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| Mortal Kombat 3 | |
|---|---|
 Cover art for the home versions | |
| Developer | Midway[a] |
| Publishers | Midway
|
| Designers | Ed Boon John Tobias |
| Programmer | Ed Boon |
| Artists | John Tobias Steve Beran Tony Goskie |
| Composer | Dan Forden |
| Series | Mortal Kombat |
| Platform | |
| Release | |
| Genre | Fighting |
| Modes | Single-player,multiplayer |
| Arcade system | Midway Wolf Unit hardware |
Mortal Kombat 3 is a 1995fighting game developed and published byMidway forarcades. It was later ported to several home systems, including theSega Genesis,Super Nintendo Entertainment System,Game Boy andPlayStation. It is the third main installment in theMortal Kombat franchise, and a sequel to 1993'sMortal Kombat II. As in the previous games, it has a cast of characters that players choose from and guide through a series of battles against other opponents. The game avoids the tournament storyline of its predecessors, as various warriors instead fight against the returningShao Kahn, who has resurrected his brideSindel and started an invasion ofEarthrealm.
Mortal Kombat 3 retains the blood and gory attacks that defined the series, and also introduces new types ofFatality finishing moves, includingAnimalities. Other features new to the series arecombos, predefined sequences used to perform a series of consecutive attacks.The new "Run" button allows players to briefly dash toward the opponent, and the new "Kombat Kodes" system allows players to enter various symbols before two-player matches tounlock certain additional features of the game.
Mortal Kombat 3 was a commercial success and received generally positive reviews, but drew criticism for omitting several popular characters from previous games. It is the only main installment to not feature franchise mascotScorpion. Characters omitted from this game were included in two titles produced to update it:Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) andMortal Kombat Trilogy (1996).
Mortal Kombat 3 builds further on thegameplay of the previous game. A "Run" button, accompanied by a corresponding meter, was introduced. This was primarily to address concern from fans who thought that the previous games gave too much of an advantage to the defending player. The Run meter is drained both by running (the character cannot run backward, only forwards) and by performingcombos.
"Chain combos", also known as pre-programmed combos (labeled "dial-a-combos") were also introduced. Chain combos are button sequences that cannot be interrupted once one hit connects; some chain combos end with an uppercut or another move that knocks the opponent into the air so that more damage can be dealt via a traditionaljuggle combo. To please players of various skill levels, a "Choose Your Destiny" screen appears in the single-player mode to allow player-selectable difficulty.
For the first time, certain levels were interactive by allowing characters to uppercut each other through the ceiling where both characters would continue the battle in a different stage. This could alter the game's level cycle. Both normal uppercuts and uppercuts that are part of a ground combo would result in a level change. Kung Lao's "Whirl Wind Spin" move would also have the same effect. However, if the character is defeated by an uppercut, there is no level change.
All of the different styles of finishing moves featured inMortal Kombat II (Fatalities, including the non-lethalBabality andFriendship moves) return inMK3. Additionally, Animalities, where the character transforms into an animal in order to kill their opponent, are featured for the first time. To perform an Animality, the player must first perform a Mercy, another new feature where the character can restore a tiny amount of their opponent's health bar after winning two rounds. If the opponent is defeated again, an Animality can be performed. Finally, three new Stage Fatalities can be performed in the Subway, the Bell Tower and the Pit 3.
Another concept introduced in this game is the "Kombat Kode", a six-symbol code entered at the VS screen in a two-player game to modify gameplay, fight hidden characters or display certain messages. Also introduced in this game was the "Ultimate Kombat Kode", a 10-character code using symbols, that could be entered on thegame over screen after the continue screen disappears in single player mode. It was used to unlock a robotic version of the characterSmoke; it can be done by either the player or the arcade operator. The arcade owner could reset this code by accessing the game's diagnostic menu and resetting the game to the factory settings within theMK3 cabinet (except in version 2.1, which can only be done by accessing the EJB menu). The codes were revealed through gaming magazines, promotional material, and otherMortal Kombat media; three pinball machines released around this time by Williams/Bally/Midway,Jack-Bot,No Fear: Dangerous Sports, andTheatre of Magic, also provided codes, and some of the text messages in this game were intended to lead players to the hidden codes in those games.
Weary of continuous losses in tournament battle,Shao Kahn, who lost toLiu Kang in the Outworld tournament in theprevious game, enacts a 10,000-year-old plan. He would have his Shadow Priests, led byShang Tsung, revive his former Queen Sindel, who unexpectedly died at a young age. However, she would not be revived in the Outworld, but in Earthrealm. This would allow Shao Kahn to cross the boundary lines and reclaim his queen. When Sindel is reincarnated in Earthrealm, Shao Kahn reaches across the dimensions to reclaim her and, as a result, Earthrealm gradually becomes a part of Outworld, stripping billions of their souls. Only a few are spared, protected byRaiden. He tells them that Shao Kahn must be stopped, but he cannot interfere; due to his status, he has no power in Outworld, and Earthrealm is partially merged with Outworld. Shao Kahn has unleashed extermination squads to kill any Earthrealm survivors. Also, Raiden's protection only extends to the soul, not to the body, so his chosen warriors have to fight the extermination squads and repel Shao Kahn. With his final defeat, every human on Earthrealm is restored.
