Mortal Kombat
From Sega Retro
| Mortal Kombat | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear | |||||
| Publisher: Arena, Acclaim (JP) | |||||
Developer: Midway     | |||||
| Genre: Action | |||||
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Mortal Kombat (モータルコンバット; Mega CD モータルコンバット完全版) is a 1992 arcade fighting game by Midway. At the time, it was considered revolutionary for its use of digitized graphics, though was also met with controversy thanks to its high levels of of violence.
Following its release in the arcades, home versions were created and released in September 1993 on a date which became known as "Mortal Monday". This date saw Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear versions of the game (among versions for other systems), published by Arena simulatenously in North America and Europe, although Japan and Brazil were forced to wait some months later and a Sega Mega-CD version did not arrive until 1994.
Mortal Kombat was followed by Mortal Kombat II in the following year, and continues to see sequels to this day.
Gameplay
When using the 6 button controller all characters have punches and kicks that can either be aimed high or low, and a block button. The three button controller reduces the amount of available moves. Combinations of buttons can be used to perform special moves such as projectiles, throws, and other special attacks.
After a set number of matches players can play a minigame called "Test Your Might" and break objects by rapidly tapping buttons to raise a stamina bar, then pressing block to launch the attack. At the end of a match, players can use a finishing move which kills their opponent in various ways. By default violent finishing moves are censored and blood is disabled. By entering a special code blood will be enabled and some finishing moves will be more graphic.
Ports
Mega Drive Version
The Mega Drive version was a mini-success story for Sega. This is because the Super Nintendo version, at the time in direct competition with Sega's console, opted for strict censorship, removing blood, toning down fatalities and creating a far less "violent" product. The Mega Drive version was considerably more faithful to the arcade original, and was the preferred choice at the time by consumers.
The Mega Drive version is censored by default, but the full gore can be unlocked with the code 
. This combo is a nod to the Abacab album by the band Genesis, who share the same name as the console in North America.
There is a unique Easter egg in the Mega Drive version, in which the president of Probe Software, Fergus McGoven, sometimes flies in front of the moon on the "The Pit" stage. The music was also re-arranged slightly.
Sega's success with the Mega Drive version of the game prompted Nintendo to change their somewhat strict policies put forward in the late 1980s, and the SNES version of the sequel, Mortal Kombat II features red blood. Sega's Videogame Rating Council was also criticised for rating the Mega Drive version of the game a MA-13, implying that the game's content in its non-censored state was suitable for 13-year-olds. Mortal Kombat and other games such as Night Trap would inspire the creation of the ESRB, which would cover all game consoles in North America and remains in place to this day.
Mega CD Version
The Mega CD version was rated MA-17 in North America and was therefore subject to less criticism. In fact, there is actually a code to turn the gore down in the Mega CD port - 
.
As well as a CD audio soundtrack (which is essentially a recording of the arcade version), the game contains a grainy version of the famous "Mortal Monday" TV commercial. Some tracks play in the wrong stages, though there are some bonus remixes that can be heard if the game is played on a regular CD player.
The Mega CD version is otherwise identical to the Mega Drive version, though load times can mean that Shang Tsung is open to attack while transforming.
Master System Version
Predictably the Master System version is toned down for the weaker hardware, and is censored until a cheat code is inputted. Kano and Reptile have been omitted from this version, presumably to save space. Like all Master System games post 1991, this version was not released in North America.
Game Gear Version
The Game Gear version is almost identical to the Master System port, but suffers from a smaller screen size.
