Mortal Kombat 3

n/a

Mortal Kombat 3

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear

Publisher:

Williams Entertainment (US)

Acclaim Entertainment (EU)

Tec Toy

Developer: Midway Manufacturing

Sculptured Software

Software Creations

Distributor:

Roadshow Interactive (AU)

Developer(s) of original games: Midway Manufacturing

Sound driver: GEMS

Peripherals supported:

Six Button Control Pad

Gear-to-Gear Cable

Genre: Action^[1]

Number of players: 1-2

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1995-10-13^[4]		T-97116
EU	1995-10^[2]^[3]		T-81536-50
PT	1995		MDJ20944
AU	1995
BR	1995		050010
BR	1996-12	R$39.9939.99	028730
EU	1996		T-81368-50

Non-Sega versions
Arcade IBM PC PlayStation Super NES Windows PC

ESRB

ELSPA

OFLC

Tectoy

Mortal Kombat 3 is a fighting game and is the sequel to Mortal Kombat II. It was initially released in arcades in 1995, though was brought to the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear, DOS and Windows-based PCs, the Game Boy, PlayStation and the Super Nintendo in the following years. The Sega Master System version of the game was an exclusive Brazilian release by Tec Toy and is mostly identical to the Game Gear version, save the larger resolution.

Unlike Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3 did not appear on the Sega Saturn. Bernie Stolar (in his pre-Sega days) secured a six-month exclusivity deal for the PlayStation, and while a Saturn version was eventually announced by GT Interactive Software for release in early 1996^[5], it is thought to have been dropped in favour of the updated Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.

Story

Using the Outworld Tournament from Mortal Kombat II as a diversion, Shao Kahn's forces have invaded Earth, and it is up to Raiden's chosen warriors to stop him.

Gameplay

The game plays much like its prequels Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II, although with several new additions to the gameplay. After selecting a character, players can choose a 'tower', which determines the order and number of opponents fought before reaching the final opponent, Shao Kahn. Before each fight, if two players enter a certain sequence of codes before the fight begins, a code will be activated, enabling one of several different effects, such as the disabling of certain moves, having the winner of the match skip directly to one of the final opponents, or starting a mini-game.

A combo system is also introduced in this game, with the game displaying the number of hits and damage inflicted with each one performed. All characters have their own specific combo string performed by hitting a certain sequence of buttons while close to the opponent. Characters are also now able to run towards each other with the use of a dedicated button, although use of this move is limited by a meter displayed under the character's health bar.

Characters get two fatalities, a friendship, and a babality each, with a new kind of finishing move known as an Animality introduced, where the character will transform into an animal before killing off the defeated opponent.

Characters

Mortal Kombat 3 makes significant changes to the game's cast, with even returning characters such as Sub-Zero sporting a very different look. Most notably, Mortal Kombat 3 takes some steps to reduce the number of palette-swapped characters - only the "cybenetic ninja" robots share sprites. MK3 is also notable for omitting fan-favourite Scorpion.

	Shang Tsung
	Missing in the 8-bit versions.
	Sindel

	Jax (Major Jackson Briggs)

	Kano

	Liu Kang
	Missing in the 8-bit versions.
	Sonya (Blade)

	(Kurtis) Styker
	Missing in the 8-bit versions.
	Sub-Zero

	Cyrax (LK-4D4)

	Sektor (LK-9T9)

	Nightwolf
	Missing in the 8-bit versions.
	Sheeva

	Kung Lao
	Missing in the 8-bit versions.
	Kabal

	Motaro

	Shao Khan

	Smoke
	Unlockable character Smoke was kept a secret in the arcade version, but is openly talked about in the Mega Drive port's manual.
	Noob Saibot

Versions

Despite being the more technically advanced game, the Mega Drive Mortal Kombat 3 is a closer match to its arcade counterpart than its two immediate predecessors, Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II were to theirs. The port is again limited by the lack of on-screen colours, and much lower sound quality than the arcade version, however the latter also applies to the Super NES port, whose sound is noticeably more muffled than other versions of the game.

