Reptile (Mortal Kombat)

Reptile is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. He debuted in the original 1992 game as a hidden opponent, establishing him as the first secret character in fighting game history. Reptile became playable in the follow-up Mortal Kombat II (1993) and has remained a mainstay of the franchise. As implied by his name, he is a Saurian, a fictional species of reptilian humanoids. One of the last surviving members of his race, he aligns himself with the series' primary villains in the hope his service will lead to the Saurians' revival.

Outside of the games, Reptile has appeared in various related media. Reception to the character has been positive, with praise for his evolution from a hidden character to one of the franchise's most iconic fighters.

Conception and history
Reptile's character concept was conceived by Mortal Kombat co-creator and lead programmer Ed Boon after the original 1992 game was released into arcades. Noting the success of the palette swap method used for the sprites of the game's ninja characters Scorpion and Sub-Zero, he and series character designer John Tobias collaborated on including a "super secret hidden feature" in the game who would be a "cooler version of Scorpion". Reptile was completed in a single evening, and inserted into the third revision of the game in August 1992, the same month the game was first released. Reptile was not selectable nor playable as his inclusion was originally intended as a marketing tool for the game due to the extreme conditions required for players to encounter him, with the developers in turn hoping word of mouth would spread rumors of the character's existence. Boon noted in a 1995 interview that the positive response to the character led to Reptile's inclusion in subsequent series installments as a playable fighter.

Design and gameplay
Reptile appeared in the three digitized Mortal Kombat fighting games as a palette swap of the two male ninja characters, with his green armor representing a combination of Scorpion and Sub-Zero's yellow and blue, respectively. He retained this design upon his playable debut in Mortal Kombat II (1993), with his true reptilian nature first revealed whenever his face mask was pulled down for his acid spit attack, or removed entirely for his tongue-grab Fatality and his arcade ending. He and the other ninja characters were omitted from Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) but included in the upgrade Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. For the three-dimensional release Mortal Kombat 4 (1997), he was given a unique design for the first time with minimal body armor, his face fully exposed, and more of his true reptilian identity revealed, while he speaks in a sibilant tone in his arcade ending. With the palette-swap characters receiving distinct makeovers for the series' three-dimensional fighting games, Reptile was given a full reptilian design in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002) that included a long tail while he wore minimal gold and black armor, a design that was maintained for his nonplayable appearance in the 2005 beat 'em up title Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks with the exception of black straps wrapped around his head that left his eyes and mouth exposed. Reptile did not appear in Mortal Kombat: Deception (2004), but returned with the then-entire series roster in the 2006 compilation title Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.

As a secret non-playable character in the first Mortal Kombat, Reptile used Sub-Zero's freezing projectile and Scorpion's spear, and fought with increased speed. When made a playable character starting with MKII, he received his own moves such as an acid-spit projectile attack and a slow-moving energy ball that sends opponents airborne and leaves them open for a free hit, in addition to the ability to turn invisible and remain so until hit. Later titles in the series modify these moves, such as splitting the Forceball attack into slow and fast variants, or remove moves in favor of different attacks, only to return them in the next installment.

Reptile's Fatalities in MKII consist of revealing his reptilian face and using his long tongue to devour the opponent's head, or turning invisible and severing their torso. Later finishing moves expand upon the concept, ranging from regurgitating acid upon the defeated opponent to leaping upon their body and gnawing the flesh from their skulls. In a 2006 series retrospective, the Mortal Kombat development team named Reptile's finishers as some of their favorites from the series.

Video games
In the original Mortal Kombat, Reptile is a mysterious hidden enemy character, unplayable and with no biography. Hints regarding the conditions of how to unlock the fight against him are conveyed by Reptile randomly appearing prior to other matches, such as "Blocking will get you nowhere," "Look to La Luna," or "Perfection is the key." To fight Reptile, the player must get a Double Flawless victory in single-player mode on the Pit stage and finish the match off with a Fatality, all without blocking. There must also be a silhouette flying past the Moon, which will occur every 50 matches. Once all conditions are met, Reptile will announce "You have found me, now prove yourself!" The match takes place on the spiked floor of the Pit, and defeating him with a Fatality earns the player ten million points.