Production Credits
Mega Drive Version
- Mortal Kombat Cast of Characters
- Daniel Pesina as Johnny Cage
- Richard Divizio as Kano
- Carlos Pesina as Rayden
- Ho Sung Pak as Liu Kang
- Daniel Pesina as Scorpion
- Daniel Pesina as Sub-Zero
- Elizabeth Malecki as Sonya
Goro Character Design: John Tobias
Stop Motion Miniature: Curt Chiarelli
- Ho Sung Pak as Shang Tsung
- Mortal Kombat Design Team
- For Probe Software
Software: Paul Carruthers
Additional Software: Richard Costello
Graphics: Lee Ames
Producer: Gary Liddon
Music and Sound: Matt Furniss, Shaun Hollingworth
Testing: James, Simon, Barg and Tim
Special Thanks to: Dave Spangle
- Acclaim Development by the Grey Team
Producer: Rob Leingang
Associate Producer: Stacy Hendrickson
Analysts: Tyrone Miller, Joe Libertella, Tom Rademacher, Jim MK Fink
Special Thanks to: Eric, Alex and Tony, Ed and John at Williams
Game Gear and Master System Versions
- Mortal Kombat Cast of Characters
- Daniel Pesina as Johnny Cage
- Carlos Pesina as Rayden
- Ho Sung Pak as Liu Kang
- Daniel Pesina as Scorpion
- Daniel Pesina as Sub Zero
- Elizabeth Malecki as Sonya
Goro Character Design by: John Tobias
Stop Motion Minature by: Curt Chiarelli
- Ho Sung Pak as Shang Tsung
Programming by: Keith Burkhill
Backgrounds by: Lee Ames
Other Graphics by: Keith Burkhill
Music by: Allister Brimble
Produced by: Gary Liddon
Quality Assurance by the Probe Quality Assurance Department Who Are: Simon Bland, Barg, James Stewart, Tim Bradstock
- Acclaim Development by The Grey Team
Producer: Rob Leingang
Associate Producer: Stacy Hendrickson
Analysts: Tyrone Miller, Joe Libertella, Tom Rademacher, Jim MK Fink
Special Thanks to: Eric
Mega CD Version
- Mortal Kombat Cast of Characters
- Daniel Pesina as Johnny Cage
- Richard Divizio as Kano
- Carlos Pesina as Rayden
- Ho Sung Pak as Liu Kang
- Daniel Pesina as Scorpion
- Daniel Pesina as Sub-Zero
- Elizabeth Malecki as Sonya
Goro Character Design: John Tobias
Stop Motion Miniature: Curt Chiarelli
- Ho Sung Pak as Shang Tsung
- Mortal Kombat Design Team
- For Midway
Design and Software: Ed Boon
Design and Graphics: John Tobias
Music and Sounds: Dan Forden
Background Graphics: John Vogel
- For Probe Software
Software: Paul Carruthers
Graphics: Lee Ames
Producer: Adrian Curry
Sound Effects: Andy Brock
QA Technicians: Tim Bradstock, Simon Bland, James Stewart, Ashley Fawkes
QA Manager: Barg
Special Thanks to: Greg Michael, Bob Armour, Richard Costello, Gary Liddon, Dave Dootson, Dave Spangle, Rusty Chestnut, Dr Helmutt Moss, Mr Fish
- Acclaim Development by the Grey Team
Producer: Rob Leingang
Associate Producer: Stacy Hendrickson
Analysts: Alex DeLucia, Joe Libertella, James Johnson
Special Thanks to: Eric Samulski, Wang Lee, -
Gallery
Mega Drive Version
The 'code' screen
Title screen
Johnny Cage's biography
Start/Option screen
Character select
A fight versus Scorpion and Sub-Zero (with blood code)
Kano's fatality (with blood code)
Kano's fatality (without blood code)
Master System Version
The 'code' screen
Title screen
Character select
A fight versus Sub-Zero and Sonya
Raiden's fatality, without blood code
Johnny Cage's fatality, with blood code
Master System Combat Cards
Goro
Johnny Cage
Liu Kang
Rayden
Scorpion
Shang Tsung
Sonya Blade
Sub-Zero
Physical Scans
Mega Drive Version
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83 |
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| Based on 46 reviews | |
| Mega Drive, US |
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| Mega Drive, EU |
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| Mega Drive, JP |
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| Mega Drive, BR |
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Mega CD Version
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74 |
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| Based on 24 reviews | |
| Mega-CD, US |
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| Mega-CD, EU |
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| Mega-CD, JP |
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| Mega-CD, BR |
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Master System Version
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N/A |
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| Based on 0 reviews | |
| Master System, EU |
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| Master System, BR |
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Game Gear Version
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N/A |
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| Game Gear, US |
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| Game Gear, EU |
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| Game Gear, JP |
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| Mortal Kombat games for Sega systems | |
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Mortal Kombat (1993) | Mortal Kombat II (1994) | Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) | Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1996) |
|
Mortal Kombat (1993) | Mortal Kombat II (1994) | Mortal Kombat 3 (1996) |
|
Mortal Kombat (1994) |
 |
Mortal Kombat II (1994) |
 |
Mortal Kombat II (1996) | Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1996) | Mortal Kombat Trilogy (1997) |
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Mortal Kombat Gold (1999) |
