Mortal Kombat 3

n/a

Mega Drive Master System Game Gear
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
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code US 1995-10-13 T-97116 EU 1995-10 T-81536-50 PT 1995 MDJ20944 UK 1995-10 £59.9959.99 T-81536-50 AU 1995 BR 1995 050010 ZA 199x BR 1996-12 R$39.9939.99 028730 EU 1996 T-81368-50 UK 1996 T-81368-50
Non-Sega versions Arcade IBM PC PlayStation Super NES Windows PC

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, 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

Source:

In-game credits

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

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 (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)

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)

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)

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source GamesMaster (UK) 92 №34, p40/41

	92
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 80 Alaab Alcomputtar (SA) 96 Consoles + (FR) 92 Cool Gamer (RU) 90 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 80 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10 (RU) 100 GameFan (US) NTSC-U 91 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 68 GamePro (UK) 88 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 86 Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL 94 Joypad (FR) 92 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 93 Next Generation (US) NTSC-U 75 Player One (FR) 90 Players (BR) 63 Random Access (UK) 90 Secret Service (PL) 95 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 94 Sega Power (UK) PAL 95 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 96 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 93 Sega Mega Drive Review (RU) 86 Sega Megazone (AU) 92 Super Juegos (ES) 94 Todo Sega (ES) 95 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 97 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 60

	88
Based on 28 reviews

Mortal Kombat 3

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, FR
Manual

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, AU
Cover

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, ZA
Cover
Cart

Master System version

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Mortal Kombat 3

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, AU

Technical information

Main article: Mortal Kombat 3/Technical information.

External links

• Sega of America webpage: Mega Drive