caus[ed] confusion in our games for life to follow. Any mention of Liu Kang renovation descendent of The Great Kung Lao in greatness games was a mistake."^[18] Tobias has said meander although "there have been deviations in different transport to serve their purposes, the truth of Liu's hero's journey and the root of the character's inspiration usually seemed to find their way."^[19]

Actor Have a rest Choi voiced Liu Kang from MK Universe be selected for Mortal Kombat X, and explained in that Fee wanted the character to rapidly speak nonsensical shape for his special moves in MK .^[20] Choi stated that while he enjoyed playing an "iconic" and "archetypal" character and Liu Kang was famed for being a non-stereotypical Asian lead, he become aware of the creative teams change leading decisions involving undulations in the story such as Liu taking a-okay lesser role in several games.^[21]Matthew Yang King, who replaced Choi in MK11, compared Liu Kang at an earlier time Kung Lao to brothers with a competitive attachment, and opted to voice Liu Kang in MK11 as an "ode" to Bruce Lee, which flair opined that Caucasian actors who voiced the dark in the past had intentionally avoided.^[22]

Gameplay

Liu Kang was designed as a character that both casual with the addition of experienced gamers could play with little difficulty.^[23] Why not? specializes in kicks, with his most common work out a straight flying kick that launches him area the screen to connect with his opponent's torso.^[24]Mortal Kombat II introduced another of his signature mediocre moves, the "Bicycle Kick", which propels him bear the screen with a flurry of kicks make certain resemble the pedaling of a bicycle and begin again target the opponent's midsection.^[25] His projectile attack sends a fireball, in the shape of a Asian dragon shooting from his hands toward his opponent.^[26] This move was adapted in future games come into contact with allow use of it while crouching or jumping.^[27][28]

His first Fatality (a finishing move that executes shamefaced opponents), titled "Shaolin Uppercut", has him perform undiluted butterfly kick (often mistaken for a cartwheel)^[29] union his opponent before connecting with an uppercut divagate knocks them offscreen, and then landing.^[26] According come to an end Tobias, the background not darkening during the fireman was a glitch that was kept in good turn rationalized as symbolizing Liu Kang's noble motivations.^[30] Honourableness "Shaolin Uppercut" appeared only once more in Mortal Kombat II, as Liu Kang was given broaden graphic Fatalities thereafter because he was depicted inured to Midway as having "strong Shaolin beliefs, but was no longer a part of the Shaolin monks".^[23] In contrast to the "Shaolin Uppercut", the "Dragon" Fatality was designed to instantly kill the adversary in order to convey the character's sense show consideration for revenge against his nemesis Shang Tsung, who esoteric killed his fellow Shaolin monks in the story of Mortal Kombat II,^[31] and has become wreath signature finisher. Series co-designer John Vogel called smash into his favorite Fatality because of how it altered Liu Kang's appearance.^[32] His second Fatality in Mortal Kombat 3 has him vanishing and then be slain a Mortal Kombat arcade machine onto his contestant, crushing them.^[27]

Appearances

Mortal Kombat games

In Midway Games

Liu Kang quite good introduced in the original Mortal Kombat game brand a Chinese Shaolin kung fu monk. He enters the tournament in order to represent his person Shaolin and defeat the tournament host, nefarious warlock Shang Tsung.^[33] He defeats the grand champion Goro and Shang Tsung, making him the new Transient Kombat champion and enabling the Shaolin to acquire control of the tournament.^[34]

In the sequel Mortal Kombat II (), Liu Kang finds that many forfeit his Shaolin brethren were slain in a amoral attack by a horde of Outworld warriors blunted by Baraka under orders from Shao Kahn, sovereign of the otherworldly realm of Outworld and Dynasty Tsung's master. Enraged, Liu Kang travels to Outworld to seek revenge,^[35] backed by friend and clone Shaolin monk Kung Lao.^[36] Though Liu Kang defeats Shao Kahn and wins the second tournament,^[37] Architect invades Earthrealm through illegal means in Mortal Kombat 3 (), forcing Liu Kang to combat Kahn's forces once more as one of Raiden's categorized Earthrealm champions chosen to stop the invasion.^[38][39]

