Mortal Kombat Series

Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat is a 1992 arcade fighting game developed and published by Midway. Mortal Kombat focuses on the journey of the monk Liu Kang to save Earth from the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung, ending with their confrontation on the tournament known as Mortal Kombat.

The game spawned numerous sequels, as well as a successful 1995 film adaptation, and is one of the most popular fighting games to date. Mortal Kombat was subsequently ported by Acclaim Entertainment to nearly every home video game platform of the time and became a best-selling game, as well as one of the most controversial video games for its depiction of gore and violence using realistic digitized graphics.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Gameplay
Mortal Kombat is a fighting game in which players battle opponents in one-on-one matches. The player that depletes the opponent's health bar first wins the round and the first player to win two rounds wins the match. Players select one of seven characters. Whereas other fighting games had characters with considerable differences in speed, height, attacks, strength, jumping heights and distances, the playable characters in Mortal Kombat are virtually identical to one another with only minimal differences in their moves' range and speed. The game also distinguished itself from other fighting games of the time with its unique control scheme. The controls consist of five buttons arranged in an "X" pattern: four buttons for high and low punches and kicks with a block button at the center, as well as an eight-way joystick. Attacks can vary depending on the player's distance from the opponent. All player characters have a shared set of attacks performed by holding the joystick in various directions, such a leg sweep and the uppercut, which knocks enemies high into the air and causes a large amount of damage.

Mortal Kombat also featured unique ways in which special moves were performed. It was the first game to introduce special moves performed exclusively using the joystick. Most special moves were performed by tapping the joystick, sometimes ending with a button press. Unlike previous one-on-one fighting games, few moves required circular joystick movement. In an interview with Computer and Video Games, Ed Boon stated, "[...] since the beginning, one of the things that's separated us from other fighting games is the crazy moves we've put in it, like fireballs and all the magic moves, so to speak."[6] Another of the game's innovations was the Fatality, a finishing move executed against a beaten opponent to kill them in a gruesome fashion.[7]

The game's blocking system also distinguished itself from other fighting games. Unlike Street Fighter characters take a small amount of damage from regular moves while blocking. However, the dedicated block button allows users to defend against attacks without retreating and blocking characters lose very little ground when struck, thus making counter attacks much easier after a successful block. Mortal Kombat also introduced the concept of "juggling", knocking an opponent into the air and following up with a combination of attacks while the enemy is still airborne and defenseless. The idea became so popular that it has spread to many other games.

In the single player game, players face each of the game's characters in a series of one-on-one matches against computer-controlled opponents, ending in a mirror match against the character that the player has selected. The player then must fight in a series of endurance matches featuring two opponents in each round. A second player can join in at any time to fight against the first player. Between certain levels, players can compete in a minigame called "Test Your Might" for bonus points, breaking blocks of various materials by filling a meter past a certain point through rapid button presses; the first material the player must break is wood, once broken, players progress onto stone, then to steel, ruby and finally, diamond, with each successive material requiring more of the meter to be filled up and thus awarding more points. Two players can compete in the minigame at once and the last two materials are only accessible through two-player mode. The minigame would return in various forms in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks and Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.[8]

[edit] Plot
The game takes place in a fantasy setting, with most of the game's events occurring in the fictional realms of the Mortal Kombat series. The original takes place in Earthrealm, where a tournament is being held at Shang Tsung's Island, on which seven of its locations serve as stages in the game. The player receives information about the characters in biographies displayed during the attract mode. Additional information about the characters and their motivations for entering the tournament is received upon completion of the game with each character.

The original Mortal Kombat is the only game in the series to not have an introduction video explaining its plot. The story was fully explained in subsequent games, starting with Mortal Kombat II. The introduction to Mortal Kombat II explains that Shang Tsung was banished to Earthrealm 500 years ago and with the help of the monstrous Goro is able to seize control of the Mortal Kombat tournament in an attempt to doom the realm.[9]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The storyline of the first Mortal Kombat was later adapted into Paul W. S. Anderson's film Mortal Kombat, including an animated prequel titled Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins, released direct-to-video. An alternate climax for the first game would be featured on the adventure game Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, which tells an alternate version of the events between the first and second Mortal Kombat tournaments.

[edit] Characters
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat included seven playable characters, all of which would eventually become trademark characters and appear in sequels. The game was developed with digitized sprites based on actors.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1em;">[10] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Credits_of_Mortal_Kombat_1_from_1:22-1:59_11-0" style="line-height:1em;">[11] The protagonist of the game is the Shaolin martial artist Liu Kang, played by Ho Sung Pak, who enters the tournament to defeat sorcerer Shang Tsung, the main antagonist and final boss (also played by Sung Pak).

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Elizabeth Malecki played the Special Forces agent Sonya Blade, who is pursuing the Black Dragon mercenary Kano (played by Richard Divizio). Carlos Pesina played Raiden, the god of Thunder, while his brother Daniel Pesina played Hollywood movie star Johnny Cage and the Lin-Kuei warrior Sub-Zero as well as the game's two other ninja characters. The blue color of Sub-Zero's costume was changed to yellow to create the ninja specter Scorpion and to green for the game's secret character Reptile (though the costume used for motion capturing was actually red).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mkad_12-0" style="line-height:1em;">[12] Mortal Kombat would become famous for these palette swaps, and later games would continue it.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The four-armed Shokan warrior Goro serves as the sub boss of the game, being a half-human, half-dragon beast much stronger than the other characters, and unaffected by some of their manouveres. The character's stop motion model was created by Curt Chiarelli. When fighting on the Pit stage, the player could qualify to fight the secret character Reptile by meeting a special set of conditions.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Reptile_13-0" style="line-height:1em;">[13] Goro, Shang Tsung, and Reptile were not playable in the original game, but would become playable in sequels. The Masked Guard in the Courtyard stage was portrayed by Mortal Kombat developer John Vogel.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14" style="line-height:1em;">[14]

Mortal Kombat II
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat II (commonly abbreviated as MKII) is a competitive fighting game originally produced by Midway Games for the arcades in 1993 and then ported to multiple home systems, including the PC, Amiga, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, SNES and the various PlayStation consoles.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat II was the second game in the Mortal Kombat series, improving the gameplay and expanding the mythos of the 1992's original Mortal Kombat, notably introducing multiple and variedFatalities and several iconic characters, such as Mileena, Kitana, Kung Lao and the series' recurring prime villain, Shao Kahn. The game's plot continues on from the first part, featuring the next Mortal Kombat tournament being set in the otherdimensional realm of Outworld, with the Outworld and Earthrealm representatives fighting each other on the way to the evil emperor of Outworld, Shao Kahn.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The game was an unprecedented commercial success and was generally acclaimed by critics, including receiving many annual awards and being featured in various top lists in the years to come, but also sparked a major video game controversy due to its over-the-top violent content. Its legacy include a spin-off game Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks and having the greatest influence on the 2011 reboot game Mortal Kombat.

Gameplay
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The gameplay of Mortal Kombat II is an based on the previous game. There are several changes in the standard moves' system: a crouching punch was added, low and high kicks became differentiated (be it crouching or standing up) and the roundhouse kick was made more powerful and knocks an opponent across the screen. Returning characters also gained new special moves and the game plays slightly faster and more smoothly than the original Mortal Kombat game. However, all characters in the game still share generic attributes (speed, power, jump height and airtime) and although having different hitboxes, all normal moves are the same between each character.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat II drops the point system from the first game, in favor of a consecutive win tally. As with its predecessor, matches are divided into rounds, and the first player to win two rounds by fully depleting their opponent's life bar is the winner; at this point the losing character will become dazed and the winner is given the opportunity of using a finishing move. The game marked introduction of multiple Fatalities (post-match animations of the victorious characters executing their defeated foes) as well as additional, non-lethal finishing moves to the franchise: Babalities (turning the opponent into a crying baby), Friendships (a non-malicious interaction, such as dancing or giving a gift to the defeated opponent) and stage-specific Fatalities (the winner uppercutting his or her opponent into an abyss below, spikes in the ceiling, or a pool of acid in the background). Finishing moves, however, can not be performed against the defeated bosses and secret characters who also have no finishers themselves.

[edit] Plot
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Following his failure to defeat Liu Kang in the first Mortal Kombat game, the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung begs his master Shao Kahn, supreme ruler of Outworld and the surrounding kingdoms, to spare his life. He tells Shao Kahn that the invitation for Mortal Kombat cannot be turned down, and if they hold it in Outworld, the Earthrealm warriors must attend. Kahn agrees to this plan, and even restores Tsung's youth. He then extends the invitation to the thunder god and Earthrealm's protector, Raiden, who gathers his warriors and takes them into Outworld. The new tournament is much more dangerous, as Shao Kahn has the home field advantage, and an Outworld victory will allow him to subdue Earthrealm.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="line-height:1em;">[1] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" style="line-height:1em;">[2]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">According to the series' canon, Liu Kang won the tournament, defeating Shao Kahn and his bodyguard Kintaro.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" style="line-height:1em;">[3] The game's story mode can be also finished using any other playable character, resulting in the different uncanonical endings for each one of them.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4" style="line-height:1em;">[4]

[edit] Playable characters
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">New characters:

<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Returning characters:
 * Baraka (Richard Divizio<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-behind_5-0" style="line-height:1em;">[5] ) – Outworld's Tarkatan race nomad warlord, responsible for the assault on the Shaolin Monastery on the orders of Shao Kahn.
 * Jax Briggs (John Parrish) –U.S. Special Forces officer who enters the tournament to rescue his partner Sonya Blade from Outworld. Jax was originally going to be named Stryker, a name that would later be used for another character in the next sequel.
 * Kitana (Katalin Zamiar<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-behind_5-1" style="line-height:1em;">[5] ) – A female ninja who is the daughter of Shao Kahn and personal assassin in his service. She has been suspected of secretly aiding the Earthrealm warriors and eventually learns the truth that Kahn adopted her after conquering her realm and killing her parents.
 * Kung Lao (Anthony Marquez<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-behind_5-2" style="line-height:1em;">[5] ) – Shaolin monk and close friend of Liu Kang, descendant of the Great Kung Lao (who was defeated by Goro and Shang Tsung 500 years before the events of MK). He seeks to avenge his ancestor and the destruction of the Shaolin temple.
 * Mileena (Katalin Zamiar<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-behind_5-3" style="line-height:1em;">[5] ) – Supposed twin sister to Kitana and also serving as an assassin for Kahn. Her mission during the tournament is to ensure the loyalty of her sister but she also has plans of her own. It is later revealed that she is a clone of Kitana with Tarkatan traits.

