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“ | I will give you a warrior's death. | „ |
~ Goro to Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat (2011). |
“ | 2000 years ago A manbeast was born on a distant planet They named him Goro 8 feet tall with four arms of terror This outworld Prince, half human-half dragon, was trained to fight, to conquer, to rule |
„ |
~ Initial lyrics for Goro's song in The Immortals' Mortal Kombat album. |
Prince Goro, simply known as Goro, is one of the secondary antagonists of the Mortal Kombat franchise.
He is the strong but sophisticated prince of the Shokan race. Despite swearing allegiance to Shao Kahn, After being the Mortal Kombat champion for over 500 years, Goro simply wishes overthrow him and take his place as Emperor of Outworld. Even if it means opting to aid the soul-stealing sorcerer Shang Tsung in his quest to conquer Earthrealm.
Portrayals[]
- He was voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson in the 1995 movie and in Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge.
- Herman Sánchez voiced him in Mortal Kombat 4.
- In Mortal Kombat (2011), he was voiced by the late Ken Lally, who also voiced Smoke and Shinnok in the same game.
- In Mortal Kombat X, he was voiced by Vic Chao, who also voiced Sektor and Triborg in the same game and Tseng in Final Fantasy VII Remake.
- He was portrayed by Angus Sampson in the 2021 movie.
- He was voiced by Vic Chao in Mortal Kombat 1.
Appearance[]
Being of Shokan lineage, Goro stands at a mighty 8 feet tall height, and has a bulky physique. He has 4 arms and has 3 fingers on each, equalling to 12. For majority of Goro's appearances he is bare chested; having large biceps and pectoral muscles he wears a spiked pauldron on his right shoulder, and a short belt undergarment around his waist with the shokan symbol on it.
Compared to a Shaolin Monk like Liu Kang who has a muscular/build for a human stands at a height of roughly 5'10-5'11 and a weight of 185 Ib, Goro's weight and stature is notably much higher with Goro weighing around 550 Ibs in the OG timeline and Seemingly in the 2nd timeline as well making his appearance that much more fierce and intimidating. However in MK1 he is now much smaller.
Biography[]
Original Timeline[]
Mortal Kombat[]
A member of the four-armed Shokan race, Goro became the Grand Champion of the Mortal Kombat tournament after defeating the Great Kung Lao. For 500 years, he remained undefeated and helped Shang Tsung grow ever closer to achieving Shao Kahn's goal of domination over Earthrealm. In his tenth title defense, however, during the last tournament at his Lair on Shang Tsung's secret Island within Earthrealm's Lost Sea, he faced Liu Kang, a shaolin monk chosen by the White Lotus Society to represent them. Kang pushed him to his limits and finally defeated the mighty Shokan warrior.
In the tournament's aftermath, he went missing after a battle where he fought the Black Dragon thug Kano, movie superstar Johnny Cage and Special Forces operative Sonya Blade, and was believed to be dead.
Mortal Kombat 4[]
After Shao Kahn's defeat, Prince Goro reappeared. He challenged Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat, but lost again to the Shaolin Monk. Despite having the intent to avenge his losses at the hands of Liu Kang, Prince Goro began to take an interest in the matters of his own race and he joined his fellow Shokan in the war against the Centaurians. Princess Kitana of Edenia intervened and negotiated both races an uneasy truce and peace accord. During the negotiations, Kung Lao appeared and challenged Goro. He wanted to kill Goro for vanquishing his ancestor, the Great Kung Lao.
Kung Lao slashed Prince Goro's chest leaving a scar in it. Since it was a ceremonial blow, Kung Lao considered the score settled and the two shook hands. When the fallen Elder God Lord Shinnok and his legion of darkness were defeated and the realm of Edenia was once again free, Prince Goro and the Shokan race decided to ally with Princess Kitana and the Edenians. As a condition in their partnership, Goro signed a peace treaty with the Centaurians.