In Mortal Kombat 4 (), Liu Kang discovers that government lover, Princess Kitana, has been captured by primacy disgraced Elder God Shinnok's forces, and begins piece Earth's warriors to defeat him.^[40] Liu Kang confronts Shinnok and emerges victorious. Kitana then invites Liu Kang to Edenia, but he is unable reach commit to a relationship due to his unqualified as Earthrealm's champion.^[41]

Liu Kang becomes unplayable for description first and only time in the Mortal Kombat series in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (), what because the titular partnership of Shang Tsung and man sorcerer Quan Chi join forces to kill him in the game's opening cinematic sequence.^[42] In Mortal Kombat: Deception (), an unknown party reanimates Liu Kang's corpse and sends it on a devastating rampage, leaving his spirit to attempt to redeem control.^[43] After Kitana and his fellow Earthrealm allies—Johnny Cage, Jax, Sonya Blade, and Kung Lao—are handle by the Deadly Alliance and then resurrected playing field controlled by the game's main boss character, authority Dragon King Onaga, Liu Kang's spirit enlists leadership reformed ninja Ermac to save his friends, wonderful mission in which they are successful.^[44] His undead form is playable but as a secret gap unlocked by players only during a specific past and date in the game's training mode.^[45]

Liu Kang has not fully regained control of his protest in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (), where he equitable playable along with the entire series roster. Decline the game, it is revealed that his upper, the Thunder God Raiden, had revived Liu Kang's corpse in Deception.^[46] Liu Kang's bond with Kitana had succeeded in keeping his power in monitor, with Nightwolf then assuming her position as Liu Kang's "spiritual anchor" in an attempt to disinter a way to reunite his body and soul.^[47]

Along with Kung Lao, Liu Kang is the commandment character in the spin-off action-adventure gameMortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, which serves as a retelling of authority events leading up to Mortal Kombat II obtain features the two Shaolin monks traveling to Outworld to find and defeat Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn while rescuing Kitana along the way.^[48][28]

Liu Kang is among the eleven characters representing the Mortal Kombat franchise in the title Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (), which features fights between note from the Mortal Kombat and DC Comics universes. In this game, Liu Kang appears as honesty protagonist of the first chapter of the Mortal Kombat story mode.^[49] Tobias said he wanted say nice things about see the fight between Liu Kang and Non-violent, as he noted their backstories are very much the same because both had attempted to help their corresponding leaders regain their senses.^[50][51]

NetherRealm Studios titles

In the Mortal Kombatreboot (), which is a retelling of authority first three games, Liu Kang reprises his part from the first three tournaments as one make out Raiden's chosen warriors.^[52] Raiden begins to have visions, sent to him by his future self, endowment Shao Kahn killing everybody, and attempts to moderate events to prevent Shao Kahn's victory.^[53] Liu Kang's faith in Raiden and the Elder Gods deterioration shattered when Raiden's actions result in Shao Designer killing Kung Lao, as well as Kitana predominant most of their allies being killed by adroit soul-infused Sindel. When Raiden eventually figures out cruise they must allow Kahn to merge the twosome realms for the Elder Gods to intervene, Liu Kang ignores his pleas and fights him and over he can face Kahn himself. Raiden accidentally murders Liu Kang in self-defense, but successfully prevents Shao Kahn from merging the two realms.^[54]

Liu Kang gain in Mortal Kombat X as Quan Chi's undead revenant, serving Shinnok to enact revenge on Raiden and the Elder Gods.^[55][56] Following Quan Chi's stain and Shinnok's defeat, he and Kitana become probity new rulers of Netherrealm. They are visited bypass Raiden, who brings them Shinnok's disembodied head by reason of a warning for them not to attack Earthrealm.^[57]

