Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3

Midway Games

Company type	Private
Industry	Video games
Headquarters	Chicago , United States
Products	Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat series

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 is a 1995 fighting game created and distributed by Midway Games for arcade platforms. Serving as an independent enhancement of 1995's Mortal Kombat 3, it offers a revised gameplay framework, an expanded roster including returning characters such as Reptile, Kitana, Jade, and Scorpion, along with additional new elements.

Following its arcade debut, several home versions were released, with the Sega Saturn port recognized as the most accurate adaptation. Subsequent editions aligned more closely with the arcade original. Some iterations were marketed under alternate names, for example, Mortal Kombat Advance for the Game Boy Advance in 2001 and Ultimate Mortal Kombat on the Nintendo DS in 2007. In 2010, Electronic Arts produced an iOS remake utilizing a 3D graphics engine to reimagine the title.

Critically, the game was well-received and is considered a standout entry in the Mortal Kombat franchise, although certain home versions and the iOS remake attracted some criticism. In 1996, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was further developed into Mortal Kombat Trilogy, which incorporated additional content from earlier installments. The 2011 collection Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection features emulated versions of UMK3, the original Mortal Kombat, and Mortal Kombat II.

Gameplay

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 introduced two fresh gameplay options: a 2-on-2 mode permitting up to three players per team, and an eight-player Tournament mode. An enhanced Master difficulty setting was also included. Completing either the main mode or Tournament unlocks Shao Kahn's Lost Treasures—selectable rewards such as additional fights and cinematic scenes.

To achieve better balance, certain fighters received new or adjusted moves alongside extra combos, with some combo damage values reduced. Chain combos gained flexibility by allowing initiation with jump punches or vertical jump kicks, broadening combo possibilities. Air knockback effects were modified so opponents no longer get propelled to higher platforms except through standard uppercuts.

The artificial intelligence was refined but introduced exploitable behaviors: during a backflip jump kick, the AI consistently launches a projectile, creating vulnerability; it mimics player movement within a limited range without attacking; and when trapped in corners, AI opponents can be repeatedly struck without evading, enabling easy victories.

New stage environments include Scorpion's Lair/Hell (featuring a Stage Fatality where foes are cast into lava), Jade's Desert (depicting Cyrax buried in sand), River Kombat/The Waterfront, Kahn's Kave/The Cavern, Blue Portal/Lost (a fusion of previous stages), and Noob's Dorfen (unlocked via Kombat Kode). The game cycles through these exclusive arenas twice before reverting to original MK3 stages in single- or two-player modes. Additional secret selectable stages comprise Scorpion's Lair, Secret Cave, and Abandoned River. The original red portal used for "Choose Your Destiny" has been changed to blue.

Certain elements from MK3 were removed: only biographies for Kitana, Jade, Scorpion, and Reptile are shown during attract mode; other character bios and portraits are omitted. Storyline images and text have been excluded. The Bank and Hidden Portal stages were eliminated and replaced by Jade's Desert within the stage rotation.

The Sega Genesis and SNES editions released alongside Mortal Kombat Trilogy incorporated Brutalities—complex 11-button sequences that cause characters to repeatedly strike opponents until they explode.

Characters

The arcade edition features the full roster of playable fighters from Mortal Kombat 3, all portrayed by their original actors: Cyrax (Sal Divita), Liu Kang (Eddie Wong), Kabal (Richard Divizio), Kano (Richard Divizio), Kung Lao (Tony Marquez), Stryker (Michael O'Brien), Jax Briggs (John Parrish), Nightwolf (Sal Divita), Sektor (Sal Divita), Shang Tsung (John Turk), Sheeva (stop motion animation), Sindel (Lia Montelongo), Smoke (Sal Divita), Sonya Blade (Kerri Hoskins) and Sub-Zero (John Turk). The bosses, Motaro (stop motion) and Shao Kahn (Brian Glynn, voice by Steve Ritchie), also make a return. When Shang Tsung transforms, the name of the character he assumes is announced.

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 introduces four additional ninja fighters absent from MK3: Kitana, Jade, Reptile, and Scorpion. The initial Revision 1.0 added an Ultimate Kombat Kode that unlocks secret characters: Mileena, Ermac, and Classic Sub-Zero.

