Editing Nightwolf (section)

==Reception==
===Ethnic representation===
Nightwolf is often unfavorably discussed in the context of the portrayal of Native Americans in video games.<ref>{{cite web |first=Chris|last=LaVigne |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_184/5652-Native-Resolution.4 |title=Native Resolution |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]|publisher=[[Gamurs]]|access-date=2012-10-09 |archive-date=2014-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304085416/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_184/5652-Native-Resolution.4 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Boon's description of the character in the April 1995 issue of ''[[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment]]'' provoked a comment from the magazine three issues later: "For a character who has been described as a 'nontraditional Indian,' he certainly has all the trappings of one. Let's see, he wears feathers and [[Body painting|war paint]], swings a hatchet, shoots arrows...could there be a '[[Scalping|Scalp]]' Fatality?"<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_77_June_1995/page/n39/mode/1up?view=theater|title=Mortal Kombat 3: The Mayhem Kontinues|author=Staff|magazine=[[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment]]|publisher=[[Larry Flynt Publications|LFP, Inc.]]|issue=77|date=June 1995|page=40}}</ref> In a 2008 feature on Native American stereotyping in video games, ''[[GamesRadar+]]'' designated Nightwolf as the "warrior" trope: "[W]hile this pro-Indian sentiment is certainly heartwarming, much of Nightwolf’s character is wide of the mark." The site added that the act of "sin-eating" (his role in ''MK Deception'') was actually European in origin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-top-7-native-american-stereotypes/?page=2|title=The Top 7… Native American stereotypes|first=Joe|last=McNeilly|work=[[GamesRadar+]]|publisher=[[Future plc]]|date=November 24, 2008|access-date=February 14, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924143900/http://www.gamesradar.com/the-top-7-native-american-stereotypes/?page=2|url-status=live}}</ref> The same year, Rob Bricken of [[Village Voice Media|Topless Robot]] said that "Nightwolf’s design and backstory [in ''MK3''] are standard-issue for Native American characters in fighting games", while censuring the game itself as "where the designers were free to throw [in] any horrible, out-of-place idea".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toplessrobot.com/2008/04/the_10_most_ridiculously_stereotyped_fighting_game.php|title=The 10 Most Ridiculously Stereotyped Fighting Game Characters|first=Rob|last=Bricken|work=Topless Robot|publisher=[[Village Voice Media]]|date=April 30, 2008|access-date=February 15, 2015|archive-date=October 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005212148/http://www.toplessrobot.com/2008/04/the_10_most_ridiculously_stereotyped_fighting_game.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Robert Naytor of Hardcore Gaming 101 said, "In the mid-'90s, it was practically an unwritten law that every fighting game had to have either a [[Bruce Lee]] clone, [or] a Native American ... Nightwolf takes up the latter slot,"<ref name="HG101">{{cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/mortalkombat/mortalkombat.htm|title=Hardcore Gaming 101: Mortal Kombat—Characters|first=Robert|last=Naytor|date=March 2013|access-date=June 23, 2014|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182017/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/mortalkombat/mortalkombat.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> a belief that was shared by Gavin Jasper of ''[[Den of Geek]]''.<ref name="denofgeek">{{cite web|url=http://www.denofgeek.us/games/mortal-kombat/243041/mortal-kombat-ranking-all-the-characters/page/0/1|title=Mortal Kombat: Ranking All the Characters|first=Gavin|last=Jasper|work=[[Den of Geek]]|publisher=DoG Tech LLC|date=January 30, 2015|access-date=February 4, 2015|archive-date=February 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204072458/http://www.denofgeek.us/games/mortal-kombat/243041/mortal-kombat-ranking-all-the-characters/page/0/1|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Complex Networks|Complex]]'' deemed Nightwolf the top stereotypical character in video games in 2012, describing him as "the epitome of every red-skinned, feather-wearing sports mascot and old cowboy movie [[Serial film|serial]] ... [he] has warpaint on his face, a feather in his hair and the sleeveless vest as if [[Geronimo]] himself just gave it up."