Mortal Kombat X is looking to make a lot of big changes to the storied fighting game franchise. The series made a major comeback with Mortal Kombat 9, and for good reason: the game took what made the series fun in the first place and simply modernized it. Mortal Kombat X is the natural expansion of the last game. The team is including more fighting styles, interactive stages, and most importantly - new characters.
There are plenty of new faces in Mortal Kombat X, and it's easy to think that there will end up being more newcomers than returning fighters. While it's great to see the series expand (and the new characters do look awesome), it's just not a Mortal Kombat game without certain characters. Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Raiden are all accounted for, but there's one brightly colored ninja still missing...
Yes, the most repulsive character on the roster is back: Reptile may have started out as an Easter egg in the early titles, but he's been one of the main returning characters for years now.
Reptile's focus has always been unique; while other characters are all about teleporting or setting up traps, Reptile can cloak himself - and it's awfully hard to fight against someone you can't see. It can lead to some absolutely devastating combos (and broken controllers) - there's a reason why Reptile is so highly regarded in the Mortal Kombat community.
Of course, there's also the acid: Reptile's acidic projectiles have always been a bit disgusting, and the Fatalities in Mortal Kombat 9 were proof of just how bad it can get. There's been a major focus on making everything about Mortal Kombat X even bigger, so expect some truly gruesome Fatalities courtesy of Reptile.
Quick warning: the video below features Reptile's Fatalities, and is not safe for the squeamish or those currently at work.
One last thing of note is Reptile's new look. He's adopted a rather scaly appearance in Mortal Kombat X. Out of all the returning fighters, Reptile's appearance has changed the most throughout the years - what started out as a palette swap quickly became a giant Curt Connors-esque monster before finding a balance between the two in Mortal Kombat 9. Reptile's looking a bit more monstrous for Mortal Kombat X without completely alienating fans of the previous incarnation, which is something the games haven't always been great with. It's a good look, and far more distinct than the version in the previous game.
Reptile is a fan favorite, and it's great to see him back for the newest entries in the franchise. There's still a bit of a wait before fans will get their hands on him: Mortal Kombat X is set for release on April 14.
