Mortal Kombat 1: The Complete Guide to the Original Arcade Classic

1. Introduction

Mortal Kombat, released in 1992, revolutionized the fighting game genre with its over-the-top violence, digitized character sprites, and innovative gameplay. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to the original arcade classic, exploring its history, characters, gameplay mechanics, secrets, and legacy.

2. Historical Context

In the early 1990s, fighting games were dominated by the likes of Street Fighter II and Double Dragon. Mortal Kombat, developed by Midway Games, aimed to challenge these established giants by introducing a more visceral and adult-oriented experience.

3. Characters

Mortal Kombat featured a diverse cast of seven playable characters, each with unique abilities and fatalities:

• Scorpion: A vengeful ninja who could teleport and shoot fireballs.
• Sub-Zero: Scorpion's ice-wielding counterpart with the ability to freeze opponents.
• Kano: A Black Dragon leader with a cybernetic eye and an ability to throw knives.
• Sonya Blade: A Special Forces agent with a variety of hand-to-hand combat techniques.
• Johnny Cage: A Hollywood actor with a narcissistic personality and a penchant for martial arts.
• Liu Kang: A Shaolin monk and the protagonist of the game with a variety of special moves.
• Raiden: A thunder god who could manipulate electricity and teleport.

4. Gameplay Mechanics

Mortal Kombat introduced several gameplay mechanics that became staples in the series:

• Digitizer Sprites: The characters were rendered using digitized sprites, which gave them a more lifelike appearance than traditional hand-drawn sprites.
• Gore: The game's brutal fatalities, such as Scorpion's famous "Get Over Here" and Sub-Zero's "Spine Rip," caused controversy and made Mortal Kombat the first game to receive an ESRB "M" rating.
• Special Moves: Each character had a variety of special moves, such as Johnny Cage's "Shadow Kick" and Liu Kang's "Bicycle Kick," that could be performed by inputting specific button combinations.
• Finishing Moves: In addition to fatalities, Mortal Kombat introduced two other finishing moves: "Babalities" that turned opponents into babies, and "Friendships" that summoned a comical prop or character.

5. Secrets and Easter Eggs

Mortal Kombat is filled with hidden secrets and Easter eggs:

• Hidden Characters: Goro, an 8-foot tall four-armed shokan, could be fought as a secret boss by inputting a specific code.
• Blood Code: By entering a special code on the title screen, players could enable the "Blood Code," which increased the amount of gore and violence in the game.
• Reptile: A hidden character named Reptile could be unlocked by defeating a certain number of opponents without blocking.
• Game Genie Codes: Players could use Game Genie codes to unlock hidden features, such as infinite lives and ultra-fast gameplay.

6. Legacy

Mortal Kombat 1 was a commercial success, selling over 2.5 million copies worldwide and inspiring a franchise of over 20 games, multiple films, television shows, and a comic book series. The game's iconic characters, brutal gameplay, and cultural impact have cemented its place in video game history.

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Button Mashing: Avoid randomly pressing buttons as it will often lead to ineffective attacks. Instead, learn the special move combinations for each character.
• Blocking Too Much: Blocking is an important defensive tactic, but relying on it too heavily can prevent you from attacking and dealing damage.
• Not Using Fatalities: Fatalities are an essential part of the Mortal Kombat experience. Don't miss out on the chance to finish your opponents in style.

8. Step-by-Step Approach

To play Mortal Kombat 1:

1. Insert a coin or set the arcade machine to free play.
2. Select your character from the character select screen.
3. Fight your way through a series of opponents, including sub-bosses and bosses.
4. Defeat Goro to qualify for the tournament.
5. Face off against Shang Tsung, the final boss, in a decisive battle.

9. Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Groundbreaking gore and violence
• Unique and memorable characters
• Innovative gameplay mechanics
• High replay value

Cons:

• Repetitive gameplay
• Limited character roster
• Lack of online multiplayer

10. Additional Resources

• Mortal Kombat Official Website
• Mortal Kombat Wikipedia Page
• Mortal Kombat Forum

11. Tables

1. Character Table

2. Finishing Moves Table

3. Secret Characters Table

4. Game Genie Code Table