Mortal Kombat: Deception[]
Years later, during the time of the Deadly Alliance, the united Edenians and Shokans marched on Shao Kahn's weakened army. Prince Goro was exhausted from battle and was struck from behind by the wraith Noob Saibot. He was mortally wounded, apparently dying from the injury. So, Princess Kitana held a royal funeral at the Kuatan Palace for her former ally. However, Goro was able to survive, being saved from death by Shao Kahn himself, with the promise to return the Shokans to their former glory and the banishment of the Centaurians in exchange for his allegiance. Agreeing to these terms, Goro placed his royal seal on a nearby fallen disfigured Shokan (whom Kitana and the other Shokans found and mistook for him, successfully deceiving them while hiding his defection) and resumed his place at Shao Kahn's side.
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon[]
Goro helped Shao Kahn to become the Emperor of Outworld again. Along with Shang Tsung, he aided Shao Kahn in reclaiming his stronghold, which was occupied by the Edenian forces led by Mileena. The three crushed all who defended the stronghold, and with their combined might destroyed the reinforced door that guarded the throne room. Mileena then surrendered, and Shao Kahn became Emperor once more.
Later on, Goro was confronted by Taven in Shao Kahn's Fortress. The Edenian demigod wished to kill the Netherrealm necromancer known as Quan Chi, but in order to do so he had to get through Goro first, fighting him on the Balcony. Taven eventually defeated Goro, who stormed off, telling Taven that if they were to meet in the battle field, he would not be so lucky. Goro then joins the Forces of Darkness where he was killed somewhere in the middle of the Battle of Armageddon.
In his non canon ending, Goro defeated Blaze, much to the shock of Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung, Onaga, and Quan Chi, who were all certain of victory. With his new powers, Goro summoned an army of Shokan warriors, who destroyed them, and began his conquest of Outworld.
Alternate Timeline[]
Mortal Kombat (2011)[]
Like the previous timeline, Prince Goro celebrated nine consecutive victories in Mortal Kombat and brought more honor to the Shokan race with each victory. He entered the Mortal Kombat tournament to fight for Outworld and to help the emperor, Shao Kahn, achieve his goal: to conquer Earthrealm.
Goro appeared in his lair where he confronted the last remaining Earthrealm warrior, Liu Kang. Although Goro was considered a mighty warrior and had experience on his side, he was defeated by Liu Kang, who later defeated the sorcerer Shang Tsung, winning the Mortal Kombat tournament and assuring freedom for Earthrealm.
Prince Goro is later seen along with Sheeva at the beginning of the second tournament in Shao Kahn's throne room. He offers Shao Kahn a Ying Yang seal. Kahn inspects the seal, then hands it back to Goro. The significance of the Yin Yang seal (if any) is never explained, although it's possibly the Shokans show of loyalty.
Later on, Prince Goro found Liu Kang in the Tower at Shao Kahn's Fortress searching for Princess Kitana, Goro tried to challenge Liu Kang for a rematch, but ended up fighting Kung Lao instead. The Shaolin Monk was victorious, avenging the death of his ancestor, the Great Kung Lao. After defeating Goro, Kung Lao demanded the location of Kitana, Goro told them that she was to be found in the Coliseum, but he had no doubt the Edenian princess was going to be executed. Enraged by Goro's words, Liu Kang knocked the Shokan Prince unconscious.
Goro later appeared guarding Earthrealm prisoners alongside Kintaro and Kano, and was frozen by Cyber Sub-Zero. Both Goro and Kintaro broke free of the ice and faced the former Lin-Kuei in a two-on-one match, but the two Shokan ended up losing to the cyborg.
Mortal Kombat X Comics[]
Prince Goro is first featured in flashbacks narrated by Kotal Kahn, which reveal Goro aided Shao Kahn in slaughtering the people of Osh-Tekk.
In another flashback from the Kytinn creature D'Vorah's perspective, Prince Goro accompanied the emperor Shao Kahn and his general Reiko to the Arnyek Islands to aid in their conquest. The Shokan prince later oversaw the enslavement of the Kytinn alongside D'Vorah and Shao Kahn.