The game also contains several subplots:
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The game includes 14 playable characters, with one additional secret character.
New characters:
Returning characters:
Boss characters:
Noob Saibot (Richard Divizio) also returns as a hidden opponent.
The development team considered makingMortal Kombat 3 using3D graphics, but opted to stick with thesprite graphics of the previous games.[7]
The game has a different tone overall than its predecessors and uses a noticeably more muted color palette. Characters were heavily digitized, as opposed to the hybrid digitized/hand-drawn style ofMKII. Many of the game's backgrounds were created using pre-rendered 3D graphics for the first time. Its overall style was also differentiated from the previousMortal Kombat games; instead of the heavy ancient East Asian influences the first two games had, the imagery ofMK3 is more Western and contemporary: the game's stages are set in modern locations such as urban highways, bank buildings, and rooftops; three of the characters are cyborgs; and traditional martial art clothing designs, such as Sub-Zero's garb, have been replaced by modern clothing. This change is also reflected in the soundtrack, in which all Asian motifs have been dropped in favor of electronic music instrumentation.
Some of the characters from previousMortal Kombat games who returned inMortal Kombat 3 were portrayed by new actors since their original portrayers left Midway due to royalty disputes over the use of their likenesses in console versions.Ho Sung Pak (Liu Kang in the first two games, as well as Shang Tsung in the firstMortal Kombat), Phillip Ahn (Shang Tsung inMortal Kombat II),Elizabeth Malecki (Sonya Blade), Katalin Zamiar (Kitana/Mileena/Jade) andDaniel Pesina (Johnny Cage andScorpion/Sub-Zero/Reptile/Smoke/Noob Saibot) were not involved in the production ofMK3.[8] Prior to the release ofMortal Kombat 3, Daniel appeared in an advertisement for another fighting game,BloodStorm, which resulted in a false rumor that it got him fired by Midway. All this led to the use of new actors for Liu Kang (Eddie Wong), Sonya Blade (Kerri Hoskins), and Shang Tsung and Sub-Zero (both played by John Turk) inMK3. Richard Divizio (Kano) also took over the role of Noob Saibot (as the character was a recolored Kano in this version). Carlos Pesina, who playedRaiden in the first two games, did not appear inMK3 as a penalty for his involvement in the rival gameBloodStorm, but was still employed by Midway and his character would return inMortal Kombat Trilogy, although through the use of recycled sprites fromMKII and new sprites performed by Sal Divita.
Q: The abandonment of icons likeScorpion andKitana ultimately provoked revisions to theMK3 game. What was the impetus for leaving them out, and did you feel it was the right move to add them back in?
A: Actually, leaving them out had nothing to do with provokingUMK3.UMK3 was done to appease arcade operators and make up for the sooner than usual release ofMK3's home version by keeping the arcade version fresh.
Accompanied by a massive promotional campaign (given the world record for the "largest promotional campaign for a video game" in the 2011Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition),[citation needed]Mortal Kombat 3 was originally released for North American arcades on April 15, 1995.[1][10] The game was soon ported to three home consoles, namely theSega Genesis,Super NES, andPlayStation. The PlayStation version was described as identical to the arcade original byEd Boon.[11] As part of a deal with Midway,Sony Computer Entertainment gained exclusive worldwide rights for the 32-bit version of the game up through the end of the first quarter of 1996 (hence why theSega Saturn,3DO, andAtari Jaguar versions were all slated for release in the second quarter of 1996).[12] According to aSega spokesperson, Sony paid Midway $12 million for thesetimed exclusive rights.[13] Continuing a tradition of simultaneous home version releases from the first two games in the series, it was announced that the Genesis, Super NES,Game Boy, andGame Gear versions would all be released on "Mortal Friday", October 13, 1995;[14] however, the Game Gear version was never released in North America at all. The publishing for the 16-bit console ports and portable versions in North America was handled byWilliams Entertainment, rather thanAcclaim Entertainment (who handled the console ports of the previous titles), although Acclaim still handled the publishing forMortal Kombat 3 in Europe.Sculptured Software did the 16-bit and DOS versions, while the PlayStation and PC versions were developed by its San Diego development divisionLeland Interactive Media, which Midway's ownerWMS Industries had bought the previous year.[15]
On the Game Boy, only nine of the original 15 fighters (Kano, Sonya, Sub-Zero, Cyrax, Sektor, Sheeva, Sindel, Kabal, and Smoke) are available, only five stages exist, there are no button-link combos, and no finishers outside of Fatalities and Babalities. Shao Kahn uses his moves fromMortal Kombat II, and Motaro is not included. The sole Game Boy game to berated M by the ESRB, this version does not include much of the overt gore and violence seen in its parent systems but kept some of the "burning" Fatalities (immolating a defeated opponent down to a burnt skeleton).