Some of the finer details in the Mega Drive version, such as the HUD and menus (not to mention the larger resolution), are more accurate than on the Super NES, however while the Mega Drive version retains more of the arcade game's character animation, the larger colour palette of the Super NES generally leads to a better looking game. Content-wise the two are identical.

The Master System and Game Gear versions, however, are severely stripped down, with fewer playable characters, far fewer frames of animation and fewer moves. In contrast to the 8-bit Sega ports of Mortal Kombat II, there are virtually no backgrounds in Mortal Kombat 3, no voice samples, and in the Game Gear version, no in-game music when fighting.

Release in Germany

Like the previous games, the third game was banned and the only available version was the one on Game Boy. In 2005, the game was unbanned.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

MK3 Cast of Characters

Kano and Kabal: Rich Divizio
Sonya: Kerri Hoskins
Jax: John Parrish
Kung Lao: Tony Marquez
Stryker: Michael O'Brien
Sub-Zero and Shang Tsung: John Turk
Sindel: Lia Montelongo
Liu Kang: Eddie Wong
Nightwolf and Sektor: Sal DiVita
Cyrax and Smoke: Sal DiVita
Shao Kahn: Brian Glynn

Midway MK3 Design Team

Ed Boon, John Tobias, Steve Beran, Dan Forden, Tony Goskie, Dave Michicich, John Vogel

Sculptured Software Development Team

Lead Programmer: Jim Henn
Programmers: Patrick Alphonso, Mike Crandall, Paul Blagay
Art Manager: Gary Penacho
Sound and Drivers: Chris Braymen, Roy Wilkins
Artists: Neil Melville, Jeff Knight, Mary Scriven, Mike Lott, Kent Barney
Art Conversion: Jim 'Crash' Jung
Director: Jeff Peters
Development Tools: Ned Martin, Adam Clayton, Jim Henn, Rob Nelson, Mike Callahan, Patrick Alphonso
Testing Manager: Gary Rowberry
Night Shift Manager: Garon Galloway
Graveyard Shift Manager: Chandler Holbrook
Game Testers: John Howa, Scott Hanks, Chris Olsen, Ben Nielson, Greg Murphy, Ryan McBride, David Hanks, Ryan Milligan, Jason Humphrey, Tristan Bracken
Special Thanks to: John Blackburn, Todd Blackburn, Scott Perras, Altair Lane, Kevin Alphonso, Leanne Hornbuckle, Bill Trail, Chad Korb, Amy the Dither Monkey

Williams Entertainment Team

Manual Design and Production: Debbie Austin, Steve High, Shawn Murphy
Quality Control: Brian Johnson, Williams Entertainment Testing

Game Gear and Master System versions

Midway MK3 Design Team

Ed Boon, John Tobias, Steve Beran, Dan Forden, Tony Goskie, Dave Michicich, John Vogel

Mortal Kombat 3 Team

Programming: Mike Ager
Graphics: Haydn Dalton
Producing: Marc Dawson

Unbeatable Kombat Masters

Chris Brooks, Paul Essue, Craig Dobson, Simon Hundleby

Many Thanks Go To

For Game Info: John Tao
Technical Assistance: Paul Lee

Magazine articles

Main article: Mortal Kombat 3/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in EGM² (US) #15: "September 1995" (1995-0x-xx)

Print advert in Dendy Novaya real'nost' (RU) #19: "xxxx xxxx" (1995-08-17)

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #75: "October 1995" (1995-xx-xx)

Print advert in Game Players (US) #0811: "Vol. 8 No. 11 November 1995" (1995-1x-xx)

Print advert in Consoles + (FR) #48: "Novembre 1995" (1995-1x-xx)
also published in:

Consoles + (FR) #51: "Février 1996" (1996-0x-xx)^[6]

Print advert in AS Magazin-Video Igrice (YU) #15: "Novembar 1995" (1995-xx-xx)

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #77: "December 1995" (1995-xx-xx)

