Mortal Kombat II (8-bit)

From Sega Retro

For the Sega Mega Drive, Sega 32X, and Sega Saturn game, see Mortal Kombat II.

n/a

  • Master System
  • Game Gear

MKIISMS Title.png

MortalKombat2GG Title.png

Mortal Kombat II
System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment
Sega Game Gear
Acclaim Japan (JP)
Developer:
Distributor:
Sega Master System
Sega-Ozisoft (AU)
Sega Master System
Tec Toy (BR)
Licensor: Midway Manufacturing
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Peripherals supported:
Sega Game Gear
Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Fighting Action/Kakutou Action (格闘アクション)[1][2]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
EU
MK-29029-50
ELSPA: 15+ OK
Sega Master System
PT
MS29029
Sega Master System
UK
MK-29029-50
ELSPA: 15+ OK
Sega Master System
AU
$79.9579.95[4] FMOR01SEC
OFLC: MA15
Sega Master System
BR
028530
Tectoy: 18+
Sega Game Gear
JP
¥4,800 (4,944)4,800e[6] T-81107
Sega Game Gear
US
$44.9544.95[7] T-81278
Videogame Rating Council: MA-17
Sega Game Gear
EU
T-81278-50
ELSPA: 15+ OK
Sega Game Gear
PT
GG81278
Sega Game Gear
UK
£34.9934.99[11] T-81278-50
ELSPA: 15+ OK
Sega Game Gear
GR
Sega Game Gear
AU
FMOR01SGC
Non-Sega versions

Mortal Kombat II, called Mortal Kombat II: Kyuukyoku Shinken (モータルコンバットII 究極神拳) in Japan, is a fighting game for the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear, based on the arcade game of the same name by Midway Manufacturing. The 8-bit ports were released worldwide in 1994.

Story

Following his failure to defeat Liu Kang in the previous Mortal Kombat tournament, the evil Shang Tsung begs his master Shao Kahn, supreme ruler of Outworld and the surrounding kingdoms, to spare his life. He tells Shao Kahn that if they hold the next Mortal Kombat Tournament in Outworld, the Earthrealm warriors must travel away from home to attend.

Kahn agrees to this plan and restores Shang Tsung's youth and martial arts prowess. He then extends the invitation to the thunder god and Earthrealm's protector, Rayden, who gathers his warriors and takes them into Outworld.

Gameplay

MortalKombat2GG CharSelect.png

Choose Your Fighter

The game is a one-on-one fighting game where matches are fought to the best of three rounds. Compared to its predecessor, the game has new characters and new moves, including more finishing moves. The player can choose from eight characters and fight a series of matches against every other character in the game, always ending with fights against the bosses Shang Tsung, Kintaro, and Shao Kahn. There are three difficulty settings (Easy, Medium, and Hard) and no other options. In the Master System version, a second player can join at any time for a versus match by pressing 1. In the Game Gear version, a two-player game can be started by starting the two Game Gears simultaneously while connected by a Gear-to-Gear Cable.

Characters move with Left and Right and crouch with Down. They jump with Up and jump back and forth with Up-left and Up-right. Characters punch with 1 and kick with 2. Blocking is done by holding  START  in the Game Gear version or by holding 1+2 in the Master System version. Blocked attacks still inflict a small amount of damage. Each character has special techniques that are performed with particular button combinations. Every character also has a unique Fatality that can be performed when the opponent has been defeated in the final round, plus there is a stage-specific Fatality that can be performed by any character on the Kombat Tomb stage.

All characters can perform roundhouse kicks with Left+2 (or Right+2 if facing left), which knock the opponent away; leg sweeps with Down-left+2 (or Down-right+2 if facing left), which cause the opponent to fall down; and uppercuts with Down+1, which knock the opponent into the air. Throws are performed by pressing 1 when next to an opponent.

Characters

Note: Move lists assume that the character is facing right. When facing left, Left and Right should be reversed.

P Punch
K Kick
 BL  Block

Fatalities often require being a certain distance from the opponent in order to execute.

