Goro

Origin

Goro is the Prince of the of Shokan race, half-man and half-dragon creatures with four arms which reside in the realm of Outworld. Goro tries to bring honor to his race by serving Shao Kahn, the emperor of Outworld. Goro is one of Kahn's favorite warriors because of his brute strength and brutality. Goro has been the champion of Mortal Kombat for nine generations until he was defeated by the Chinese Earthrealm warrior: Liu Kang.

After Shang Tsung's defeat in Mortal Kombat by the Great Kung Lao, Shao Kahn sent Goro to participate in the next tournament where he defeated the Great Kung Lao and became the new champion of Mortal Kombat, prompting Shao Kahn to hold the Shokans in his favor. Goro would keep his title for 900 years until his defeat by Liu Kang. He'd later apparently die during a battle with Johnny Cage, Kano, and Sonya, but he wasn't really dead, rather he went into seclusion to reflect on his defeat.

He'd return to seek a rematch against Liu Kang, however the alarming news of his people's war with the Centaurians called his attention. It was during this time that Kitana was able to make a peace treaty between Edenia and Kuatan, despite being interrupted by Kung Lao whom wanted revenge for Goro murdering the Great Kung Lao. Kung Lao left a scar on Goro's chest and the two considered themselves even. Goro and the Shokans would ally with Kitana against Shao Kahn, but Goro would be struck down during battle against Noob Saibot. After the revival of the Dragon King, Shao Kahn would find himself saving Goro's life despite trying to end it earlier. Out of honor, Goro was in Shao Kahn's debt and aided him against the Dragon King.

Creation

Goro was introduced in the very first Mortal Kombat as the sub boss of the game. John Tobias created him because he wanted to have a monstrous, giant, brute like character and originally named him Gongoro. It was later he decided to just shorten the name to Goro.

Major Story Arcs

Blood and Thunder

Goro is preoccupied with testing Shang Tsung's guards manhandling them and verbally abusing their carelessness, much to Shang Tsung's appreciation. Goro and Shang Tsung discuss the powerful artifact the Tao Te Zhan, a book of tremendous power locked within it, only accessible once its seven riddles are answered. Shang Tsung has managed to open the book, the its power eludes him for now.

Prince of Pain

Goro is called on by the god of Chaos.

Battlewave

Goro tracks down various Mortal Kombat combatants to viciously beat

Powers and Abilities

Goro was able to win 9 consecutive Mortal Kombat tournaments. He was even able to defeat The Great Kung Lao in his first tournament, a feat which a younger Shang Tsung could not accomplish. Goro's fighting style is based on his brute strength and surprising agility. he possesses the ability to shoot fireballs from him mouth or his hands.

Characteristics

Height: 8'2"

Weight: 550 lbs

Age: 2000

Nationality: Outworlder

Martial Art: Shokan, Kuatan.

Appearances

• Mortal Kombat (sub-boss)
• Mortal Kombat Trilogy (sub-boss)
• Mortal Kombat 4 (sub-boss)
• MK: Deception (GameCube exclusive)
• MK: Shaolin Monks (sub-boss)
• MK: Unchained
• MK: Armageddon
• MK 2011 (sub-boss)
• Mortal Kombat XL

Movies

Goro appears in the first Mortal Kombat movie as Shang Tsung's most loyal servant as well as the reigning champion of Mortal Kombat, having granted Shang Tsung nine victories in a row. Goro thinks very unfavorably of humans, considering them weak. He is voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, with vocal effects by Frank Welker. In the entire movie, he is the only villain to have defeated a protagonist onscreen as with his fight against Art Lean, one of Johnny Cage's acquaintances. After Art is defeated and his soul absorbed by Shang Tsung, Johnny Cage challenges Goro directly to avenge him. Cage was fully aware of Goro's strength, however, and when confronting him, resorts to his patented split-punch. Having been taken by surprise, the enraged Goro chases after Cage.

Cage lures Goro to the narrow ledge of a steep cliff. With limited room to maneuver, Cage manages to knock Goro off the cliff to his death.

TV

{C Goro appears in the animated film Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins. In the series, Goro confronts his older brother Duroc for a jeweled egg in which the winner was to tribute to their father Gorbak. He ends up losing the fight after hanging from a cliff while Duroc tries to help him up. Goro betrays his brother and knocks him into the pit.

Comic Books

Goro had a prominent role in Malibu's Mortal Kombat comic book adaptations and was the first character to have his own three-issue miniseries, entitled Goro: Prince of Pain. Goro's story did not differ greatly from his in-game profiles, being the Mortal Kombat champion and having previously bested the Great Kung Lao. He was also portrayed as an unstoppable force, easily dispatching the Earthrealm warriors alone, and only having a hard time against Raiden. He remained undefeated during the first three issues of the Blood & Thunder series, having lost for the first time in the second issue of Prince of Pain against Zaggot's creation, The Kombatant. In the following Battlewave series, he remained on Earth after his defeat, and, to appease for his failure, started hunting down the Earthrealm warriors; he injured Jax in battle but was unable to defeat Liu Kang. In the fourth issue he had a mini-story at the end ("When Titans Klash") where he returned to Outworld to fight for Shao Kahn, settling a rivalry with Kintaro along the way.

Goro also made a short appearance in the Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe comic book where he, along with Johnny Cage, Robin and Aquaman, is vanished from existence by Dark Kahn's powers.