Editing Ermac (section)

==Design and portrayals==
Ermac debuted in ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'' as one of three hidden unlockable characters, and was the only character who had not appeared in any previous series games.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-37-may-1996/page/n46/mode/1up|title=Ultimate MK3 on Sega Saturn|volume=6|journal=[[Game Informer]]|publisher=[[Sunrise Publications]]|date=May 1996|issue=37|page=45|access-date=February 12, 2025}}</ref> As a [[Glossary of video game terms#P|palette-swapped]] character, he was physically identical to the game's other male ninjas save for his red coloring and darker skin tone,<ref name="UMK3credits">{{cite video game|title=[[Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3]]|level=Closing credits|date=1995|developer=[[Midway Games]]|publisher=Midway Games}}</ref> while he shared their special moves and in-game poses.<ref name="ermacdenofgeek"/> For his return in the three-dimensional title ''Mortal Kombat: Deception'', Ermac was given a distinct redesign by Steve Beran, the series' lead character designer and art director.<ref name="beran">{{cite web|url=http://www.kamidogu.com/features/steve-beran-interview/|title=Steve Beran Interview|first1=Steve|last1=Beran|first2=Christopher|last2=Veljanovski|work=Kamidogu|date=March 28, 2006|access-date=June 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810005813/http://www.kamidogu.com/features/steve-beran-interview/|archive-date=August 10, 2014}}</ref> Beran explained that the "challenge" of revamping old characters was to give them a fresh look from their previous incarnations while retaining elements that still made them recognizable to players.<ref name="beran"/> Ermac's main fighting style in ''MK: Deception'' and ''[[Mortal Kombat: Armageddon]]'' is [[Choy Li Fut|Choy Lay Fut]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/mortal-kombat-deception/guide/page_12.html|title=Mortal Kombat: Deception Walkthrough & Strategy Guide|work=[[GameSpy]]|publisher=[[IGN|IGN Entertainment]]|date=January 20, 2005|access-date=January 21, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925045645/http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/mortal-kombat-deception/guide/page_12.html |archive-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/mortal-kombat-armageddon-tba/guide/page_10.html#ermac|title=Mortal Kombat: Armageddon Walkthrough & Strategy Guide|work=GameSpy|publisher=IGN Entertainment|date=January 7, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016210440/http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/mortal-kombat-armageddon-tba/guide/page_10.html|archive-date=October 16, 2015|access-date=January 21, 2025}}</ref> a martial art that specializes, as depicted in his ''Deception'' ending,<ref name="ermacdenofgeek"/> in warding off multiple attackers.<ref>{{harvnb|Wong Kiew-kit|1996}}</ref> His ''Deception'' design was maintained for the 2011 reboot game but with an increased black palette.<ref name="MK2011designs"/>  