Playable

All of the playable characters from the original arcade game are present except Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, Baraka, and Rayden.

Mortal Kombat II GG, Characters.png
Liu Kang
A Shaolin monk. He is canonically the victor of the Shaolin Tournament in the first Mortal Kombat game. He returns to his temples to find them in ruins and his Shaolin brothers slain by Shang Tsung's Outworld invaders. He travels to Outworld to seek vengeance.
Move list
Name Command Description
High Fireball Right Right P Liu Kang shoots a fireball while standing. This move can be done in midair.
Low Fireball Right Right P Liu Kang shoots a fireball while crouching.
Flying Kick Right Right K Liu Kang launches himself across the screen in a kicking pose.
Bicycle Kick Hold K for 5 seconds and release Liu Kang flies across the screen while kicking multiple times, resembling pedaling a bicycle.
Move list (Finishing moves)
Name Command Description
Fatality Down Right Left Left K (close) Liu Kang transforms into a dragon and incinerates his opponent with fire breath.
Stage Fatality Right Left Right P (close)
Mortal Kombat II GG, Characters.png
Sub-Zero
A male ninja who possesses cryokinesis, thought to be a member of the secretive Lin Kuei clan. Though apparently killed in the first tournament, he mysteriously returns, traveling into Outworld to again attempt to assassinate Shang Tsung.
Move list
Name Command Description
Deep Freeze Down Right P Sub-Zero shoots a burst of ice across the screen, freezing his opponent on contact. Hitting an already frozen opponent "backfires" and freezes Sub-Zero while unfreezing his opponent.
Ground Freeze Down Left K Sub-Zero shoots ice at the ground in front of him, which causes his opponent to slip uncontrollably if walked on.
Slide Right Right K Sub-Zero slides forward with a leg sweep.
Move list (Finishing moves)
Name Command Description
Fatality Right Right Down K (sweep distance), then Right Down Right Right P (close) Sub-Zero shoots a flurry of ice, deep freezing his opponent, then uppercuts the resulting ice statue, shattering the opponent into many pieces.
Stage Fatality Right Left Right P (close)
Mortal Kombat II GG, Characters.png
Kitana
A female ninja who works as a personal assassin in the service of Shao Kahn. She has been suspected of secretly aiding the Earthrealm warriors. She is armed with a pair of steel fans.
Move list
Name Command Description
Fan Throw Right Right P Kitana throws a spinning fan like a sawblade. This move can be done in midair.
Fan Swipe Left+P Kitana swipes a fan in front of her.
Fan Lift Left Left Left P Kitana spins her fan at the air, generating waves that can catch and lift opponents.
Square Wave Punch Right Left P Kitana jumps into the air and shoots across the screen with her fist extended.
Move list (Finishing moves)
Name Command Description
Fatality  BL   BL   BL  K (close) Kitana gives her opponent a "kiss of death," causing the opponent to explode into many pieces.
Stage Fatality Right Left Right P (close)
Mortal Kombat II GG, Characters.png
Reptile
Shang Tsung's personal bodyguard. He appears in the form of a human ninja, but he is believed to be a horrific reptilian creature in disguise.
Move list
Name Command Description
Acid Spit Right Right P Reptile takes his mask off and spits a gob of acid.
Slide Right Right K Reptile slides forward with a leg sweep.
Force Ball Left Left P Reptile conjures a force ball that moves across the screen and knocks the opponent down.
Invisibility HOLD  BL Up Up Down P Reptile makes himself invisible until he is attacked.
Move list (Finishing moves)
Name Command Description
Fatality Left Left Down P (half screen away) Reptile removes his mask, revealing his reptilian head, and uses his tongue to grab and swallow his opponent whole.
Stage Fatality Right Left Right P (close)
Mortal Kombat II GG, Characters.png
Shang Tsung
