Mortal Kombat is a fighting game developed and published by Midway Games in 1992. It was released in arcades and later ported to various home consoles. The game is widely regarded as one of the most influential and popular fighting games ever and has spawned several sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations. In this blog post, we will explore the features and legacy of Mortal Kombat and see why it is still relevant today.

Gameplay

Mortal Kombat is a two-dimensional fighting game that pits two characters against each other in one-on-one combat. The competition aims to defeat the opponent by depleting their health bar or causing them to lose a certain number of rounds. The game features a variety of attacks, such as punches, kicks, and special moves, that can be executed by pressing different combinations of buttons. The game also allows the players to block and dodge incoming attacks and perform throws and counters.

The game has several modes of play, such as practice mode, where players can hone their skills and learn new moves; versus way, where players can challenge each other; tournament mode, where players can compete against multiple opponents; and story mode, where players can follow the game’s plot and backstory.

Characters

Mortal Kombat features 12 playable characters, each with unique fighting styles and special moves. The characters are based on various martial arts, mythologies, and cultures and have distinctive personalities and backgrounds. The characters include:

• Liu Kang, a Shaolin monk who enters the tournament to save Earthrealm from Outworld’s invasion.
• Raiden, the thunder god who guides and protects the Earthrealm warriors.
• Scorpion, a ninja killed by Sub-Zero and resurrected as a spectre seeking revenge.
• Sub-Zero is a necromancer from the Lin Kuei clan of assassins.
• Sonya Blade, a US Special Forces officer who pursues Kano, a criminal leader of the Black Dragon organization.
• Johnny Cage, an actor who joins the tournament to prove his martial arts skills are fundamental.
• Kano is a mercenary who works for Shang Tsung and has a cybernetic eye.
• Shang Tsung is an evil sorcerer who hosts the tournament and steals the souls of his victims.
• Goro, a four-armed Shokan warrior who is the tournament champion and serves Shang Tsung.
• Reptile, a reptilian humanoid loyal to Shang Tsung, hides his proper form.
• Mileena, a half-human, half-Tarkatan assassin who is the clone of Kitana, the princess of Edenia.
• Baraka, a Tarkatan warrior who leads his savage race in Outworld’s conquests.
• Jade, an Edenian warrior who is Kitana’s friend and bodyguard.

Story

Mortal Kombat takes place in a fictional universe of various realms or dimensions. The main domains are Earthrealm, which humans inhabit; Outworld, which is ruled by an evil emperor named Shao Kahn; Netherrealm, which is the realm of hell; and Edenia, which is a peaceful realm that Outworld conquered.

The game’s story revolves around the Mortal Kombat tournament, which is held every 50 years to determine the fate of Earthrealm. The contest is organized by Shang Tsung, who works for Shao Kahn. Shang Tsung plans to use the tournament to weaken Earthrealm’s defences and open a portal for Outworld’s invasion. If Outworld wins 10 consecutive games, Earthrealm will be doomed.

Raiden chooses the Earthrealm warriors to represent their realm in the tournament. They must face various opponents from the Outworld and Netherrealm to reach Shang Tsung and stop his scheme. They encounter allies and enemies from different realms and learn more about their origins and destinies.

Fatalities

Fatalities are finishing moves that can be performed by defeating an opponent in a certain way. They are one of the most iconic features of Mortal Kombat and have become synonymous with the game’s violence and gore. Fatalities are often gruesome and graphic, showing the opponent being killed or mutilated in various ways. Some examples of fatalities are:

• Liu Kang’s Dragon Bite: Liu Kang transforms into a dragon and bites off his opponent’s upper body.
• Raiden’s Electrocution: Raiden grabs his opponent’s head and electrocutes them until their head explodes.
• Scorpion’s Toasty: Scorpion removes his mask and reveals his skull-like face. He then breathes fire on his opponent and burns them alive.
• Sub-Zero’s Spine Rip: Sub-Zero grabs his opponent’s head and rips it along their spine.
• Sonya Blade’s Kiss of Death: Sonya Blade blows a kiss to her opponent, which turns into a pink energy ball that explodes on contact.
• Johnny Cage’s Decapitation: Johnny Cage delivers a powerful uppercut that knocks off his opponent’s head.
• Kano’s Heart Rip: Kano plunges his hand into his opponent’s chest and rips out their heart.
• Shang Tsung’s Soul Steal: Shang Tsung drains his opponent’s soul and takes their appearance.
• Goro’s Crush: Goro grabs his opponent with his four arms and crushes them to death.
• Reptile’s Acid Spit: Reptile spits acid on his opponent’s face, melting it off.
• Mileena’s Sai Stab: Mileena stabs her opponent with her sais and then kicks them away.
• Baraka’s Blade Slice: Baraka slashes his opponent with his blades, cutting them in half.
• Jade’s Staff Impale: Jade impales her opponent with her staff and lifts them.

Other Features

Mortal Kombat also features several other features that add to the game’s appeal and replay value. Some of these features are:

A secret character named Reptile, who can be fought by meeting certain conditions. Reptile is a palette swap of Scorpion and Sub-Zero and has both of their moves. He is also faster and more robust than them and can only be fought at the bottom of the Pit stage.

A hidden stage called the Pit is a bridge over a pit of spikes. The Pit can be accessed by selecting the “?” icon on the background select screen. The Pit also has a stage fatality, where players can knock their opponent off the bridge and onto the spikes below.

A cheat menu can be accessed by entering a specific code on the title screen. The cheat menu allows the player to enable various options, such as blood, sound test, free play, and more.

A test your might mini-game, where the player has to break various objects by rapidly pressing buttons. The things include wood, stone, steel, ruby, and diamond.

Legacy

Mortal Kombat was a huge success, both critically and commercially. It received positive reviews from critics and players alike, who praised its graphics, gameplay, characters, and fatalities. It also sold millions of copies worldwide and became one of the most popular arcade games ever.

The game also had a significant impact on the gaming industry and culture. It helped to popularize the fighting game genre and inspired many other games to follow its example. It also sparked a controversy over its violence and gore, which led to the creation of the ESRB rating system in North America.

Mortal Kombat has also spawned several sequels and spin-offs, which have expanded the game’s universe and lore. Some of these games are Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat 4, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Mortal Kombat: Deception, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Mortal Kombat (2011), Mortal Kombat X, and Mortal Kombat 11.

The game has also been adapted into other media forms, such as movies, TV shows, comics, novels, and merchandise. Some of these adaptations are Mortal Kombat (1995), Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997), Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm (1996), Mortal Kombat: Legacy (2011), Mortal Kombat (2021), Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge (2020), and more.

Conclusion

Mortal Kombat is a fighting game that changed fighting games forever. It introduced many new features and innovations to the genre, such as fatalities, digitized graphics, and a rich story. It also created a loyal fan base and a lasting legacy that continues today.

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