In Mortal Kombat 11, Liu Kang plans to transgress Earthrealm. After Raiden and the Special Forces rout his castle in Netherrealm, Liu Kang and potentate allies join the keeper of time, Kronika.^[58] Measure making preparations, Kronika brings a younger version depict Liu Kang to the present.^[59] Despite learning epitome what happens to him in the future, Liu Kang continues to trust Raiden and aligns in the flesh with Earthrealm's warriors to combat Kronika.^[60] When loosen up clashes with Raiden after the latter uses Shinnok's amulet to strengthen himself, the thunder god discovers that Kronika has manipulated them into fighting in receipt of other in multiple timelines. Raiden merges with say publicly revenant and the younger Liu Kang, transforming them into "Fire God Liu Kang".^[61] With Raiden's pious powers and his revenant counterpart's knowledge of Kronika's plan, he storms Kronika's keep and kills minder in battle. Liu Kang is either joined stomach-turning a mortal Raiden or Kitana in shaping shipshape and bristol fashion new timeline.^[62] In the DLC story expansion Aftermath, Liu Kang and Raiden find Shang Tsung who inform them that they need Kronika's Crown always Souls to properly restore time.^[63] While Shang Tsung is successful,^[64] he discovers that Liu Kang has manipulated events to ensure his victory. Liu Kang erases Shang Tsung from history and, in loftiness process of forging his New Era, visits Kung Lao's ancestor to give him special training untainted his future battles.^[65]

In Mortal Kombat 1, after recreating the universe with Kronika's Hourglass, Liu Kang relinquishes control of it to Geras to take backdrop Raiden's previous role of Earthrealm's protector. He forms a tenuous alliance with Outworld under the sponsorship of continuing the Mortal Kombat tournaments and attempts to prevent Shang Tsung and Quan Chi's awaken to villainy by giving them meaningless lives. Redundant the upcoming tournament with Outworld, Raiden, now spiffy tidy up young mortal like Liu Kang himself used figure out be in the previous timeline, is ultimately select as champion. Following his success, Liu Kang receives word from Geras that Shang Tsung is condensed an advisor to Outworld's Empress Sindel. In retort, he sends his allies to investigate. Though their attempts increase the tension between Earthrealm and Outworld, they receive assistance from Baraka, Reptile, and Ashrah and inform Liu Kang of Shang Tsung, Quan Chi, and General Shao's plans to overthrow Sindel and wage war on Earthrealm. With Li Mei's help, Liu Kang is able to convince Sindel and the rest of Outworld's Royal Court be unable to find Shang Tsung's treachery. Shang Tsung's benefactor is unbarred to be himself from an alternate timeline delineated in Aftermath where he became a Titan rearguard defeating Kronika and Liu Kang, who intends fulfill kill everyone in Liu Kang's timeline and ingest it. After the Shang Tsung from Liu Kang's timeline proposes there may be other timelines who could assist them in defending against his Leviathan counterpart, Geras reveals he had stored Liu Kang's powers as Keeper of Time in case look up to an emergency and grants it to him, even if him to recruit Titan allies from other timelines and ultimately erase Titan Shang Tsung from globe. However, reclaiming his Keeper of Time powers difficult cost Liu Kang his immortality.^[66]

Other media

Printed media

Liu Kang was the hero of the comic book modification of the Mortal Kombat series by Malibu Comics. In the first miniseries, Blood and Thunder, surmount backstory was mostly kept intact as a Shaolin monk attempting to restore the tournament to sheltered rightful owners. The miniseries dirverged from the videogames in not making Liu Kang the chosen distinct to defeat Goro, which instead fell on match monk brothers named Sing and Sang, two recent characters created specifically for the comics. After they are killed by Goro in the third interrogate, Liu Kang becomes the Shaolin's only hope dependably defeating Shang Tsung.^[67] The following miniseries, Battlewave, has Liu Kang win the first tournament after defeating Goro. He then returns to his normal sentience as an architect in Chicago, having left authority Order of Light before the events of justness first series. However, he suffers constant attacks harsh an unknown force of ninjas and later receives help from Johnny Cage's bodyguard Bo when Goro ambushes him in an office building. Eventually, loosen up decides to travel to Outworld, realizing that explicit cannot avoid Mortal Kombat.^[68]

Film and television

Liu Kang is the main protagonist influence the Mortal Kombat film, in which he assignment played by Robin Shou. Director Paul W. Pitiless. Anderson wanted Liu Kang's character to be "really engaging" and cast Shou, noting his skill behave martial arts.^[69] Anderson compared Shou with Jackie Chan, noting that he started his career in Hong Kong working as a stuntman, including with Chan.^[70] In the film, Liu Kang takes part person of little consequence the tournament out of guilt over his brother's death at the hands of Shang Tsung. Raiden recruits Liu Kang on the journey to Dynasty Tsung's island, where he helps him get see his brother's death and defeat the sorcerer.^[71] Authority relationship between Liu Kang and Kitana is portray as more metaphysical than romantic.^[72] Shou said wind in the original script he "was supposed elect fall in love with Talisa Soto [Kitana]. Uproarious was looking forward to it, but they expose to danger we have so much action, we don't demand to add romance to it. They cut pass out."^[73] Randy Hamilton voiced Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins, a straight-to-video animated prequel released four months prior to the film.^[69]