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/05/the-15-most-stereotypical-characters-in-video-games/nightwolf-mortal-kombat|title=The 15 Most Stereotypical Characters In Video Games|first=Chad|last=Hunter|work=[[Complex Networks|Complex]]|publisher=[[BuzzFeed]]|date=May 9, 2010|access-date=July 9, 2012|archive-date=September 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930022445/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/05/the-15-most-stereotypical-characters-in-video-games/nightwolf-mortal-kombat|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 2018 study ''Representation of Native Americans: From Literature to Video Games'', Samuel Martínez Linares stated, "Although Nightwolf is in fact provided with a real tribal background, his Apache heritage seems to be mixed up with other cultural religious practices that are not related whatsoever to Native American ones." Linares noted his "rhino charge" special move in the series as "outdated", as the [[rhinoceros]] had been extinct in North America "since the [[Pliocene]] epoch".<ref name="SML"/> He additionally compared Nightwolf to [[T. Hawk]] from the ''[[Street Fighter]]'' series in that their "long hair [and] bow and arrows make it hard to distinguish" both characters, "which reinforces the idea of the [[Pan-Indianism|pan-Indian]] construct."<ref name="SML">{{cite thesis|author=Samuel Martínez Linares|title=Representation of Native Americans: From Literature to Video Games|url=http://e-spacio.uned.es/fez/view/bibliuned:master-Filologia-ELyCIyPS-Smartinez|location=[[National University of Distance Education]]|degree=MA|year=2018|access-date=May 4, 2023|archive-date=April 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428162747/http://e-spacio.uned.es/fez/view/bibliuned:master-Filologia-ELyCIyPS-Smartinez|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Enacting Videogame Development through Indigenous-Led Creation'' author Maize Longboat wrote, "His portrayal as a violent tribal warrior with magic powers reproduces harmful stereotypes perpetuated in popular media."<ref>{{cite thesis|author=Maize Longboat|title=Terra Nova: Enacting Videogame Development through Indigenous-Led Creation|url=https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/id/eprint/985763/|location=[[Concordia University]]|degree=MA|year=2019|access-date=May 4, 2023|archive-date=May 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504155443/https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/id/eprint/985763/|url-status=live}}</ref> In ''How Indigenous Designers are Changing the Landscape of Video Games'', Ashlee Bird compared Nightwolf to fellow series character [[List of Mortal Kombat characters#Kotal Kahn|Kotal Kahn]]: "Why, in a game where men with four arms, necromancers, and people with all kinds of cybernetic enhancements exist, did the only two Native characters still exclusively wear feathers and animal skin and either perform as the noble savage, communing with the spirits and sacrificing themselves for the “greater good” or, the bloodthirsty warrior, sacrificing humans to an unmerciful deity?"<ref>{{cite web |author=Ashlee Bird |url=https://press.etc.cmu.edu/articles/how-indigenous-designers-are-changingt-he-landscape-video-games |title=How Indigenous Designers are Changingt he Landscape of Video Games |publisher=ETC Press - Carnegie Mellon University |date=2022-10-21 |access-date=2023-05-04 |archive-date=May 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505154441/https://press.etc.cmu.edu/articles/how-indigenous-designers-are-changingt-he-landscape-video-games |url-status=live }}</ref>

Nightwolf's ''Mortal Kombat 11'' incarnation has received a more mixed reception. Tuscarora Haud of ''[[Indian Country Today]]'' rated him a 2.5 out of 10 in her 2019 ranking of Native American portrayals in video games, opining that NetherRealm Studios' "attempts at a reboot of Nightwolf has led him to be more stereotypically savage and the creative team has not taken any criticism from the Native community in redesigning or retiring the character."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ictnews.org/lifestyle/oregon-trail-to-assassins-creed-right-and-wrong-native-american-portrayals-in-video-games|title=Oregon Trail to Assassin's Creed: Right and wrong Native American portrayals in video games|first=Tuscarora|last=Haud|work=[[Indian Country Today]]|publisher=IndiJ Public Media|date=October 1, 2019|accessdate=April 8, 2023|archive-date=April 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409074625/https://ictnews.org/lifestyle/oregon-trail-to-assassins-creed-right-and-wrong-native-american-portrayals-in-video-games|url-status=live}}</ref> While ''[[The Daily Aztec]]'', in 2022, described Nightwolf as embodying "the 'Mystic Warrior' archetype [that] trivializes and exploits many Native beliefs",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thedailyaztec.com/109379/artsandculture/the-mostly-harmful-history-of-native-representation-in-popular-video-games/|title=The mostly harmful history of Native representation in popular video games|first=Eugènie|last=Budnik|work=[[The Daily Aztec]]|date=March 2, 2022|access-date=April 8, 2023|archive-date=April 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409074626/https://thedailyaztec.com/109379/artsandculture/the-mostly-harmful-history-of-native-representation-in-popular-video-games/|url-status=live}}</ref> Mitchell Saltzman of ''[[IGN]]'' said that "his gear and [[Theme (computing)|skins]] all feel respectfully done and avoid the pitfall of stereotypes."