A scaled-down Game Gear version ofMortal Kombat 3 was released only in Europe. It is very similar to the Game Boy version, although it is in color and features Noob Saibot as a hidden character. It is the only Game GearMortal Kombat game to not have blood and gore. There is also a port for theMaster System, which is nearly identical to the Game Gear version with the addition of blood and a wider view of the stage and fighters, although it was only released in Brazil byTec Toy, distributor of Sega's products in that country.
There are two different versions ofMortal Kombat 3 forIBM PC compatibles. The first is anMS-DOS version, which does not closely resemble any of the other ports. This version contains a hidden redbook audio track (Track 47) with a narration of a story in reverse. The second is a port of the PlayStation version toMicrosoft Windows.
Mortal Kombat 3 was originally slated to be released for the Atari Jaguar in the second quarter of 1996, according to a joint press release issued byAtari andWilliams Entertainment on March 13, 1995,[16] but was never released.[17][18] A port for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer was also announced for an early 1996 release, touted on magazine covers, and reportedly complete, but was also never released.[19] A port for the Sega Saturn was also announced for early 1996,[20] but was canceled in favor of a port ofUltimate Mortal Kombat 3.
Mortal Kombat 3 is also included inMidway Arcade Treasures 2 for theGameCube,PlayStation 2, andXbox;Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition for the Windows (this title includes a 'making of' documentary about the game); andMidway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play for thePlayStation Portable.
In 2021, Mortal Kombat 3 was re-released byArcade1Up along with Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II, and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 on one of their Countercades.[21]
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Mortal Kombat game, Arcade1Up released in 2022 an arcade machine with Mortal Kombat 3 along with Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3,Toobin',Rampage,Joust,Tapper,Wizard of Wor,Gauntlet,Defender,Bubbles,Paperboy, andKlax.[22]
In the United States,RePlay reportedMortal Kombat 3 to be the most popular arcade game of May 1995.[23]Mortal Kombat 3 was one of three 1995 recipients of theAmerican Amusement Machine Association's Diamond Awards (which are based strictly on sales achievements), along withSega'sDaytona USA andSNK'sNeo Geo MVS.[24] It was the highest-grossingarcade conversion kit of 1995 in the United States.[25][26]
Williams Entertainment, which published the Super NES and Genesis versions, reported combined sales of 250,000 copies in the first weekend they were available, placing them among the best-selling games of 1995.[27] The Super NES version had sold more than one million copies by November 23, 1995.[28] It went on to be the best-selling home video game of 1995 in the United States.[29]Mortal Kombat 3 was nominated for theVideo Software Dealers Association's "Video Game of the Year" for 1995,[30] losing toDonkey Kong Country 2.[31]
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| AllGame |   (GEN)[41] (ARC)[42] (GB)[43] |
| Computer and Video Games | 92% (Mega Drive, SNES, PC) 91% (PS)[32] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 8.675/10 (PS)[33] 8.375/10 (SNES)[34] |
| IGN | 5/10 (PS)[35] |
| Next Generation | (PC, GEN)[37][38] (arcade, PS)[39][40] |
| Maximum | (PS)[36] |
AlthoughMortal Kombat 3 was commercially successful, many disliked the inclusion of arguably less appealing new characters (especially Stryker) in place of established stalwarts such as Scorpion and Kitana.[9][37][44] The new combo system was also often criticized, as were, to a lesser degree, the run mechanics and some finishing moves.[45][46][38] According toPC Gamer in 1998, "WhileMortal Kombat 2 managed to improve upon the fast-paced, gore-galore formula of the original, the third incarnation didn't fare nearly as well.MK3 suffered from monkeywrenched gameplay, needlessly stupid finishing moves like 'Animalities,' and unbearably campy character designs."[47]Next Generation reviewed the arcade version of the game, and stated that "in an industry which depends on innovation to keep it fresh and interesting,MK III just doesn't deliver."[39] ARetro Gamer article on the history of the series stated in 2007: "Although many hardcore fans will decree Midway's thirdMortal Kombat game to be the best in the series, just as many felt it was beginning of the end for the still massively popular franchise ... While Midway had been constantly adding subtle gameplay tweaks to its franchise since the release ofMortal Kombat, its once exciting series was suddenly looking rather tired."[48]
Nevertheless, the game received largely positive reviews at the time.Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) gave the PlayStation version their "Game of the Month" award.[33]EGM andIGN both criticized the heavy lag during Shang Tsung's morphing while assessing the conversion overall as a near-perfect replication of the graphics, content, and controls of the arcade original. However, IGN gave it a negative assessment based on the shortcomings ofMortal Kombat 3 itself, recommendingStreet Fighter 2D fighting games over it unless one is a "die-hardMK fan".[35] According to a later IGN retrospective, "Despite the evolutions in gameplay,Mortal Kombat 3 was simply not met with same kind of enthusiasm as its predecessor. While the new 'cyber-ninja' characters were popular, the loss of so many favorites from the roster left many players feeling left out. A newMortal Kombat was impossible to ignore, but the response wasn't quite what Midway had hoped for."[49]