In Mortal Kombat II, Reptile returned as a playable character and a member of a reptilian race named the Saurians, who were pulled into Outworld and enslaved by Shao Kahn. Promised the revival of his race in turn for his loyalty, Reptile conceals his reptilian identity and serves Kahn as Shang Tsung's bodyguard, as Tsung has been targeted for assassination by the Lin Kuei ninja Sub-Zero.

He was chosen to assist Jade in order to kill Kitana during the events of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, he is defeated and exiled, but reappears in Mortal Kombat 4 as Shinnok's minion. By Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Reptile returns to Kahn's service. He overhears Shang Tsung plotting to kill Kahn, but en route to warn his master, he meets a female vampire who offers knowledge of his race. Reptile pledges his loyalties to her, though eventually realizes she is merely using him and sets out to kill her. Instead of the vampire he finds Onaga's dragon egg instead, which transforms Reptile into Onaga's avatar, leading to the events of Mortal Kombat: Deception and ending with his defeat at the game's conclusion. Separated from Onaga as a result, Reptile returns in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. In Konquest mode in Armageddon, he appears in the Red Dragon lair commanding Daegon's dragon Caro to close the portal but refused. Taven battles Reptile in combat and emerges victorious.

Reptile also appears in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, appearing in the game's opening sequence and later as a boss. During development, producer Shaun Himmerick noted that Reptile was included in the game because the character was one of Himmerick's favorite in the series. Originally included in NBA Jam Tournament Edition alongside other Mortal Kombat characters as an unlockable player, he was eventually removed from later versions of the game at the request of the NBA.

Reptile reappears in the 2011 Mortal Kombat video game that reboots the continuity of the first three games. He represents Outworld against Earthrealm in the tenth Mortal Kombat tournament, where he is defeated by Johnny Cage. In the second tournament, the younger Sub-Zero demands to face Scorpion but is instead forced into a duel with Reptile, and emerges victorious. Reptile then appears during the invasion of Earth in the retold events of MK3, when Stryker and Kabal open fire on him as he scales a highrise building. Reptile temporarily incapacitates Kabal but Stryker then beats him in combat.

In Mortal Kombat X (2015), Reptile is now capable of speech and is identified by the name Syzoth. He plays an instrumental role in Kotal Kahn usurping Mileena for the Outworld throne after he reveals that Mileena is a genetic creation created by Shang Tsung and not Shao Kahn's biological daughter, thus making her ineligible to rule Outworld. Reptile serves as one of Kotal's enforcers along with Erron Black, Ermac, Ferra and Torr, and is next seen investigating dead bodies left by the traitorous D'Vorah after she betrays Outworld by stealing Shinnok's amulet. Reptile who uses his invisibility to fight Takeda, but is defeated while his comrades are incapacitated by the Earthrealm heroes. Kotal declares war on Earthrealm as a result, and during the ensuing invasion and battle, Reptile temporarily blinds Takeda by spitting acid in his face before he is defeated by Jacqui Briggs.

In Mortal Kombat 11 Reptile is not a playable character, though Shang Tsung is able to shapeshift into him with a selectable move and he makes a cameo appearance in one of Rain's fatalities alongside Ermac and Smoke. Noob Saibot, Kung Lao, Jade, and Scorpion all have MK1-derived palette swap skins of Reptile, complete with scaly skin and green eyes.

In Mortal Kombat 1's new timeline, the Saurians (now renamed the Zaterrans) are no longer extinct, but Syzoth became an outcast among his people for having the ability to shapeshift into a human-like appearance. Unlike previous incarnations who hid his reptilian appearance behind a mask, this version can freely shapeshift between his human appearance and his true Saurian form. Shang Tsung forces Syzoth to become his servant by holding his family hostage, allowing the sorcerer to learn his shapeshifting ability. After Syzoth fails to contain Baraka and the captured Earthrealm warriors, Shang Tsung attempts to kill all of them and reveals he already killed Syzoth's family. After escaping, Syzoth allies himself with Earthrealm's warriors to prevent Shang Tsung's plans from coming to fruition. After Titan Shang Tsung's defeat, the newly crowned Empress Mileena asks Syzoth to be her emissary to the Zaterrans, allowing him to return to his home without being shamed. He uncovers records revealing that many Zaterrans actually have the ability to shapeshift but are killed off by the government to keep it from spreading, and vows to find a way to end their barbaric policies. The character intros also imply he becomes romantically involved with Ashrah.