<ref name="IGN">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/08/15/mortal-kombat-11-nightwolf-dlc-review|title=Mortal Kombat 11: Nightwolf DLC Review|first=Mitchell|last=Saltzman|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=March 29, 2022|accessdate=April 8, 2023|archive-date=April 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408070909/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/08/15/mortal-kombat-11-nightwolf-dlc-review|url-status=live}}</ref> Christopher Teuton of ''[[Screen Rant]]'' said in 2019: "Nightwolf, although many players' personal favorite, has long been considered a somewhat offensive character in the eyes of the public ... although his ''[[Mortal Kombat (2011 video game)|MK9]]'' reboot gave him a more rounded persona it's still easy to make parallels to Native American tropes. While it's never a good idea to go around looking for positive representation in a game that features fully-rendered testicular explosions, at least ''Mortal Kombat 11's'' Nightwolf seems far less directly offensive than characters like ''[[Killer Instinct]]'s'' [[Chief Thunder]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/mortal-kombat-11-nightwolf-gameplay-trailer/|title=MK11 Unveils Nightwolf Gameplay Trailer Ahead of DLC Release|first=Christopher|last=Teuton|work=[[Screen Rant]]|publisher=Valnet, Inc.|date=August 3, 2019|accessdate=April 8, 2023|archive-date=April 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409074625/https://screenrant.com/mortal-kombat-11-nightwolf-gameplay-trailer/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Other reception===
''Complex'' ranked Nightwolf among the most underrated characters in the series, stating that "the fact that he can transform into a wolf and maul you to death should tell you he's nothing to play with."<ref>[http://www.complex.com/video-games/2011/04/10-most-underrated-mk-kombatants/nightwolf The 10 Most Underrated "Mortal Kombat" Kombatants] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415015233/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2011/04/10-most-underrated-mk-kombatants/nightwolf |date=April 15, 2011 }}, Complex.com, Apr 12, 2012</ref> ''IGN'' praised his "versatile playstyle" in ''MK11'' in that "NetherRealm did a great job of making Nightwolf’s moveset feel unique and fun, despite the fact that many of his signature moves are actually kind of plain."<ref name="IGN"/>

As was the case with most of the character portrayals in ''Mortal Kombat Annihilation'', Nightwolf's appearance was critically panned. Alasdair Wilkins of [[io9]] commented on a scene showing Nightwolf knocking Liu Kang unconscious with his hatchet: "Nightwolf isn't just a magical shapeshifting shaman who only exists to show the hero his destiny...he's also kind of an asshole."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://io9.com/5803280/the-scenes-that-prove-mortal-kombat-annihilation-is-the-singularity-of-stupid/|title=These clips prove Mortal Kombat Annihilation is the singularity of stupid|first=Alasdair|last=Wilkins|work=[[io9]]|publisher=[[G/O Media]]|date=May 19, 2011|access-date=March 18, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104817/http://io9.com/5803280/the-scenes-that-prove-mortal-kombat-annihilation-is-the-singularity-of-stupid/|url-status=live}}</ref> Kate Willaert of ''Game Informer'' remarked, "Nightwolf delivers the best line in the movie when he tells Liu Kang he must test his courage, and find his [[Fatality (Mortal Kombat)#Animality|Animality]]. ... As a result, the film's final climactic battle turns into ''[[Primal Rage]]: The Movie.''"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/members/b/critical_kate_blog/archive/2013/01/05/31-31-the-movie-part-5-mortal-kombat-annihilation-1997.aspx|title=31/31: The Movie Part 5: Mortal Kombat Annihilation (1997)|first=Kate|last=Willaert|publisher=[[Game Informer]]|date=January 5, 2013|access-date=February 15, 2015|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305014451/http://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/members/b/critical_kate_blog/archive/2013/01/05/31-31-the-movie-part-5-mortal-kombat-annihilation-1997.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Charlie Ridgely at [[ComicBook.com]] listed Nightwolf as one of the characters they want to see in the sequel to the [[Mortal Kombat (2021 film)|2021 live-action film]], reasoning "Nightwolf is a noble hero and could replace the stoic nature of Kung Lao, providing a perfect foil for Johnny Cage's nonsense."<ref>{{cite web |last=Ridgely |first=Charlie |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/mortal-kombat-sequel-characters-movie-fighters/#3 |title=10 Mortal Kombat Characters We Need to See in the Sequel |publisher=Comicbook.com |date=2021-04-27 |accessdate=2023-05-04 |archive-date=May 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504062204/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/mortal-kombat-sequel-characters-movie-fighters/#3 |url-status=live }}</ref>