#1178 Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks (PS2) Hidden Characters (1/6): Johnny Cage gameplay

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AdmiralMcFish - Bosses and Hidden Characters

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Published on March 8, 2021 9:43:30 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d72hsKUmkXY

Game:

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005)

Duration: 6:36

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Gameplay of the hidden character Johnny Cage in Midway/Netherrealm’s Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks.

It might seem odd in hindsight, but the unlockable characters in Shaolin Monks were mind-blowing to me back in the day. Six additional characters, two of which you could even do playthroughs with, complete with their own movesets, abilities, and everything. It was just incredible to me. Yeah, you can probably imagine just how shocked I was to learn years later about being able to hack as play as anyone in the main game. Like, goddamn, I already thought we had it pretty good, but it turns out it was better than I could have ever imagined.

And indeed, that’s what we’ll be looking at for the next six videos. In the course of a regular playthrough of Shaolin Monks, you can find six hidden coins which will allow you to unlock and play as some of the game’s other characters for use in multiplayer mode. Two of these characters, Sub-Zero and Scorpion, can even be unlocked for the main game. Curiously enough as well, all six movesets for their characters are entirely unique; the boss versions have their own movesets stored in an entirely separate number in the character address, meaning each of these characters had a boss form and playable form, each with their own unique moves. How cool!

Johnny Cage is probably the best example, apart from maybe Sub-Zero, to show off the differences between boss and playable forms. Bosses have stiff, pre-determined attacks and combos, while playable variants have access to their own combos, launchers and power attacks, along with their own unique special moves. As you’d expect, Johnny loses that insta-kill attack here (no surprise, I’m sure), but he’s also a much more innately playable character. He keeps his projectile, shadow kick and rising shadow knee attack for his special moves, but also has a really great combo, being able to able to counter opponents on all sides with ridiculous ease.

I have to say, I can’t help but be a bit annoyed that the other four characters weren’t made playable in any form, considering how entirely viable they are. I’m sure it’s down to fatalities and the upgradable move mechanics of the game, but there was surely a workaround for that. Star Wars Jedi Power Battles, for instance, featured a levelling up system where regular characters would acquire new combos, health/force power-ups and even gain certain new force powers along the way. The bonus, unlockable characters however would just simply have all their combos/powers from the start, with the trade-off being that they couldn’t gain any maximum health/force upgrades. It was a really great mechanic, allowing you to access five more unique characters with a few compromises. Shaolin Monks could have had a similar thing, having some kind of bonus mode with characters who could not upgrade their moves/combos nor use fatalities. Given that some regular special moves don’t even have upgrades for the main four characters, and that some unlockable combos are a bit rubbish, it would have meant that they were all still perfectly viable. But, for whatever reason, the MK team just wasn’t prepared to make that sacrifice. It’s bizarre too, particularly in Johnny’s case because, holy shit, he really didn’t need any upgrades. His special moves tear through opponents, he executes all of his combos with amazing ease, can air juggle for days and in general is a total beast.

Regardless, in a world with emulation and hacking it’s entirely possible to do full playthroughs as any of these characters now. The game will save any character you’re playing as in the save file, including an unplayable one, allowing you to freely play as them from that point onwards. So, if you want to do a Cage playthrough, a Reptile playthrough, or a Kitana playthrough, they’re all entirely viable! Hell, more than viable; perhaps they didn’t make them playable because of just how good they are. How the MK team went from having some of the worst coding to some of the best I’m honestly not sure, but it’s inspirational to say the least.

Speaking of Kitana, she’s up next as I get to cover Best Girl for the final time.

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