Goro

Overview

Goro is a character from the Mortal Kombat series. He made his first appearance in the original Mortal Kombat as the sub-boss of the arcade ladder, beneath only the final boss Shang Tsung. A member of the Shokan race, he has four arms and a large, powerful build.

Unlike the other characters in Mortal Kombat, Goro was not portrayed by an actor. His animations were produced using stop-motion animation to film a model created by Curt Chiarelli. According to Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon, the first Goro model was used so much that it fell apart. A second model was created, but was never used in production. It is still in usable condition.

Story

Goro is a 2000-year-old Grand Champion of the Mortal Kombat tournament. He won this title after defeating the Shaolin fighting monk Kung Lao, and maintained his hold on the title for five hundred years. A servant of the sorceror Shang Tsung, Goro's victories in Mortal Kombat play a key role in achieving Shao Kahn's goal of Earthrealm domination.

When Goro was set to compete for his tenth consecutive victory in Mortal Kombat, thus securing victory for Shao Kahn, he faced the Shaolin martial artist Liu Kang and lost. Following the tournament, he fought Johnny Cage, Kano and Sonya, and then went missing. It is believed that he returned to his kingdom while Shang Tsung faced Shao Kahn's punishment for their ultimate failure.

In Mortal Kombat 4, Goro reappears after Shao Kahn's death and joins his fellow Shokan in the war against the Centaurians. This war came to a halt when Kitana intervened and negotiated with both races, earning a fragile peace. However, Kung Lao interrupted the event, desiring to avenge his ancestor's defeat at the hands of Goro five hundred years earlier. He slashes Goro's chest, leaving it scarred. With this blow, Kung Lao considers the score settled, and he and Goro shake hands. When Shinnok and his legion are defeated, Goro and the Shokan race decided to ally with the Edenians. As a condition of their pact, Goro signed a peace treaty with the Centaurians.

Years later, during the time of the Deadly Alliance, the united Edenians and Shokan people attack Shao Kahn's weakened army. Exhausted from battle, Goro is left vulnerable and struck from behind by Noob Saibot. A supposedly lethal blow, Goro is presumed dead and Princess Kitana holds a royal funeral for her former ally.

However, Goro was able to survive, being saved from death by Shao Kahn himself. Shao Kahn promises Goro the return of the Shokan to their former glory and the banishment of the Centaurians. Agreeing to these terms, Goro vows to serve Shao Kahn again, and in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon assists him in regaining the Outworld throne.

In the rebooted timeline, Goro appears in Mortal Kombat X as a playable character but doesn't show up in plots. His stories were revealed in the comic book that set its timeline preceding the game. After Shao Kahn's death, Goro challenges Kotal Kahn, but ends up with his arms being ripped off. Goro searches Onaga's remnants to heal his arms.

In Mortal Kombat 11, Goro's corpse appears in the Krypt. He seems dead, possibly due to mysterious wounds on his chest.

Endings

Mortal Kombat: Deception

With the Shokan army under Goro's control, he fights to cleanse Outworld of the Dragon King's Tarkatan Horde. Baraka's troops are no match for the Shokan, and Goro proves himself a powerful ally of the emperor. The Edenian military is crushed and Princess Kitana had been captured. Goro brings her to Shao Kahn and sacrifices her as an offering of fealty to the one and only emperor of Outworld.

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

Goro gains godlike powers after defeating Blaze. But to the forces of Darkness, his power was not meant for a mere Shokan to wield. Shang Tsung, Quan Chi, Shao Kahn and Onaga all had anticipated victory, only to have it stolen from them. The four surround Goro in a vain attempt to wrest the power from him. However, an army of Shokan warriors appear from out of nowhere and storm the pyramid, slaughtering the four attackers. The Shokan would then rule Outworld for all time.

Other Media

Goro appears in the movie adaptation of Mortal Kombat, retaining his role as Mortal Kombat champion and Shang Tsung's muscle. In the film, he is challenged to a fight by Johnny Cage, who kills Goro by knocking him off of a cliff.