MK info: Motaro

MOTARO

Appearances: Mortal Kombat 3/UMK3/Mortal Kombat Trilogy, MK: Armageddon
Realm of Origin: Outworld
Species: Minotaur (formerly Centaurian)
Alignment: Evil
Fighting styles: Horse (MK:A)

Motaro made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat 3. He is a Centaurian, meaning that he has the lower body of a stallion and the upper torso of a man. He also has a pair of capricorn-like horns and has a long, metallic rat-like tail he can use as both an energy channeling point and a limb. Centaurians are known for their hunting prowess 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 is superior. Shao Kahn, Emperor of Outworld, had begun to favor the Centaurians over the Shokan, and had been punishing the latter, aiding the Centaurians in the defeat and subjugation of the Shokan race. When Kahn formed special extermination squads to eliminate the chosen warriors of Earthrealm during his invasion, Motaro was appointed to head this elite group of savage warriors.

Sonya Blade's defeat of Kano during the events of Mortal Kombat Trilogy had resulted in the Black Dragon member being thrown from a skyscraper to the streets below. Motaro recovered the severely injured Kano, and brought him back to Shao Kahn's fortress. After reviving him with magic, Motaro then imprisoned the criminal so that he could later be punished by Kahn for failing to defeat Sonya. It is at this point that Motaro was assaulted and supposedly killed by Sheeva. However, he returns in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, but since then the Centaurs have been put under a curse by the Shokan, turning him and the rest of his race into bipedal Minotaurs.

The main reason why the developers for MK: Armageddon decided to bring back Motaro as a bipedal character was due to Motaro's Centaur body structure being a main problem. If the MK team were to bring back Motaro in his Centaur form, they would need much more extensive programming and testing to successfully integrate Motaro's Centaur frame into interacting properly with knock-downs, throws, and fatalities and death traps that required limbs to be torn or cut off or Motaro to be impaled.

Signature moves

Tail Projectile

Motaro fires an energy blast from his tail at the opponent. In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, this move can only be performed in Mount Stance. (all games)
Grab and Punch

Motaro lifts his opponent up by the throat with one hand and then smashes his fist into their face sending them sailing across the screen. (MK3, UMK3, MKT)
Teleport

Motaro vaporizes in a wavy fashion and reappears behind his opponent in the same manner (or, in Armageddon, in a wavy puff of green smoke). In Armageddon, Motaro can be knocked out of the teleport, up to the point where he begins to reappear. (all games)

Power Charge

Motaro can charge at the opponent while in Normal Stance. (MK:A)

Low Shoulder Charge

Similar to the Power Charge, but done in Mount stance. (MK:A)

Tail Sweep

Motaro can use his tail to trip the opponent off his/her feet. (all games)