The Fun Factor 6.18.07: Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Posted by Cory Moore on 06.18.2007
FINISH HIM!
I'm approaching six months writing "The Fun Factor" here at 411, and the other day it dawned on me: I haven't covered a single competitive fighting game yet.
There's a variety of reasons, of course. First, I used to trade games like crazy and only kept a handful of fighters in the process. Then, there's the fact that I haven't sat down with a new-school fighter like Soul Caliber for any extensive amount of time, so I couldn't really do one of those games justice. Those two factors didn't exactly make harmony with my column schedule, which was already filled with games that held higher priority in my plans.
The other day, though, I made it a point to rummage through my bin of Playstation 1 games still in my possession, and was delighted to find I held on to one of my favorite fighters of all time. So without further ado…
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Playstation, Saturn, Nintendo 64
1996
The Legacy
Hands down, Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat were two of the most influential fighting titles in the early ‘90s. While Street Fighter attracted casual gamers with its flashy moves and simple gameplay, Mortal Kombat was targeted towards the edgy, experienced player. Its inclusion of blood, gore, and finishing moves sparked controversy long before CJ on Grand Theft Auto formed his first gang. In a time when video games were pure and mostly marketed towards kids, Mortal Kombat was truly groundbreaking.
The first installment in the series laid the groundwork for what the franchise would become. Blood poured from each hit and spines were being ripped from opponents' bodies left and right. Mortal Kombat II mixed a moodier feel with light-hearted elements, such as finishing moves that consisted of making nice with enemies (Friendship) or turning them into toddlers (Babality). Mortal Kombat III all but ditched the oriental vibe of the first titles by opting for a more western identity, and also incorporated chain combos more heavily into fighting success.
I chose Mortal Kombat Trilogy as the focus because it was the last of the 2-D MK games and the pinnacle of what gamers had come to expect from the series. It is not a compilation as the name suggests, rather a full-fledged experience based around the best elements from MK 1-3, including every character previously featured in the 2-D series.
You want ninjas? You got lots to choose from.
The Fun Factor
So, what exactly made Mortal Kombat a household name in the ‘90s? Some say it was the violence controversy, where parents wanted the game banned and kids wanted to get their hands on it to see what the fuss was all about. Others like to compare Mortal Kombat to Street Fighter II, and for good reason. They were both released around the same time, both were monster hits in the arcade, and both are very competitive. But in all honesty, Mortal Kombat has its own identity, and that identity is what makes the series unique to this day.
First of all, Mortal Kombat's evolving fighting style became a mold that separated the game from the rest of the pack. At first, the series followed a basic pattern of four-to-six-button maneuvers to pull off special attacks. As Mortal Kombat progressed, more complex patterns were included, making for a wild time on offense and defense. Elements such as eleven-hit combos target experienced veterans of the game, and make MK's block button one of the most crucial components of the series. This style differs from Street Fighter's classic, simplistic fighting nature. Neither is really superior to the other, in my opinion, because they both executed their intentions well. But they're at opposite sides of the spectrum, for sure.
Another fun part of Mortal Kombat's gameplay is the inclusion of Fatalities, the appropriate name given to the game's finishing moves. While you have to frantically mash buttons in perfect succession to pull one off, Fatalities are a real treat to watch. It is still perversely entertaining to witness Scorpion pulling off his mask and spewing fire onto his opponents until they explode. When Johnny Cage gives his opponent an autographed photo for his ego-induced Friendship finisher, you can't help but laugh. At that moment, you know this game has a special quality to it.
Interactive environments are pretty standard in today's 3-D realm, but Mortal Kombat pulls it off the best as far as 2-D goes. Uppercutting someone through the ceiling of a subway to the street above may not be realistic, but it produces a gasp and a cheer every time. The same goes for finishing your opponent on a bed of spikes that lies below the stage named The Pit. One of the best things about MK Trilogy? It is the only game in the 2-D MK series to have a stage select, so you can choose from almost any of your favorite Kombat grounds. Sweet.
The 411
Mortal Kombat excels in many areas, but it's the little details that make this fighting series great. From unique personalities to environments that fit the mood of Mortal Kombat perfectly, gamers still flock to the series to quench their fighting thirst. Mortal Kombat may not have adapted to the 3-D realm very well (though recent releases are better than the early ones), but the series will always hold a legacy in the 2-D fighting realm.
While you can't find MK Trilogy stocked on the shelves of Gamestop anymore, you can still nab it on eBay for a relatively low price tag. Or, you can always check out the closely-related Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, which has been released on Xbox Live Arcade and packaged with MK: Armageddon for the PS2.