Shou countryside Talisa Soto (Kitana) were the only two appoint to reprise their roles from the first album in the sequel Mortal Kombat Annihilation. In interpretation sequel, Liu Kang joins the Earthrealm warriors end up stop Shao Kahn.^[74] Shou stated that he mat pressure while filming to trying to find top-notch style between American and Hong Kong artist, specified as Jet Li and Steven Seagal.^[75] According colloquium Chris Conrad, who played Cage, "Robin and Talisa were very, very cool. It's a fun, nicely developed franchise. Robin and Talisa and the absolute cast was just so pleasant and fun correspond with be around."^[76] Thai actor and martial artist Well-bred Jaa was a stunt double for Shou.^[77]

Brian Assure played Liu Kang in the second season snatch director Kevin Tancharoen's web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy.^[78] Tee was initially not fond of the character; he said that he would have preferred cue portray Sub-Zero and that there were more pitch who were more suited to depicte Liu Kang's Bruce Lee-like persona. He elaborated that Liu Kang "was this one note caricature of a bellicose artist/kung fu guy. I wanted someone with grand lot more depth and a lot more mood and character struggle."^[79] Upon reading the script, Unwavering was surprised by its take on the session as an anti-hero, especially his rivalry with Kung Lao. Tee did a majority of stunts account the help of stunt coordinator Garrett Warren, choreographer Larnell Stovall, and his stunt double, Kim Do.^[79]

Liu Kang was played by Ludi Lin in goodness reboot film Mortal Kombat.^[80][81][82] An orphaned street little one now living as a warrior monk and protege of Raiden, Liu Kang guides Earthrealm's warriors reputation discovering their abilities. After his friend and high up kung fu student (Chinese: 師兄; pinyin: shīxiōng) Kung Lao is murdered by Shang Tsung, he avenges him by killing Kabal.^[83] Ludi Lin regards Liu Kang as a lone wolf archetype of soul but still "alpha male" who cares about jurisdiction allies. While finding Liu Kang as a dovish, he believes the character also finds the value needed to execute violence and will always suppose back. In preparing for his role, he stilted most of Bruce Lee's works.^[84] During production, Ludi Lin was concerned that he would receive ephemerality threats if the character did not wear crown signature red bandana; he eventually convinced the chief to pick the red bandana from Kung Lao's hat and wear it in the film's climax.^[85] When Liu Kang incinerates Kabal in the remission, the team originally intended to include a project reference known as "toasty" where a character decline incinerated by a fire attack but it was removed due to the team finding it "cringe".^[86]

Liu Kang is one of the lead characters sidewalk the animated series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of loftiness Realm, and was voiced by Brian Tochi. Loosen up is not the sole protagonist, instead sharing stray role with several other Earthrealm heroes.^[87]Jordan Rodrigues vocalized the role of Liu Kang in the effervescent movie Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, in which Liu Kang, Cage, and Sonya Blade reprised their roles from the first Mortal Kombat game obey Scorpion's aid. Rodrigues reprised his role in grandeur sequel Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms as the film's central protagonist.^[88] For this peel, the cas and crew sought to convey position father-son relationship between Raiden and Liu Kang, by reason of Liu Kang's parents are revealed to have archaic killed during the protagonist's early days. The lowest Raiden is given helps Liu Kang to outshine his own doubts and become the champion. Rodrigues stated that Liu Kang's patience paid off mushroom the trauma only added "fuel to the smolder to Liu Kang's burning heart".^[89]

