Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat, released in 1992 by Midway Games[?], was renowned as the first fighting game[?] to use photo-realistic characters and blood. Originally an arcade game, it was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Genesis. (Because Nintendo had a problem with the realistic use of blood, it is replaced with sweat in the SNES version of the game; the Genesis version leaves the blood intact).

One of the innovations in the game was the Fatality, a special finishing move executed just as an opponent is about to die to create an even more gruesome death. Although highly controversial, this mix of realism and violence propelled Mortal Kombat to the height of popularity. Midway created three sequels for the arcade and home systems, each one more bloody, brutal, and stranger than the last. Finishing moves in later games included Babality (turns opponent into a baby), Animality (turn into animal to violetly finish off opponent), the brutality (decimating an opponent into pieces), and even Friendship (offers opponent a token of friendship).

Mortal Kombat was the first popular fighting game to feature fully digitized characters. It also invented the juggle combo system, whereby the opponent could be hit without recourse in the air at all times. The Mortal Kombat series was noted for its simplicity in controls combined with its exotic special moves.

Characters include: Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Rayden, Johnny Cage, Sonya, Liu Kang, Kano, Mileena, Reptile, Goro, Jax, Kabal, Cyrax, Sektor, Kung Lao, Shang Tsung, Sheeva, Smoke, Shao Khan.

Mortal Kombat was adopted into two major motion picture releases. Both featured high action, special effects and B-rated plots.

External Links

• Midway's Mortal Kombat site (http://www.mortalkombat.midway.com/)
• Information on Mortal Kombat at The Killer List of Video Games (http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=M&game_id=2031)