Shao Kahn – Mortal Kombat 2. 9 iconic & notorious enemies from 90s' games

Who was Shao Kahn?

Shao Kahn is the emperor and ruler of the Underworld – another dimension in the Mortal Kombat universe, whose servants face mortals in recurring tournaments, whose ultimate prize was rule over the entire world. Shao has great strength and he's using a large hammer and even some arcane magic. He used to be just another warlord protecting the Underworld and an adviser to Onaga, its ruler. Having great ambitions, he eventually poisoned his overlord and took over the throne and the army, subsequently conquering more dimensions and territories. He's a highly valued and respected character; not only for how difficult an opponent he is, but also for the way he looks and behaves – especially being fierce, taunting and even biting the rivals.

Why was he memorable?

Although Shao Kahn could be included in the category of bosses, he can just as easily be considered one of the opponents in the Mortal Kombat tournament – just not as distinguished by appearance or posture as Goro from the previous installment of the series. Meanwhile, it's all smoke and mirrors, because the duel with Kahn was particularly difficult and was a serious challenge for many players. Shao Kahn mainly attacked with a powerful shoulder strike, magical green projectiles, and finally his huge hammer. He box the player into a corner, and it was very difficult to escape that position, he massive damage, and some of his attacks could not be blocked. And then there were his taunts, in which he mocked the player's weaknesses and boasted his own power. Many players only beat him by exploiting the mechanics, e.g. by cheesing.

1. Mortal Kombat 2 in our encyclopedia