Mortal Kombat 3

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Master System
  • Game Gear

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MK3 SMS Title.png

MortalKombat3 GG Title.png

Mortal Kombat 3
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Williams Entertainment (US)
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Game Gear
Acclaim Entertainment (EU)
Sega Master System
Tec Toy
Developer:
Distributor:
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Game Gear
Roadshow Interactive (AU)
Developer(s) of original games: Midway Manufacturing
Sound driver: GEMS
Peripherals supported:
Sega Mega Drive
Six Button Control Pad
Sega Game Gear
Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Action[1]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
T-97116
ESRB: Mature
Sega Mega Drive
EU
T-81536-50
ELSPA: 15+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
PT
MDJ20944
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£59.9959.99[4] T-81536-50
ELSPA: 15+ OK
Sega Mega Drive
AU
OFLC: M15
Sega Mega Drive
BR
050010
Tectoy: 18+
Sega Mega Drive
ZA
Sega Master System
BR
R$39.9939.99 028730
Tectoy: 18+
Sega Game Gear
EU
T-81368-50
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Sega Game Gear
UK
T-81368-50
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Non-Sega versions

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.

MK3 MD Portraits.png
Shang Tsung
Missing in the 8-bit versions.
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Sindel
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Jax (Major Jackson Briggs)
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Kano
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Liu Kang
Missing in the 8-bit versions.
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Sonya (Blade)
MK3 MD Portraits.png
(Kurtis) Styker
Missing in the 8-bit versions.
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Sub-Zero
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Cyrax (LK-4D4)
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Sektor (LK-9T9)
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Nightwolf
Missing in the 8-bit versions.
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Sheeva
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Kung Lao
Missing in the 8-bit versions.
MK3 MD Portraits.png
Kabal
Motaro
Shao Khan
MK3 MD Portraits.png
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
Source:
In-game credits
Mortal Kombat 3 MD credits.pdf
[6]

Master System and Game Gear 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
Source:
In-game credits
Mortal Kombat 3 SMS credits.pdf
[7]

Magazine articles

Main article: Mortal Kombat 3/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Print advert in EGM² (US) #15: "September 1995" (1995-0x-xx)
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DNR 19 RU MK3 advert.png
Print advert in Dendy:Novaya real'nost' (RU) #19 (1995-08-17)
DNR 19 RU MK3 advert.png
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #75: "October 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Game Players (US) #0811: "Vol. 8 No. 11 November 1995" (1995-1x-xx)
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Print advert in Consoles + (FR) #48: "Novembre 1995" (1995-1x-xx)
also published in:
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Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in AS Magazin-Video Igrice (YU) #15: "Novembar 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #77: "December 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Hyper (AU) #25: "December 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
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Notavailable.svg
Print advert in Svet Kompjutera (YU) #136: "Januar 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
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Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Strana Igr (RU) #1 (1996-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92 №34, p40/41
Sega Mega Drive
92
Based on
1 review
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
[3]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
95
[4]
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]
Sega Mega Drive
88
Based on
28 reviews

Mortal Kombat 3

Mega Drive, US
MK3 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
MK3 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mortal Kombat 3 MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
MK3 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
MK3 MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
MortalKombat3 MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
MK3 MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, FR

Mortal Kombat 3 MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, PT
MK3 MD PT cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU
MK3 MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
MK3 MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
MK3 MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Mortalkombat3 md br manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, ZA
MK3 MD ZA Box.jpg
Cover
MK3 MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Master System, BR
MK3 SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Mk3 sms br cart.jpg
Cart
MK3 SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Sega Game Gear
N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Mortal Kombat 3

Game Gear, EU
MK3 GG EU Box Back.jpgMortalKombat3 GG EU BoxSpine.jpgMK3 GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
MK3 GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
MortalKombat3 GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Game Gear, AU

Technical information

Main article: Mortal Kombat 3/Technical information.

External links

References

  1. File:MK3 GG EU Box Back.jpg
  2. EGM², "September 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 21
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sega Magazine, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-12), page 92
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Sega Power, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-21), page 32
  5. Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-26), page 12
  6. File:Mortal Kombat 3 MD credits.pdf
  7. File:Mortal Kombat 3 SMS credits.pdf
  8. Consoles +, "Février 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 129
  9. Strana Igr, "Mart 1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 87
  10. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 137
  11. Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1996-xx-xx), page 18
  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
  16. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 10: October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 17
  17. GamePro, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 78
  18. GamePro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-xx), page 61
  19. Game Informer, "October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 10
  20. Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 70
  21. Joypad, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-11-03), page 52
  22. Mean Machines Sega, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-29), page 86
  23. Next Generation, "November 1995" (US; 1995-10-24), page 187
  24. Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 68
  25. Players, "Nov 95" (BR; 1995-xx-xx), page 38
  26. Random Access (UK) (+0:00)
  27. Secret Service, "Grudzień 1995" (PL; 1995-12-xx), page 24
  28. Sega Pro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-05), page 36
  29. Sega Pro, "July 1996" (UK; 1996-05-xx), page 22
  30. Sega Mega Drive Review, "2" (RU; 1996-01-03), page 81
  31. Sega Megazone, "Summer '95/'96" (AU; 1995-xx-xx), page 34
  32. Super Juegos, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 50
  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
  35. VideoGames, "October 1995" (US; 1995-09-19), page 81


Mortal Kombat 3

MK3 Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


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

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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)