<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">According to GamePro ProStrategy Guide for Mortal Kombat II, while Jax was the best overall fighter in the game, Mileena's "massive advantage" over him made her number one. Reptile was ranked as the worst MKII fighter.
 * Johnny Cage (Daniel Pesina<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-behind_5-4" style="line-height:1em;">[5] ) –Hollywood actor who joins Liu Kang in his journey to Outworld.
 * Liu Kang (Ho Sung Pak<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-behind_5-5" style="line-height:1em;">[5] ) – Shaolin monk who is the reigning champion of Mortal Kombat. He travels to Outworld to seek vengeance for the death of his Shaolin monastery brothers.
 * Raiden (Carlos Pesina<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-behind_5-6" style="line-height:1em;">[5] ) – Thunder god who returns to Mortal Kombat to stop Kahn's evil plans of taking the Earthrealm for his own.
 * Reptile (Daniel Pesina) – Shang Tsung's personal bodyguard. Previously a palette swap of Sub-Zero with Scorpion and Sub-Zero's moves, he has been made into a distinct character and given his own moves.
 * Scorpion (Daniel Pesina<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-behind_5-7" style="line-height:1em;">[5] ) – Hellspawned spectre who returns to the tournament to once again assassinate Sub-Zero.
 * Shang Tsung (Philip Ahn M.D.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-behind_5-8" style="line-height:1em;">[5] ) – The evil sorcerer who convinced Kahn to spare his life after losing the last tournament, with a new evil plan to appease his master, who in turn restores Tsung's youth. He also serves as a sub-boss of the game, appearing before Kintaro in the single player mode. As in the first game he is able to morph into any of the playable characters, retaining their moves (in some versions only the character against whom he is currently fighting).
 * Sub-Zero (Daniel Pesina<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-behind_5-9" style="line-height:1em;">[5] ) – A male ninja with the power of ice. Later revealed to be the younger brother of the original Sub-Zero, seeking to complete the original Sub-Zero's failed mission of assassinating Shang Tsung.

[edit] Non-playable characters
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">New boss and sub-boss:

<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Hidden opponents:
 * Shao Kahn (Brian Glynn, voiced by Steve Ritchie<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-behind_5-10" style="line-height:1em;">[5] ) – The evil Emperor of Outworld, who wishes to conquer Earthrealm by any means.
 * Kintaro (stop-motion) – Kahn's bodyguard, sent by his race to avenge Goro's defeat.

<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Sonya Blade and Kano are the only playable characters from the first Mortal Kombat to not return as regular fighters, though they do appear in the background of the Kahn's Arena stage, chained and on display.
 * Jade (Katalin Zamiar) – Green palette swap of Kitana who is invulnerable to projectiles. Subsequent MK titles would establish her as a close friend and partner of Kitana.
 * Noob Saibot (Daniel Pesina) – Dark-silhouetted ninja who is a "lost warrior" from the first MK game. His name stems from the names of MK creators Boon and Tobias spelled backwards. Subsequent games reveal that he was the original Sub-Zero who was turned into an evil wraith after being killed by Scorpion.
 * Smoke (Daniel Pesina) – Gray palette swap of Sub-Zero (though he uses Scorpion's fighting stance) who emits puffs of smoke from his body. He also moves faster than other characters. Later would be made as a fellow ninja from Sub-Zero's clan.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">In 1996-1997, several Mortal Kombat II cast members (Daniel Pesina, Philip Ahn and Katalin Zamiar, as well as Sonya's Elizabeth Malecki) sued for misuse of their likenesses in in an unauthorized way in two different court cases, losing both of them.

Mortal Kombat 3
Mortal Kombat 3<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> is a fighting game<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> developed by Midway<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> and released in 1995, first as an arcade game<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">. It is the third game in the Mortal Kombat<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> series. MK3<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> was later updated into Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> for the arcade and home consoles, and later Mortal Kombat Trilogy<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> for home consoles only.

Gameplay
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat 3 builds further on the gameplay of the previous game. A "Run" button, accompanied by a "Run" meter, was introduced. This was primarily to address concern from fans who thought that the previous games gave too much of an advantage to the defending player. The Run meter is drained by running (the character cannot run backwards, only forwards) and by performing combos.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">"Chain combos", also known as pre-programmed combos (labeled "dial-a-combos") were also introduced. Chain combos are preprogrammed button presses that cannot be interrupted once one hit connects. Some chain combos end with an uppercut or other move that knocks the opponent into the air, so that more punishment can be dealt via a traditional juggle combo. To please players of various skill levels, a "Choose Your Destiny" screen appears in the single player mode. This new feature allowed player-selectable difficulty.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">For the first time, certain levels were interactive by allowing characters to be uppercutted through the ceiling where both characters would continue the battle in a different stage. This could alter the game's level cycle. Both normal uppercuts and uppercuts that are part of a ground combo would result in a level change. Kung Lao's "Whirl Wind Spin" move would also have the same effect. However, if the final hit of a round happens to be an uppercut (i.e., the character is defeated by an uppercut), there is no level change.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">All of the different style of finishing moves featured in Mortal Kombat II (Fatalities, including their non-lethal Babality and Friendship version) return in MK3 but this time the announcer saying "Friendship! Friendship?!" was changed to "Friendship! Friendship?! Again?!". Additionally, the long rumored Animality, where the character transforms into an animal in order to kill their opponent, is featured for the first time. Another new addition is the Mercy, where the character can give their opponent a small sliver of life if they have won two rounds and are at the "Finish Him/Her" screen. It is necessary that a Mercy is performed for an Animality to occur. Finally, three new stage Fatalities can be performed in the Subway, the Bell Tower and the Pit 3.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Another concept introduced in this game are the "Kombat Kodes". These were 6-symbol codes entered at the VS screen in a two player game, to modify gameplay, fight hidden characters or display certain text messages. Also introduced in this game was the "Ultimate Kombat Kode", using a 10 character code using symbols, that could be entered after the continue screen disappears in single player mode. If the correct code was entered, an animation would be shown flashing the kombat zones in quick succession and Smoke would become a permanent playable character. The arcade owner, however, could reset this code by accessing the game's diagnostic menu by toggling a DIP switch within the MK3 cabinet. Smoke can be unlocked by either the player or the arcade operator.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The game's overall style was envisioned differently than in the previous Mortal Kombat games. Opposed to the heavily Oriental themes of Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II, MK3's theme is much more Western contemporary. The game's stages are set in modern locations, three of the characters are cyborgs, and traditional character designs (such as Sub-Zero's or Kano's) have been dropped or modified in favor of modern replacements. The overall game has a much darker tone than its predecessors, and uses a noticeable darker and less vibrant color palette. Characters were heavily digitized, as opposed to the hybrid digitized/hand-drawn style of MKII. Many of the game's backgrounds were, for the first time, created using pre-rendered 3D graphics. This change is also reflected in the sound track, in which all Oriental motifs have been dropped in favor of modern instrumentation.

[edit] Characters and cast
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Some of the returning characters from the previous games in Mortal Kombat 3 were actually portrayed by new actors, since their original portrayers left Midway due to royalty disputes. Ho Sung Pak (Liu Kang in the first two games, as well as Shang Tsung in the first Mortal Kombat), Phillip Ahn (Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat II), Elizabeth Malecki (Sonya Blade), and Katalin Zamiar(Kitana/Mileena/Jade) were not involved in the production of Mortal Kombat 3.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="line-height:1em;">[1] Dan Pesina (Johnny Cage and Scorpion/Sub-Zero/Reptile/Smoke/Noob Saibot) was also not involved in the production of Mortal Kombat 3 as he had been fired after shooting an advertisement for BloodStorm (which was being advertised as a "Mortal Kombat killer") while wearing the Johnny Cage costume.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="line-height:1em;white-space:nowrap;">[citation needed] This resulted in the use of new actors for Liu Kang (Eddie Wong), Sonya Blade (Kerri Hoskins), Shang Tsung and Sub-Zero (both played by John Turk) in Mortal Kombat 3. In Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, all of the male ninjas would also be played by John Turk, while the female ninjas (Kitana, Mileena and Jade) were played by Becky Gable. Johnny Cage would be played by Chris Alexander in Mortal Kombat Trilogy.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Carlos Pesina, who played Raiden in the first two games, did not appear in Mortal Kombat 3 as a penalty for his involvement in the rival game Tattoo Assassins, but was still employed by Midway. His character returned in Mortal Kombat Trilogy, although through the use of recycled sprites from Mortal Kombat II.

