Just as all good games should have, Mortal Kombat is renowned for its detailed storyline that has enhanced over the years, providing avid gamers with excitement and anticipation through this fantasy-themed fighting game. Originally developed in 1992 by Midway Games and released in September 1993, the timeline of this classic game originates from an idea that John Tobias and Ed Boon had for a video game. Despite the initial idea falling through to have a video game that starred Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jonny Cage paid homage to him as the game was created and developed, becoming the first fighting game to introduce a secret fighter if the player fulfilled the requirements throughout.
Mortal Kombat Movie
Since the creation of the first Mortal Kombat game, the gaming industry has seen spin-offs and sequels that have consisted of a card game, comic book series and other action-adventure games too. There are also games inspired by but not based on the original title, such as Sensei’s Luck slot game that features Raiden, the storm-inducing character from Mortal Kombat franchise, however, looking older and calmer in this later adaptation. In the early 1990s, Lawrence Kasanoff, a film producer, licensed the rights to the game in order to produce the first movie that was made from a video game. Not only did Lawrence produce a second movie from the success of the first, but he also went on to create an animated TV series, a live-action tour and live-action TV series films. In the history of video games, Mortal Kombat has become the most successful fighting franchise that has excelled since day one.
The Original Games
The first three original games, Mortal Kombat (1992), Mortal Kombat II (1993) and Mortal Combat 3 (1995), as well as their updates, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) and Mortal Kombat Trilogy (1996), were all designed in 2D fighting fashion. You could play the first two in arcades with five buttons and a joystick, with simple movements, such as high punch, high kick and block. When Mortal Kombat 3 came out, it brought a sixth button with it, ‘run’. For the characters in the early games, the only difference between them was their special moves, as they would all play virtually identically to one another. Through development over the years, the combinations of moves changed by giving the characters different fighting styles. Despite most of these moves being based on real martial arts, there were some that were completely fictitious.
Finishing Move System; Fatality
One of the most best-known and defining features of the Mortal Kombat series is Fatality, the finishing move system. The initial idea behind this feature was to enable players to have a free hit at the end of every fight. Basic Fatalities are the finishing moves that allow the characters to end the match by murdering their opponent using techniques that were exclusive to the character. The only exception of Fatality is in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, which uses Kreate-A-Fatality instead. This allows the players to perform their own Fatalities through a series of violent moves chosen from a selection that is common for all the characters.
Although the majority of the moves are violent in the games, there are some finishing moves created that are non-violent in a comical response to feedback that the series contained content that was too violent. This included the friendship move that was introduced in Mortal Kombat II and resulted in displays of friendship for the enemy, as opposed to brutal slaughter. The Babality was also introduced in the same game and turned the opponent into a baby.
How Does The Storyline Begin?
Based in a fictional universe that consists of eighteen surviving realms created by the Elder Gods, the denizens of one realm can only conquer another realm if they defeat the greatest warriors in the defending realm in ten consecutive Mortal Kombat tournaments. The first of the games takes place in Earthrealm (otherwise known as Earth) and seven warriors participate in the tournament to win the continued freedom for their realm that has been threatened by Outworld.
Release Timeline
So, what is the release timeline of Mortal Kombat after the original games? After 1995, when Motal Kombat 3 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was released, the following games were released in the series:
- 1996 – Mortal Kombat Trilogy
- 1997 – Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero and Mortal Kombat 4
- 1999 – Mortal Kombat Gold
- 2000 – Mortal Kombat: Special Forces
- 2001 – Mortal Kombat Advance
- 2002 – Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
- 2003 – Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition
- 2004 –Mortal Kombat: Deception
- 2005 – Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
- 2006 – Mortal Kombat: Armageddon and Mortal Kombat: Unchained
- 2007 – Ultimate Mortal Kombat
- 2008 – Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe
- 2011 – Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat Arcase Kollection
- 2012 – Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition
- 2015 – Mortal Kombat X
- 2016 – Mortal Kombat XL
- 2019 – Mortal Kombat 11
- 2020 – Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Kollection
Mortal Kombat has had both ups and downs over the two decades, however since the takeover from NetherRealm, this has enabled gamers to fight to protect their realms and test their finishing moves on their opponents, as the franchise has been given a new breath of life. So, where will the next decade take this game? Due to NetherRealm taking the franchise over, the future is looking bright for Mortal Kombat, allowing gamers to rest assured that the franchise will be around for much longer.
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