Draft:Takeda Takahashi

Takeda Takahashi is a character from NetherRealm Studios Mortal Kombat media franchise. He made his playable debut in Mortal Kombat X (2015) as one of the four Kombat Kids, along with Cassie Cage, Jacqueline Briggs, and Kung Jin. In Mortal Kombat X (2015), he was presented as the son of fellow Mortal Kombat character Kenshi Takahashi.

Characteristics
In Mortal Kombat X (2015), Takeda is Kenshi Takahashi's son and is a member of a clan named "Shirai Ryu". Takeda was originally going to be named "Spider", and his weapons were blades/swords as opposed to whips. Jacqui Briggs is his love interest. Takeda is also a member of the Special Forces and works with them to protect the world. On the basis of his biographical information in Mortal Kombat X (2015), Suchin, a Thai-American woman, serves as his mother. In Mortal Kombat 1 (2023), Takeda's relationships with other characters have undergone significant modifications, as indicated by widespread leaks. Among the individuals in question are Kenshi, who was his father in the prior timeline, now being his cousin, and Jacqui Briggs, who initially was his love interest. Under the present circumstances, Takeda is no longer passionate about Jacqui Briggs. Nor does Takeda remain an individual of the Shirai Ryu clan either.

Backstory
In Mortal Kombat X Comics, Takeda is portrayed as a child who resides in Thailand with his mother, Suchin. Kenshi is seen carrying Takeda on his back at the start of the comics. Eventually, a Red Dragon gang shows up and launches an attack on the Kenshi household. Scorpion managed to save Takeda and Kenshi, but sadly, Takeda's mother perished. Kenshi asks Scorpion to take over his son Takeda's parental duties. Takeda was later trained by Scorpion to join the Shirai Ryu.

Appearances
Takeda debuted in the first issue of Mortal Kombat X Comics series entitled Mortal Kombat X Vol. 1: Blood Ties, in which he is depicted as a kid who is untrained and harmless. The beginning of the comic shows Takeda on the back of Kenshi, who is trying to escape from the force of enemies led by Hsu Hao. Suddenly, an arrow penetrates through Kenshi's leg bone, resulting in his injury. As Hsu Hao was ready to assassinate Kenshi, Scorpion interrupted and killed Hsu Hao instead. Takeda is observed being trained by Scorpion later in the comics. Takeda made a reappearance in Mortal Kombat X (2015), where he initially appeared as one of the members of Johnny Cage's Special Forces unit and had a significant role in the game's story mode.

Takeda was noticeably absent from Mortal Kombat 11 (2019), although a match introduction dialogue between Scorpion and Jacqui Briggs indicates that Takeda and Jacqui have been engaged since the events of Mortal Kombat X (2015). Takeda made a brief cameo appearance in the cutscene of the final story mode chapter of Mortal Kombat 1 (2023), along with other Kombat Kids; regardless of the condition, he was assassinated by the Titan Kitana. He later returned to the game as a DLC character, being released in Summer 2024.

Reception
In 2015, Vince Ingenito, an author from IGN, shared his thoughts on Mortal Kombat X (2015) in a detailed review that highlighted the character Takeda. Ingenito praised Takeda's personality, describing him as a "confident martial arts swagger" that captivated his attention. He went on to emphasize that Takeda's design was the most striking among the new characters introduced in Mortal Kombat X (2015), showcasing the game's success in creating unique and compelling fighters. Takeda's fighting style was portrayed as a futuristic take on a ninja, blending traditional weaponry with cutting-edge technology. Ingenito marveled at Takeda's arsenal, which included remote-controlled laser swords, explosive kunai throwing knives, and arm-mounted retractable grappling hooks that transformed into lethal blade-covered whips. Takeda's seamless mastery of these weapons, combined with his confident demeanor, added a layer of realism and credibility to his character. Takeda seems to share similarities with Soulcalibur's Ivy Valentine, as pointed out by Ars Technica's Sam Machkovech. Machkovech mentioned that Takeda's design seems to be inspired by Ivy Valentine, especially his whip-sword hybrid weapon. Additionally, Machkovech highlighted Takeda's moveset, noting how Mortal Kombat X's interpretation of Takeda is more impressive when his weapon transforms into a Scorpion-style "get over here" grabber.

Brendan Hesse of GameSpot had strong feelings about Takeda's "Whip it Good" fatality from Mortal Kombat X (2015), going so far as to label it as one of the "Grossest And Most Gruesome Mortal Kombat Fatalities". In his analysis, he characterized it as a "literal gut-wrenching fatality", emphasizing the visceral nature of the move. Hesse vividly described the sequence of events in the fatality, starting with Takeda swiftly cutting off the enemy's arms with his bladed whip before thrusting it into their throat with the blades retracted. The tension builds as the blades extend and pierce the opponent's innards, culminating in Takeda forcefully pulling back the whip and exposing their insides. Despite the graphic nature of the fatality, Hesse pointed out that it serves as an effective tutorial on gutting a fish. Imran Khan of Paste also expressed his thoughts on Takeda's fatality in Mortal Kombat X. He highlighted the graphic nature of the finishing move, where Takeda brutally slices off his opponent's arms before proceeding to gruesomely pull out their intestines through their mouth. Khan emphasized the visceral and unsettling imagery of the scene, noting how it left him feeling his stomach turned. The detailed description of the fatality, complete with fizzing animations and the sight of the opponent gurgling blood as they twitch on the ground. As reported by Justin Reeve of TheGamer, Takeda has been a fan-favorite character in the Mortal Kombat series, known for his unique fighting style and intriguing backstory. His absence in Mortal Kombat 11 (2019) left many fans feeling that something was missing, leading to widespread excitement at the possibility of his return in the next installment. With his devoted supporters eager to see him back in action, as one fan put it: "As a matter of fact, he has the best backstory out of any of the Kombat Kids". Cameron Lucas, a writer for Game Rant, shared his opinion on Takeda's presence in Mortal Kombat 1 (2023), stating that it is now "more interesting than ever". He then dwells on the character's legacy, explaining how Takeda has changed over the years.

In a PDF paper titled "Agency in and Around Videogames", presented in October 2020 by media lecturer Bettina Bódi of Leeds Beckett University in the United Kingdom, Takeda was implemented as an example of an avatar that remains trapped in a restricted area. This concept sheds light on the notion of agency within video games, specifically focusing on how players interact with their environment and the limitations placed on their characters. Takeda's confinement in a restricted area mirrors the mechanics commonly found in 2D fighting games, where players are confined to a specific space or arena to engage in combat and progress through the game. By using Takeda as a case study, Bódi highlights the significance of understanding the constraints placed on players and how these limitations can influence gameplay and player agency. In 2023, a digital sports media organization, EssentiallySports' Diptarko Paul, reported about a person dressed as Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) iteration of Takeda on X platform. The person also grabbed the attention of Ed Boon, the creator of the Mortal Kombat series. Boon posted about it on X as a way to tease the enthusiasts of Takeda, and to build up the hype for his arrival in the game. Later on, EssentiallySports highlighted Takeda's significance in Mortal Kombat X (2015) and his fighting skills, noting, "As a member of the Kombat Kids, Takeda was one of the main protagonists in MKX. Takeda’s Fist Flurry and Spear Ryu were only a few in his arsenal, and his skills got him a lot of fans".