• Jade (Becky Gable) – Dispatched by Shao Kahn to capture Kitana after she kills Mileena and flees to Earth.
• Kitana (Becky Gable) – Branded a traitor, she aims to alert Queen Sindel about their true origins.
• Reptile (John Turk) – A loyal servant of Shao Kahn assigned to support Jade and possibly eliminate Kitana.
• Scorpion (John Turk) – Returns from the underworld to confront Outworld forces.

Unlockable through the Ultimate Kombat Kode:

• Classic Sub-Zero (John Turk) – Makes a comeback attempting to assassinate Shang Tsung.
• Ermac (John Turk) – A warrior composed of souls from deceased Outworld combatants under Shao Kahn’s control.
• Mileena (Becky Gable) – Revived by Shao Kahn to assist in defeating Earth’s defenders.

Entering a code before matches reveals Smoke’s human form as an unlockable option.

Critics lauded the expanded character lineup as a significant enhancement over MK3's limited selection, particularly emphasizing the return of fan-favorite ninjas such as Kitana, Mileena, Reptile, and notably Scorpion. Due to legal issues concerning previous performers, the female ninjas Mileena, Kitana, and Jade were all portrayed by Becky Gable with redesigned costumes and hairstyles. They utilized three palette-swapped models representing male, female, and cyborg ninjas.

Furthermore, two additional hidden fighters exclusive to console versions are included: Noob Saibot and Rain. Originally a Kano palette swap in MK3, Noob Saibot is now a ninja variant accessible through a Kombat Kode. Rain appears in the opening sequence but is not present in the arcade release; both characters are playable on 16-bit consoles where Sheeva was removed. Boss characters can also be accessed via cheat codes on these platforms.

Release

Following the tradition of earlier Mortal Kombat entries, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 debuted in arcades at select venues in early November 1995. Operators who already owned Mortal Kombat 3 cabinets were able to upgrade their machines to UMK3 free of charge. In 2008, series co-creator and producer Ed Boon identified UMK3 as his preferred 2D Mortal Kombat installment and noted it was the last title he personally programmed.

The game was adapted for various home systems with varying degrees of success, including the Super NES, Genesis, Sega Saturn, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS, as well as digital releases on platforms like Xbox Live Arcade and iOS devices. A planned version for the PlayStation transformed into Mortal Kombat Trilogy. Additionally, UMK3 was packaged with the premium edition of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for the PlayStation 2 and featured in the compilation Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection available on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Various developers and publishers contributed across these versions, including Acclaim Entertainment, Avalanche Software, Electronic Arts, Eurocom, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, and Williams Entertainment. Later editions often incorporated online multiplayer functionality and graphical improvements, occasionally adding three-dimensional visuals.

A port for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, developed by New Level, was canceled in 1996 due to delays that caused it to miss the height of Mortal Kombat 3's popularity as well as limited market presence on that platform.

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Wave Net

The Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Wave Net (Williams Action Video Entertainment Network) was an experimental online multiplayer system for the game, trialed exclusively in Chicago and San Francisco. These tests utilized dedicated T1 lines linked to Midway’s headquarters in Chicago. However, the prohibitive expense of T1 connections—amounting to several thousand dollars per arcade unit plus extra hardware costs—hindered widespread implementation. Williams planned to leverage WaveNet for distributing new games and updates at no cost to arcade operators, in exchange for a revenue-sharing arrangement. Following the shutdown of this network infrastructure, no public releases or ROM images of this version have surfaced.

Super NES

Avalanche Software developed the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) edition, which Williams Entertainment published in North America (October 1996) and Acclaim Entertainment handled in Europe (November 1996). This version was adapted from Sculptured Software’s earlier port of MK3. Due to the system’s technical constraints, several features were omitted: the announcer no longer announced character names, Sheeva was excluded, only five of the new arcade backgrounds were included, and Shao Kahn’s Lost Treasures chest contained fewer boxes. Fatalities were modified—Rain and Noob Saibot lacked standard Fatalities, Kitana’s "Kiss of Death" reused an inflation effect, and Animalities were removed while Mercies remained intact. A new finishing move called Brutalities was introduced, consisting of a sequence of attacks culminating in an explosion.

Significantly, Rain and Noob Saibot became playable characters for the first time; Mileena, Ermac, and Classic Sub-Zero were available immediately. Unlockable bosses Motaro and Shao Kahn could be selected for two-player battles, though only one player could choose a boss at once. Additionally, a cheat code unlocked menus that allowed gameplay modifications, access to hidden content, and viewing of character endings, thereby increasing replayability.