For ''Mortal Kombat X'', Ermac was designed with a more emaciated appearance with his mask exposing more of his face and revealing [[Decomposition|decay]]ing skin as the result of his losing control of the souls inside his body, with a metal [[talisman]] modeled after his ''Deception'' design affixed to his chest in order to keep his physical form intact.<ref name="krypt">{{cite video game|title=[[Mortal Kombat X]]|developer=[[NetherRealm Studios]]|publisher= [[Warner Bros. Games]]|date=2015 |level=The Krypt: Ermac concept art}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|"Shao Kahn's living prison, Ermac, represents what remains of his master's legacy in ''MKX''. The construct's form is not holding up well under the current of time. We wanted to show signs of rot, of a loosening grip on the contained souls. ... [His] costume was designed to showcase an imperial authority, while hearkening back to his appearance in ''Mortal Kombat: Deception'', showcasing their chest design from that game now bolted into the chest, holding the construct together."<ref name="krypt"/>|group="note"}} The talisman initially covered his face, "securely nailed deep into the skull", in concept artwork by character artist Justin Murray.<ref name="krypt"/> Early designs by Murray had Ermac unmasked with a stockier figure and solid black palette.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shoryuken.com/2015/05/13/mortal-kombat-x-artist-shares-early-ermac-concepts/|title=''Mortal Kombat X'' Artist Shares Early Ermac Concepts|first=Franz|last=Co|work=Shoryuken|date=May 13, 2015|access-date=October 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215193746/http://shoryuken.com/2015/05/13/mortal-kombat-x-artist-shares-early-ermac-concepts/|archive-date=February 15, 2018}}</ref> His play style was split into three fighting variations along with the game's other playable characters.<ref name="dawson2">{{cite web|url=http://www.primagames.com/games/mortal-kombat-x/tips/mortal-kombat-x-how-play-ermac-combos-and-strategies|title=Mortal Kombat X—How to Play Ermac: Combos and Strategies|first=Bryan|last=Dawson|work=[[Prima Games]]|publisher=[[Gamurs]]|date=April 29, 2015|access-date=May 19, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520072304/http://www.primagames.com/games/mortal-kombat-x/tips/mortal-kombat-x-how-play-ermac-combos-and-strategies|archive-date=May 20, 2015}}</ref> His "Inner Workings" [[Fatality (Mortal Kombat)|Fatality]] (a finishing move that executes defeated opponents) in the game has him levitate his opponent, break their spine in midair, and then extract their [[Digestion|gastrointestinal tract]] from their mouth.<ref name="chicagoreader"/> The finisher was conceived by lead game designer John Edwards: "People were like, 'That's hilarious and disgusting.' I'm pretty proud of it."<ref name="chicagoreader">{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/mortal-kombat-netherrealm-ed-boon-john-tobias/Content?oid=17244090|title=Has ''Mortal Kombat'' finally gone too far?|first=Ryan|last=Smith|work=[[Chicago Reader]]|date=April 9, 2015|access-date=April 9, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409162110/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/mortal-kombat-netherrealm-ed-boon-john-tobias/Content?oid=17244090|archive-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref> The sound effects used to depict the graphic violence of his finishers were created with [[Borax slime|slime]] and a [[plunger]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/here-s-how-they-get-the-gross-mortal-kombat-x-fatality-sounds-3415010|title=Here's how they get the gross ''Mortal Kombat X'' Fatality sounds|first=Tatiana|last=Morris|work=GameZone|date=April 1, 2015|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-date=July 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723180255/https://www.gamezone.com/news/here-s-how-they-get-the-gross-mortal-kombat-x-fatality-sounds-3415010/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ermac first appeared in ''[[Mortal Kombat 1]]'' as a non-playable character in the game's story mode upon its September 2023 release, and then made available to players in April 2024 as part of a "Kombat Pack" of downloadable characters.<ref name="bleedingcool">{{cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/mortal-kombat-1-reveals-first-good-look-at-invincibles-omni-man/|title=Mortal Kombat 1 Reveals First Good Look At Invincible's Omni-Man|first=Gavin|last=Sheehan|work=[[Bleeding Cool]]|publisher=[[Avatar Press]]|date=October 14, 2023|access-date=October 17, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017190217/https://bleedingcool.com/games/mortal-kombat-1-reveals-first-good-look-at-invincibles-omni-man/|archive-date=October 17, 2023}}</ref><ref name=Mk1redesign/> His design retained his black-and-red palette and ashen skin complexion from ''MKX'', but with minimal armor and no mask,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/23803708/mortal-kombat-1-kombat-pack-homelander-peacemaker-dlc|title=Here's a first look at Homelander and Peacemaker in Mortal Kombat 1|first=Michael|last=McWhertor|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|publisher=Vox Media|date=July 21, 2023|access-date=July 21, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805002153/https://www.polygon.com/23803708/mortal-kombat-1-kombat-pack-homelander-peacemaker-dlc|archive-date=August 5, 2023}}</ref> while he was unmasked throughout the story mode.<ref name="mk1chapter6"/> A mask and other costume enhancements were added to his design for his playable release.<ref name=Mk1redesign/> 

Ermac's signature gameplay attribute throughout his series tenure is his telekinesis, which is visualized onscreen through his spiritual powers.<ref name="xboxwire"/><ref name="vg247">{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/2015/01/29/mortal-kombat-x-ermac-announced/|title=Ermac joins ''Mortal Kombat X'' cast|first=Brenna|last=Hillier|work=[[VG247]]|publisher=Videogaming247 Ltd.|date=January 29, 2015|access-date=October 13, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012212257/https://www.vg247.com/mortal-kombat-x-ermac-announced|archive-date=October 12, 2022}}</ref> The "Telekinetic Slam"<ref name="vg247"/> (later renamed "Force Lift")<ref name="dawson2"/> has him levitate his opponents and then throw them onto the ground. Ed Boon considered Ermac one of the strongest characters in ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'' based on the move, which he considered one of his overall favorites in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_CQDj3hxJQ|author=Ed Boon|author-link=Ed Boon|display-authors=etal|title=Mortal Kombat Biography Card: Ermac|work=[[Mortal Kombat: Armageddon]]|publisher=[[Midway Games]]|date=2006|access-date=December 31, 2024|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> In a feature published on ''[[Xbox#Xbox Wire|Xbox Wire]]'', NetherRealm Studios design manager Nick Nicastro said that the improved software capabilities available for ''Mortal Kombat 1'' since Ermac's last appearance in ''Mortal Kombat X'' enabled the developers to enhance the visual effects of his soul powers and special moves, which he described as "leaning heavily into certain horror inspirations" in that the character "has been haunted by unique souls he has captured throughout his existence".<ref name="xboxwire">{{cite web|url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/04/16/how-ermac-made-his-grand-return-in-mortal-kombat-1/|title=How the Legendary Kombatant Ermac Made His Grand Return in Mortal Kombat 1|first=Nick|last=Nicastro|work=[[Xbox Wire]]|publisher=[[Microsoft Gaming]]|date=April 15, 2024|access-date=July 8, 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417020228/https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/04/16/how-ermac-made-his-grand-return-in-mortal-kombat-1/|archive-date=April 17, 2024}}</ref>

Ermac was played by actor John Turk in the [[Digitization|digitized]] games ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'' and the 1996 compilation title ''[[Mortal Kombat Trilogy]]''.<ref name="ermacdenofgeek"/> He was voiced by [[Michael McConnohie]] in the 2011 reboot,<ref name="MMC"/> and by [[Jamieson Price]] in ''Mortal Kombat X'' and ''Mortal Kombat 1''.<ref name="JKP"/>