<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Although the game's manual states both boss characters are unplayable, both Motaro and Shao Kahn can be enabled via secret cheat menus in both SNES and Sega versions of the game.
 * New characters
 * Cyrax (Sal Divita) - Lin Kuei cyber assassin.
 * Kabal (Richard Divizio) - Former Black Dragon warrior.
 * Nightwolf (Sal Divita) - Native American shaman.
 * Sektor (Sal Divita) - Lin Kuei cyber assassin.
 * Sindel (Lia Montelongo) - Resurrected Queen of Edenia who is being controlled by Shao Kahn.
 * Sheeva (Stop motion) - Female Shokan who serves Shao Kahn.
 * Stryker (Michael O'Brien) - Riot control police officer.
 * Returning characters
 * Jax (John Parrish) - Special Forces major who joins Sonya in attempting to apprehend Kano.
 * Kano (Richard Divizio) - Black Dragon thug who escaped arrest by Sonya and Jax.
 * Kung Lao (Tony Marquez) - Shaolin monk who seeks to stop what Kahn is planning.
 * Liu Kang (Eddie Wong) - Returning Mortal Kombat champion.
 * Sonya Blade (Kerri Hoskins) - Special Forces lieutenant setting out again to capture Kano.
 * Sub-Zero (John Turk) - Rogue Lin Kuei ninja who fled the clan after refusing to be converted to a cybernetic unit.
 * Shang Tsung (John Turk) - Shao Kahn's devious sorcerer.
 * Smoke (Sal Divita) - Cyber assassin from the Lin Kuei, who was once a close friend of Sub-Zero (unlocked by Ultimate Kombat Kode).
 * Boss and sub-boss
 * Motaro (stop-motion) - A four-legged Centaur.
 * Shao Kahn (Brian Glynn, voiced by Steve Ritchie) - Emperor of Outworld.


 * Other characters
 * Noob Saibot (Richard Divizio; unlockable as a non-player, Kano-resembling character through the Kombat Kodes) - The undead original Sub-Zero.

[edit] Storyline
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Fed up with continuous losses in tournament battle, Shao Kahn, who had lost to Liu Kang in the Outworld tournament, enacts a 10,000 year-old plan. He would have his Shadow Priests, led by Shang Tsung, revive his former Queen Sindel, who unexpectedly died at a young age. However, she wouldn't be revived in the Outworld. She would be resurrected in the Earthrealm. This would allow Shao Kahn to cross the boundary lines and reclaim his queen. When Sindel is reincarnated in Earthrealm, Shao Kahn reaches across the dimensions to reclaim her. As a consequence of his action, the Earthrealm becomes a part of the Outworld, instantly stripping billions of their souls. Only a few are spared, as Raiden protects their souls. He tells them that Shao Kahn must be stopped, but he cannot interfere; due to his status, he has no power in Outworld, and Earthrealm is partially merged with Outworld. Shao Kahn has unleashed extermination squads to roam throughout the Earthrealm and kill any survivors. Also, Raiden's protection only extends to the soul, not to the body, so his chosen warriors have to fight the extermination squads and repel Shao Kahn. Eventually with his final defeat, every human on Earthrealm comes back.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat 3 follows Mortal Kombat II and shares continuity with both Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 and Mortal Kombat Trilogy which were both updates of this game. The next new game in the series was Mortal Kombat 4.


 * Sub plots
 * Having defeated Shao Kahn in Outworld, Liu Kang now finds himself as the prime target of Shao Kahn's elimination squads. In response to the upcoming threat, he aligns himself with Kung Lao and leads the rebellion against Shao Kahn and his Outworld minions. However, he also has an ulterior motive: he seeks to defeat Kahn and free Kitana's homeland of Edenia.
 * With the latest advancements in human technologies, the Lin Kuei decide to automate their human assassins into soulless machines. Four ninjas- Cyrax, Sektor, Smoke and Sub-Zero- are selected to serve as the first automation prototypes, but Sub-Zero and Smoke refuse to participate- leading to their leaving of the clan. Unfortunately, Smoke is captured and is automated along with Sektor and Cyrax and all three are programmed to hunt down and eliminate Sub-Zero. Meanwhile, learning of the upcoming Outworld threat, Sub-Zero joins the rebellion against Shao Kahn.
 * Jax discovers the location of both Sonya and Kano while in Outworld, and in freeing Sonya, he also frees Kano. Knowing that his near future means arrest, Kano uses this opportunity to escape into the depths of Outworld and ultimately joins Shao Kahn's forces. Sonya and Jax return to Earth and try to warn their government about the upcoming Outworld threat- but when their pleas are ignored, Sonya and Jax instead prepare themselves for the upcoming war by joining the rebellion.
 * Despite both serving Shao Kahn, the Centaurs and Shokans have been at war with each other for years. Suspicions arise when Sheeva, who is appointed Sindel's bodyguard, learns that Motaro is appointed as Kahn's General in his armies. With the apparent, yet unconfirmed, "deaths" of both Kintaro and Goro, Sheeva begins to fear for her own race, and makes plans to turn against Kahn should her suspicions prove to be true.
 * Largely dependent on a respirator and an undying thirst for revenge against the Black Dragon clan (who he believes was responsible for his brutal attack), Kabal joins the rebellion upon learning of Kano's survival.
 * Though he realizes that he is the lone survivor of New York City following the Outworld Invasion, Stryker remains ignorant as to why he survived the attack. However, upon receiving a vision from Raiden and being informed of what has transpired, Stryker decides to find and join the other Earthrealm Warriors.
 * For many years, Nightwolf received visions that foretold and warned him of the upcoming invasion. Largely ignoring them, he feels guilty for not preventing it, and therefore offers to join the upcoming rebellion.
 * Johnny Cage was hunted down by one of Shao Kahn's extermination squads, and during the vicious battle that followed, he was killed, allegedly by Motaro.

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (UMK3) is a fighting game in the Mortal Kombat series, released in arcades in 1995. It is an update of Mortal Kombat 3 and was later updated again into Mortal Kombat Trilogy. According to designer Ed Boon in 2008, this game is his favorite 2D Mortal Kombat title.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" style="line-height:1em;">[1]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">In 2006, an arcade-perfect version of UMK3 shipped with the premium versions of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for the PlayStation 2. Midway had also released an online version of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for the Xbox Live Arcade on the Xbox 360 prior to bankruptcy. The game was released to the marketplace in North America accidentally on October 20, 2006; it was then taken off, before being released officially on October 21. In 2007, the Nintendo DS version called Ultimate Mortal Kombat was also released. In 1995 through 2000, the Microsoft Windows versions for 95, 98, 2000 and ME (also known as Ultimate Mortal Kombat: Third Legions) were released.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">This game is rated M on the Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Sega Saturn, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and SNES versions. On the last three versions, it is rated M for Realistic Violence and Realistic Blood and Gore; for the Nintendo DS and Xbox 360 the M rating is for Blood and Gore and Intense Violence. The game is not rated in the Arcade version, but it has the AAMA rating of Life-Like Violence Strong.

Gameplay
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Gameplay was identical to MK3 but introduced a few new elements. New MK3 characters were added in UMK3, including Kitana, Jade, Reptile and Scorpion on the prototype version; new Ultimate Kombat Code added in revision 1.0 to enable Mileena, Ermac and Classic Sub-Zero. Two new gameplay modes were introduced: the 2-on-2 Mode which was similar to an Endurance match but with human players on both sides, and a new eight-player Tournament Mode.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Some characters were given new moves and some character moves were altered a bit, in most cases to balance the gameplay. Some characters were given extra combos and some combos were even damage reduced. Chain combos could be started by using a jump punch (vertical or angled) or a vertical jump kick, which created more comboing opportunities. Combos that knock opponents in the air would no longer send one's opponent to the level above in multi layered levels (only regular uppercuts would allow for this).

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Additionally several miscellaneous features were added and changed to UMK3. The original red portal background used for the "Choose Your Destiny" screen is now replaced with Blue Portal and an extra Master difficulty is added as well. In the additional "Master" difficulty setting, Endurance Matches return, in which the player can face as many as three opponents in a given round. These were not seen since the first Mortal Kombat. Shao Kahn's Lost Treasures - selectable prizes, some are extra fights, others lead to various cutscenes or other things - are introduced after either the main game or the 8-player tournament are completed. The smallest alterations to the game include character announcements when Shang Tsung transforms and the "Toasty!" sound is now played during the game's end credits and when the players inserting a coin, when Dan Forden's image is shown.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Some elements from MK3 were missing in UMK3. The only biographies featured are Kitana, Jade, Scorpion, and Reptile, which is only all four available during attract mode, the ninja characters who were not included in MK3, but were added to the lineup for this release, while all of the biographies and the full-body portraits of the MK3 characters are missing. The biographies that are featured use their Versus screen portrait, with text, on the portal/battleplan background. All of the character endings show each character's versus screen picture accompanied by text, instead of using original art asMK3 did. The storyline intro pictures and accompanying text are never shown. Finally, The Bank and Hidden Portal were the only stages missing from UMK3. They were removed completely from gameplay.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The CPU AI was improved in the game. However, three new flaws were introduced along with the revisions: while backflipping away from an opponent, if the player performs a jump kick, the CPU will always throw a projectile. This leaves the CPU vulnerable to attacks such as Sektor's teleport-uppercut, which can easily lead into a devastating combo. If the player walks back-and-forth within a certain range of the AI's chosen character, the CPU will mimic the player's walking movements for the whole round and never attack (this gameplay flaw remained and was not corrected for Mortal Kombat Trilogy). Also, if the AI was cornered, the player could repeatedly perform punches without the AI stumbling back, thus creating an opportunity to get a free win. In addition, an earlier version of the AI was used in UMK3—version 1.1 of the AI was used instead of version 1.2, which caused issues with its less-developed code.

[edit] Characters and cast
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Playable characters returning from Mortal Kombat 3:

<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Bosses and sub-bosses from MK3:
 * Cyrax (Sal Divita)
 * Liu Kang (Eddie Wong)
 * Kabal (Richard Divizio)
 * Kano (Richard Divizio)
 * Kung Lao (Tony Marquez)
 * Stryker (Michael O'Brien)
 * Jax Briggs (John Parrish)
 * Nightwolf (Sal Divita)
 * Sektor (Sal Divita)
 * Shang Tsung (John Turk)
 * Sheeva (stop motion) (not available in Genesis and SNES versions)
 * Sindel (Lia Montelongo)
 * Smoke (Sal Divita)
 * Sonya Blade (Kerri Hoskins)
 * Sub-Zero (John Turk)

<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Additional characters:
 * Motaro (stop motion)
 * Shao Kahn (Brian Glynn, voiced by Steve Ritchie).