A shapeshifting sorcerer. After his defeat in the first game, he convinced Shao Kahn to spare his life. He has a new plan to appease his master, who, in turn, restores Tsung's youth. Although playable in this installment, he also serves as a sub-boss of the game, always appearing before Kintaro in the single-player mode. As in the first game, Shang Tsung is able to morph into any of the playable characters, retaining their moves.
Move list
Name Command Description
Flaming Skull Left Left P Shang Tsung shoots a flaming skull from his hands.
Two Flaming Skulls Left Left Right P Shang Tsung shoots two successive flaming skulls from his hands.
Three Flaming Skulls Left Left Right Right P Shang Tsung shoots three successive flaming skulls from his hands.
Move list (Morphs)
Name Command Description
Jax Hold K for 2 seconds, then release and press Down-right
Kitana Hold K for 2 seconds, then release and press Down
Liu Kang Hold K for 2 seconds, then release and press Left
Mileena Hold K for 2 seconds, then release and press Up
Reptile Hold K for 2 seconds, then release and press Up-left
Scorpion Hold K for 2 seconds, then release and press Down-left
Sub-Zero Hold K for 2 seconds, then release and press Right
Move list (Finishing moves)
Name Command Description
Fatality HOLD  BL Up Down Up K (close) Shang Tsung steals his opponent's soul.
Stage Fatality Right Left Right P (close)
Mortal Kombat II GG, Characters.png
Mileena
Twin sister to Kitana who also serves 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. She is armed with a pair of sai.
Move list
Name Command Description
Sai Throw Hold P for 2 seconds and release Mileena throws a pair of sai across the screen. This move can be done in midair.
Teleport Kick Right Right K Mileena disappears, then drops from the air in front of her opponent while kicking.
Roll Attack Left Left Down K Mileena rolls quickly along the ground, knocking over her opponent on impact.
Move list (Finishing moves)
Name Command Description
Fatality Hold K for 3 seconds and release (close) Mileena swallows her opponent then spits out a pile of bones.
Stage Fatality Right Left Right P (close)
Mortal Kombat II GG, Characters.png
Scorpion
A hellspawned spectre who returns to the tournament to once again assassinate Sub-Zero to avenge the death of his family at the hands of the Lin Kuei clan.
Move list
Name Command Description
Spear Left Left P Scorpion throws a spear across the screen, then uses it to pull his opponent toward him. The opponent is momentarily stunned.
Decoy Punch Down Down-left Left P Scorpion teleports to the other side of the screen, flying in with a punch. This move can be done in midair.
Scissor Takedown Down Left K Scorpion grabs his opponent with his legs and takes them down to the ground.
Air Throw  BL  in midair (close) Scorpion grabs and throws his opponent in midair.
Move list (Finishing moves)
Name Command Description
Fatality HOLD  BL Up Up P (half screen away) Scorpion removes his mask, revealing a demonic skull, and incinerates his opponent with his fire breath.
Stage Fatality Right Left Right P (close)
Mortal Kombat II GG, Characters.png
Jax
A US Special Forces officer who enters the tournament to retrieve his partner Sonya Blade and the wanted criminal Kano from Outworld.
Move list
Name Command Description
Sonic Wave Down Left K Jax throws an energy wave across the screen.
Ground Pound Hold K for 3 seconds and release Jax punches the ground, causing an opponent on the ground to lose balance.
Gotcha Grab Right Right P (close) Jax grabs his opponent by the throat and punches twice. Keep tapping P for up to three more hits.
Back Breaker  BL  in midair (close) Jax grabs his opponent in midair, drops to the ground, and snaps the opponent's back on his shoulder.
Body Slam P during throw Jax slams his opponent against the ground. This move can be done multiple times by pressing P repeatedly.
Move list (Finishing moves)
Name Command Description
Fatality HOLD PRight Right Right Jax grabs his opponent and slams them back and forth until they explode.
Stage Fatality Right Left Right P (close)

