Motaro is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He made his debut in Mortal Kombat 3, in which he also served as the sub-boss.
Motaro made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat 3. He is a Centaurian, meaning that he has the body of a stallion and the torso of a man. He also has a pair of capricorn-like horns and a long, metallic rat-like tail he can use as both an energy channeling point and a limb. He is nearly 9 feet tall. Centaurians are known for their hunting skills and their mystical powers.
Motaro, along with his entire race, harbors a deep-seated hatred for the Shokan, whom he sees as inferior. The two races constantly struggle against each other in order to prove their value to Shao Kahn and to finally define which one is superior.
In the current timeline, Motaro serves Outworld Army under General Shao. He fought against Raiden in Mortal Kombat tournament as one of the champions but lost. During the events of Mortal Kombat 1, Motaro betrays Empress Sindel and joins Shao's rebellion.
Grinder - Motaro theme 2023 (Paul UnFaces)
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Part II[]
Motaro was first seen during Aiko's first meditation session, when he led the opposing Tarkans and Centaurs against Sheeva, Shang, and the Shokan; they were appointed by Shao Kahn to make sure the rebellion wouldn't get their way over Kahn's throne, and to defend the fact that the Shokan were inferior. At first, Shang posed as a mole and passed the news to both clashing sides, and Raiden found out of the shapeshifter's plot. They began their deadly scrimmage while the Kombatants escaped! It's likely Motaro survived and still worked for Kahn as his prestigious general during the Earthrealm invasion.
Motaro was Kahn's elite general, even was the assassin that decapitated Johnny Cage back in LA as Sonya and Jax bore witness! He was then seen in his home turf inside the Balcony of Kahn's Fortress who spotted Kung Lao as fresh meat! The monk came to the same conclusion and desired to avenge Cage as he fought him. Motaro pretty much had the homefield advantage when he took up the majority of the arena, aside from the two statues making it claustrophobic! His elongated tail, the energy projectiles from it, his bulkiness and his ability to deflect Lao's razor-rimmed hat was too much for the hero! Despite him mimicking Motaro's teleportation skills. Then, Jax intervened, and he was more brutal, even stunning Motaro's rams! This put him severely vulnerable and so he collapsed but was never killed!
Instead, upon Sheeva's and Nightwolf's spells, they reduced him to a simpleton! His horse body was reduced to a bipedal vessel even decimating in length and height while also shrinking his appendage tail! It's most likely he survived the collapse of Kahn's Tower, returning to Outworld in humiliation,
Final Kombat[]
Hanzo and Taven met up with him within the balcony of Kahn's Fortress enjoying the view the Edenian smirked. He was offended and his duty was to keep an eye on intruders. And since they were there, he challenged Taven to a lethal battle. Despite being a Minotaur, he still attained his abilities and brute strength, although Taven injured his appendix tail and was an easy target for his swift Drakesword swipes, even never using a projectile to be deflected. Taven outsmarted him, although he left him injured and never killed him, taking in Orin's advice on never killing his adversaries as they'd be restored fully in the Netherrealm for Armageddon.
As a Minotaur, Motaro was still able to be a threat. Having his vengeance on being cursed, he was able to severely injure Goro and Sheeva, while Kintaro volunteered to best him...before they were all encased by Liu Kang's flame cocoon over Blaze's eruption. Since then, he was never seen since... The Centaurs still functioned well without him.
Trivia[]
- Motaro was ranked twice in Ikran's countdowns, 6th in her favorite video game villains and 2nd in her creepiest enemies.
- Motaro meant so much to her that she never had the heart to kill him off in her story! Instead...he was reduced to a Minotaur like he was in Armageddon.
- Aside from his monstrous sound effects from MK3 SNES, Ikran's only choice was Deron McBee.
Gallery[]
