Mortal Kombat II

n/a

Mega Drive 32X Saturn Master System Game Gear
Mortal Kombat II
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega 32X, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, Sega Saturn
Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment Acclaim Japan (JP)
Developer: Probe Software Probe Entertainment The Gray Team Red Team
Distributor: SF Interactive Media (SE rental)
Licensor: Midway Manufacturing
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Sound driver: Krisalis sound driver SCSP (1 track)
Peripherals supported: Mega Net 2 Six Button Control Pad Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Fighting Action/Kakutou Action (格闘アクション), Action/Fighting, Action
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1994-09-09 ¥8,800 (9,064)8,800e T-81093 US 1994-09-09 $64.9564.95 T-81346 EU 1994-09-09 T-81346-50 PT 199x UK 1994-09-09 £49.9949.99 T-81346-50 SE (Rental) 199x GR 199x T-81346-50 AU 199x FMOR01SMC AU (Platinum) 199x FMOR01SMC BR 1994-09 047070 JP 1996-03-29 ¥5,8005,800 T-8107G US 1996-01-23 $54.9554.95 T-8103H EU 1996 T-8103H-50 DE 1996 T-8103H-50 PT 199x UK 1996 £44.9944.99 T-8103H-50 PL 1996 EU 1994-11 MK-29029-50 PT 1994 MS29029 UK 1994-11 MK-29029-50 AU 1994-11 $79.9579.95 FMOR01SEC BR 1994 028530 JP 1994-09-09 ¥4,800 (4,944)4,800e T-81107 US 1994 $44.9544.95 T-81278 EU 1994-09-09 T-81278-50 PT 199x UK 1994-09-09 £34.9934.99 T-81278-50 GR 199x AU 1994 JP 1995-05-19 ¥9,8009,800 T-8104A US 1995-03 T-8101B EU 1995-03 T-8101B-50 PT 1994 UK 1995-03 £54.9954.99 T-8101B-50 AU 199x FMOR01SXC BR 1995 153010
Non-Sega versions No results

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 the sequel to the critically acclaimed Mortal Kombat. It was originally released in 1993 as an arcade game before being ported to numerous platforms. It is considered by many to be the best fighter of the series. It sports a cast of twelve characters with numerous special moves including new finishers and new kinds of finishers.

It is the last game of the series to be officially released in Japan for a Sega console. Mortal Kombat 3, which was the final Mortal Kombat game to be released in Japan, was only released in that region for the PlayStation.

Story

Shao Kahn

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

Choose Your Fighter

The game plays almost identically to Mortal Kombat, with numerous improvements. There are several changes in standard moves: a crouching punch was added, low and high kicks have greater differentiation, roundhouse kicks are made more powerful (now knocking opponents across the screen, like the uppercut), and it is easier to perform combos due to reduced recovery times for attacks. Returning characters also gained new special moves, including some to be used in midair, and the game plays almost twice as fast as the original. Unlike the Mega Drive version of its prequel, the game is completely uncensored from the start, so no code is needed to uncensor the game.

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 becomes dazed and the winner has a short amount of time to perform a finishing move. All characters share the same basic attacks, such as uppercuts, foot sweeps, and throws, although these moves vary in speed and power from character and character. When using a three-button controller, not all of these moves are available. Characters are differentiated by several special moves that can be performed by entering certain button combinations.

The single-player game consists of a series of fights against the other playable characters of the game, before moving onto one of two secret characters if certain conditions are met. From there, the player battles the shapeshifting sorcerer Shang Tsung and the monstrous Kintaro before fighting the game's final boss, Shao Kahn. A second player can challenge the first by pressing  START  during gameplay, with the winner continuing in the tournament. The game lacks the "Test Your Might" bonus games and point system from the first game, in favor of a consecutive win tally where wins are represented by icons.

Characters move with and and crouch with . They jump with and flip back and forth with and . All characters have punches and kicks that can either be aimed high or low. Characters perform a low punch with , a high punch with , a low kick with , and a high kick with . They block by holding or . Blocking can be done while standing or crouching. Some attacks cannot be blocked while standing (such as sweeps). All attacks do a small amount of damage even when blocked.

When using a standard three-button control pad on the Mega Drive and 32X versions, characters perform a low punch with , a high punch with + or +, a low kick with , and a high kick with , and  START  blocks. Support for the Six Button Control Pad must be manually enabled in the options.

