Mortal Kombat X roster

These guys and gals will definitely be in Mortal Kombat X.

If Scorpion were to write a memoir, it'd probably be titled "To Hell and Back Again." That's because this yellow-clad ninja was murdered by Sub-Zero, banishing Scorpion to the Netherrealm (the MK universe's equivalent to Hades) where he became a vengeful specter. Think of Scorpion as the archetypal anti-hero; he's not outright evil, but he has no qualms with killing anyone who gets in his way.

These characters are likely to be included in MKX's roster, but there's no official word from NetherRealm Studios as of yet.

Raiden, the almighty God of Thunder, is responsible for keeping all of Earthrealm safe from the forces of evil. He acts as a guiding light for the other Kombatants who wish to see Shao Kahn dethroned, sometimes stepping into the ring against lesser mortals to get the job done. As a god, Raiden controls the powers of electricity, able to teleport, fly short distances, and literally shock his adversaries to death.

Here's the everyman hero of MK--an incorruptible warrior with the power to shoot fireballs from his hands and kick through the air as if gravity doesn't exist. Sound like any other fighting game frontman you've heard of? Liu Kang is a little like the Shaolin version of Goku, in that he's saved his world countless times and come back from the dead even more frequently. The evil sorcerer Shang Tsung is Liu Kang's primary adversary.

Mortal Kombat's leading lady is a super-powered member of the Special Forces, defending Earthrealm alongside her commanding officer Jackson "Jax" Briggs. Sonya ranks among Raiden's chosen warriors, fighting for justice and the protection of Earthrealm. While she may appear to be a run-of-the-mill elite soldier, Sonya can actually control a form of pink mist that she fires off as a briefly mind-controlling kiss. She can also defy physics with a flurry of rising kicks.

Kitana is the Princess of Edenia, and--despite her appearance--is 10,000 years old. She was at first loyal to her stepfather, Shao Kahn, but later made an enemy of him upon leaving Edenia. Kitana also holds something of a romance with Liu Kang, even after his murder. She attacks using her steel fans, slicing foes by throwing them across the stage. She’s just as deadly without them too, opting for sharp punches and flying kicks when her fans are at rest.

Originally a clone of Kitana, Mileena holds a grudge against her blue-clothed counterpart. Created by Shang Tsung, she wants nothing more than to rid the realm of Edenia of its princess. She hides a hideous mouth of fangs under her facial garb, which she uses to tear the flesh from her enemies after leaping onto their necks. Other attacks include teleporting kicks and a tuck-and-roll.

MK's cockiest combatant went from Hollywood celebrity to defender of Earthrealm--not bad for what is essentially an amalgamation of Jean Claude Van Damme, Nicholas Cage, and Robert Downey Jr. Despite his narcissism, Johnny Cage is a capable martial artist with the power to hurl orbs of green energy. Cage's most iconic move may be his devastating nut punch, followed closely by his decapitation uppercut Fatality.

Those are the fighters we hope make it into Mortal Kombat X--and in the coming months, we're sure to find out more about the game's roster. Do you have any favorites you want to see in MKX? Tell us about it in the comments below!

And if you're looking for more, check out the full Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS roster.