Sega Genesis

The Sega Genesis version was also created by Avalanche Software and released by Williams Entertainment in North America (October 11, 1996) and Acclaim Entertainment in Europe (November 28, 1996). This port reused code from Sculptured Software’s earlier adaptation of the original MK3. Due to hardware limitations, its graphics and sound quality were inferior compared to the SNES edition. Similar to the SNES port, Sheeva was removed; Shao Kahn’s treasure chest contained only ten boxes; the announcer did not call out character names; Kitana’s "Kiss of Death" featured only head inflation; Scorpion’s "Hellraiser" Fatality was altered; Sonya’s Friendship move from Mortal Kombat 3 was included; and the Bank stage remained.

This version offered more stages than its SNES counterpart by adding five new ones alongside six original MK3 levels: Subway, Bank, Rooftop, Soul Chamber, The Temple, and The Pit 3. Several finishing moves were removed: Animalities and Mercy were excluded; Rain and Noob Saibot had Brutalities but lacked other finishers; Human Smoke shared Scorpion’s combos; Stryker’s Friendship replaced running characters with dogs. Unique to this port were playable Rain and Noob Saibot as well as bosses Motaro and Shao Kahn; Mileena, Ermac, and Classic Sub-Zero were accessible without cheat codes; Brutalities were implemented. Shang Tsung could transform into Robot Smoke, Noob Saibot, and Rain—forms not present in arcade versions—and Nightwolf possessed the Red Shadow shoulder attack later featured in Mortal Kombat Trilogy. The game also included a version of Pong named MK4, similar to the Genesis/Mega Drive release of MK3.

Sega Saturn

The Sega Saturn edition, developed by Eurocom and distributed by Williams Entertainment in North America and GT Interactive in Europe in June 1996, is derived from the PlayStation and PC versions of Mortal Kombat 3. It maintains comparable visual fidelity and menu design. Notably, the arcade introduction is missing, resulting in Rain's absence despite a Kombat Kode hinting at his presence. This version reintroduces content removed from the arcade UMK3 release, including "The Bank" stage and Noob Saibot portrayed as shadow Kano rather than a black ninja. While some new Kombat Kodes appear, several codes from the arcade iteration are disabled. Unlocking secret characters is handled through a dedicated options menu instead of multiple Kombat Kodes, simplifying access but preventing saving unlocked characters. Additionally, Kombat Kodes were shortened from ten to six characters.

Mortal Kombat Advance

Mortal Kombat Advance is a Game Boy Advance adaptation developed by Virtucraft and published by Midway Games, released in North America on December 12, 2001, and later in Europe on March 1, 2002. This port is based on the SNES version, with each character (excluding Noob Saibot and bosses) possessing one Fatality and one Friendship move. Players can unlock three hidden fighters—Human Smoke, Motaro, and Shao Kahn—by completing towers beyond the Novice level. Due to the GBA's limited button layout compared to UMK3, special move inputs were combined or modified. The game's violent content was reduced for its younger audience while retaining an "M for Mature" rating with less graphic blood effects.

PlayStation 2

Included on the first disc of the 2006 PlayStation 2 "Premium Edition" of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is an almost flawless arcade rendition of UMK3. However, unlocking characters does not persist unless accessed through the EJB menu.

Xbox Live Arcade

The Xbox Live Arcade release closely replicates the original arcade experience but exhibits minor issues during online multiplayer and lacks the ability to save Kombat Kode unlocks. It offers online leaderboards, screen aspect ratio options ranging from 4:3 to 16:9, and unlockable Achievements. Midway accidentally launched this version on October 20, 2006, only to remove it within twenty minutes; it was officially re-released the following morning—four days before its scheduled date—making it unique among XBLA launch timings. As of June 2010, this title was withdrawn from XBLA due to changes in publishing rights; however, users who purchased it before removal can still download it again and access online features.

Nintendo DS

Co-creator Ed Boon confirmed on June 27, 2007, that a Nintendo DS port named Ultimate Mortal Kombat was in development. Created by Other Ocean Interactive and published by Midway Games, it launched on November 12, 2007, in North America and December 7, 2007, in Europe. This version offers an arcade-accurate UMK3 experience with Wi-Fi multiplayer functionality and brings back the "Puzzle Kombat" minigame originally from Mortal Kombat: Deception. Unlocking characters such as Ermac, Mileena, and Classic Sub-Zero via Kombat Kodes ensures they remain unlocked within player profiles.