In the 8-bit versions, characters punch with and kick with . Block is assigned to  START  in the Game Gear version and + in the Master System version.

Fatalities are performed as in the original game, and each character now has two of each, in addition to three stage-specific Fatalities. Non-lethal finishing moves have also been added: Babalities (which transforms the loser into an infant) and Friendships (a non-malicious interaction, such as dancing or giving a gift to the defeated opponent). These were put into the original arcade version of the game to poke fun at those who felt the original Mortal Kombat was too violent.

The Mega Drive, 32X, and Saturn versions have five difficulty settings for computer-controlled opponents (Very Easy, Easy, Medium, Hard, and Very Hard) and allow the player to change the number of starting credits in the options. The Master System and Game Gear versions have three difficulty settings (Easy, Medium, and Hard) and no other options.

Characters

Move lists assume the player is facing right. If facing left, and should be reversed.

All characters can perform roundhouse kicks with + HK  (which knock the opponent across the screen), leg sweeps with + LK  (which cause the opponent to fall down), and uppercuts with + HP  (which knock the opponent high into the air). Throws are performed by pressing  LP  when next to the opponent.

When using a standard three-button control pad on the Mega Drive and 32X versions, for moves requiring  LP , hold the direction and  LP  simultaneously. For moves requiring  HP , release the direction before pressing  LP . Special moves requiring  LP + HP  can be done with just  LP . Uppercuts are performed with + LP .

Fatalities often require being a certain distance from the opponent in order to execute. All finishing moves can be performed while holding the  BL  button, which is sometimes useful to avoid accidentally moving or hitting the opponent before the button combination is fully pressed. Friendships and Babalities can only be performed if the player does not use either punch button during the final round.

Each character has a special button combination for performing the stage-specific Fatalities on the Kombat Tomb and the Pit II stages. There is a third stage-specific Fatality for the Dead Pool stage, but it is done with the same button combination for all characters: hold  LP + LK  while performing an uppercut.

The Saturn version of the game has an option to change the ninja slide ability, shared by Reptile and Sub-Zero, from + BL + LP + LK  (same as the arcade version) to + LK + HK  (same as the Mega Drive and 32X versions).

Playable

Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Reptile, Rayden, and Shang Tsung return from the original game (with Reptile and Shang Tsung now playable). Sonya and Kano are the only playable characters from the first game who do not return as playable characters, appearing only in the background of the Kahn's Arena stage, chained and on display as his prisoners.

Kung Lao, Jax, Kitana, Mileena, and Baraka make their debuts.

Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, Baraka, and Rayden are omitted from the 8-bit versions.

