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Mortal Kombat II

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Mortal Kombat II is a 1993 fighting game initially created by Midway Games for arcade machines and subsequently adapted for various home systems, including MS-DOS, Amiga, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Genesis, 32X, Sega Saturn, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and the Japan-exclusive PlayStation. The licensed ports were mainly developed by Probe Software (later Probe Entertainment) and Sculptured Software, with publishing handled by Acclaim Entertainment (currently distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment).

As the second principal entry in the Mortal Kombat series and the follow-up to 1992's Mortal Kombat, this installment enhanced the gameplay mechanics and broadened the narrative universe. It introduced multiple finishing moves per fighter, including novel types such as Babality and Friendship, alongside memorable characters like Kitana, Mileena, Kung Lao, the secret character Noob Saibot, and the recurring antagonist Shao Kahn. The storyline progresses within the Mortal Kombat tournament set in the mystical realm of Outworld, where combatants from Earthrealm and Outworld battle for the chance to confront Emperor Shao Kahn.

The title achieved remarkable commercial success, garnered widespread critical praise, won numerous accolades, and secured a lasting place on many top video game lists. It also amplified debates surrounding the graphic violence linked to the franchise. Mortal Kombat II served as an inspiration for spin-offs such as Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, influenced the 2011 series reboot Mortal Kombat, and sparked numerous imitators within the gaming industry. It is consistently regarded as one of the greatest video games ever created.

Its direct sequel, Mortal Kombat 3, debuted in 1995.

Gameplay

Compared to its predecessor, Mortal Kombat II offers an improved gameplay system with several notable adjustments. These include a newly added crouching punch, a more distinct separation between low and high kicks, stronger roundhouse kicks capable of knocking foes across the screen, and simplified combo execution due to shortened recovery periods after attacks. Returning fighters received additional special moves, such as attacks performed mid-air, while the overall game speed nearly doubled.[1][2][3][4]

Matches continue to be structured in rounds, with victory awarded to the first player who wins two rounds by reducing their opponent's health bar to zero. After winning a match, players can execute finishing moves on stunned adversaries. Unlike the original game, Mortal Kombat II eliminates the "Test Your Might" bonus challenges and point system, replacing them with a consecutive win counter displayed through icons.[1]

This installment introduced several new types of finishing moves beyond traditional Fatalities. These include non-lethal finishers such as Babalities, which transform opponents into infants; Friendships, which are humorous gestures of goodwill; as well as additional Stage Fatalities that utilize environmental hazards like pits or spikes.[1] These finishing moves cannot be performed against boss or hidden characters.

Plot

After failing to overcome Liu Kang in the preceding tournament, the antagonist Shang Tsung begs his master Shao Kahn, sovereign of Outworld, for clemency. Shang Tsung suggests relocating the next Mortal Kombat competition to Outworld, compelling Earthrealm's champions to battle on foreign ground. Shao Kahn consents, rejuvenates Shang Tsung’s youth and strength, and summons Earthrealm’s guardian Raiden, who convenes his warriors for the hazardous contest held on Shao Kahn’s home territory.

Within the established series lore, Liu Kang emerges victorious in this tournament by defeating both Shao Kahn and his guardian Kintaro. The narrative mode can also be completed using other characters, resulting in multiple non-canonical conclusions. The game confirms that the original Sub-Zero (Bi-Han) was slain by Scorpion during the first installment and subsequently replaced by his younger sibling Kuai Liang as the new Sub-Zero.

Characters

This installment features a roster of 12 selectable fighters.