Mobile (J2ME)

In December 2010, EA Mobile introduced a Java-based mobile phone adaptation featuring six selectable fighters—Cyrax, Liu Kang, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Sonya, and Kitana—and a single boss encounter with Shao Kahn.

iOS

In December 2010, Electronic Arts released a revamped version for iOS devices, featuring wireless multiplayer for two players via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. While maintaining its 2D gameplay style, the game transitioned from digitized sprites to 3D-rendered visuals. The controls were adapted for capacitive touchscreens, utilizing an on-screen joystick and buttons. The initial character lineup comprised nine fighters, with two additional unlockable characters and CPU-exclusive bosses. The game also supported online leaderboards and achievement tracking. By June 2011, EA expanded the title to include the complete character roster along with six additional battle arenas.

Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection

This title is part of the digital compilation Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection, developed collaboratively by Other Ocean Interactive and NetherRealm Studios, and published by Warner Bros. Interactive in 2011. The collection also contains the original Mortal Kombat and its sequel, Mortal Kombat II, available on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 platforms.

Arcade1Up

In 2019, Arcade1Up introduced a home arcade cabinet that includes Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, alongside the earlier titles Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II, allowing players to enjoy these classics in a dedicated arcade setup.

Critical response

A critic from Next Generation expressed apprehension that the franchise might suffer from repetitiveness through successive updates but acknowledged that "none of the MK quality, detail, or gameplay [was] missing." IGN’s retrospective review pointed out that although the update placated certain fans, enthusiasts of characters such as Johnny Cage and Raiden remained somewhat disappointed.

Reviews differed depending on the platform. The Sega Saturn edition received acclaim as an almost flawless arcade adaptation despite lengthy load times; it earned Electronic Gaming Monthly's "Game of the Month" distinction. VideoGames described it as "simply a great game," while GamePro emphasized its expanded features compared to earlier versions. Critics concurred that the Saturn port authentically mirrored the arcade experience but lamented its limited innovation beyond what was offered in Mortal Kombat 3. Rich Leadbetter from Maximum praised its hidden content and replay value as well as Eurocom’s high-quality conversion.

The Genesis version was recognized for delivering solid graphics and responsive controls within the constraints of 16-bit hardware but was criticized for lacking enhancements beyond previous series installments. The Super NES edition provided a more accurate replication of arcade sound but introduced minimal new elements; reviewers considered it only a slight improvement over MK3. It earned a nomination for Nintendo Power Awards '96 under "Best Tournament Fighting Game." In 2013, Arcade Sushi ranked it as the top retro Mortal Kombat title.

IGN awarded the Nintendo DS version a score of 7.8/10, commending it for offering a robust MK3 experience with online play capabilities. GameSpot included the Xbox Live Arcade release among its five best fighting games of 2006.

IGN placed the game at number 97 in its "Top 100 SNES Games of All Time." In 2018, Complex ranked it 68th in their list of "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time," praising it as an excellent port of the arcade original.

Ed Boon, co-creator of the series, has identified Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 as his preferred arcade installment within the franchise.

Legal opinion

In 2000, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was referenced by the U.S. Court of Appeals when overturning Indianapolis's attempt to prohibit violent video games. Judge Richard Posner remarked that by "depicting a woman as fully capable of holding her own in violent combat [...] it thus has a message, even an 'ideology,' just as books and movies do."

Sales

The Genesis and Super NES editions, which were postponed until the 1996 holiday season amid speculation about cancellation, ultimately recorded underwhelming sales figures.

Legacy

In 1996, Midway introduced Mortal Kombat Trilogy as a successor to Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. Unlike its predecessor, this title was not released in arcades but was made available on platforms such as Sony PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn, PC, as well as handheld systems Game.com and R-Zone. The game featured the entire roster from the initial three installments, incorporated additional characters, and added new gameplay mechanics like the "Aggressor" meter—temporarily enhancing speed and power—and the Brutality finishing moves. These Brutalities were subsequently integrated into the Super NES and Genesis versions of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.

A remastered version of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was later included in the Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection compilation released in 2011.

External links

• (iOS remake)
• Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 - The Mortal Kombat Wiki
• UMK3 at Mortal Kombat Online