	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  HP  + LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Liu Kang shoots a fireball while standing. This move can be done in midair. Low Fireball  LP  Liu Kang shoots a fireball while crouching. Flying Kick  HK  Liu Kang launches himself across the screen in a kicking pose. Bicycle Kick Hold  LK  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 1  HK  (close) Liu Kang transforms into a dragon and bites his opponent in half at the torso. Fatality 2 HOLD  BL D-Pad in a 360° rotation counterclockwise (half screen away or closer) Liu Kang does a cartwheel and then uppercuts his opponent. Stage Fatality  LK  (close) Friendship  LK  Liu Kang dances under a mirror ball. Babality  LK
	Kung Lao
	A former Shaolin monk and member of the White Lotus Society who is close friends with Liu Kang. He is descended from another Kung Lao, who was defeated by Goro 500 years prior. He seeks to avenge his ancestor and the destruction of the Shaolin temple. Move list Name Command Description Hat Throw  LP  Kung Lao throws his hat like a discus. Bullet Kick + HK  before the apex of a jump Kung Lao drops diagonally in a kick. Whirlwind Spin  LK  (press  LK  to keep spinning) Kung Lao spins in place, doing damage at his sides. Teleport Kung Lao disappears into the air and reappears behind his opponent. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Fatality 1  HP  (sweep distance) Kung Lao slices his opponent in half with his hat. Fatality 2 HOLD  LP  (full screen away) Kung Lao throws his hat at his opponent. The player can control the hat as it is flying with and . In the Mega Drive and 32X versions, the hat decapitates the opponent unless directed elsewhere. This move cannot be performed using a three-button control pad. In the Saturn version, the player must aim the hat at the opponent's head for the decapitation. Stage Fatality  HP  (close) Friendship  HK  Kung Lao pulls a rabbit from his hat. Babality  HK
	Johnny Cage
	A Hollywood actor who disappears from the set of his latest film to follow his ally Liu Kang to the otherworldly dimension of Outworld and protect Earthrealm from Shao Kahn. Move list Name Command Description High Green Flame  HP  Johnny Cage throws a fireball in a high arc. Low Green Flame  LP  Johnny Cage throws a fireball in a low arc. Shadow Kick  LK  Johnny Cage slides forward while kicking. Shadow Uppercut  HP  Johnny Cage flies diagonally into the air with his elbow out. Low Blow  BL + LP   LK + HK  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Johnny Cage does the splits and punches his opponent in the crotch. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Fatality 1  LP  (close) Johnny Cage tears his opponent's torso off and throws it on the ground. Fatality 2 (close) Johnny Cage does an uppercut that decapitates his opponent. Holding down + BL + LP + LK  before Cage performs the move knocks off three reappearing heads. In the Mega Drive and 32X versions, the extra decapitations cannot be performed using a three-button control pad. Stage Fatality  HK  (close) Friendship  HK  Johnny Cage signs an autograph on a picture of himself for his opponent. Babality  HK
	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  HP  + LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Reptile takes his mask off and spits a gob of acid. Slide + LK + HK  (Mega Drive/32X) + BL + LP + LK  (Saturn) Reptile slides forward with a leg sweep. Force Ball  LP + HP   LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Reptile conjures a force ball that moves across the screen and knocks the opponent down. Invisibility HOLD  BL  Reptile makes himself invisible until he is attacked. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Fatality 1  LP  (half screen away) Reptile removes his mask, revealing his reptilian head, and uses his tongue to remove and eat his opponent's head. Fatality 2  LK  (close, while invisible) Reptile cuts his opponent in half at the torso. Stage Fatality  BL  (close) Friendship  LK  Reptile advertises a Reptile doll. Babality  LK
	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  LP  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  LK  Sub-Zero shoots ice at the ground in front of him, which causes his opponent to slip uncontrollably if walked on. Slide + LK + HK  (Mega Drive/32X) + BL + LP + LK  (Saturn) Sub-Zero slides forward with a leg sweep. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Fatality 1  HK  (sweep distance), then  HP  (close)  HK  (sweep distance), then + LP  (close) (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Sub-Zero shoots a flurry of ice, deep freezing his opponent, then uppercuts the resulting ice statue, shattering the upper part of the opponent's body. Fatality 2 HOLD  LP  (full screen away) Sub-Zero throws an ice ball that causes his opponent to explode. Stage Fatality  BL  (close) Friendship  HK  Sub-Zero advertises a Sub-Zero doll. Babality  HK
	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. The Saturn version of the game has an option to allow Shang Tsung to morph into any character (which usually requires pausing gameplay to load the character from the disc), to morph only into his opponent (which has no load time), or to disable morphs entirely. Move list Name Command Description Flaming Skull  HP   LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Shang Tsung shoots a flaming skull from his hands. Two Flaming Skulls  HP  + LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Shang Tsung shoots two successive flaming skulls from his hands. Three Flaming Skulls  HP  + LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Shang Tsung shoots three successive flaming skulls from his hands. Move list (Morphs) Name Command Description Baraka  LK  Jax  HP  Johnny Cage  LP  Kitana  BL   BL   BL  Kung Lao  HK  Liu Kang  BL  Mileena Hold  HP  for 2 seconds and release Hold  LK  for 2 seconds and release (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Rayden  LK  Reptile HOLD  BL   HP  Scorpion HOLD  BL  Sub-Zero  HP  Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Fatality 1 HOLD  BL   LK  (close) Shang Tsung steals his opponent's soul. Fatality 2 Hold  HK  for 2 seconds and release (sweep distance) Shang Tsung is sucked into his opponent's mouth and explodes his opponent from the inside. Fatality 3 Hold  LP  for 30 seconds during the match Hold  LK  for 30 seconds during the match (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Shang Tsung morphs into Kintaro and splits his opponent in half at the torso with a punch. Stage Fatality  LK  (close) Friendship  LK  Shang Tsung makes a rainbow. Babality  LK