Reviewing the Genesis version, aNext Generation critic remarked that the game actually looks better on a last-generation console, where it finds company with other 2D games and is better-looking than most of them, than it did in the arcade, where it seemed outdated against the increasingly prevalentpolygon-based games. He complimented the game for delivering on the elements most important to theMortal Kombat fanbase, but added as a final note that "as a whole, theMK series is getting stale and in dire need of some major reworking."[38] In their review,GamePro similarly said thatMortal Kombat 3 is "just not original enough (likeTekken) or deep enough (like SF [Street Fighter]) to warrant space on the casual Genesis gamer's shelf." They also criticized the Genesis version as being a weak approximation of the arcade version, particularly the character sprites and sound effects.[50] They assessed the PlayStation version as a much more accurate conversion aside from the lag during Shang Tsung's morphing, but concluded it to be "An awesome home version of a game that wasn't so great to begin with."[51]Next Generation similarly felt the arcade-perfect quality of the PlayStation version was overshadowed by the game's lack of innovation: "There is little, outside of a few new, conspicuously uninspired characters, a run feature, and a new combo system, which simply mirrors its competition, to differentiateMK3 from its predecessors."[40]Maximum praised the PlayStation version's wealth of customization options and "eerie combat music tracks", but remarked that the game was outdated withUltimate Mortal Kombat 3 already out in arcades and slated for release on the Saturn. They also took strong issue with the lack ofPAL optimization, saying that as a result "The characters move very slowly as if wading through treacle, and this detracts from the overall feel of the game as well as changing the timing for the special moves and combos."[36]
Reviewing the SNES version, the four reviewers ofElectronic Gaming Monthly concurred it to be by far the best "16-bit version" of the game. They especially praised the challenging enemy AI, accurate graphics, and high number of special options.[34] While they listed some problems with the AI and sound,GamePro had a similar reaction, concluding that "Converting a mammoth arcade game likeMK 3 to the 16-bit Super NES is no easy task, and Williams has done a respectable job of keeping all the key elements intact."[52]PC Gamer itself, despite the later negative opinion, gave the PC version ofMK3 a review score of 89% upon the release, calling it "yet another excellent arcade experience from the king of fighting games."[53]Next Generation at the time called it "one of the best fighting games ever released for the PC" and "a title you must own" for the fans of the genre, awarding it four out of five stars.[37]GamePro panned the Game Boy version in a brief review, venturing that "even portable power players will find the soft controls and eye-straining graphics unbearable."[54] In 1996,GamesMaster ranked the Mega Drive version as the best game for the system.[55] In the same issue, GamesMaster rated theSNES version 5th in its "The GamesMaster SNES Top 10."[56]
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was released to arcades in 1995. It is an update ofMortal Kombat 3, featuring altered gameplay, additional characters, and new arenas. Various home versions of the game were released soon afterward, although none of these were completely identical to the arcade version. Several more home versions followed between 2002 and 2010, includingMortal Kombat Advance for theGame Boy Advance andUltimate Mortal Kombat for theNintendo DS. The DS version features the "Puzzle Kombat" minigame originally fromMortal Kombat: Deception.
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 itself was updated to include content from previous games in the series and serve as the basis for the console-exclusive titleMortal Kombat Trilogy in 1996. It was also remastered to be released as part of theMortal Kombat Arcade Kollection in 2011.
Plot elements from the game were used in the 1997 filmMortal Kombat Annihilation, the sequel to thefirstMortal Kombat film adaptation.
Among the main events in the season's lineup for martial arts aficionados are Mortal Kombat 3 (Oct. 13, PlayStation, PC/DOS, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis)
Just Arrived//Mortal Kombat 3
Mortal Kombat 3//Available from today
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Nintendo's 'Killer Instinct' has sold more than 1 million copies since it was introduced in September, as has the Nintendo version of 'Mortal Kombat III' and the company's recently released 'Super Mario World: Yoshi's Island.'
The fighting is still decent, but with the addition of aKiller Instinct-type combo system, there is less and less strategy.
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