<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Unlockable characters: Players can unlock characters via Ultimate Kombat Kode after playing.
 * Jade (Becky Gable)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mksecrets.net_4-0" style="line-height:1em;">[2]
 * Reptile (John Turk)
 * Kitana (Becky Gable)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mksecrets.net_4-1" style="line-height:1em;">[2]
 * Scorpion (John Turk)

<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Hidden opponents and console exclusives:
 * Clasic Sub-Zero (John Turk) - Unlocked by Ultimate Kombat Kode. The ninja version of Sub-Zero returned from Mortal Kombat.
 * Ermac (John Turk) - Unlocked by Kombat Kode. The new male red ninja who was rumored to have appeared in the original Mortal Kombat.
 * Mileena (Becky Gable) - Unlocked by Kombat Kode. She returned from Mortal Kombat II.

<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">In the SNES and Mega Drive/Genesis versions of the game, both Noob Saibot and Rain are playable, although Sheeva is not present. The boss characters Motaro and Shao Kahn are also selectable, being enabled via a cheat code menu.
 * Noob Saibot (John Turk) - Although he was featured in the original MK3, he is no longer a palette swap of Kano but that of a ninja. Like before, he is fought via Kombat Kode. (Some machines known as Wave Net machines had a hidden code to play as Noob Saibot.)
 * Rain (John Turk) - Featured in the game's opening montage (except on Saturn), he is actually a fake hidden character that is not found in the arcade game, being playable only on the 16-bit console versions.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The female ninja characters (Mileena, Kitana and Jade), returning from Mortal Kombat II, were portrayed by a different actress (Becky Gable) due to the lawsuit issued by Katalin Zamiar and some of the other MKII actors against Midway. They were also given a different set of outfits and hairstyles, but again identical for all of them (in the game there are just three palette swap character models for male, female and robot ninjas, not counting the MK3 Sub-Zero but including Classic Sub-Zero).

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Returning characters were greeted by critics as an improvement the "lackluster roster" of MK3 with "the greatly missed" Kitana, Mileena, Reptile, and especially Scorpion.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5" style="line-height:1em;">[3] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6" style="line-height:1em;">[4]

Arenas
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Including all of the original backgrounds from Mortal Kombat 3, minus The Bank and the Hidden Portal (which were removed), UMK3 features several new backgrounds: Scorpion's Lair / Hell (this stage also contains a new Stage Fatality, where the opponent is uppercut into a river of lava); Jade's Desert (in a reference to his MK3 ending, Cyrax is seen stuck waist-deep in sand in the background); River Kombat / The Waterfront; Kahn's Kave / The Cavern; Scislac Busorez/Classic Sub-Zero / Blue Portal / Lost (a combination of the background from the UMK3 "choose your destiny" screen, The Pit 3 bridge, and the mountains and bridge from The Pit II in MKII); Noob's Dorfen/Boon's Forden (a knock-off of The Balcony stage, which can now be played using a Kombat Kode unlike having to fight Noob to see it like in MK3).

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Before reaching any of the original MK3 backgrounds in 1 or 2-player mode, the game must cycle through all of the UMK3 exclusive backgrounds twice. Jade's Desert also serves as a placeholder where The Bank stage used to appear once the player reaches the original MK3 level cycle. The background music used for The Bank is also incorrectly played on Jade's Desert during the MK3 level cycle. Scorpion's Lair, Secret Cave and Abandoned River stages are selectable by using a password while on the missing Bank Stage cycle. In some of the Kombat Zones where a character can be uppercut into different backgrounds: The River, Jade's Desert and Scorpion's Lair → Kahn's Kave.

Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Mortal Kombat Trilogy<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> is a fighting game<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> developed and published by Midway<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> in 1996<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">. It is a compilation of content from the previous Mortal Kombat<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> titles, based primarily upon the gameplay<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">mechanics of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">. Trilogy<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> follows the same story as UMK3<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, but contains all characters and some of the stages from Mortal Kombat<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> and all of the stages from Mortal Kombat II<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> and Mortal Kombat 3<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">/ Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">.

Cast and characters
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">Along with the <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> UMK3<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">roster, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> MKT<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">adds <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Baraka<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, and <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Raiden<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">as they appeared in <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> MKII<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">. In addition to both characters gaining one new special move each, both characters have brand new sprites for running and standing falls as well as running and combos (these animation types weren't introduced until <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Mortal Kombat 3<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">). A new version of <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Johnny Cage<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">played by a new actor was also introduced as well. He retains all of his regular moves from <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> MKII<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">except for the Split Punch, which had to be excluded since none of the characters from <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> MK3<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">/ UMK3<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">had "reaction" sprites for this particular move. <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Bosses<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Goro<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Kintaro<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Motaro<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">and <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Shao Kahn<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, are also now <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> playable<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The PlayStation (PSX), Sega Saturn, and PC versions also contain alternate versions of Jax, Kung Lao, Kano and Raiden as they appeared in the first or second game, as they were the only actors who returned as special characters in the game; Ho Sung Pak (Liu Kang), Philip Ahn (Shang Tsung), Elizabeth Malecki (Sonya Blade), Katalin Zamiar (Kitana/Mileena/Jade) and Dan Pesina (Johnny Cage and Scorpion/Sub-Zero/Reptile/Smoke) left Midway prior to the production of MK3 due to royalty disputes. Johnny Cage is the only character to have all new sprites for this game; his new sprites are that of Chris Alexander. Pesina is the actor for the sprites used during Raiden's gameplay, but Sal Divita is used for the versus screen picture. In addition, new sprites were created to show MKII Raiden and Baraka running and falling from a standing position. New frames were also created for the original Kano to replace the old frames used for his victory stance and heart rip Fatality by modifying Kano's MK3 sprites.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">A new secret character appears, as well. This character, known as Chameleon, rapidly switches between all the male ninjas (Classic Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Noob Saibot, Human Smoke, Rain, Reptile, and Ermac) during combat. He is similar to the original Mortal Kombat version of Reptile, but Chameleon changes his color, not just his stance. This character is playable by performing a special button combination.

[edit] Gameplay
Mortal Kombat Trilogy<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">introduces the Aggressor bar, which fills as the combatants fight (twice as much if the opponent is blocking). When the bar fills, the character becomes much faster and stronger for a short period of time.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">A finishing move known as a Brutality is featured in this game: it requires the player to perform an 11-button combo which causes their opponent to explode. (Brutalities were also added to the Mega Drive/Genesis and SNES ports of UMK3.) All of the arenas that featured a Stage Fatality are featured in this game with their respective Fatalities except The Pit II. This arena's Stage Fatality had to be omitted as no MK3 characters had the unique sprites for falling off the bridge.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Many of the characters have brand new special moves and finishing moves. Several have unused special moves never implemented in previous games which made their first official appearance in Mortal Kombat Trilogy. These special moves include MK1 Kano's Spinning Blade move, MKII Kung Lao's Air Torpedo, Goro's Spinning Punch move, Raiden's Lightning that shoots from behind the opponent, and Baraka's Blade Spin move. In addition, Shao Kahn has a throw move and a grab and punch move that is exclusive to this game, and Motaro has added an overhead toss to his arsenal.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">All of the battle arenas that has been featured in MKII, MK3, and UMK3 makes an appearance in MKT, however only four backgrounds from the firstMortal Kombat make it into this game (Courtyard, Goro's Lair, The Pit, and The Pit Bottom). The PC, PSX, and Saturn versions only lack The Hidden Portal and Noob Saibot's Dorfen from MK3, while the Nintendo 64 version lacks Kahn's Arena and The Bank from MK2 and MK3, respectively. In some of the Kombat Zones a character can be uppercutted into different backgrounds: The Subway → The Street, The Bank → The Rooftop (only in the PC, PS and Saturn versions), The Soul Chamber → The Balcony, Scorpion's Lair → Kahn's Kave, Goro's Lair → The Armory → Kombat Tomb (N64 exclusive).

Mortal Kombat 4
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat 4 is the fourth main game in the Mortal Kombat series of fighting video games developed by Midway Games. Released to arcades in 1997, Mortal Kombat 4 is the first title from the series to use 3D computer graphics as well as one of the first games that Midway made in 3D. Eurocom later ported it to the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, PC, and Game Boy Color during 1998. An updated version titled Mortal Kombat Gold was released a year later exclusively for the Dreamcast.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The gameplay from Mortal Kombat 4 is similar to that of the previous games; one of the most notable additions is the use of weapons and objects during fights. The storyline chronicles the attack from the corrupted god Shinnok against his former comrades who trapped him in the Netherealm various of years prior to the series' start: the other 17 playable characters take part in the battle between good and evil, with the forces of light trying to stop Shinnok and the forces of darkness attempting to conquer all the realms (Mortal Kombat Gold would expand the number of available characters).

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">While developing the game, the Midway staff had problems making the graphics as it was one of the first 3D fighting games they developed. Co-creator Ed Boon commented that the staff wanted to make Mortal Kombat 4 more violent than its predecessors, removing the comical finishing moves featured in them. Since its release, Mortal Kombat 4 received positive response from critics due to its graphics and gameplay. On the other hand, the Game Boy Color port and Gold received criticism.

Gameplay
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat 4 is played in a similar way to the previous titles from the series. However, Mortal Kombat 4 introduces a limited weapon system, allowing each character to take out a special weapon using a set button combination. Once equipped, the weapons are primarily used through the punch buttons. This includes the swinging, clubbing, or even tossing of the weapons. Furthermore, the weapons can also be purposely dropped, in similar fashion to the arena objects (skulls, rocks, etc.); if an opponent's weapon is dropped, the other character is able to grasp it and use it. By sidestepping, the player is able to move in a 3D manner, shifting the camera angle, preventing both characters from holding up the weapons or objects they had on the ground.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">MK4 added a "Maximum Damage" cap to the game's combo system, automatically breaking off combos if they deal over a set amount of damage to a player and, thus, preventing infinite combos (although this cap can be removed with a code). Unlike Mortal Kombat Trilogy which contained multiple finishing moves of various kinds, Mortal Kombat 4 only gives two Fatalities per character and two Stage Fatalities that can only be done in a certain arena and involve the character throwing the opponent to part of the arena where he or she can die. Unlike the first three games, this game doesn't include boss characters except Goro from the home versions.