Print advert in Hyper (AU) #25: "December 1995" (1995-xx-xx)

120x120px

Print advert in Svet Kompjutera (YU) #136: "Januar 1996" (1996-xx-xx)

Print advert in Strana Igr (RU) #1 (1996-xx-xx)
also published in:

Strana Igr (RU) #2: "Mart 1996" (1996-xx-xx)^[7]

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

80

^[10]

Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)

96

^[11]

Consoles + (FR)

92

^[12]

Cool Gamer (RU)

90

^[13]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)

80

^[14]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10 (RU)

100

^[15]

GameFan (US)

NTSC-U

91

^[16]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

68

^[17]

GamePro (UK)

88

^[18]

Game Informer (US)

NTSC-U

86

^[19]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

PAL

94

^[20]

Joypad (FR)

92

^[21]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

93

^[22]

Next Generation (US)

NTSC-U

75

^[23]

Player One (FR)

90

^[24]

Players (BR)

63

^[25]

Random Access (UK)

90

^[26]

Secret Service (PL)

95

^[27]

Sega Magazine (UK)

PAL

94

^[2]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

95

^[3]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

96

^[28]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

93

^[29]

Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)

86

^[30]

Sega Megazone (AU)

92

^[31]

Super Juegos (ES)

94

^[32]

Todo Sega (ES)

95

^[33]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

97

^[34]

VideoGames (US)

NTSC-U

60

^[35]

	88
Based on 28 reviews

Mortal Kombat 3

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, FR

Manual

Mega Drive, ZA
Cover
Cart

Master System version

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Version	Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Mortal Kombat 3

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

✔

CRC32	dd638af6
MD5	4cca5c00ad312409791123258967d216
SHA-1	55cdcba77f7fcd9994e748524d40c98089344160

4MB

1995-07

Cartridge (US)

✔

CRC32	af6de3e8
MD5	37bc95d82b0c4550e4c28cd3c7a6190b
SHA-1	7f555d647972fee4e86b66e840848e91082f9c2d

4MB

1995-08

Cartridge (EU)

✔

CRC32	395ae757
MD5	3ba73c09f35ea91bf36cd0b01bc1c044
SHA-1	f1f43f57982dd22caa8869a85b1a05fa61c349dd

512kB

Cartridge (BR)

?

CRC32	c2be62bb
MD5	034cc8983558b3e42a4b9c2217d1bb68
SHA-1	034ecd615609efb4d96669dda7f32f546d5782f8

512kB

Cartridge (EU)

References

↑ File:MK3 GG EU Box Back.jpg
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Sega Magazine, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-12), page 92
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Sega Power, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-21), page 32
↑ EGM², "September 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 21
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-26), page 12
↑ Consoles +, "Février 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 129
↑ Strana Igr, "Mart 1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 87
↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 94-97 (94)
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-29), page 86/87 (86)
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 137
↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1996-xx-xx), page 18
↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 94
↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 132
↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 336
↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10, "" (RU; 2003-10-08), page 96
↑ GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 10: October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 17
↑ GamePro, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 78
↑ GamePro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-xx), page 61
↑ Game Informer, "October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 10
↑ Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 70
↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-11-03), page 52
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-29), page 86
↑ Next Generation, "November 1995" (US; 1995-10-24), page 187
↑ Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 68
↑ Players, "Nov 95" (BR; 1995-xx-xx), page 38
↑ Random Access (UK) (+0:00)
↑ Secret Service, "Grudzień 1995" (PL; 1995-12-xx), page 24
↑ Sega Pro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-05), page 36
↑ Sega Pro, "July 1996" (UK; 1996-05-xx), page 22
↑ Sega Mega Drive Review, "2" (RU; 1996-01-03), page 81
↑ Sega Megazone, "Summer '95/'96" (AU; 1995-xx-xx), page 34
↑ Super Juegos, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 50
↑ Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1995" (ES; 1995-1x-xx), page 38
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 120
↑ VideoGames, "October 1995" (US; 1995-09-19), page 81

