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RaydenFor other meanings of the name Raiden, see Raiden (disambiguation). Rayden (pronounced /REIden/) is a video game character who appears in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise. He is loosely based on Raiden, the Japanese god of thunder and lightning. Rayden is a playable character, and is available in almost every iteration of the series. In the arcade games, his name is spelled "Raiden" but in the home console versions and feature films, his name is spelled "Rayden." Game storyline Eons ago, when Earthrealm was young, Rayden was its protector. He fought the rogue Elder God Shinnok, who wished to rule it, in a war that threatened to destroy Earthrealm itself. Finally, Rayden managed to trap Shinnok in the Netherealm, and placed his powerful amulet in a secret location. When Sub-Zero stole the amulet for Quan Chi, Rayden appeared to Sub-Zero and told him to enter the Netherealm and steal it back, lest Shinnok free himself. Rayden couldn't go himself, as he would lose all of his powers in the Netherealm. Much later, Shang Tsung invited Rayden to participate in Mortal Kombat. He met Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage, whom he mentored during the tournament. His advice gave Liu Kang the edge against Shang Tsung, and he is the only witness to Scorpion's retributive murder of Sub-Zero. Rayden found that he had no choice but to accept Shang Tsung's offer of Mortal Kombat in Outworld. With his tremendous powers only dampened in Outworld, Rayden managed to vapourise the Shokan warrior Kintaro in Kombat. After the Earthrealm victory, Rayden had to scramble to protect the Earthrealm warriors' souls when Shao Kahn reached across the realms and reclaimed his resurrected Queen Sindel, but he was too late for Johnny Cage. After protecting the souls, Rayden wished to fight for Earthrealm, but the Elder Gods informed him that Earthrealm and Outworld were indistinct at that point. Rayden had to give up his godhood in order to fight, and reclaimed his status when Shao Kahn's forces were forced back. Rayden and his warriors again entered battle when Shinnok escaped the Netherealm. Johnny Cage begged Rayden for the chance to return to Earthrealm, and he managed to give Johnny that chance. Rayden's warriors forced Shinnok back into the Netherealm, along with Quan Chi, and Rayden earned the status of Elder God. As an Elder God, Rayden could not interfere when Shang Tsung and Quan Chi killed Liu Kang, so he renounced it and gathered his warriors to stop the Deadly Alliance. He confronted Shang Tsung and Quan Chi in front of the Soulnado, and held his own until Shang Tsung absorbed more souls from the Soulnado. Rayden seemed defeated, but he returned to his feet when Onaga, the Dragon King, entered the chamber, and stood beside Tsung and Chi as they attacked Onaga. When he saw that their attacks barely slowed Onaga down, Rayden concentrated all of his power into a single explosion. It obliterated the Dragon King's tomb, snuffed out the Soulnado, apparently obliterated Tsung, Chi, and Rayden himself, but did not harm Onaga. Movie storyline In the first Mortal Kombat movie, Rayden remains the guiding god of thunder bent on doing all within his power to help the warriors of earth gain victory. According to the movie, Rayden is forbidden from directly interfering in the tournament of Mortal Kombat. Rayden first appears to Liu Kang, hoping to help him realize the importance of the tournament and his need to become the best that he can be while overcoming his guilt at the death of his brother at the hands of the sorcerer Shang Tsung. Rayden's next appearance in the film is to break up an illegal fight between Sub-Zero and Scorpion and the warriors of Earthrealm--Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade (The fight took place before the arrival at the location of the tournament, and was thus against the rules). Rayden remained with the warriors throughout most of the remainder of the movie, providing guidance and wisdom when needed. After Johnny Cage defeated Goro, Shang Tsung's general and the prince of the Shokan, Shang Tsung challenged Sonya to Mortal Kombat. Knowing that Sonya could not win against the wizard, Rayden attempted to interfere, but was prohibited by the tournament's rules. Shang Tsung took Sonya into Outworld to prevent interference from Liu Kang and Johnny, but Rayden provided access to the realm of Outworld so that they could save Sonya and secure Earth's victory in the tournament. However, it is here revealed that Rayden's powers and immortality are only guaranteed in Earthrealm. In the second movie, , Rayden is revealed to be low in the hierarchy of the gods, as he must seek their guidance when the emperor of Outworld, Shao Kahn, begins his invasion of Earthrealm. Rayden's character is expanded on dramatically in the second film, with emphasis being placed on his love for humanity and what he is willing to do to protect the earth. When the heroes of earth finally enter Outworld, Rayden takes part in the battles that lie between them and Shao Kahn. In the end, Shao Kahn is revealed to be Rayden's brother, whom he did not have the coldness to kill when ordered to by his father (one of the elder gods reveals that Rayden and Shao Kahn's father in the movies is actually Shinnok). With Earth and Outworld nearly merged, Shao Kahn easily defeats Rayden, who states that he is "Proud to die a mortal." Though Rayden dies at this point, he is revived after the battle by the elder gods and invited to join them. Rayden is portrayed by Christopher Lambert in the first film and by James Remar in the second. On television, Clancy Brown provided Rayden's voice in the animated series and Jeffrey Meek played Rayden in the live-action series . Neither program ran for more than one season.
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