	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  LP + HP   LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Kitana throws a spinning fan like a sawblade. This move can be done in midair. Fan Swipe + HP  + LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Kitana swipes a fan in front of her. Fan Lift  HP  + LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Kitana spins her fan at the air, generating waves that can catch and lift opponents. Square Wave Punch  HP  + LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Kitana jumps into the air and shoots across the screen with her fist extended. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Fatality 1  BL   BL   BL   HK  (close) Kitana decapitates her opponent with a fan. Fatality 2 HOLD  LK  (close) Kitana gives her opponent a "kiss of death," causing the opponent to bloat and explode. Stage Fatality  HK  (close) Friendship HOLD  BL   LK  Kitana bakes a cake. Babality  LK
	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  HK  Jax throws an energy wave across the screen. Ground Pound Hold  LK  for 3 seconds and release Jax punches the ground, causing an opponent on the ground to lose balance. Gotcha Grab  LP  (close) Jax grabs his opponent by the throat and punches twice. 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  HP  during throw Jax slams his opponent against the ground. This move can be done multiple times by pressing  HP  repeatedly. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Fatality 1  BL   BL   BL   BL   LP  (closer than sweep distance) Jax rips his opponent's arms off. Fatality 2 HOLD  LP  HOLD  LK  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Jax smashes his opponent's skull by clapping his hands. Stage Fatality  LK  (close) Friendship  LK  Jax cuts a pattern of people into folded paper. Babality  LK
	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  HP  for 2 seconds and release Hold  LK  for 2 seconds and release (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Mileena throws a pair of sai across the screen. This move can be done in midair. Teleport Kick  LK  Mileena disappears, then drops from the air in front of her opponent while kicking. Roll Attack  HK  Mileena rolls quickly along the ground, knocking over her opponent on impact. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Fatality 1  LP  (close) Mileena stabs her opponent repeatedly with her sai. Fatality 2 Hold  HK  for 3 seconds and release (close) Mileena swallows her opponent then spits out a pile of bones. Stage Fatality  LK  (close) Friendship HOLD  BL   HK  Mileena plants a flower. Babality  HK
	Baraka
	A warlord belonging to a race of nomadic mutants living in the wastelands of Outworld. He is responsible for the assault on the Shaolin Monastery on the orders of Shao Kahn. Move list Name Command Description Blade Spark  HP  + LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Baraka shoots a blade across the screen. Blade Swipe + HP  + LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Baraka swipes a blade in front of him. Blade Fury  LP  Baraka kneels and repeatedly waves his blades in the air, dicing opponents caught in them. Double Kick  HK   HK  (close) Baraka does a kick that hits his opponent twice. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Fatality 1  HP  (close) + LP  (close) (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Baraka decapitates his opponent with a blade. Fatality 2  LP  (close) Baraka raises his opponent into the air with his blades, with gravity impaling the opponent. Stage Fatality  HK  (close) Friendship  HK  Baraka offers his opponent a wrapped present. Babality  HK
	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  LP  Scorpion throws a spear across the screen, then uses it to pull his opponent toward him. The opponent is momentarily stunned. Decoy Punch  HP  + LP  (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Scorpion teleports to the other side of the screen, flying in with a punch. Scissor Takedown  LK  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 1 HOLD  BL   HP  (half screen away) HOLD  BL   LP  (sweep distance) (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Scorpion removes his mask, revealing a demonic skull, and incinerates his opponent with his fire breath. Toasty! Fatality 2 Hold  HP  for 3 seconds and release (Mega Drive/32X) Hold  HK  for 3 seconds and release (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) HOLD  HP  (Saturn) Scorpion uses his spear to cut off his opponent at the head and torso. Stage Fatality  BL  (close) Friendship  HK  Scorpion advertises a Scorpion doll. Babality  HK
	Rayden
	A mystical thunder god who returns gathers the remaining warriors from the Shaolin Torunament to Outworld in order to stop Kahn's evil plans of taking Earthrealm for his own. Move list Name Command Description Lightning  LP  Rayden shoots a bolt of lightning across the screen. Flying Thunderbolt Rayden flies across the screen, grabbing and slamming his opponent against the wall. Teleport Rayden teleports to the other side of his opponent. Shock (Multiplayer only) Hold  HP  for 3 seconds and release (close) Rayden grabs and shocks his opponent. This move can only be done in two-player matches. Move list (Finishing moves) Name Command Description Fatality 1 Hold  LK  for 3 seconds, then release and  BL + LK  (close) Rayden grabs and electrocutes his opponent. Fatality 2 Hold  HP  for 8 seconds and release (close) Hold  HK  for 8 seconds and release (close) (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Rayden uppercuts his opponent, who explodes. Stage Fatality HOLD  BL   HP  (close) HOLD  BL   LP  (close) (Mega Drive/32X 3-button) Friendship  HK  Rayden conjures a diminutive clone of himself. Babality HOLD  BL   HK

