Liu Kang - Promotion and Reception

Promotion and Reception

In 1996, Toy Island published a Liu Kang action figure which had a white shirt. Two Liu Kang action figures from Shaolin Monks were released by Jazwares. Apart from being flexible, both figures included different types of weapons such as swords and axes. Like all the characters from Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Liu Kang was selected to be a playable character based on his popularity.

Liu Kang's character has received fairly positive response by gaming publications. GameSpot featured him in their poll for the title of "All Time Greatest Game Hero" in 2009, in which he has lost to Yoshi. In 2010, GamePlayBook ranked Liu Kang as the second best Mortal Kombat character, commenting that "his nimbleness and fighting expertise make him an ideal pick" and how he is as good as zombie as when he was alive. In 2011, BrightHub ranked Liu Kang as the second best character in the series. In UGO Networks' 2012 list of the top 50 Mortal Kombat characters, Liu Kang was given first place. UGO also ranked him as 94th on the 2008 list of top heroes of all time, noting his role in the Mortal Kombat series as well as character depth. His relation with Kitana was ranked fourth in IGN's list of "Best Videogames Couples" in 2006. In 2012, GamesRadar ranked him as 51st "most memorable, influential, and badass" protagonist in games, adding that while "Sub-Zero and Scorpion may get most of the fanfare", Liu Kang "can shoot fireballs, whoops and hollers just like Bruce Lee, and pioneered the Animality with his dragon-transformation fatality--it’s no wonder that Liu Kang’s the chosen champion of Earthrealm."

Jesse Schedeen of IGN said that "it just wouldn't be right having a game without ," noting him to be as fierce as the DC characters from Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. Upon his death in Deadly Alliance, IGN's Jeremy Dunham noted that Liu Kang was killed as the series needed "'starting over' mentality", as he regarded Liu Kang as the series' strongest character. Game Informer listed his death in their article about "characters that died under our watch" calling it a "shock" as Liu Kang was stated to be one of the "most loved" characters from the series. GamesRadar featured him the article about "kickass Bruce Lee clones" citing his similarities with Bruce Lee and with one of his shouts featured in famous quotes. His redesign in Mortal Kombat: Deception was praised by GameSpot for being one of the best ones from the title, and was featured in GamesRadar's list of the "greatest zombie triumphs" in 2009, but was ranked as the ninth worst Mortal Kombat character by ScrewAttack in 2011. Additionally, GamesRadar noted him as an example of a stereotype of gaming heroes who reveal an evil alter-ego which ruins the character's appealing traits.

Liu Kang's finishing move of turning into a dragon was ranked by ScrewAttack as the second best in the series, referred to as the most iconic Fatality in Mortal Kombat II, but his cartwheel Fatality from the first Mortal Kombat was ranked by ScrewAttack as the second worst in the series. Liu Kang's dragon Fatality has also been listed as one of the best Fatalities from the series by both Game Informer and UGO. On the other hand, his Fatality in which he throws a Mortal Kombat arcade were pointed by both Game Informer and GamePro as one of the worst from the series, even as GamesRadar listed it among the reasons of Liu Kang being "boss". Some video game publications criticized his gameplay and shouts while others noted him to be entertaining. IGN's Douglas Perry wrote that he preferred Liu Kang over Kung Lao as a playable character in Shaolin Monks because of his "intuitive fighting moves," adding that his shouts were "annoying" yet "strangely pleasing." GameDaily also complained on his voice, saying that "Liu Kang screams out like a chicken". Eurogamer commented that Liu Kang's kicks are ridiculous, while their intensified versions from Shaolin Monks are demented. GamesRadar wrote that "the strange squeals he emits during his trademark Bicycle Kick move are unforgettable."