In the present, Prince Goro was sent by Outworld's new emperor to hunt down the traitors to the empire, Reiko and Mileena. However, though Goro succeeds in locating them in Outworld's Golden Desert, he is successfully swayed to their side by promises of restoring the Shokan to their former glory and vows to kill Kotal Kahn for them.
Goro discusses with Reiko over their strategy to lure Kotal Kahn to them, as well as their ambush of his father, Kotal K'etz. While Rain blocks out the sun using storm clouds to weaken the Osh-Tekk and Red Dragon mercenaries Reiko hired lay in wait using cloaking technology, Goro stands boldly outside Mileena and Reiko's fortress within the Golden Desert as K'etz approaches with a band of warriors, Reiko having lured them there by leaking their location for their trap. Kotal K'etz declares Goro a traitor and strikes him with Shao Kahn's own Wrath Hammer, shattering several teeth in his jaw, though Goro is hardly fazed.
Challenging K'etz to do his best, Goro uses a fireball and dropkick to catch the former ruler of Osh-Tekk off-guard while Mavado of the Red Dragon clan springs the trap on K'etz forces. Smashing K'etz's skull against a rock, all the while declaring he is no ratcatcher for his son, before claiming the Wrath Hammer for himself and using it to decapitate K'etz, killing him.
Goro rallies the Red Dragon mercenaries, with Rain at his side, as he informs them that Mavado has reported Kotal Kahn's approach, the usurper emperor riding alone to face them. Goro then declares the Kotal Kahn will die as his father did, at his hands.
Later, Goro watches as Kotal approaches, alone, with Rain calling the Osh-Tekk mad, which Goro states was their plan all along, to make Kotal reckless and easy to kill. Goro orders Rain to block the sun to render Kotal powerless, but while Rain complies and summons more clouds, Kotal Kahn badly burns the traitor with the sun anyway, revealing his enhanced power through blood magic. Unconcerned for his ally's condition, Goro calls the first wave of Red Dragon forces to meet Kotal head on, but they are all slaughtered in short order and the emperor challenges Goro to kombat. Goro eagerly accepts, commanding the remainder of his forces to stay behind. Goro declares that Shao Kahn would never have allowed an Osh-Tekk on the throne and that he knew better than to treat a Shokan as a servant and attacks Kotal with a fireball, proclaiming that the Shokan live to conquer. A wounded Kotal Kahn attempts to rise, but Goro kicks him back onto the ground, before lifting Kotal up his neck. The Shokan Prince mocks Kotal, telling him to struggle and die with dignity like his father did.
However, this proves to be Goro's fatal mistake, as the enraged son takes vengeance for his father and escapes Goro's grasp, taking Goro's arm with him. A shocked and agonized Goro can do nothing as Kotal takes each of his arms off with a single swing of his sword. Falling to his knees, Goro begs Kotal Kahn to finish him as his forces are slaughtered by Kotal's own, having been hidden by the Saurian warrior Reptile.
Kotal considers it before declining, declaring it to be an act of kindness that is forbidden by Shokan tradition, further infuriating the humiliated prince. Later, though unseen, Reptile reveals Goro will be returned to the city of Kuatan to be imprisoned.
Goro is seen kneeling in shame before his father King Gorbak. Instead of executing him for his failure, however, Gorbak sheds a tear for his son's shame and bids him to rise. Goro asks his father to kill him, the prince declaring himself an unworthy heir, but Gorbak refuses and proclaims that the Shokan will no longer suffer under Osh-Tekk rule before revealing to his son he has sent an army led by Kintaro to strike at Kotal Kahn while he is weak.
Goro's father ultimately failed to kill Kotal Kahn and instead lost his life. Goro numbly witnesses the cremation of his father's body when he is approached by Kintaro, who tells Goro his injuries disqualify any claim he had to the throne. After Kintaro informs him of the contest for the crown to be held after the final battle with Z'unkahrah, Goro asks him what if he were to enter, and Kintaro warns him, reminding him of his crippling while mockingly reminding him Gorbak is no longer there to protect him. Goro makes it clear he will return, and vows vengeance on any disloyal Shokan, saying they will beg for mercy and be shown none. With that, Goro departs Kuatan on a massive bison-like beast.
