Definition
Bo’ Rai Cho is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise, created by NetherRealm Studios (formerly Midway Games). First appearing in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002), Bo’ Rai Cho is a martial arts master who serves as a mentor to several protagonists in the series, including Liu Kang and Kung Lao. The character’s most distinctive trait is his grotesque appearance and behavior: he is depicted as an obese, drunken man who uses his body weight and alcohol-fueled techniques as weapons. His fighting style incorporates ‘Drunken Fist’ (Zui Quan), a real Chinese martial art that mimics the movements of a drunkard, and he can vomit as a projectile attack. The character’s name is a pun on ‘broke rai cho’ (sounds like ‘barbecue’ in Japanese ‘yakiniku’) and is also an anagram of ‘Oral Bio’ — a reference to his oral projectile attacks. Bo’ Rai Cho is one of the most controversial characters in the Mortal Kombat series, with fans divided between those who appreciate his comic relief and those who find him offensive or out of place in the franchise’s increasingly dark tone.
Why It Matters
Bo’ Rai Cho matters in gaming culture because he represents a specific era of Mortal Kombat — the early 2000s, when the franchise was experimenting with new characters and mechanics after the original trilogy. His creation matters because he was designed as a ‘comic relief’ character in a series that was otherwise becoming more serious, following the more realistic and brutal direction established in Mortal Kombat 4 and Deadly Alliance. Bo’ Rai Cho matters in discussions about representation in games because his depiction — an overweight, constantly drunk Asian man — has been criticized as a racist stereotype, particularly the ‘funny fat Asian’ trope. However, some fans defend the character as a subversion of the wise old martial arts master stereotype, arguing that his drunkenness and gluttony make him more human and less mystical than characters like Raiden or Shang Tsung. The character matters in Mortal Kombat lore because he is canonically the trainer of Liu Kang, the series’ main protagonist, giving him significant narrative importance despite his silly appearance. Bo’ Rai Cho also matters in the history of fighting game design because his Drunken Fist style was one of the first times a real martial art was adapted with such emphasis on the ‘drunken’ aspect in a mainstream fighting game.
Example
Bo’ Rai Cho was introduced in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002) as an unlockable character. His backstory established him as an Outworld native who trained Earthrealm warriors in martial arts, though he was unable to compete in tournaments himself because his Outworld origin would make him vulnerable to Shao Kahn’s magic. In Deadly Alliance, he trains Kung Lao and Li Mei. In Mortal Kombat: Deception (2004), he appears as a playable character with his Drunken Fist and Sumo fighting styles. In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (2006), he is part of the massive roster fighting in the Battle of Armageddon. In the rebooted timeline (Mortal Kombat X, 2015), Bo’ Rai Cho appears in the story mode as a mentor to Raiden and the Earthrealm defenders. In Mortal Kombat 11 (2019), he does not appear as a playable character but is referenced in character dialogues. In the 2021 film Mortal Kombat, he does not appear, though his student Liu Kang is a major character. Bo’ Rai Cho’s signature moves include ‘Belly Bash’ (a body slam), ‘Puke Puddle’ (vomit that trips opponents), ‘Fire Breath’ (igniting alcohol in his mouth), and ‘Drunken Fist’ combos. His fatalities include ‘Boot Kamp’ (stomping on the opponent) and ‘Belly Flop’ (crushing the opponent with his stomach).
Internet Angle
On the internet, Bo’ Rai Cho is discussed in Mortal Kombat communities, fighting game forums, and character design criticism spaces. On Reddit, r/MortalKombat features regular threads about which characters should return, with Bo’ Rai Cho frequently mentioned as either ‘the worst character’ or ‘underrated comic relief.’ On r/gaming, he appears in threads about ‘most ridiculous fighting game characters’ and ‘characters that aged poorly.’ On YouTube, Mortal Kombat content creators like Super and The4thSnake analyze Bo’ Rai Cho’s lore, moveset, and controversy. On Twitch, Mortal Kombat streamers occasionally play as Bo’ Rai Cho for ‘challenge runs’ or comedy streams. On Twitter, he trends whenever a new Mortal Kombat game is announced, with fans debating whether he should return. On the Mortal Kombat Wiki, his article details his backstory, appearances, moves, and trivia. On DeviantArt, fans create artwork of Bo’ Rai Cho ranging from serious to comedic. On GameFAQs and other gaming forums, threads from the 2000s preserve early reactions to the character. On Wikipedia, the ‘List of Mortal Kombat characters’ entry covers Bo’ Rai Cho’s history. On meme sites, his vomit attack and obesity are occasionally featured in ‘cursed gaming images’ collections. On the Mortal Kombat subreddit, polls about ‘least favorite character’ often include Bo’ Rai Cho. On podcast platforms, gaming podcasts like ‘The Kombat Kast’ discuss his role in the franchise. The internet has preserved Bo’ Rai Cho as a divisive figure — a character who is simultaneously important to Mortal Kombat lore and widely mocked for his design.
Related Terms
- Mortal Kombat: The fighting game franchise featuring Bo’ Rai Cho
- Drunken Fist: The martial art style Bo’ Rai Cho uses
- Liu Kang: The Mortal Kombat protagonist trained by Bo’ Rai Cho
- NetherRealm Studios: The developer of modern Mortal Kombat games
- Fighting Game: The genre Bo’ Rai Cho belongs to