[edit] Plot
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Thousands of years before the start of the series, Shinnok, one of the Elder Gods who control the six realms in the Mortal Kombat universe, attempted to become the conqueror of them all. Thunder God Raiden fought and defeated Shinnok in a war that spanned hundreds of years, sending him afterwards to the Netherealm, where he would be trapped forever. Now, Shinnok manages to escape from the Netherealm with help from the sorcerer Quan Chi, and seeks vengeance against the Elder Gods who banished him. In his plan, he first conquers the realm of Edenia, with the aid of a traitor, Tanya, while he prepares to attack the Elder Gods. In order to stop Shinnok's menace, Raiden requests the help from the Earthrealm warriors who managed to save the realms from Emperor Shao Kahn in previous titles.

[edit] Characters
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The following is a list of the characters included in the Mortal Kombat 4 character selection roster.

[edit] New characters
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">MK4 introduced:


 * Fujin - Raiden's ally who first appeared in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero known as the Wind God.
 * Jarek - The last of the Black Dragon after Kano's death.
 * Kai - A Shaolin monk and friend of Liu Kang.
 * Meat - A bloody skeleton. An unlockable character.
 * Quan Chi - The mysterious evil sorcerer who first appeared in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm and then would later reappear in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero as the main antagonist. Quan Chi poses as a boss before the battle against Shinnok.
 * Reiko - Shinnok's general.
 * Shinnok - An imprisoned Elder God. First appeared in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero as the final boss. Shinnok appears as a playable characters and players can only fight him as a final opponent.
 * Tanya - A traitor to Edenia.

[edit] Returning characters

 * Goro - The four-armed menace, giving the game a new style in playability. He's the sub-boss of the game.
 * Jax - A U.S. Special Forces officer who finds out that Jarek is still alive.
 * Johnny Cage - The Hollywood movie star who will produce his next movie.
 * Liu Kang - A Shaolin monk who seeks to destroy Shinnok.
 * Noob Saibot - A hidden character. An undead ninja.
 * Raiden - The thunder god who again guides the mortals.
 * Reptile - A Zaterran warrior who seeks to serve Shinnok to save his realm.
 * Scorpion - Another undead ninja who again seeks revenge on his nemesis Sub-Zero and Quan Chi.
 * Sonya Blade - A Special Forces lieutenant who seeks to destroy Jarek.
 * Sub-Zero - A Lin Kuei assassin again stalked by Scorpion.

Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero is a 1997 action-adventure game spin-off of the fighting game series Mortal Kombat. It is the first Mortal Kombat game to feature side-scrolling gameplay. It was released for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. The storyline centers around the original Sub-Zero in an adventure to defeat Quan Chi from retrieving an amulet that would free the fallen Elder God Shinnok. The PlayStation version features live-action cutscenes.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The events of Mythologies is set prior to the tournament in the original Mortal Kombat, exploring the history of the original Sub-Zero and his nemesis Scorpion, while foreshadowing the events of the subsequent fighting game in the series, Mortal Kombat 4.

Gameplay
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Although Mythologies is classified as an action-adventure game, its play controls are very similar to the 2D Mortal Kombat fighting games. The player has four attack buttons, along with a block button and a run button like in Mortal Kombat 3. The player controls Sub-Zero as they would in a fighting game, including the use of command-based special moves, to fight enemies and venture through levels. A "turn" button is used to change the direction Sub-Zero is facing, while an "action" button is used to pick up or use items. The player also has access to a status screen which keeps tracks of the player ' s inventory, experience points, and special moves they gain during the game.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The player begins the game with a small health gauge and a limited number of extra lives. As the player progresses through the game, they can gain experience points by performing combos against enemies, which are then used to increase their character ' s strength and gain access to special moves. An "ice meter" will appear after the player begins to acquire special moves. Special moves requires ice power in order to be performed. Health and ice power can be replenish by picking up items (although the ice meter will gradually replenish itself over time as well). The player will also need to retrieve key items. Passwords are used to keep track of the player ' s progress.

[edit] Plot
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Long ago, (before the events that took place in original Mortal Kombat) the Lin Kuei were hired by the sorcerer Quan Chi to steal a map of elements from a Shaolin temple. The Grandmaster sent his most cunning assassin, Sub-Zero, to do the job. Battling through the Shaolin monks who guarded the map, Sub-Zero reached the map room and was accosted by his rival, Scorpion. In a grueling battle, Sub-Zero mercilessly killed Scorpion and escaped the temple with the map. Back at the headquarters of the Lin Kuei, Sub-Zero delivered the map to Quan Chi, who had repaid the Lin Kuei by eliminating all the members of Scorpion's ninja clan the Shirai Ryu, the Lin Kuei's rival clan. Quan Chi also revealed he had hired Scorpion in case Sub-Zero has failed his mission, something that did not settle well with Sub-Zero. Retaining the Lin Kuei's services, Quan Chi had Sub-Zero follow the map to the Temple of Elements, where an amulet of "sentimental value" was resting.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Sub-Zero reached the temple and went through its many challenges and obstacles, eliminating the gods of Wind, Earth, Water, and Fire that protected the amulet. Just as Sub-Zero reached out for it, Quan Chi appeared and took the amulet, saying that it was actually the source of power for a fallen Elder God named Shinnok. Quan Chi disappeared through a portal, and the thunder god Raiden accused Sub-Zero, ordering him to go to the Netherealm to retrieve the amulet.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Sub-Zero was sent to the Netherealm and was immediately trapped in the Prison of Souls by Quan Chi's guards. There, he was met by the undead spectre of his archnemsis, Scorpion, who blamed Sub-Zero for the destruction of his clan and family. Although Scorpion couldn't die, he was beaten by Sub-Zero and forced to retreat. Sub-Zero escaped and fought Quan Chi's underlings: Kia, Sareena, and Jataaka. He killed Kia and Jataaka, but spared Sareena. Retrieving their transportation crystals, he was able to get to Quan Chi's fortress. Quan Chi then revealed to Sub-Zero that the only reason he was able to retain his mortality was because of the evil in his heart from being the ruthless assassin he had been known as. Suddenly, Sareena appeared and helped Sub-Zero defeat the sorcerer. She then begged Sub-Zero to take her away from the Netherealm, but she was quickly killed by Shinnok, who was now powered by his amulet. Using his cunning, Sub-Zero grabbed the amulet from Shinnok, who then morphed into a giant demon. Rather than facing certain death, Sub-Zero escaped through a portal created by Raiden, and delivered the amulet to the god. When Sub-Zero questioned what Quan Chi said to him, Raiden confirmed it, but reminded the young warrior that only he could change his own fate.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Returning to the Lin Kuei headquarters, Sub-Zero was once again hired by another sorcerer named Shang Tsung. The Lin Kuei warrior was asked to compete in a tournament on Tsung's behalf. It was called Mortal Kombat...

[edit] Sub-Zero
Main article: Sub-Zero (Mortal Kombat)=== [edit] Scorpion=== Main article: Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)=== [edit] Quan Chi=== Main article: Quan Chi=== [edit] Shinnok=== Main article: Shinnok=== [edit] Fujin===

Main article:

Fujin<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Fujin represents Wind God in mythology of Mortal Kombat.

[edit] Earth God
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">In Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, Earth God was assigned by Raiden as the second of the four guardians along with Wind God (Fujin), Water God and Fire God in order to protect Shinnok's amulet until he was eliminated by Sub-Zero. Due to his giant size towering over Sub-Zero, he has the ability to stomp the ground while stones of rocks fall from above.

[edit] Water God
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Water God appeared in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero as the third of the four guardians assigned by Raiden to protect Shinnok's amulet until he was beaten by Sub-Zero. His powers and abilities are mostly jets of water and waves.

[edit] Fire God
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Fire God appeared as the guardian of Shinnok's amulet in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero. Raiden assign him as the last of the four guardians to protect the amulet until Sub-Zero defeat him in battle. His powers and abilities are mostly flames of fire because of this, Sub-Zero couldn't freeze him.

[edit] Sareena
Main article: Sareena=== [edit] Jataaka=== <p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Jataaka appeared in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero as one of the sub-bosses in Shinnok's Fortress. Simultaneously, she is a member of the Brotherhood of Shadow and serves as one of three assassins to Quan Chi and Shinnok along with Sareena and Kia. In Mortal Kombat Mythologies:Sub-Zero, she is one of "... three female guardians in order to get the crystals that power the teleporter and give access to Quan Chi's lair." Gameplay-wise, she is as fast as Kia but more powerful. Her attacks in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero consist of launching laser bolts from her sword as well as a weapon she use to attack.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Prima_1-0" style="line-height:1em;">[1] She reappears in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon's Konquest mode alongside Quan Chi, Sareena and Kia in the Red Dragon's caverns. She played by Rachel Hebert and Erica Grace. She appeared in TV series Mortal Kombat: Konquest, but was renamed "Sora" and was played by Renee Tenison.

[edit] Kia
Kia<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> is one of the sub-bosses in Shinnok's Fortress in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> and also a member of the Brotherhood of Shadow. She is one of three assassins serving under Quan Chi and Shinnok. In Mortal Kombat: Mythologies: Sub-Zero<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, she (or Jataaka) is the first of the assassins you face before you can receive the three crystals that power the teleporter to Quan Chi's lair. Gameplay-wise she is the least powerful of the trio but equal in speed to Jataaka. Her only weapon of choice is the razor shape boomerang. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Prima_1-1" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">[1] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> She, along with Sareena and Jataaka, reappears alongside Quan Chi in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">'s Konquest mode inside the caverns of the Red Dragon clan. She was played by Kerri Hoskins<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">. She appeared in TV series Mortal Kombat: Konquest<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, but was renamed "Mika" and was played by Jaime Pressly<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">.