Bosses

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

Kintaro was omitted from the 8-bit versions.

	Kintaro
	Shao Kahn's four-armed bodyguard, sent by his race to avenge Goro's defeat. He is the game's penultimate boss.
	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/Hidden content.

Noob Saibot was omitted from the 8-bit versions.

	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 + START  when Dan Forden pops up in the bottom-right corner of the screen and shouts "Toasty!" in the Portal stage.
	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  LK  button.
	Noob Saibot
	A dark, silhouetted ninja. He uses Scorpion's spear. Noob Saibot is fought by winning 25 two-player matches in a row.

Stages

Main article: Mortal Kombat II/Comparisons.

The stages are played in order (and loop around after the last one), with the exception of the Kahn's Arena stage, which is solely used for the boss fights with Kintaro and Shao Kahn. The Dead Pool, Kombat Tomb, and Pit II stages have stage-specific Fatalities.

The hidden characters are fought in a blue version of the Portal stage in the Mega Drive and 32X versions, in Goro's Lair (returning from the original Mortal Kombat) in the Saturn version, and in a unique stage in the 8-bit versions.

The Dead Pool

Kombat Tomb

Wasteland

The Tower

Living Forest

The Armory

The Pit II

The Portal

Kahn's Arena

History

Release

Like the first game, Mortal Kombat II was banned in Germany. Only the Game Boy version was available in the country until the game was unbanned in 2005.

Versions

Mega Drive version

The Mega Drive version was developed by Probe Entertainment. Differences from the arcade version include a limited color palette, reduced voice samples, and original game music. Gameplay speed is slightly increased. In the place of Goro's Lair is a slightly modified Portal stage, which replaces the reds and oranges with blue. The game endings have also been reduced to text which scrolls across the screen as the winning player poses in Shao Kahns Arena. There are some Easter eggs that are exclusive to this version such as the "Oooh Nasty" debug option which replaces the Dan Forden "Toasty" image with a kids drawing and gives Rayden a "Fergality" special move.

32X version

Mortal Kombat II (known as Mortal Kombat II: Kyuukyoku Shinken in Japan) was ported to the 32X by Probe Entertainment, the same company behind the Mega Drive version of the game. The original port was first released in the United States on December 4, 1994 in time for the Christmas season. A revision fixing minor programming issues and bugs that were most likely not addressed due to the Christmas deadline was released in January 1995. The game was released in Europe and Japan in 1995.

This port is built off of the Mega Drive version, and much of the game still relies on the Mega Drive hardware, with most of the backgrounds and menu graphics being rendered by the 16-bit hardware. The 32X side is used to give character sprites more colours and render more advanced shadows, which in turn frees up some more palette entries for the backgrounds on the Mega Drive side.

The 32X version enhances the sound effects to bring them more in-line with the arcade version, and adds many voice clips that were missing in its Mega Drive counterpart, namely Shao Kahn's announcing of the rounds and various screaming noises. Due to the game's tight release schedule, however, it retains the Mega Drive version's soundtrack.

The port received many lukewarm reviews due to its inferior soundtrack, but is preferred by some over the Super NES version for its tight controls.

Master System and Game Gear versions

Like the other Sega console versions, it was 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, Noob Saibot, and Kintaro. Several levels are also missing and the only level with a stage fatality is the Kombat Tomb. Each character has one fatality removed along with friendships. 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.

Saturn version

Sprite quality comparison for Shang Tsung morphs on and off

This port is essentially a conversion of the Probe Entertainment-developed DOS port (which was reprogrammed in C). A later PlayStation version was released only in Japan (it is thought it went unreleased in Western territories because of a possible conflict with the Sony-published PlayStation version of Mortal Kombat 3). Based on the Sega Saturn version, the PlayStation port includes an option to enable Shao Kahn's dialogue (such as his announcing of the rounds), and several voice samples like Kitana's death screams have been restored. This is assumed to be missing on the Sega Saturn version to benefit slightly better load times. The Sega Saturn version has an option for allowing Shang Tsung to morph to any character (which suffers from a short delay to load the character into memory from the disc) or only to his opponent. Sprites appear less detailed in matches with Shang Tsung when he is allowed to morph into anyone.