In his exile, Goro studies the draconic lore of Onaga the Dragon King, and becomes intrigued when he learns it was purported that Onaga possessed powerful regenerative abilities. Preparing himself to meet with the Red Dragon clan's leader Daegon, one of the 2 half-immortal sons of the Edenian god Argus. Goro fought and defeated Kenshi Takahashi, a traitor from the clan and dragged his body to the Krimson Forest where the Red Dragon's main headquarters resides. Arriving, Goro requests to see Daegon, only to be mocked by several Red Dragon soldiers. When one calls Goro the "prince of cripples", the former Shokan champion kicks the soldier into his compatriots before stomping on them. Before he can kill them, Daegon makes his presence known. Goro explains to the demigod he has studied their lore on Onaga, and though Daegon quickly understands his interest in the Dragon King, he asks why he should help Goro. The prince responds that he was already helping Daegon and presents Kenshi to him, which earns him Daegon's interest. This was to lead into a storyline where in his attempt to restore his arms, Goro is possessed by Onaga until his defeat.
Mortal Kombat X[]
While he does not appear in the main story mode, Goro serves as the last character the player faces before the Fallen Elder God Shinnok in the Classic Ladder mode. In his non canon ending, with both sides of the civil war weakened, Goro leads his people into power, with himself as Emperor of Outworld.
Mortal Kombat 11[]
Although Goro is not playable in Mortal Kombat 11, his corpse is found on his throne in his lair, beneath the ruins of Shang Tsung's island, though it remains unknown how he exactly died. Goro being defeated by Kotal Kahn in the Mortal Kombat X comics is mentioned during the story mode by Kotal Kahn. Even though Goro made a deal with Daegon in the comics to learn Onaga's regenerating ability to have all four arms again in Mortal Kombat, Goro's corpse is shown with all four arms and Shang Tsung mentioned about bringing back the Dragon King Onaga. Goro might be one of the souls required to revive Onaga. It was confirmed by Sheeva multiple times in intro scenes that sometime before Mortal Kombat 11, Goro had indeed been killed by Kotal Kahn.
New Era[]
Mortal Kombat 1[]
- Main article: Goro (3rd Timeline)
In the New Era, Goro features as a member of General Shao's army, who later joins him when he rebels against Outworld.
Alternate versions of Goro feature in the Battle of Armageddon as members of the Order of Darkness, including a Goro wielding Shao Kahn's Wrath Hammers. This Goro nearly confronted the playable Final Warrior, but was confronted by a trio of Cage versions, with a Johnny, Janet and Ninja Mime successfully pushing him into a fissure. Before he fell however, Goro pulled the Cages with him.
Other Media[]
Mortal Kombat (1995)[]
Goro appears as the secondary antagonist of the 1995 Mortal Kombat film, where he is portrayed and voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. Goro serves as an accomplice of Shang Tsung. During the movie, he kills various fighters, including Johnny's friend Art Lean. He is eventually killed by Johnny Cage, who manages to knock him off a cliff at Shang Tsung's Island to his death.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge[]
He also appeared in the film Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge as the secondary antagonist with Kevin Michael Richardson making the voice again. He is once again Shang Tsung's champion and the final boss of the tournament. However, in this version he beats Liu Kang and rips off Jax's arms, and is instead killed by Scorpion just before he kills Liu Kang.
Mortal Kombat (2021)[]
Main Article: Goro (2021)
Powers and Abilities[]
Goro possesses superhuman strength and is one of the most powerful warriors alive, as evidenced by his winning nine straight Mortal Kombat tournaments. He can fire blasts of fire from his hands and mouth, leap high into the air to land on his opponents, and spin around with his fists out, which he can ignite with fire. Arguably the greatest fighter in the series he had unrivaled brutality and agility which made him a famously difficult character to beat. He was so tricky in fact that his strength had to be toned down in later games to give players a chance (anyone can face it he is a half dragon with four arms, and he is going to be competitive and tough).