Mortal Kombat: Special Forces
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat: Special Forces is a 3D action game for the PlayStation. It was released in North America on July 30, 2000, and in Europe on September 29, 2000. The game stars the characterJackson "Jax" Briggs from the Mortal Kombat fighting game series.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="line-height:1em;">[1]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">This was the second Mortal Kombat game developed by Midway that was more of a platformer than a fighting game, after having tested the waters with Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero in 1997. Tobias intended to work on a series of platform games to expand the Mortal Kombat universe, including titles centering around Baraka and Liu Kang; only the latter was actually released by Midway (2005's Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks) despite having sat on the drawing board for many years.

Plot
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Special Forces is chronologically the first game in the Mortal Kombat storyline, as its events take place even before Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero. The story of the game involves Kano freeing his gang, the Black Dragon (Tasia, Tremor, No Face and Jarek) from a maximum security prison and Jax, seeking revenge for the slaughter of his Special Forces comrades at the hands of the Black Dragon, undertakes a mission to stop them from retrieving an artifact of great power, the Eye of Chitian. The true power of the artifact is shown in the ending that it can open portals to other realms when Jax uses the artifact to teleport himself and Kano back to Earthrealm after defeating him.

[edit] Special Forces-only characters

 * Gemini is Jax's base operative, relaying information and messages to him from headquarters. The two share a friendship, and Gemini worries excessively about Jax. Operating over radio only, she is never seen in-game.
 * No Face is a member of the Black Dragon organization led by Kano, who freed him from a high-security prison. He is described as only having knowledge of explosive devices, he wears sticks of dynamites strapped to his chest and uses a flame thrower as a weapon. He has no nose, ears, hair and a pale complexion, based on his name.
 * Tasia is an expert swordswoman and deadly ninja master who is a member of Kano's Black Dragon organization.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MKSFmanual_2-0" style="line-height:1em;">[2] Like Tremor, No Face and Jarek, Kano freed her from a high-security prison. She wields two ninjatō swords and has an ability to teleport.
 * Tremor appeared as a muscular brown ninja who escaped from custody during a prison break orchestrated by Kano, to whom he is described as being blindly loyal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MKSFmanual_2-1" style="line-height:1em;">[2] He is a boss for one level, guarding a portal to Outworld. He has the ability to pound the ground with his fist to create earthquakes (similar to Jax) and shoots out three-dimensional fireballs. Tremor was originally planned to be in Mortal Kombat Trilogy at one point, but was replaced with Rain, who had already appeared in the 16-bit console versions of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" style="line-height:1em;">[3]

Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, originally known as Mortal Kombat V: Vengeance<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> or simply Mortal Kombat 5<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, is a fighting game<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> developed and published by Midway<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> for the Xbox<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, PlayStation 2<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, Nintendo GameCube<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, and Game Boy Advance<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">. It is chronologically the fifth in the Mortal Kombat<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> series. The game focuses on the alliance between sorcerers Quan Chi<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> and Shang Tsung<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> and their schemes to revive an ancient army and control Outworld. Deadly Alliance<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> was the first all-new Mortal Kombat<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> fighting game produced exclusively for home consoles, with no preceding arcade release.

Gameplay
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Like all of the Mortal Kombat games, Deadly Alliance focuses heavily on its fighting modes. The gameplay is regarded as a full "reboot" of the gameplay style of the franchise. It is credited with reviving the Mortal Kombat series. Different from its predecessors, each character now possesses three individual fighting styles<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="line-height:1em;">[1] consisting of two martial arts and one weapon (excepting Blaze and Mokap, who received three martial arts and no weapon) which players can switch between with the push of a button. In previous games, aside from "dial-a-combos" all the characters fought virtually identically, with only special moves to differentiate them. The number of special moves per character (usable in any fighting style) has also been reduced, varying only from two to four for most, thus forcing the player to make use of the improved fighting system. Running, as well as the running meter, have been dropped. However, while still limited to only moving into the background and foreground, movement in the third dimension is much easier and can be used continuously (in Mortal Kombat 4, one sidestep could be performed at a rate of about one a second). To prevent fighters from leaving the arena, invisible "energy walls" appear when a fighter is knocked against the edge.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Characters models became more realistic. Flesh will move or jiggle on a character as he or she moves around. Environmental interaction is present, but infrequent. Several levels include obstacles - such as pillars or statues - that can be shattered to damage an opponent standing behind one. There is just one Fatality per character, while the previous games included many ways to finish the opponent. It is also the only Mortal Kombat game to date that does not includes Stage Fatalities, although the Acid Bath level still possesses special acid-vomiting statues called Acid Buddhas that does damage directly to fighters that stay too close.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Deadly Alliance also introduces a "Konquest" mode, which expands on the storyline and acts as a tutorial for each character. Konquest mode consists of a series of missions to complete with each of the characters. In between each sequence, a video of a monk moving between various locations on the path of Konquest is shown, but this has no actual bearing on the gameplay itself other than to simulate the sense of a journey. After completing eight initial kombat tasks with Sub-Zero, the player is instructed to complete a specific set of tasks with each character, which vary from pulling off difficult combos to defeating opponents. Each series comes with text instructions that include a basic storyline that delves further into each character's backgrounds and motives. The characters Blaze and Mokap can only be unlocked by completing all stages of Konquest. Upon completing each mission (of a starting difficulty for each character that increases per mission), the player is rewarded with a number of koins that can be utilized to open Koffins in the Krypt and unlock secrets in the game.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The game has a "Krypt", where the player can buy extras with koins earned in regular play and in Konquest mode. The Krypt consisted of 676 Koffins arranged in a square format with each designated alphabetically by a two-letter designation (AA - ZZ). The Koffins were filled with a vast number of secrets and unlockables available only through that game. Each Koffin had a different designated price, listed in a number (anywhere from 1 up to the thousands) and color (Gold, Ruby, Sapphire, Jade, Onyx, and Platinum) of koins that were needed to purchase the opening of the Koffin. The Krypt included unlockable characters, arenas, and alternative costumes. Also included amongst the Koffins were various videos, images, concept sketches, and the entire Mortal Kombat Collector's Editioncomic book. Some Koffins contained koins that could be used towards other Koffins, others contained hints as to where highly sought after items were located, and others were even empty. One of the unlockable items from the Krypt is a CGI bag of adult nappies (complete with advertisement text). This is nod to a long-standing joke/urban legend that gamers will wear nappies to keep from having to take restroom breaks at crucial times. The Wilhelm scream can also be heard in the Krypt.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" style="line-height:1em;">[2]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Test Your Might, the original minigame of the Mortal Kombat series, returns for the first time since the original game, and a parody, Test Your Sight, is also included. This involved the character standing above a set of cups, and the game would show the player which cup had the Mortal Kombat logo icon in. The cups would begin to move in a random order, and by the end one has to select the cup which the icon was in. As the player progresses through the minigame, the number of cups would increase, as would the speed in which the cups would move. At higher levels, the camera would even move in order to make it more difficult for the player to keep track of the movement of the icon. This game would also be rewarded with Koins.

[edit] Plot
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">At the end of Mortal Kombat 4 (which is Scorpion's canon ending), the sorcerer Quan Chi revealed himself as the murderer of Scorpion's family and clan, before attempting to send him back to the Netherrealm. Scorpion, fueled with homicidal rage, grabbed Quan Chi at the last minute, bringing him to the realm alongside him. In the intro, it is revealed that Quan Chi was able to escape the Netherrealm, using the amulet he had stolen from Shinnok. He appears in a tomb containing several mummified remains and an ancient runestone, which reveals that the remains are the "undefeatable" army of the long forgotten ruler of Outworld, known simply as the "Dragon King". Learning that it can be revived, Quan Chi forms an alliance with Shang Tsung, offering him an endless supply of souls in return for him transplanting the souls of defeated warriors into the army. The two work together to defeat, and kill, Shao Kahn and Liu Kang, the two biggest threats to their plans. Unable to interfere as an Elder God, Raiden surrenders his status after realising that, should the sorcerors succeed, they will be virtually unstoppable. He gathers together his most trusted mortal allies in order to stop the Deadly Alliance before the army can be fully resurrected.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">In Deadly Alliance, the player receives information concerning the backstories of the characters and their relationships with one another mainly during Konquest mode, but also in way of biographies that can be obtained in the Krypt. The game takes place in a fantasy setting, with most of the game's events occurring on the fictional realms of the Mortal Kombat series. The story begins in the Netherealm (although this is not a playable level), and later switches to Outworld, Edenia and eventually Earthrealm. To fully understand the plot of Deadly Alliance, the player must not only beat Konquest mode but Arcade mode as well. As usual, beating Arcade mode unlocks endings for each character, but only a few endings or a part of them are considered canon to the Mortal Kombat storyline. Some endings even contradict one another. What really happened to the characters was only revealed on the sequel Mortal Kombat: Deception, making Deadly Alliance the first game in the series to have a canonical ending that involves the heroes losing and the villains emerging victorious.

