Craig Marduk

Craig Marduk
'Tekken series character
File:Craig Marduk T4.jpg
First game	Tekken 4

Craig Marduk is a fictional character in the Tekken fighting game series. He is a professional Vale tudo fighter who hails from Australia. The character was inspired by Bob Sapp and Bill Goldberg.

History

Tekken 4

Craig Marduk was an undefeated Vale Tudo fighter for four years as a professional. When he was involved in a minor scandal, his backers were only too glad to release him.

Imprisoned in Arizona for a murder accidentally committed in a bar fight, Marduk was suddenly released thanks to the influence of an anonymous benefactor. Upon his release he received a mystery package containing a newspaper clipping about the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4, and an airline ticket.

Unfortunately for Marduk, the man he killed in the brawl was Armor King. Swearing revenge, Armor's protege, King, paid for Marduk's release using money he earned in wrestling tournaments. He had also sent the newspaper clipping and airline ticket, so that he could exact revenge on Marduk when he entered the tournament.

The two met at the tournament, where King sufficiently defeated him, leaving Marduk hospitalized. Later, King paid a visit to Marduk in the hospital to finish him off, but instead spared him after noticing a photograph next to Marduk's bed showing Craig and his family.

Tekken 5

Unable to accept defeat, Marduk trained his body to its limits. Wearing Armor King's black jaguar mask, Marduk entered a Vale Tudo tournament and challenged King after emerging undefeated.

Tekken 6

Craig Marduk fought a grueling battle with the wrestler King in The King of Iron Fist Tournament 5. Victory and defeat eluded both fighters, and, in defeat, they found friendship.

While returning to the waiting room, Craig was attacked. Catching only a glimpse of the attacker's back as he fled, Craig could have sworn he looked exactly like the man he was convicted of killing, Armor King.

Determined to learn the assailant's true identity, Craig set out with his sworn friend, King, to participate in The King of Iron Fist Tournament 6.

Marduk's Endings

Tekken 4

Marduk wins the tournament. He is seen standing in an abandoned fight arena. A smaller man walks up to him, and introduces himself as Jeff Slater, the current Vale Tudo champion. Due to Marduk's absence, he continues to mock him, and he finally challenges him to a fight right on the spot. Marduk simply headbutts Slater to the ground. Marduk then says "Don't bother getting up!", which is his only line in the cutscene. He then leaves the arena, stepping on Slater's body as he leaves.

Tekken 5

Before the cutscene, it is stated that Marduk has won the tournament and is crowned the new champion. But being the champion was not enough, and he attacked various martial arts champions to show his superiority. Now, he has his sights set on a new target. In the cutscene, he interferes in the middle of a boxing match and simply tosses aside the referee and then beats up the two contenders. A disgusted Steve Fox is shown in the crowd while Marduk is trashing the arena. Angered by Marduk's interference, Steve stands up, and Marduk lets out a roaring laugh.

Fighting Style

Marduk's style is based on Mixed Martial Arts. Most notable is his use of Vale Tudo and Ground-and-Pound. Being a larger (and relatively slower) character than most, his moves focus less on speed and more on exploiting his power and long limbs. Majority of his moves are single-hit power moves which either launch or knock down his opponent. He also possesses moves that will land him and his opponent in the mounted position. Marduk has a fighting stance, called the 'Vale Tudo Stance', which is similar to a wrestler's crouching stance. From this stance he can launch different moves, most notably, his spear tackle which leads into the mount position.

See also

• King
• Armor King

External links

• Marduk - Tekken 5 - Moves List (U.S.)