Both of these ports, however, have been received negatively by many gamers. They are widely considered to be inferior to the 16-bit ports for their lack of certain sound effects, poor load times, and occasional slowdown. The Saturn version was also released almost two and a half years after the original arcade version, so many found there to be no excuse for these issues.

In Japan, this version is known as Mortal Kombat II Kanzenban (モータルコンバットII 完全版).

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Midway Mortal Kombat Team

• Ed Boon, John Tobias, Tony Goskie, Dan Forden, John Vogel

For Probe Software

• Programmed by: David Leitch with the kind assistance of Paul Carruthers
• Graphics by: Terry Ford
• Music and SFX by: Matt Furniss, S. Hollingworth (Krisalis Software)
• Graphics Utilities: Gary Liddon, Carl Muller, Bob Armour
• Compression Programming: Nick Pelling, Greg Michael
• QA Manager: Tim Bradstock
• QA Engineers: James Stewart, Ben O'Reilly, Nick McGee
• Creative Director: Joe Bonar
• Produced by: Rob O'Farrel (Barg)
• Special Thanks to: Tiny 'Bubbles' Beckwith
• Mr Leitch's Portrait by: Alan Seagrave

Acclaim Development by The Gray Team

• Producer: Rob Leingang
• Associate Producer: Stacy Hendrickson
• Analysts: John Cirabisi, James Johnson, Joe Libertella
• Special Thanks to: Alex De Lucia, Billy Pidgeon, Diane Cambria, Eric Weiner, Steffan Levine, Shawn Rosen, Eric Kuby, Mark Mermelstein, Mike Hong, Eric Samulski

Source:

In-game credits

32X version

Midway Mortal Kombat Team

• Ed Boon, John Tobias, Tony Goskie, Dan Forden, John Vogel

For Probe Entertainment Limited

• Programmed by: Cameron Sheppard, David Leitch
• Graphics by: Terry Ford
• Music and SFX by: Matt Furniss, S. Hollingworth (Krisalis Software)
• Samples by: PC Music
• Samples Driver by: Ed Haynes
• Compression Programming: Nick Pelling, Cameron Sheppard
• QA Engineers: James Stewart, Nick McGee, Clifford Ramsey, Mark Viccary
• QA Manager: Tim Bradstock
• Produced by: Rob O'Farrel (Barg)
• Executive Producer: Tony Porter

Acclaim Development by The Gray Team

• Producer: Rob Leingang
• Associate Producer: Alex De Lucia
• Analysts: Joey Libertella, Eric Weiner, Mark Hermelstein, Steffan Levine
• Special Thanks to: Billy Pidgeon, Diane Cambria, Eric Kuby, David Sanchez, Eric Samulski

Thanks again Stacy. We'll miss you!!

Source:

In-game credits

Master System and Game Gear versions

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

Saturn version

The Probe Team

• C Conversion: Gary Liddon
• Saturn Programming: Gary Liddon, Simon Golding, Carl Muller
• Artistry: Little Kev, Blizzard, Terry Ford
• Music: PC Music
• Assistant Producer: Tim Bradstock
• QA Manager: Cliff Ramsey
• QA Engineers: Nick McGee, Mike Movel, Mark Viccary, James Brown, Michael Patrick, Robert Lewtas, Russel Wark
• Producer: Rob O'Farrell
• Special Thanks to: Cameron Sheppard, David Leitch, George Allan, Jamie Rivett, Paul Carruthers, Keith Burkhill, James Stewart, Justin Garvanovic, Mr Fish, Linford, Demi, Christie, Bliz, Dan Phillips, Dave Collins, Bubbly Beckwith, and of course, you!