Bosses

Finishing moves cannot be performed by or against the boss or secret characters.

Mortal Kombat II GG, Hidden Characters and Bosses.png
Kintaro
Shao Kahn's four-armed bodyguard, sent by his race to avenge Goro's defeat. He is the game's penultimate boss.
Mortal Kombat II GG, Hidden Characters and Bosses.png
Shao Kahn
The evil Emperor of Outworld, who wishes to conquer Earthrealm by any means. He is the host of the tournament and the game's final boss.

Hidden

Main article: Mortal Kombat II (8-bit)/Hidden content.

The hidden character Noob Saibot is absent from this version of the game.

Mortal Kombat II GG, Hidden Characters and Bosses.png
Smoke
A male ninja clad in grey who constantly emits smoke. He moves very quickly and has Scorpion's spear. Smoke is fought by pressing Down+P+K when Dan Forden pops up in the bottom-right corner of the screen and shouts "Toasty!"
Mortal Kombat II GG, Hidden Characters and Bosses.png
Jade
A female ninja clad in green. She is immune to projectiles (which pass harmlessly through her) and uses Kitana's steel fans. Jade is fought by defeating the opponent before the "?" with only the K button.

Stages

There are only two stages, which alternate until reaching Motaro and Shao Kahn (who are always fought in the Kombat Tomb). The Kombat Tomb stage has a stage-specific Fatality. The hidden characters Smoke and Jade are fought in a unique stage.

MK2 GG KombatTomb.png

Kombat Tomb
MK2 GG KombatTomb.png

MK2 GG ThePitII.png

The Pit II
MK2 GG ThePitII.png

Versions

Like the other Sega console versions, the Master System and Game Gear versions were developed by Probe Entertainment. The Game Gear and Master System versions are identical aside from the screen size. Eight characters and Shao Kahn are present but several were removed such as Rayden, Baraka, Johnny Cage, Kung Lao, and Noob Saibot. Several levels are also missing and the only level with a stage fatality is the Kombat Tomb. Each character has only has one Fatality, and Friendships and Babalities have been removed. As expected, the graphics and sound take a hit and voice samples are nonexistent.

Virtually all the graphics are rendered through the use of background tiles rather than sprites, leading to a choppier (if less flickery) appearance than its rivals.

Production credits

Midway Mortal Kombat Design Team:
  • Ed Boon, John Tobias, Tony Goskie, Dan Forden, John Vogel
  • Programming by: Keith Burkhill
  • Backgrounds by: Terry Ford
  • Other Graphics by: Keith Burkhill
  • Music by: Matt Furniss
  • Produced by: Rob O'Farrell (Barg)
  • Creative Director: Jo Bonar
  • Quality Assurance Manager: Tim Bradstock
  • Quality Assurance Engineers: James Stewart, Ben O'Reilly, Nick McGee
Acclaim Development by The Gray Team
  • Producer: Rob Leingang
  • Associate Producer: Stacy Hendrickson
  • Analysts: Joe Libertella, John Cirabisi, Alex de Lucia, James Johnson
  • Special Thanks to: Diane Cambria, Eric Weiner, Mark Mermelstein, Eric Samulski, Billy Pidgeon, Steffan Levine, Shawn Rosen
Source:
In-game credits
Mortal Kombat II SMS credits.pdf
[12]

Magazine articles

Main article: Mortal Kombat II (8-bit)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Mortal Kombat II (8-bit)/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
82
[13]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
87
[14]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
80
[15]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
85
[16]
Sega Master System
84
Based on
4 reviews

Mortal Kombat II (8-bit)

Master System, EU
MK2 SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
MK2 SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, PT
MK2 SMS PT cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, AU
MK2 SMS AU Box.jpg
Cover
MK2 SMS AU Cart Silver.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU (OFLC stickers)
MK2 SMS AU oflc cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, BR
MK2 SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Mk2 sms br cart.jpg
Cart
MK2 SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual
MortalKombatIIBrPosterBack.jpgMortalKombatIIBrPosterFront.jpg
Poster

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
Sega Game Gear
Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[17]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
88
[18]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[19]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
55
[20]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
45
[7]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
78
[21]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[22]
Joypad (FR)
90
[23]
Joypad (HU)
96
[24]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
90
[25]
Megazin (SI)
91
[26]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
93
[27]
Score (CZ)
78
[28]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[29]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
82
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
95
[31]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
75
[32]
Todo Sega (ES)
91
[33]
Video Games (DE) PAL
75
[34]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
70
[35]
Sega Game Gear
80
Based on
20 reviews