Introduced characters
  • Baraka (portrayed by Richard Divizio), a mutant warlord belonging to Outworld’s Nomad race, who leads an attack on the Shaolin Monastery under Shao Kahn’s command.
  • Jax (portrayed by John Parrish): a U.S. Special Forces operative participating in the tournament to rescue his partner Sonya Blade from Outworld captivity.
  • Kitana (portrayed by Katalin Zamiar), an assassin loyal to Shao Kahn, suspected of covertly supporting Earthrealm’s fighters.
  • Kung Lao (portrayed by Anthony Marquez), a Shaolin monk and close ally of Liu Kang, descendant of the legendary Great Kung Lao, determined to avenge both his ancestor and the destruction of the Shaolin temple.
  • Mileena (portrayed by Katalin Zamiar), Kitana’s twin sister and assassin working for Kahn, assigned to monitor Kitana’s allegiance while pursuing her own hidden motives.
Returning characters
  • Johnny Cage (portrayed by Daniel Pesina), a Hollywood actor allied with Liu Kang during their journey into Outworld.
  • Liu Kang (portrayed by Ho Sung Pak), the reigning Mortal Kombat champion seeking retribution for the deaths of his Shaolin brethren.
  • Raiden (portrayed by Carlos Pesina), the thunder deity returning to thwart Shao Kahn’s plans for Earthrealm domination.
  • Reptile (portrayed by Daniel Pesina), Shang Tsung’s personal bodyguard, now a distinct character with unique abilities.
  • Scorpion (portrayed by Daniel Pesina), a hellspawn specter back to assassinate Sub-Zero.
  • Shang Tsung (portrayed by Philip Ahn, M.D.), an evil sorcerer serving Shao Kahn after regaining his youth; acts as a sub-boss prior to final boss Kintaro and possesses the ability to transform into other fighters.
  • Sub-Zero (portrayed by Daniel Pesina), a male ninja with cryokinetic powers returning to Outworld with the mission to eliminate Shang Tsung.
Boss characters
  • Kintaro (stop motion), Shao Kahn’s bodyguard and penultimate adversary, dispatched to avenge Goro’s defeat.
  • Shao Kahn (portrayed by Brian Glynn, voiced by Steve Ritchie), the malevolent Emperor of Outworld intent on conquering Earthrealm; serves as tournament host and final boss.

Additionally, three secret opponents are available for unlockable battles: Jade, a green-clad female ninja immune to projectile attacks; Noob Saibot, a shadowy ninja known as the "lost warrior" from the original game; and Smoke, a gray-clad ninja who emits smoke.

Notably absent from playable status are Sonya and Kano, who appeared in the initial Mortal Kombat. Their exclusion was due to limitations in arcade hardware storage capacity and low popularity among players. Instead, they appear solely as background prisoners within Kahn’s Arena stage. This deliberate omission made space for introducing new characters in Mortal Kombat II.

Development

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Game

Lead programmer Ed Boon characterized Mortal Kombat II as designed to appear distinct from its predecessor while incorporating all desired elements.[5] Boon recounted developing the sequel amid excitement generated by home versions of the first game, expanding the character roster from seven to twelve and introducing two Fatalities per fighter.[6] The sequel adopted a darker tone with a richer color scheme and featured multiple layers of parallax scrolling.[3] It also introduced comical alternative finishing moves, while certain Fatalities were omitted due to excessive graphic content.[7]

The programming focused on delivering a satisfying gameplay feel with simulated gravity; designer John Tobias refined fighting mechanics to set it apart from rivals such as Street Fighter. Although a double jump mechanic was initially planned, it was ultimately excluded.[8] Composer Dan Forden produced all music tracks utilizing the Williams DCS sound system.[9]

Acclaim oversaw home console adaptations with an estimated $50 million allocated for development, production, and promotional efforts.[10]

Characters

Character animations were captured using advanced video recording techniques against blue screens; actors were sprayed with water to enhance realism.[11] Post-processing improved muscle definition and skin tones.[12] Shang Tsung’s transformation sequences were generated via computer graphics; meanwhile, Goro and Kintaro were animated through stop-motion using latex miniatures.[11]

Several fighters were created as palette swaps based on two core character models; notable new additions included female combatants Kitana and Mileena to strengthen competition against Capcom's Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, which featured Chun-Li.[4][13] Due to memory constraints and limited popularity, Sonya Blade and Kano were omitted.[14] A female fighter inspired by kickboxer Kathy Long was planned but removed because of time limitations.[15]