[edit] Characters
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">The main <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> protagonist<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">of the game is Thunder-God <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Raiden<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, the main <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> antagonists<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">are, as the title implies, the Deadly Alliance formed by sorcerers <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Quan Chi<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">and <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Shang Tsung<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, and both act as the final <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> bosses<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">(depending on the storyline of that particular character it varies whether you'll have to fight Shang Tsung or Quan Chi, for example say you're playing with <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Kung Lao<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, then his boss would be Shang Tsung because he was responsible for killing Liu Kang in his storyline, in which he's wanting to avenge the death of). Some of the more popular characters of the <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Mortal Kombat<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">series returned in this title. Included are Hollywood movie star <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Johnny Cage<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, the Princess <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Kitana<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, the monk <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Kung Lao<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, the Lin Kuei Grandmaster <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Sub-Zero<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, the Black Dragon <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> mercenary<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Kano<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, the Zaterran warrior <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Reptile<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, the Ninja specter Scorpion<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">and Special Forces Major <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Jax Briggs<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">, Lieutenant <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Sonya Blade<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">and the cyborg <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> Cyrax<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">New characters include the blind warrior Kenshi, the drunken-master Bo' Rai Cho, the Outworld warrior Li Mei, the vampire Nitara, the Lin Kuei apprentice Frost, Red Dragon agents Mavado and Hsu Hao, and the Netherealm Onis Drahmin and Moloch, who also acts as the sub boss of the game. The two secret characters are Mokap, who is said to have done motion capture work on Johnny Cage's films and is actually a tribute to Carlos Pesina, and the fire elemental Blaze, which was originally a background character on The Pit stage from Mortal Kombat II. According to art director, Steve Beran, Frost was one of the first characters designed for Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" style="line-height:1em;">[3]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Deadly Alliance is notable for being the only game in the series that does not feature Liu Kang as a playable character, as he and Shao Kahn only appear on the introduction video. Also mentioned in Konquest are the deaths of Goro, Kabal, Motaro and Sheeva, but they would later appear on sequels. The Dragon King mentioned in the game would later appear as Onaga in the sequel Mortal Kombat: Deception. Deadly Alliance is also the last game to feature both Scorpion and Sub-Zero in their unmasked forms and the first and only game where Kung Lao doesn't have his trademark hat on his main costume but from behind his back.

Mortal Kombat: Deception
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat: Deception is a fighting game developed and published by Midway as the sixth installment for the Mortal Kombat (MK) series. It was released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in October 2004, while a Nintendo GameCube version was published in March 2005. Mortal Kombat: Deception follows the storyline from the fifth installment, Deadly Alliance. The story centers on the revival of the Dragon King Onaga, who attempts to conquer the realms featured in the series after defeating the sorcerers Quan Chi and Shang Tsung, the main antagonists in the previous game, and the Thunder GodRaiden, defender from Earthrealm. As such, the surviving warriors from the previous titles join forces to confront Onaga.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Twenty-six characters are available to play in the game, with nine making their first appearance in the series. Deception contains several new features in the series, such as chess and puzzle games with the MK characters and an online mode. The Konquest Mode role-playing game (RPG) makes a return from Deadly Alliance, but follows the life of Shujinko, a warrior who is deceived by Onaga to search for artifacts to give Onaga more powers. In November 2006, Midway released Mortal Kombat: Unchained, a port for the PlayStation Portable, which adds new characters to the game.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Series co-creator Ed Boon designed Deception to be an unpredictable fighting game, and included new features such as the mini-games as surprises. Several parts from Deadly Alliance such ascombos and arenas were redesigned to be more realistic as well as more interactive. Deception has been well received by video game reviewers, who praised the fights and new features. The Konquest Mode, however, received criticism for poor voice acting. Several publications have awarded the game as the best fighting game in 2004.

Gameplay
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The game's arenas are similar to those in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, but include new features such as unique weapons which players can use, and instant-death traps, which instantly kill a fighter who falls into them. The game also introduces the "Combo Breaker", a system which allows players to interrupt combos up to three times per match.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="line-height:1em;">[1] In contrast to Deadly Alliance, in which characters had only one fatality finishing move, the Deceptioncharacters have two fatalities and a hara-kiri suicide move. The latter is used when the phrase "Finish Him/Her" is shown in the screen and the player is about to lose.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-interboon_2-0" style="line-height:1em;">[2]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Deception introduces several minigames that use MK characters. Chess Kombat is a minigame similar to classical chess, but uses player-selected characters as pieces that must engage in fights to take a square. Some pieces have certain abilities, ranging from impersonating their opponents to instantly killing one of the opposing pieces.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" style="line-height:1em;">[3] It also adds Puzzle Kombat, a puzzle game similar to Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo which features super deformedversions of the MK characters that attack each other once a player gains an advantage in the game.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ign3_4-0" style="line-height:1em;">[4]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The "Krypt" returns from Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, and serves as an interface to access extra content hidden in "Koffins". In Deception, the size of the Krypt was reduced from 676 Koffins to 400 Koffins. A new feature was the inclusion of Koffins that could only be opened through the use of keys that can be found in treasures chests from Konquest mode, or by defeating characters throughout the realms in the mode. Krypts in Mortal Kombat: Deception include 12 bonus characters while this was cut down to 6 characters in the GameCube version.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5" style="line-height:1em;">[5]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Deadly Alliance ' s RPG-style game called "Konquest" also appears in Deception. Deception ' s Konquest mode explores the history of Shujinko, starting prior to his training with Bo' Rai Cho and ending with the beginning of Deception ' s main story. While mostly an adventure game, the combat elements take place in the normal Deception fighting mode. In Konquest, Shujinko meets Damashi, a being who requests Shujinko's assistance in collect six powerful items, the Kamidogu, to send to the gods. By the time he collects the six Kamidogu, Shujinko is an old man, having spent forty years completing his mission. However, Damashi is then revealed to be the Dragon King Onaga, who deceived Shujinko to obtain the six Kamidogu. Players seeking to unlock much of the bonus content inDeception are required to play through the Konquest mode.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6" style="line-height:1em;">[6]

[edit] Plot
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">In the final events of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Raiden's warriors who were meant to protect the six fictional universes named realms are killed by the Deadly Alliance (Shang Tsung and Quan Chi), who attempted to conquer the realms. With Raiden defeated, the Deadly Alliance turns on each other. When Quan Chi wins, Dragon King Onaga, the former emperor of the realm of the Outworld, appears to regain his power. Raiden awakes and then unleashes all his powers in a colossal explosion that but apart from affecting both members of the Deadly Alliance and himself, has little effect on Onaga.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-intro_7-0" style="line-height:1em;">[7]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Onaga now seeks to use six artifacts called Kamidogu (literally "Tool of God" or "divine clay"), which are able to destroy the realms.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-intro_7-1" style="line-height:1em;">[7] Those fighters not killed in the battle against the Deadly Alliance now stand against Onaga and his supporters. The latter include a fictional horde known as Tarkatan led by Baraka, one of the characters who starred in Mortal Kombat II. Other enemies include the former defenders from the realms, who were resurrected by Onaga and are under his control.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">In the story explored in Konquest mode, a young man named Shujinko is deceived into spending his life collecting the Kamidogu for Onaga, who uses the guise of an emissary of the Elder Gods, the beings who created the realms, named Damashi. Onaga reveals his identity and intentions after Shujinko has gathered all the Kamidogu.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1em;">[8] Shujinko, led to believe he was working for the greater good, decides to continue training to defeat Onaga.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="line-height:1em;">[9]

[edit] Characters
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">There are 26 characters in the game: 9 new and 17 returning. New characters include Ashrah, a demon searching for redemption by killing demons; Darrius, the leader of the resistance in the realm of Order; Hotaru, a warrior of Order, pledged to serve the Dragon King; Dairou, a mercenary contracted by Darrius to assassinate Hotaru; Havik, a cleric of Chaos who wishes to consume Onaga's heart and revive Emperor Shao Kahn to ensure chaos reigns; Kira and Kobra, new members of the Black Dragon organization; Onaga, the Dragon King and former emperor of Outworld who appears as the boss character from the arcade mode; and Shujinko, an old warrior who was deceived by Onaga when he was a young adolescent. Several of the returning characters have been redesigned and were given new moves such as Liu Kang who reappears as a zombie. Noob Saibot and Smoke who first appeared in Mortal Kombat II are sub-bosses that fight together under the name of Noob-Smoke.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gamechronicles_10-0" style="line-height:1em;">[10] The GameCube version has two more playable characters: the sub-boss from the first MK game Goro and the boss from the two following titles Shao Kahn, both of whom were previously thought to have died in the prologue of Deadly Alliance.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" style="line-height:1em;">[11]

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> is an action/ beat-em-up<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> video game<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> based on the Mortal Kombat<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> series of fighting games. Shaolin Monks<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> was developed by Midway LA (formerly Paradox Development<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">) and published by Midway<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> for the PlayStation 2<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> and Xbox<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;">. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">[1] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> It was released September 16, 2005 in the United States<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> and September 30, 2005 in Europe<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;text-align:start;"> for both platforms.

Gameplay
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The game features three main modes of play. Aside from a single-player mode, the game has a co-operative mode, where two players can work together through the game, with access to some areas and items that are inaccessible in single-player mode. There is also a versus mode, where two players can fight against each other in some of the arenas featured in the game. In addition, players can play a shortened, censored demo version of The Suffering: Ties That Bind as well as an emulated version of Mortal Kombat II.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">In addition to Liu Kang and Kung Lao, the game features other characters from the Mortal Kombat series. Some are there to aid the main characters, including Raiden, Johnny Cage, Kitana and Sub-Zero, while others serve as the game's bosses, including Mileena, Reptile, Scorpion and Shao Kahn. Tokens can be found throughout the game which will unlock some of these characters in versus modes. Scorpion and Sub-Zero are also unlockable playable characters in the game.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Shaolin Monks features a multi-directional combat system, which gives players the ability to attack any of the enemies that surround them fluidly. The engine allows the player to maintain combo attacks across multiple enemies, and even continue their combos after launching an enemy into the air through a powerful attack or a throw. The main characters also have many of their signature moves from the series. Combos and special moves are upgradeable through the earning of experience points. These are mainly gained through defeating opponents, with the combo system multiplying the value. The environment plays a vital role in the game, as there are several hazards that will instantly kill an enemy, such as pits in the floor or rotating wheels of spikes. Using some of the environment in this manner, as well as attacking or destroying certain objects, serve as a puzzle-solving element to unlock secrets in the game.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The game also includes Fatalities, a common feature of the Mortal Kombat series. Performing combos on enemies increases the Fatality meter. Once that meter has reached a certain level, a Fatality may be performed, regardless of an opponent's level of health. The main characters have the ability to perform several different Fatality moves, some of which are 3D updated versions of Fatalities from the first and second Mortal Kombat games. The player can also unlock the ability to do Multalities, which are Fatalities performed on multiple enemies at once. The concept of Brutalities from Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 has also been brought back, though with a different function. Once the move has been performed, the player will be able to give more devastating attacks for a limited time.