Acclaim Red Team

• Producer: Billy Pidgeon
• Associate Producer: Jay Luss
• Analysts: E!, Mot
• Special Thanks: Kelly Coleman, Alex De Lucia, Eric Kuby, Jason Shreiber, Eric Samulski

Acclaim QA

• Senior Manager: Mike Weiner
• Supervisors: Adam Ingberman, Carol Caracciolo
• Tech Support: Harry Reimer, Howard Perlman, John Gonzales, Robert Coffey
• Lead Analyst: Mike Hong
• Game Analyst: Jeff Zentil
• Game Testers: Robert Asche, Andre Abramowitz, Art Scheffer, Mat Kraemer, Eric Zilberman

Mortal Kombat II Design Team

• Design and Software: Ed Boon
• Design and Graphics: John Tobias
• Sounds and Music: Dan Forden
• Background Graphics: Tony Goskie
• Additional Graphics: John Vogel
• Executive Producers: Neil Nicastro, Ken Fedesna
• Senior Hardware Technician: Sheridan Oursler
• Hardware Design: Ray Macika, Pat Cox, Cary Mednick, Ray Gay, Al Lask
• OCS Sound System: Matt Booty, Ed Keenan, John Lowes
• Speech: Steve Ritchie, Jon Hey, Vince Pontarelli, Dan (Toasty) Forden, Ed Boon
• Shao Kahn Costume: Mark Runyon
• Special Thanks to: Mark Penacho, George Petro, Shawn Liptak, Warren Davis, Bill Dabelstein, Jeff Johnson, Mark Turmell, Sal DiVita, Jason Skiles, Paul Dussault, Roger Sharpe, Eric Kinkead, Jake Gimpson, Steve Beran, Paul Barker, John McCaffer, Lee Schiff, Jin Im, The Internet Guys
• Game Testers/Specialists: Eddie Ferrier

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Mortal Kombat II/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Mortal Kombat II/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 80 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 70 Consoles + (FR) 92 Cool Gamer (RU) 90 Computer & Video Games (UK) 97 Edge (UK) 80 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 73 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 80 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10 (RU) 100 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 73 Game Players (US) 92 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 92 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 88 GamePro (DE) PAL 67 GamesMaster (UK) PAL 94 Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL 91 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 78 Joker (SI) 94 Joypad (FR) PAL 88 MAN!AC (DE) PAL 80 Mega (UK) PAL 88 Mega Force (FR) PAL 91 Megazin (SI) 91 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 94 Player One (FR) 94 Power Up! (UK) 93 Score (CZ) 78 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 96 Sega Power (UK) PAL 94 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 97 Sega Mega Drive Review (RU) 92 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 80 Todo Sega (ES) 92 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 96 Video Games (DE) PAL 73 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 70

	87
Based on 36 reviews

Mortal Kombat II

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, SE rental (SF)
Cover

Mega Drive, GR (Zegetron)
Cart

Mega Drive, AU
Cover

Mega Drive, AU (alt)
Cover

Mega Drive, AU (Sega Platinum Collection)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, ZA
Cover
Cart

32X version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source GamesMaster (UK) 88

	88
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score CD Consoles (FR) PAL 48 Consoles + (FR) 93 Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL 93 Digitiser (UK) 90 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 100 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 55 GameFan (US) NTSC-U 91 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 76 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 58 Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL 91 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 89 HiTech (ES) PAL 70 Mega (UK) PAL 84 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 92 Next Generation (US) NTSC-U 50 Player One (FR) 92 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 65 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 93 Sega Power (UK) PAL 90 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 95 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 92 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 70 Todo Sega (ES) 93 Top Consoles (FR) 80 Ultimate Future Games (UK) PAL 81 VideoGames (US) 90

	82
Based on 26 reviews

Mortal Kombat II

32X, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

32X, US
Cover
Cart Manual

32X, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

32X, PT

32X, AU
Cover

32X, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score CD Consoles (FR) 60 Consoles + (FR) 75 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 58 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 48 GameFan (US) 46 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 75 GamePro (UK) 82 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 67 Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL 82 Intelligent Gamer's Fusion (US) NTSC-U 67 Joypad (FR) 83 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 88 Next Generation (US) NTSC-U 50 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 64 Saturn+ (UK) PAL 90 Sega Power (UK) PAL 89 Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL 93 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 63 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 58 Todo Sega (ES) 85 Ultimate Gamer (US) 80 Última Generación (ES) 76 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 60

	71
Based on 23 reviews

Mortal Kombat II

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc

Saturn, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Saturn, EU
Cover
Disc

Saturn, PT
Cover
Disc

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Mortal Kombat II

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart

Master System, PT
Cover

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (OFLC stickers)
Cover

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual Poster

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Mortal Kombat II

Game Gear, JP
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, PT

Game Gear, GR (Zegetron)
Cart

Game Gear, AU

Technical information

Main article: Mortal Kombat II/Technical information.