Release

The first arcade revision (1.4) functioned as a public beta test featuring restricted Fatalities and some bugs; the definitive release (revision 3.1) arrived in January 1994 following multiple updates.[2][4]

Marketing and merchandise

Coinciding with the arcade launch in 1993, an official comic book authored by Tobias expanded the game's lore.[4] Acclaim invested $10 million in a worldwide marketing campaign for home console versions,[16] which included a live-action television advertisement starring actors portraying game characters.[17] The campaign’s slogan read "Nothing ... Nothing can prepare you."[18]

Merchandise offerings encompassed Malibu Comics series, a limited edition soundtrack CD by Dan Forden,[4] an official fan magazine, collectible Panini sticker sets, two series of action figures,[4] and a trading card game marketed under "Mortal Kombat II trading cards".[19]

Home releases

Since its debut in 1994, Mortal Kombat II has been adapted for numerous platforms including Game Boy, Game Gear, Master System, SNES, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, 32X, PlayStation (Japan-exclusive), Sega Saturn, Amiga, MS-DOS, and PlayStation Network. The Game Boy, Game Gear, SNES, and Genesis editions launched simultaneously on September 9, 1994—dubbed "Mortal Friday".[20]

  • The Sega Genesis/Mega Drive version developed by Probe Software preserved full blood effects and Fatalities without requiring cheat codes and featured exclusive hidden Easter eggs.[21] It also supported the Sega Activator motion controller.
  • Sculptured Software’s SNES port enabled blood and Fatalities following Nintendo's relaxation of censorship policies. It lacked an official rating but displayed a mature content warning. The Japanese SNES release censored blood color and fatality animations.[22][23]
  • Probe Software’s Game Boy adaptation included eight characters (excluding Baraka, Johnny Cage, Kung Lao, Raiden), three arenas with limited Fatalities but no blood.
  • Game Gear and Master System ports mirrored the Game Boy version but offered color graphics; Game Gear added Kintaro; blood effects were present but toned down.

The title has appeared in collections such as Midway Arcade Treasures 2, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play, and Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection. A Nintendo DS compilation was canceled.[24] Arcade1Up released a home arcade cabinet featuring this game alongside other Mortal Kombat installments.[25]

Reception

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Sales

Mortal Kombat II enjoyed tremendous commercial success. WMS Industries reported fourth-quarter sales totaling $101 million in 1993 largely attributed to arcade revenues.[26] It ranked as America’s top-grossing arcade game in 1994,[27] selling nearly 27,000 cabinets by mid-1990s with total earnings approximating $600 million.[28]

On "Mortal Friday" (September 9, 1994), over 2.5 million units shipped across four cartridge-based consoles set record-breaking opening-week sales exceeding $50 million,[29] outpacing major Hollywood blockbusters.[30] It held the title of best-selling video game worldwide until surpassed by Donkey Kong Country. In the U.S., it led sales charts for Genesis, SNES, and Game Gear late in 1994,[31][32] moving approximately 1.78 million Genesis copies and over 1.5 million SNES copies.[33]

By 2002, cumulative home sales exceeded $400 million,[34] with ongoing robust digital sales years later on PlayStation Network.[35]

Reviews

Critical acclaim was widespread upon release,[36] commended for visuals, gameplay intensity, and violent content by outlets including Sega Visions, Nintendo Power, and Computer + Video Games. The Genesis port received praise for its completeness despite hardware limitations,[37] although some critics favored the SNES edition for superior audiovisual quality.[29] The SNES version earned near-perfect ratings as an arcade translation,[38] recognized as one of Nintendo’s most graphically intense titles.