[edit] Plot
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Shaolin Monks is an action-adventure game that spans the events of Mortal Kombat II, starting with the aftermath of the first Mortal Kombat. The game centers on two members of the Shaolin Order, Liu Kang and Kung Lao, as they travel through the realms in an attempt to thwart Shang Tsung's plans to dominate Earthrealm. The battle raged furiously on Shang Tsung's island fortress in the Lost Sea, as the sorcerer watches from his throne. The Shaolin monk Liu Kang defeats Shang Tsung, and the giant Goro comes to his defense. With Goro distracting everyone else, Shang Tsung creates a portal to Outworld and retreats. Raiden appears afterwards and warns the remaining fighters to get off the island palace because it is collapsing into the sea. Everyone, except Liu Kang and Kung Lao, evacuates and escape back to the Wu Shi Academy. Liu Kang and Kung Lao, however, have to fight their way to another portal to get to Wu Shi Academy. Upon arrival, they meet Baraka and the Tarkatan attacking the Wu Shi Academy. The Tarkatans are defeated, but Baraka captures Sonya Blade. Raiden confirms that Shang Tsung is trying to lure Liu Kang and his allies to Outworld where he can order his henchmen to attack them and bide his time for power. If successful, Shang Tsung will conquer Earth without winning a Mortal Kombat tournament, which is cheating.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The Shaolin Monks, Liu Kang and Kung Lao, journey through the nightmarish realm of Outworld to stop the sorcerer's plot. They are guided by Raiden and assisted by Johnny Cage. Throughout their journeys, they are joined by a meet several allies and learn of another person who wants Earth; the Emperor of Outworld, Shao Kahn. During their journey, all of Liu Kang's and Kung Lao's allies are captured. Once reaching Shao Kahn, Shang Tsung is revealed to have been impersonating Raiden in the pair's journey so that each of soldier's defeats will enhance his powers. The two Shaolin Monks defeat Shang Tsung, and are challenged by Shao Kahn. With the real Raiden's help, Liu Kang and Kung Lao finish the Emperor and both are given the title of champions. With their friends and Outworld safe, Raiden's group return to Earthrealm to celebrate their victory.

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is the seventh game in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. The PlayStation 2 version was released in stores on October 11, 2006 while the Xbox version was released on the October 16, with a Wii version released on May 29, 2007 in North America.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The game was not released on the Xbox in PAL territories.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-no_PAL_release_2-0" style="line-height:1em;">[2] This game is the last Mortal Kombat for the sixth generation game consoles PlayStation 2 and Xbox, and the first for the seventh generation console on the Wii. It was later released in as part of the Mortal Kombat Kollection on September 29, 2008 for the PlayStation 2. Armageddon is chronologically the final chapter in the original Mortal Kombat storyline.

Plot
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Throughout the Mortal Kombat universe, the warriors were growing too strong and numerous for the realms to handle. The warriors' powers threaten to utterly destroy the fabric of the MK universe. Upon this scene, the Elder Gods demanded a safeguard to be put in place to absorb the kombatants' insatiable bloodlust. In an enormous crater in Edenia, these warriors clashed in a single battle royale between the Forces of Light and Darkness that would threaten to rip apart reality and bring about the Apocalypse. Without warning, a mysterious pyramid rises from the ground, and the tip bursts into flames, attracting the warriors' curiosity to see what it was. The kombatants fought one another to get to the top, while Blaze, the gods' firespawn revealed himself to them. The firespawn was created by Delia, a powerful Edenian sorceress, and the mother of the main character in "Konquest" mode to destroy each fighter that would threaten him in order to save the realms from Armageddon. This would be the warriors' last battle, their last chance to prove that they are worthy of surviving, while many others will die. This will be the final battle for Mortal Kombat, the battle that will determine the fate of the realms.

[edit] Characters
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions of Armageddon contain 62 fighters (as well as two extra slots for user created characters), the most of any Mortal Kombat or tournament fighter game to date. Only two characters, Daegon and Taven, are new to the series, while Sareena makes her playable debut on non-portable consoles and Meat makes his debut as a legitimate character. The Wii version contains all the original characters from the other versions, as well as exclusive character Khameleon from the Nintendo 64 version of Mortal Kombat Trilogy, totaling the roster to 63.

[edit] Fighting system
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Each character possesses two fighting styles (instead of the three previously available in Deadly Alliance and Deception), one hand-to-hand and one weapon.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" style="line-height:1em;">[3] Some of the larger bosses, like Onaga, have only one fighting style available (which does not show up, unless you check the character's movelist).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4" style="line-height:1em;">[4] Other characters, such as Smoke and Mokap, do not have a weapon style, but a second unarmed style.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Also new to the series is the ability to create a Fatality. These custom fatalities are a constant series of commands that players input until the Fatality ends. This method of performing Fatalities replaces the character-specific Fatalities of previousMortal Kombat games, where gamers would simply enter one input and view the Fatality cinematically. As the player adds each input, less time is allowed for further inputs and some moves cannot be repeated. There are eleven levels that can be achieved with Kreate a Fatality, lowest being a basic Fatality to the highest being an "Ultimate Fatality". The greater the number of inputs for the fatality, the more amount of koins is gained.

[edit] Konquest
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The Konquest mode in Armageddon is a combination of the same mode seen in Deception with elements borrowed from the spin-off adventure title Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks. The storyline centers on Taven and Daegon, two brothers who were put in suspended animation because their mother, known as Delia (a sorceress), and their father, Argus (the Edenian protector god), foresaw a cataclysmic event brought about by the Mortal Kombat fighters. Their awakening leads into the Konquest mode, which in turn leads into the game's standard play.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Taven is the main hero that the player controls in Konquest, while Daegon, his brother, is the primary antagonist, plotting with villains such as Shinnok and the Red Dragon Clan to destroy his brother and destroy Blaze to attain total godhood. Certain weapons are available at times in Konquest mode, which appear to handle very much like those found in Shaolin Monks. Various relics can be collected, one for each Kombatant (except Taven, Chameleon, the two fighters that the player can create in the PS2 version, and additionally Khameleon in the Wii version), throughout this mode.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5" style="line-height:1em;">[5] Konquest unlocks characters' alternate costumes and other rewards in the rest of the game, while successfully completing the Konquest entirely will unlock Taven for arcade play. Meat, Daegon, and Blaze can be unlocked by collecting enough relics.

[edit] Kreate a Fighter
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">In addition to the choice of over 60 characters, Armageddon gives players the ability to design and use new fighters in the game.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">From the number of options, there are potentially thousands of different combinations available. During production, the game offered at least 14 different character classes,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PS2.IGN_MK:A_6-0" style="line-height:1em;">[6] which include humans, Tarkatans, Mercenaries, Black Dragon Members, Ninjas, Retro Ninjas, Geisha Assassins, etc.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-kreate_fighter_one_7-0" style="line-height:1em;">[7] However, after the game's release, only one preset was available to the two genders, Sorcerer to Male, and Tarkatan to Female. Although the clothing of each class is still available, it must be individually unlocked, and cannot be preset. All these presets can be unlocked by unlocking each piece of clothing that makes up that class. The preset will then appear under the preset menu.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Players can give their character a unique fighting style, by changing their stance/win pose animation and assigning different (already named) attacks to the buttons on their controller. There is a range of swords and axes (the only weapons available) and special moves to choose from. Most moves and costume items need to be purchased with coins earned in the game's other modes, though some moves and items are available for free from the beginning.

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The fighters can also be given their own storyline. If a player uses their creation to finish a single player game, they will see the ending that the player designed for them, although the ending will cut off after roughly twelve lines or if the last line consists of one word.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-IGN_preview_pg_two_8-0" style="line-height:1em;">[8] They could also be used in multiplayer games and online, using the PlayStation 2's online capability or Xbox Live, although the online service for both versions has been since terminated. The ending that the game shows is the same text that the player inputs as the fighter's biography.

[edit] Motor Kombat
<p style="line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Mortal Kombat: Armageddon's mini-game is named "Motor Kombat". True to the name, Ed Boon compares it to Mario Kart in the September 2006 issue of Official Xbox Magazine. Each of the characters has a customized go-kart, as well as their own special moves. The Motor Kombat characters keeps their cartoonish "super deformed" style that was introduced in Deception's Puzzle Kombat mode. It also includes style-based fatalities for characters, and deathtraps. The cars are based on the characters' look and personality - for instance, Baraka's car has blades on the front bumper as a homage to Baraka's Blades and Scorpion's Car is powered by a skull breathing fire as a homage to his Toasty Fatality

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Motor Kombat features online play, as well as off-line support for up to four players (two players in PS2 version) with a split-screen display. In the game, players can knock their opponents into various deathtraps on the courses, like rolling pins stones, crushers, slippery snow caves filled with stalagmites and endless pits. The character roster for Motor Kombat is Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Bo' Rai Cho, Jax, Baraka, Raiden, Kitana, Mileena, Cyrax and Johnny Cage.

Credits
Mortal Kombat Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat_(1992_video_game) 

Mortal Kombat II Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat_II

Mortal Kombat 3 Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat_3

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Mortal_Kombat_3

Mortal Kombat Trilogy Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat_Trilogy

Mortal Kombat 4 Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat_4

Mortal Kombat Mythologies - Sub-Zero Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat_Mythologies:_Sub-Zero

Mortal Kombat - Special Forces Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat:_Special_Forces

Mortal Kombat - Deadly Alliance Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat:_Deadly_Alliance

Mortal Kombat - Deception Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat:_Deception

Mortal Kombat - Shaolin Monks Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat:_Shaolin_Monks

Mortal Kombat - Armageddon Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat:_Armageddon

Mortal Kombat Wikia: http://mortalkombat.wikia.com/wiki/Mortal_Kombat_Wiki

All information, citation, and reference can be found on these Wiki's.