| Unlicensed Mortal Kombat games for Sega systems | |
| Mortal Kombat 5 (1999) | |
- ↑ File:SegaForceMega02.pdf, page 16
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 134
- ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "November 1993" (DE; 1993-10-11), page 38
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1994" (JP; 1994-06-08), page 16
- ↑ Consoles +, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 18
- ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 128
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 48
- ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "September 1993" (US; 1993-08-24), page 59
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 34
- ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 333
- ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10, "" (RU; 2003-10-08), page 83
- ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 73
- ↑ Famitsu, "1994-06-03" (JP; 1994-05-20), page 1
- ↑ GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 10: September 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 14
- ↑ Game Power, "Ottobre 1993" (IT; 1993-xx-xx), page 56
- ↑ GamePro, "September 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 58
- ↑ Gamers, "August/September 1993" (DE; 1993-07-23), page 46
- ↑ GamesMaster (UK) "Series 3, episode 1" (1993-09-09, 24:00) (+9:15)
- ↑ Hippon Super, "June 1994" (JP; 1994-04-30), page 62
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 36
- ↑ Hyper, "December 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 32
- ↑ Joker, "Januar 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 19
- ↑ Joypad, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 38
- ↑ MAN!AC, "11/93" (DE; 1993-xx-xx), page 58
- ↑ Mega, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-16), page 46
- ↑ Mega Action, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-09), page 18
- ↑ Megablast, "4/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 38
- ↑ Mega Force, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 82
- ↑ Mega Fun, "10/93" (DE; 1993-09-22), page 30
- ↑ Mega Power, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 60
- ↑ MegaTech, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-20), page 76
- ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 44
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-07-30), page 70
- ↑ Player One, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-08-xx), page 75
- ↑ Power Up!, "Friday, September 17, 1993" (UK; 1993-09-17), page 1
- ↑ Power Play, "11/93" (DE; 1993-10-13), page 136
- ↑ Sega Magazin, "November/Dezember 1993" (DE; 1993-11-03), page 24
- ↑ Sega Power, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-07), page 66
- ↑ Sega Pro, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-12), page 36
- ↑ Sega Zone, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-xx), page 20
- ↑ Sega Force Mega, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-07-22), page 10
- ↑ Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 99
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
- ↑ Todo Sega, "Octubre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 32
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 116
- ↑ Video Games, "11/93" (DE; 1993-10-27), page 110
- ↑ VideoGames, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 40
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1994" (JP; 1994-06-08), page 19
- ↑ Consoles +, "Juin 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 148
- ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1994-06-15)
- ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 110
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 34
- ↑ Famitsu, "1994-06-03" (JP; 1994-05-20), page 39
- ↑ FLUX, "Issue #1" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 78
- ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 5 May 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 36
- ↑ GamePro, "July 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 64
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Junio 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 74
- ↑ Joypad, "Juin 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 114
- ↑ MAN!AC, "07/94" (DE; 1994-06-08), page 64
- ↑ Mega, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 46
- ↑ MegaTech, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 60
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-30), page 74
- ↑ Player One, "Juin 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 96
- ↑ Sega Magazine, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 92
- ↑ Sega Power, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-05-05), page 44
- ↑ Sega Pro, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 46
- ↑ Sega Zone, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-xx), page 28
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
- ↑ Todo Sega, "Julio 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 42
- ↑ Video Games, "7/94" (DE; 1994-06-29), page 80
- ↑ VideoGames, "June 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 72
- ↑ File:SegaMasterForce03.pdf, page 18
- ↑ File:SegaForceMega07.pdf, page 58
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- Mortal Kombat (franchise)
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