Portable adaptations garnered mixed feedback; Game Gear was praised for visuals and controls whereas the Game Boy version received more moderate reviews.[39]

Amiga versions received positive evaluations,[40] while PC ports were also well-regarded.[41] The Sega Saturn port delivered an arcade-faithful rendition but suffered performance slowdowns;<refs name="EGM80" /><refs name="NexG16" /><refs name="ssm2" /></refs> critics noted its gameplay felt outdated compared to newer fighting games.

The Sega 32X edition attracted mixed opinions—commended relative to the SNES version but criticized for underutilizing hardware capabilities.<refs name="32x"/><refs name="GamePro69"/></refs>

Awards

The title secured numerous accolades including "Best Fighting Game" of 1994 from prominent publications such as Game Players, Nintendo Power, and VideoGames & Computer Entertainment. It earned honors for best conversions at industry events along with distinctions like "Bloodiest Game of 1994" awarded by EGM.<refs/> Retrospective rankings place it among top fighting games across various platforms according to outlets like GamesRadar+ and Complex.

Controversies

Following its predecessor’s pattern, Mortal Kombat II generated controversy due to graphic violence resulting in bans in countries including Germany where most versions were confiscated except for the Game Boy release.<refs/> Regional censorship altered some releases—for instance green blood coloration in Japan—and fueled ongoing discussions on video game content regulation.

Critics also spotlighted issues regarding racial stereotyping portraying Asians predominantly as martial artists,<refs/> misogynistic elements involving violent portrayals of female characters,<refs/> alongside legal disputes wherein several actors sued Midway and publishers over unauthorized use of their likenesses without compensation.<refs/>

Retrospective

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Over time, Mortal Kombat II has been celebrated as one of gaming's landmark titles—ranking highly among overall top games,<refs/> leading fighting games,<refs/> premier arcade titles,<refs/> and best platform adaptations across Genesis, SNES, and Amiga systems.<refs/> It remains beloved by fans for enhancing every aspect compared to its predecessor while inspiring numerous imitators.

GamesRadar highlighted that this installment marked when the franchise "became great", emphasizing signature features such as finishing moves like Friendship and Babality.<refs/> IGN’s Jeff Haynes praised its lasting playability nearly fifteen years after launch.<refs/>

Legacy

On December 26, 2022, leaked source code revealing cut content surfaced on GitHub before Warner Bros. Discovery issued a DMCA takedown removing public availability in early January 2023.<refs/>

Rumored content

Numerous fan myths circulated regarding secret features including "Nudality" finishing moves or hidden characters like "Scarlet" or "Hornbuckle". While some concepts such as Animalities were later integrated into future titles; others remain urban legends within the community.<refs/>

Related titles

Although primarily based on the original game’s foundation, the successful film adaptation released in 1995 incorporated elements from MKII, notably characters Kitana and Shao Kahn.

The storyline influenced spin-off beat 'em up titles like Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005). Its narrative was retold in the rebooted fighting game series launched in 2011 which revived many gameplay mechanics from MKII.

A planned high-definition remake titled Mortal Kombat HD Arcade Kollection, featuring MKII alongside two other remade games in HD quality, was canceled; only a compilation named Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection was ultimately released.<refs/>

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gs
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named hall
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gp
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named sho
  5. ↑ GamePro 76 (November 1995).
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named complex.com
  7. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ↑ Video Games The Ultimate Gaming Magazine 75 (April 1995) page 49.
  10. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gamepro
  12. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ↑ The One Amiga 75 (December 1994).
  14. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gp58
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named budget
  17. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ad
  19. ↑ An advertisement in GamePro 64 (November 1994).
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named latimes.com
  21. ↑ [note 1]
  22. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named np
  23. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named EGM2 5 1994 page 96
  24. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  25. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  26. ↑ Chicago Tribune
  27. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  28. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named egm2
  30. ↑ New York Times
  31. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named EGMNov1994
  32. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named EGMDec1994
  33. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  34. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named mip
  35. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  36. ↑ Retro Gamer issue 96 page 21.
  37. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named cvg
  38. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named EGM63
  39. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named EGM63portable
  40. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named cua
  41. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ng5-2
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