Why Kronika is the Least Favourite Mortal Kombat Character
As a SEO expert for Google, I take a keen interest in the lore and character dynamics of video games, particularly in the Mortal Kombat universe. One character that consistently stands out as problematic is Kronika from Mortal Kombat 11. In this article, I will delve into the reasons why Kronika is my least favorite Mortal Kombat character, examining her motivations, actions, and the resultant impact on the franchise's narrative coherence.
Kronika's Motivation and Lore Inconsistencies
In the lore of Mortal Kombat 11, Kronika's entire motivation revolves around creating a new timeline without Raiden, as he supposedly messes up the balance of good and evil by decapitating Shinnok during Armageddon. This notion is riddled with logical inconsistencies:
Why was the death of everyone in Armageddon, including Shinnok, acceptable or the goal? How would this alternate ending be considered more desirable when Shao Khan, with the power of Blaze, could have merged all realms with Outworld, leading to the release of the One Being? Given Kronika's ability to affect Elder Gods, why did she not simply incapacitate Dark Raiden instead of attempting a complex merger involving time travel? It's perplexing how she could repeatedly rewrite timelines without consequence, yet failed to imprison key threats like Shao Khan and Shang Tsung effectively.Time Travel and Narrative Conflicts
One of the most significant issues with Kronika's character stems from the time travel elements and narrative logic:
While Kronika's merging of past and present timelines creates interesting plot points, it also leads to numerous contradictions. For example, killing one version of a character does not logically eliminate the other version from existence. Why would she not simply wait for the climax, then send Geras to retrieve the Crown and Jinsei secretly, or use a time freeze strategy to neutralize her enemies? The method by which she heals and restores Kitana and Kung Lao suggests a level of time manipulation that is illogical, given her own contribution to the time travel paradoxes.Character Relationships and Motivation Discrepancies
Another layer of depth to examining Kronika involves the relationships and motivations of the characters she interacts with:
Sektor and Frost both want to lead the Cyber Lin Kuei, creating a conflict of leadership. Scorpion seeks his clan back while the new Lin Kuei aims to exterminate it, making their goals antithetical. Kitana, Jade, and Revenant Lin Kuei all want Edenia, but Shao Khan plans to conquer everything, suggesting a broader conflict of epic proportions. Bi-Han seeks a New Shadow Clan but also aims to avenge his loss to Scorpion, implying a desire to return to his previous identity as Sub-Zero. Revenant Lin Kuei seeks to kill Raiden but also restore his previous life, conflicting with Revenant Kung Lao's desire to defeat the God of Fear.Concluding Thoughts
While the character of Kronika presents an interesting challenge to the narrative, her actions and motivations are so illogical and inconsistent that they detract from the overall story of Mortal Kombat 11. Her time travel and narrative manipulations create a soup of contradictions and conflicts that are hard to swallow.
Overall, Kronika is my least favorite Mortal Kombat character due to her inability to coherently pull off her goals, the sheer illogicality of her actions, and the numerous holes they create in the storyline. Nonetheless, her coolest moments, such as her arcade endings, add a touch of excitement despite her flaws.