Mortal Kombat 3

Books: Biblioteka Zhurnala "Tricks": Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) | Mortal Kombat 3 (1996) | Nebityy - serebryanyy, bityy - zolotoy (1996) | Mortal Kombat 3 (199x)

Mortal Kombat games for Sega systems
	Mortal Kombat (1993) \| Mortal Kombat II (No results?) \| 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 (No results?)
	Mortal Kombat II (No results?) \| Mortal Kombat 3 (unreleased) \| Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1996) \| Mortal Kombat Trilogy (1997)
	Mortal Kombat Gold (1999)
Unlicensed Mortal Kombat games for Sega systems
Mortal Kombat 5 (1999)

[:File:MK3_GG_EU_Box_Back.jpg_p-1] File:MK3 GG EU Box Back.jpg

[:File:SegaMagazine_UK_22.pdf_p92-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Sega Magazine, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-12), page 92

[:File:SegaPower_UK_72.pdf_p32-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Sega Power, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-21), page 32

[:File:EGM2_US_15.pdf_p21-4] EGM², "September 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 21

[:File:SSM_UK_01.pdf_p12-5] Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-26), page 12

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_051.pdf_p129-6] Consoles +, "Février 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 129

[:File:Strana_igr_02.pdf_p87-7] Strana Igr, "Mart 1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 87

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_048.pdf_p94_.2894-97.29-8] Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 94-97 (94)

[:File:MeanMachinesSega37UK.pdf_p86_.2886.2F87.29-9] Mean Machines Sega, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-29), page 86/87 (86)

[10] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 137

[:File:AlaabAlcomputtar_SA_4.pdf_p18-11] Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1996-xx-xx), page 18

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_048.pdf_p94-12] Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 94

[13] Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 132

[14] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 336

[15] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10, "" (RU; 2003-10-08), page 96

[:File:GameFan_US_0310.pdf_p17-16] GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 10: October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 17

[:File:GamePro_US_076.pdf_p78-17] GamePro, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 78

[:File:GamePro_UK_03.pdf_p61-18] GamePro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-xx), page 61

[:File:GameInformer_US_030.pdf_p10-19] Game Informer, "October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 10

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_049.pdf_p70-20] Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 70

[:File:Joypad_FR_047.pdf_p52-21] Joypad, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-11-03), page 52

[:File:MeanMachinesSega37UK.pdf_p86-22] Mean Machines Sega, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-29), page 86

[:File:NextGeneration_US_11.pdf_p187-23] Next Generation, "November 1995" (US; 1995-10-24), page 187

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_058.pdf_p68-24] Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 68

[:File:Players_BR_01.pdf_p38-25] Players, "Nov 95" (BR; 1995-xx-xx), page 38

[randomaccess1995-10-30-26] Random Access (UK) (+0:00)

[27] Secret Service, "Grudzień 1995" (PL; 1995-12-xx), page 24

[:File:SegaPro_UK_51.pdf_p36-28] Sega Pro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-05), page 36

[:File:SegaPro_UK_59.pdf_p22-29] Sega Pro, "July 1996" (UK; 1996-05-xx), page 22

[:File:Sega_Mega_Drive_Review_2_RU.pdf_p81-30] Sega Mega Drive Review, "2" (RU; 1996-01-03), page 81

[:File:Megazone_AU_56.pdf_p34-31] Sega Megazone, "Summer '95/'96" (AU; 1995-xx-xx), page 34

[:File:SuperJuegos_ES_042.pdf_p50-32] Super Juegos, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 50

[:File:TodoSega_ES_33.pdf_p38-33] Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1995" (ES; 1995-1x-xx), page 38

[34] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 120

[:File:VideoGames_US_81.pdf_p81-35] VideoGames, "October 1995" (US; 1995-09-19), page 81

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Mortal Kombat 3

From Sega Retro

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Characters

Versions

Release in Germany

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Game Gear and Master System versions

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Master System version

Game Gear version

Technical information

ROM dump status

References