Outside of gameplay his strength is evident in some of his feats in the story over the Mk series overall. He defeated the great Kung Lao and for 500 years remained undefeated. While not on the magic prowess of someone like Shang Tsung, Goro is still more stronger physically. There have been some moments where the Mk heroes have struggled against Goro's brute force; as shown in Mk Shaolin Monks intro where he incapacitates Sonya, Johnny, and Kung Lao in battle. Goro is strong enough to destroy pillars with his fist, grapple characters and throw them, he can shatter part of the ground with his own weight from jumping and break his opponents bones by crushing them. His punches are strong enough to knock characters across the area.
While Goro isn't invincible, he has little to no weaknesses when it comes to defense; he can survive alot of injuries that are inflicted on him and break out of being frozen easily (He managed to do this when Sub-Zero froze him and Kintaro). Some characters in the MK story however are able to match Goro's power with their own tactics, an example being Earthrealm's champion Liu Kang who defeated Goro more than once due to his superior skill and speed. Kung Lao and Cyber Sub-Zero managed to defeat Goro during MK 2011's story, and Johnny was able to defeat him in the 1995 film. Nevertheless, Goro is one of the most overawing mk characters.
Powers[]
- Shokan Physiology:
- Superhuman Strength: Goro has immense levels of superhuman strength. He is able to shake the ground with one powerful punch, lift up a large pillar, and even ruthlessly rip someone's arms and legs easily.
- Superhuman Speed: Goro does possess some amazing speed. He can spin very fast and land a bunch of strikes. He's known to be fast to defeat very fast and agile warriors like the Great Kung Lao. His speed is known to be as faster than the speed of sound.
- Superhuman Stamina: Prince Goro has amazing stamina. He can fight for long periods of time without needing to take a break. It's even possible that he can fight for twice as longer than that.
- Self-Sustenance
- Superhuman Durability
- Superhuman Endurance: Goro has dealt large amounts of physical pain and survived after all that. Some characters can do damage to him, but many characters who throw a punch at him doesn't do even a little damage to him. It proves that Goro's resistant to physical damage is very high.
- Pyrokinesis: Goro is associated with the element of Fire. Like Kintaro, he could either project fireballs either from his mouth or his hands. In Shaolin Monks, he was able to shoot one fireball from each hand. He could also manipulate fire in his hands if he needed to attack using them.
- Fire Breath
- Flaming Projectiles
- Longevity: Goro's lifespan is high. He has lived for over millennia.
Abilities[]
- Master Combatant: Goro is one of the most powerful warriors in the history of Mortal Kombat, being able to win 9 consecutive Mortal Kombat tournaments, as well as defeating the Great Kung Lao in his first tournament - which Shang Tsung, in his younger form, couldn't do. Goro's fighting style always revolved around taking advantage of his brute strength and surprising agility, but he's a master in the martial arts that the Shokan used.
- Shokan
- Kuatan
- Master Acrobat: Goro is known for taking very high jumps and leap incredible distances.
- Leadership: Goro is known for being an excellent leader. He also served as commander of Outworld's armies, crushing rebellions and aiding in the conquest of many new realms for the Emperor.
- Indomitable Will: Goro has unbreakable willpower willing to do anything for the Shokan and for Shao Kahn.
