Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat: The Arcade Fighting Phenomenon

Released in 1992 by Midway, Mortal Kombat revolutionized the fighting game genre with its digitized graphics, brutal combat, and controversial Fatalities. Designed to compete with Capcom’s Street Fighter II, the game introduced a darker, more violent take on one-on-one battles, securing its place as one of the most influential arcade games of all time.

A Story of Blood and Glory

The game is set in a mystical tournament held by the sorcerer Shang Tsung, where Earth's greatest warriors must fight for survival and the fate of their world. Fighters like Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade step up to challenge Outworld’s deadly champions, including the menacing four-armed monster Goro. In the end, only one warrior can claim victory and prevent Shao Kahn’s invasion.

Gameplay: A New Standard for Brutality

Unlike other fighting games of the era, Mortal Kombat utilized realistic digitized actors, giving the game a unique look and fluid animations. The combat system featured a mix of punches, kicks, and blocking, with each character having special moves that added depth to the battles.

The biggest innovation came with the introduction of Fatalities—brutal finishing moves that allowed victorious players to execute their opponents in a gory spectacle. This feature became an instant sensation (and controversy), leading to parental outrage and, eventually, the creation of the ESRB rating system.

Graphics and Sound: An Unforgettable Experience

Mortal Kombat pushed the limits of arcade technology at the time with its lifelike character animations. The dark, atmospheric stages such as The Pit and Shang Tsung’s Throne Room created an immersive backdrop for the intense battles.

The sound design was equally groundbreaking, with memorable voice clips (“Finish Him!”), crunching sound effects, and a soundtrack that perfectly complemented the game’s eerie martial arts theme.

Mortal Kombat: Home Conversions

Due to its immense success in arcades, Mortal Kombat was ported to numerous home systems. However, not all versions retained the game’s signature violence and gameplay quality:

• 🎮 Sega Genesis / Mega Drive – The most faithful home version, featuring an unlockable blood code to restore the original Fatalities.
• 🎮 Super Nintendo (SNES) – Censored with "sweat" instead of blood and modified Fatalities, making it less authentic.
• 💻 MS-DOS – Near-perfect arcade conversion with digitized graphics and full gore.
• 💾 Amiga – A decent port, but slow loading times and limited controls made it less enjoyable.
• 🕹️ Game Boy & Game Gear – Severely downgraded ports with missing characters and poor responsiveness.
• 💽 Sega CD – Included arcade-quality audio and animations but suffered from long load times.

The Fighters of Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat introduced a legendary roster of warriors, each with their own special moves and Fatalities. Here are the characters that players could choose from in the original arcade version:

• ✔ Liu Kang: A Shaolin monk with lightning-fast kicks and a powerful fireball.
• ✔ Scorpion: The undead ninja with his iconic "GET OVER HERE!" spear attack.
• ✔ Sub-Zero: The cryomancer assassin capable of freezing opponents in place.
• ✔ Johnny Cage: A Hollywood martial artist famous for his shadow kick and nut punch.
• ✔ Raiden: The thunder god who commands electricity and teleports at will.
• ✔ Sonya Blade: A Special Forces operative with deadly acrobatics and energy rings.
• ✔ Kano: A ruthless mercenary with a cybernetic eye and devastating knife attacks.

In addition, players had to battle against Goro, the four-armed Shokan warrior, and the final boss Shang Tsung, a shape-shifting sorcerer who could transform into other fighters!

Verdict

Mortal Kombat is an iconic piece of gaming history, not just for its combat mechanics but for its cultural impact. It introduced Fatalities, realistic character designs, and intense competition that defined the genre. While later entries refined the formula, the original remains a timeless classic that laid the foundation for one of the most successful fighting game franchises ever.

Pros

✔ Groundbreaking digitized graphics.

✔ Unique and memorable characters.

✔ Fatalities introduced a new level of brutality.

✔ Excellent sound design and voiceovers.

✔ Simple yet rewarding combat system.

Cons

✘ Limited moveset compared to later fighting games.

✘ Some character balancing issues.

✘ AI can be unfairly difficult at times.

Final Scores

Arcade:

94%

Sega Genesis / Mega Drive:

90%

Super Nintendo:

78%

MS-DOS:

92%