Other media


Reptile is a supporting character in Malibu Comics' Mortal Kombat comic book series, first appearing in the 1995 three-issue Goro: Prince of Pain miniseries as a member of a team led by Kitana to find the missing Goro. In the finale of the 1995 six-issue Battlewave miniseries, Reptile hypnotizes Sonya Blade into wanting to marry Shao Kahn before Kahn's plot is thwarted by the Earthrealm heroes. He features briefly in special-edition comics published by Midway Games for Mortal Kombat II and Mortal Kombat 4, based on his respective role in each title.

A paperback novel written by C. Dean Anderson entitled Mortal Kombat: Reptile's World was published in 1996. Written for junior readers, the book describes the past of Reptile's race through the perspectives of other series characters.

Reptile appears in the 1995 film Mortal Kombat as a bipedal lizard who camouflages himself until found by Liu Kang. After being thrown into a statue, Reptile transforms into a human-looking ninja and battles Liu Kang, but is defeated and then crushed after reverting to his original form. Reptile's lizard form is computer-generated while the character's human form is portrayed by actor and martial artist Keith Cooke. Originally not included in the movie, Reptile was added in response to focus groups being unimpressed with the original fights in the film. Actor Robin Shou (Liu Kang) and director Paul Anderson noted that neither knew what Reptile's lizard form would look like until after filming, making the pre-fight sequence difficult to shoot.

An original character named Komodai features in one episode of the 1996 animated series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, bearing a physical resemblance to Reptile and described as being a member of his race. Komodai leads an attack on Earthrealm with his minions until he is ultimately defeated and sent back to Outworld.

The 1998 television series Mortal Kombat: Conquest features Reptile in his human form, played by Jon Valera. Commander of Shao Kahn's army of Raptors, he betrays Kahn and forms an alliance with original series character Kreeya to share dominion over Kahn's domain and serve as one of her mates, but is killed by Shao Kahn's priests.

Reptile featured in director Kevin Tancharoen's 2010 short film Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, a grittier take on the series canon. He was played by actor Richard Dorton and depicted therein as a cannibalistic criminal who eats his victims' heads after killing them. Not an inhuman ninja here, he has harlequin-type ichthyosis, giving him patchy scale-like skin.

Reptile makes a brief appearance in the 2020 animated film Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, in which he is decapitated by Sonya during a fight scene.

Reptile makes an appearance in the 2021 film, as a minion of Shang Tsung who attacks Sonya's hideout before Kano kills him by ripping his heart out.

Merchandise and promotion
A Reptile action figure was released by Hasbro as part of a G.I. Joe line of toys, packaged with the series-themed vehicle for the toyline. The figure comes with a katana and grappling hook. Another action figure to promote Shaolin Monks was released in 2006 by Jazwares. Fully posable, it includes an alternate head, detachable tongue and a large-bladed scimitar. He was one of many MK characters depicted on 2.5" x 3.5" collectible magnets released by Ata-Boy Wholesale in 2011. Reptile also featured prominently in the introduction sequence of Mortal Kombat 4, portions of which were used in a television commercial to promote the game.

Reception
The character has been well received by critics. In 2008, GameSpot wrote that Reptile gives the series "an air of mystery" due to the circumstances behind his first appearance, while CraveOnline listed the battle against him in Mortal Kombat as the fourth-greatest event in video gaming. He was fifth in Game Revolution's list of top "old school" Mortal Kombat characters", praised for his introduction in Mortal Kombat and his changes in the sequel. Reptile was featured in a 2008 MSN article about the ten greatest Easter eggs in gaming. In 2010 UGO, included him on the list of the 25 coolest hidden characters in video gaming. In UGO Networks' 2012 list of the top Mortal Kombat characters, Reptile placed sixth, stating that he is the best hidden character in the series. In a 2020 episode of the Rotten Tomatoes podcast "Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong" discussing the 1995 Mortal Kombat film, the panelists opined that Reptile is one of the worst characters in the series, mentioning his origin as a palette swap, and argued that the series should have kept him as a hidden character because it was the one thing that made him cool.

Reptile's absence in Mortal Kombat 11 was questioned by Dale Wilson of PlayStation LifeStyle, whom stated "With classic characters like Scorpion, Subzero, Johnny Cage, Jade, and Sonya Blade all making appearances in Mortal Kombat 11, I find it odd that Reptile was left out of the mix."