Mortal Kombat
From Sega Retro
Mortal Kombat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Arena Entertainment (US/EU) Acclaim Japan (JP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Probe Software, Grey Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Licensor: Midway Manufacturing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Original system(s): Arcade boards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sound driver: Krisalis sound driver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad Gear-to-Gear Cable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Action[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1-2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mortal Kombat (モータルコンバット), also known as Mortal Kombat Kanzen-ban (モータルコンバット完全版) on the Mega-CD in Japan, is a 1992 arcade fighting game by Midway Manufacturing. 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 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 Entertainment simultaneously 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.
Contents
Gameplay
Like in most fighting games, crouches,
jumps,
and
flip back and forward respectively. All characters have punches and kicks that can either be aimed high or low, and a block button. Using a three-button controller
and
+
do low and high punches, respectively,
and
do low and high kicks, also respectively, and START blocks. Six-button controllers have
and
assigned for punches,
and
for kicks,
and
for blocking. In the 8-bit versions
punches and
kicks; block is assigned to START in the Game Gear version, and
+
in the Master System version. 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.
Characters
96px | Johnny Cage |
---|---|
96px | Kano |
96px | Liu Kang |
96px | Rayden |
96px | Scorpion |
96px | Sonya Blade |
96px | Sub-Zero |
96px | Goro |
Penultimate enemy; non-playable. | |
96px | Shang Tsung |
Final enemy; non-playable. |
History
Release
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.
The release of the game caused big controversy in Germany. Initially, all versions of the game went on sale in Germany due to the fact that they were censored. USK detected that the Sega version of the game have a code to unlock the blood so it was decided to withdraw all copies of the game from Germany and banning the game. In 2005, the game disappeared from the list of banned games.
Legacy
Mortal Kombat was followed by Mortal Kombat II in the following year, and continues to see sequels to this day.
Versions
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 music was also rearranged by Matt Furniss, this arrangement being unique to this port.
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. Curiously this version uses fighting music track from Amiga port when fighting Shang Tsung.
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. It includes only Goro's Lair and The Pit stages, the latter having stage fatality removed. The music is based on Allister Brimble's arrangement, the arrangement shared with PC Floppy and Game Boy ports.
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.
Screenshots
- Main article: Mortal Kombat/Comparisons.
Production credits
Mega Drive version
- 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
- 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
- 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
Mega-CD version
- 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
- Design and Software: Ed Boon
- Design and Graphics: John Tobias
- Music and Sounds: Dan Forden
- Background Graphics: John Vogel
- 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
- Producer: Rob Leingang
- Associate Producer: Stacy Hendrickson
- Analysts: Alex DeLucia, Joe Libertella, James Johnson
- Special Thanks to: Eric Samulski, Wang Lee, -
Master System and Game Gear versions
- 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 Miniature 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
- Producer: Rob Leingang
- Associate Producer: Stacy Hendrickson
- Analysts: Tyrone Miller, Joe Libertella, Tom Rademacher, Jim MK Fink
- Special Thanks to: Eric
Magazine articles
- Main article: Mortal Kombat/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
- Main article: Mortal Kombat/Promotional material.
Physical scans
Mega Drive version
83 | |
---|---|
Based on 47 reviews |
Mega-CD version
Sega Retro Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
74 | |
---|---|
Based on 24 reviews |
Mega-CD, PT |
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|
Master System version
Sega Retro Average | ||||
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|
N/A | |
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Based on 0 reviews |
Game Gear version
Sega Retro Average | ||||
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|
N/A | |
---|---|
Based on 0 reviews |
Game Gear, PT |
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|
Technical information
- Main article: Mortal Kombat/Technical information.
References
- ↑ File:MK MD JP Box.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
- ↑ File:MK GG EU Box Back.jpg
- ↑ File:MK GG JP Box Front.jpg
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/soft_licensee.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-01-01 20:24)
- ↑ File:MK MCD JP Box Back.jpg
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/mcd/soft_licensee.html (Wayback Machine: 2019-06-10 17:56)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Beep! MegaDrive, "June 1994" (JP; 1994-05-07), page 11
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 GamePro, "September 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 7
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Computer & Video Games, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 48
- ↑ Mega, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-16), page 47
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 MAN!AC, "11/93" (DE; 1993-xx-xx), page 58
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Jogos Vídeo, "Dezembro de 1993; Ano 1, Nº 2'"`UNIQ--ref-0000000C-QINU`"'" (PT; 1993-12-xx), page 27
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Sega Pro, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-09), page 34
- ↑ MAN!AC, "11/93" (DE; 1993-xx-xx), page 79
- ↑ Sega Force Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 59
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 177
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Mean Machines Sega, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-30), page 74
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Sega Power, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-05-05), page 44
- ↑ Sega Pro, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 47
- ↑ File:Mortal Kombat MD credits.pdf
- ↑ File:MortalKombat MCD JP SSEnding.pdf
- ↑ File:Mortal Kombat SMS credits.pdf
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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)
- ↑ Game Informer, "September/October 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 36
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ GamesMaster, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-28), page 66
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Player One, "Juin 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 96
- ↑ Sega Magazine, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 92
- ↑ 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
Mortal Kombat | |
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Main page | Comparisons | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Promotional material | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs
Prototypes: Prototype B
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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) | 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) |
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