Relations[]
Allies[]
- Shao Kahn
- Kintaro
- Sheeva
- Shang Tsung
- Kitana (formerly)
- Quan Chi
- Mileena
- Noob Saibot
Enemies[]
- Great Kung Lao
- Liu Kang
- Johnny Cage
- Kung Lao (arch-nemesis)
- Noob Saibot (formerly)
- Taven
Allies[]
- Emperor Shao Kahn (killed by Lord Raiden and the Elder Gods)
- Kintaro
- Shang Tsung (returns in DLC for MK 11)
- Kano
- Red Dragon
- Mileena (killed by D'Vorah in the MKX game)
- Reiko (killed by Havik in the MKX comics)
- Tanya (MIA)
- Rain (formerly)
- Baraka (killed by D'Vorah in the MKX game)
- Daegon
Enemies[]
- Great Kung Lao
- Liu Kang
- Kung Lao (arch-nemesis)
- Sub-Zero
- Kotal Kahn
- Kotal K'etz
- Kenshi Takahashi
Allies[]
- Titan Shang Tsung
- Shao Kahn
- Bi-Han
- Dark Rain
- Ermac
- Sindel
- Old Scorpion (formerly)
- Mileena
- Tanya
- Titan Quan Chi
- Reptile
- Dark Smoke
- Reiko
- Dark Raiden
- Dark Liu Kang
- Dark Kitana
- Dark Kung Lao
- Nitara
- Dark Li Mei
- Order of Darkness
Enemies[]
Quotes[]
“ | Another Earthrealmer. | „ |
~ Goro to Tremor. |
“ | I will never aid Earthrealm! | „ |
~ Goro to Sonya Blade. |
“ | I hide from no one. | „ |
~ Goro to Kitana. |
“ | Your words seal you fate! | „ |
~ Goro after Mileena calls him a coward. |
“ | Earthrealm is my enemy. | „ |
~ Goro to Quin Chi. |
“ | The Shokan serve no one! | „ |
~ Prince Goro vs Shinnok. |
“ | I will not abide your mockery. | „ |
~ Goro vs Kano. |
“ | I serve no emperor! | „ |
~ Prince Goro to Kotal Kahn. |
“ | You challenge me? | „ |
~ Goro to Jason. |
“ | Arrogant Earthrealmer! | „ |
~ Goro to Raiden. |
“ | You are a worthy opponent. | „ |
~ Goro to Ferra/Torr. |
“ | I shall remove your treacherous head! | „ |
~ Goro after he finds out that Bo' Rai Cho trains Earthrealmers. |
“ | Then let us begin. | „ |
~ Goro. |
“ | No one can, child! | „ |
~ Goro after Cassie Cage says she will stop him. |
“ | You will taste Shokan fury. | „ |
~ Goro to D'Vorah. |
“ | I am ready! | „ |
~ Goro fighting Ermac. |
“ | Here is what you are "owed." | „ |
~ Goro to Johnny Cage. |
“ | Show me your true face, coward! | „ |
~ Goro to Kano. |
“ | You exude psychic energy. | „ |
~ Goro to Takeda. |
“ | Prepare yourself! | „ |
~ Goro vs Erron Black. |
“ | I am here fool. | „ |
~ Goro to Jax Briggs. |
“ | You face death like a warrior! | „ |
~ Goro to Kenshi. |
“ | There is no honor in you. | „ |
~ Goro to Kung Jin. |
“ | Never, deceiver! | „ |
~ Goro after Quan Chi ask if the Shokan prince needs aid. |
“ | Do you harbor Shokan souls? | „ |
~ Goro to Ermac. |
“ | That I will, cryomancer. | „ |
~ Goro to Sub-Zero. |
“ | I will tear you apart! | „ |
~ Goro fighting Scorpion. |
“ | Begone, Edenian. | „ |
~ Goro to Tanya. |
“ | Prepare for kombat! | „ |
~ Goro to Tremor. |
Trivia[]
- Goro is stated to be a polygamist, possessing several wives/queens consort. Sheeva was originally believed to be one of them, but this has not been proven.
- He had a cameo in Mortal Kombat: Deception Konquest mode of Mortal Kombat: Deception, where he is fighting Johnny Cage in Netherrealm, albeit missing his two lower arms.
- It was hinted that Goro felt nothing but contempt towards Shao Kahn as he rejoiced in the Emperor's "death" before being disappointed that he survived after Quan Chi (whom he calls "Deceiver") healed him.
- Goro's original name was "Gongoro".
- According to series creator Ed Boon, there were two models of Goro. The first model was used for stop-motion in Mortal Kombat (1992). The model was posed so much that it fell apart overtime. The second model is still intact. It is currently stored at Netherrealm studios.
- Goro once fought Pokémon's Machamp on the popular internet show DEATH BATTLE and lost.
External Links[]
- Goro on the Mortal Kombat Wiki