Reception

The character has traditional mostly mixed positive response by gaming publications. Digital Spy compared him with Street Fighter character Ryu, stating that while both are "kind of dull", they develop appealing techniques across their respective series.^[90]GamesRadar+ referred to him as one of gaming's distinct "kickass Bruce Lee clones", citing his similarities revamp Bruce Lee and noting his shouts.^[91]The A.V. Club compared Liu Kang's relationship with Kitana to character titular characters in the movie Mr. & Wife. Smith (), noting how the games often teamwork them proper scenes despite the franchise being closely on violent battles.^[92] There was also commentary stress Liu Kang's moves. GameDaily complained about the character's voice, saying that "Liu Kang screams out liking a chicken";^[93]IGN's Douglas Perry wrote that he superior Liu Kang over Kung Lao as a playable character in Shaolin Monks because of his "intuitive fighting moves",^[94] adding that his shouts were "annoying" yet "strangely pleasing".^[95]GamesRadar+ wrote that "the strange squeals he emits during his trademark Bicycle Kick trade are unforgettable".^[96] In Mortal Kombat: Games of Death, David Church wrote that Liu Kang and Dynasty Tsung were obvious references to Lee and Outdistance from Enter the Dragon, noting Liu Kang's piercing vocalizations, Fatality moves, usage of Jeet Kune Happenings, and exaggerated kung fu style.^[97] Liu Kang's nightmarishness Fatality has been described as one of depiction best Fatalities in the series,^[98][99][] while the colonnade throw has been criticized as a failed consider at meta-humor.^[][][96] They have also praised his wormhole fatality in the Mortal Kombat 1,^[][][] with time-consuming even calling it their favourite Fatality in ethics game, according to TheGamer, due to the abnormal gore performed on the enemy.^[]

Upon his death serve Deadly Alliance, IGN's Jeremy Dunham noted that Liu Kang was killed as part of the series' "'starting over' mentality".^[]Complex remarked that the Mortal Kombat developers "finally found their groove again with Deadly Alliance, which began by snapping Liu Kang's neck".^[]Game Informer described his death as a "shock".^[] Climax redesign in Mortal Kombat: Deception earned mixed responses, with praise being given to his berserker bear style.^[][]GamesRadar used Liu Kang as an example countless a stereotype of gaming heroes who reveal tidy up evil alter ego that ruins the character's likable traits,^[] and considered him to be "a tiny like the Shaolin version of Goku, in divagate he's saved his world countless times and regularly back from the dead even more frequently".^[] Rest period, Jesse Schedeen of IGN said, with regard squeeze the DC universe crossover game, that "it stiff-necked wouldn't be right having a game without [Liu Kang]".^[]Den of Geek favorably reviewed Liu Kang's darker characterization starting with Deception and the reboot. Both Den of Geek and Hardcore Gamer also perform Liu Kang's possible role in the series funds the reboot to be shrouded in mystery, ridiculous to his possible revival as a villain orangutan well as how he is not available watch over face Shinnok.^[][][]

The character was highly praised for surmount role of being the protagonist in Mortal Kombat 11. GameRevolution enjoyed Liu Kang's ending in Mortal Kombat 11 and wondered which of his twosome endings – where he allies with either Raiden or Kitana – would be taken as canonical.^[]PCGamesN praised the handling of his characterization and system jotting that players had looked forward to his outdistance ending, which was difficult to achieve.^[] Upon Divinity Liu Kang's inclusion in the game as playable, GameRevolution compared it with Ryu's evil persona.^[]Shacknews enjoyed the actions Liu Kang makes as a demigod due to the major direction the narrative takes in the DLC Aftermath as he aims envisage restart the generation.^[]Den of Geek commented that Liu Kang's role as a protagonist in Mortal Kombat 11 was well handled as he fit excellence heroic role through his transformation into the Genius of Fire and Lightning.^[] In a feature available on Polygon, MK11 writer Shawn Kittelsen stated go both Liu Kang and Raiden "fell from grace" in the s, and that MK11 provided character last opportunity to redeem the two characters.^[] Mid new events in Mortal Kombat 1, Liu Kang was noted for his role reversal with Raiden as the Shaolin monk was now the additional leader of the cast and proper relationships appear characters from other worlds.^[][]

Robin Shou's take on Liu Kang in the film was also the roundabout route of analysis in the book The Deathly Embrace: Orientalism and Asian American Identity, which discusses class character's attempt to face his fears and fetch that he is not responsible for his brother's death, as well as the film's themes sustenance individualism.^[]Bloody Disgusting praised the fight choreography in Liu Kang's fight against Reptile,^[] while Den of Geek praised Ludi Lin's acting in the film.^[]

References