Mortal Kombat II (8-bit)

Game Gear, JP
MK2 GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
MK2 GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, US
MK2 GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngMK2 GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
MK2 GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mortal Kombat II GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
MK2 GG EU Box Back.jpgMortal Kombat II GG EU Box Spine.jpgMK2 GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
MK2 GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mortal Kombat II GG EU manual.jpg
Manual
Game Gear, PT (NTSC Repack)

Game Gear, GR (Zegetron)

MK2 GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, AU
MK2 GG AU Box Front.jpg
Cover
MK2 GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
CRC32 2663bf18
MD5 c60f62f13a60bc585822bfd2d68ba75c
SHA-1 12bd887efb87f410d3b65bf9e6dfe2745b345539
512kB Cartridge (EU/BR)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 4b304e0f
MD5 159256f5a372f2e409ecb343a3946001
SHA-1 320d2b8b62ef0109621bbe609b02bd8b0769a0b9
512kB Cartridge

References

  1. File:MK2 GG EU Box Back.jpg
  2. File:MK2 GG JP Box Front.jpg
  3. 3.0 3.1 Sega Magazine, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-10-15), page 96
  4. 4.0 4.1 File:NewReleases 1994-11 AU Catalogue.pdf, page 16
  5. http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/soft_licensee.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-01-01 20:24)
  6. Beep! MegaDrive, "December 1994" (JP; 1994-11-08), page 7
  7. 7.0 7.1 Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 9 September 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 102
  8. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1994-09-05), page 71
  9. File:DailyExpress UK 1994-09-08 14.jpg
  10. File:DailyMirror UK 1994-09-09 11.jpg
  11. Computer & Video Games, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-15), page 101
  12. File:Mortal Kombat II SMS credits.pdf
  13. Consoles +, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 156
  14. Mega Force, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 56
  15. Mean Machines Sega, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-09-30), page 98
  16. Sega Power, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-09-29), page 54
  17. Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1994" (JP; 1994-09-08), page 21
  18. Computer & Video Games, "September 1994" (UK; 1994-08-15), page 48
  19. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 42
  20. Famitsu, "1994-09-16" (JP; 1994-09-02), page 38
  21. GamePro, "October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 42
  22. Games World: The Magazine, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-08-25), page 19
  23. Joypad, "Octobre 1994" (FR; 1994-xx-xx), page 73
  24. Joypad, "3/1994" (HU; 1994-xx-xx), page 24
  25. Mega Force, "Octobre 1994" (FR; 1994-xx-xx), page 107
  26. Megazin, "Letnik 2, Številka 14, Oktober 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 27
  27. Mean Machines Sega, "Mortal Kombat II Exclusive Review Guide" (UK; 1994-07-30), page 14
  28. Score, "Únor 1995" (CZ; 1995-02-01), page 26
  29. Sega Magazine, "September 1994" (UK; 1994-08-xx), page 76
  30. Sega Power, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-01), page 62
  31. Sega Pro, "September 1994" (UK; 1994-08-11), page 60
  32. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88
  33. Todo Sega, "Octubre 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 30
  34. Video Games, "11/94" (DE; 1994-10-26), page 88
  35. VideoGames, "October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 66


Mortal Kombat II (8-bit)

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Mortal Kombat games for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
Mortal Kombat (1993) | Mortal Kombat II (No results?) | Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) | Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1996)
Sega Master System
Sega Game Gear
Mortal Kombat (1993) | Mortal Kombat II (1994) | Mortal Kombat 3 (1996)
Sega Mega-CD
Mortal Kombat (1994)
Sega 32X
Mortal Kombat II (No results?)
Sega Saturn
Mortal Kombat II (No results?) | Mortal Kombat 3 (unreleased) | Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1996) | Mortal Kombat Trilogy (1997)
Sega Dreamcast
Mortal Kombat Gold (1999)
Unlicensed Mortal Kombat games for Sega systems
Mortal Kombat 5 (1999)