THE DEFINITIVE VERSION™ OF
MORTAL KOMBAT
1993 baby. Mortal Monday. Greatest day of my life at the time. Begged my family for a copy of MK on the Genesis. Had to get straight A's on my report card. Bet those pussies thought I couldn't do it. Then, bang! 4.0 in their fucking faces. They still didn't want to get it for me due to all the media backlash and the MA rating on the cover, but too late bitches. They owed me, and it was time to pay, so pay they did.
RELEASES
ARCADE - 1992
| PROS: | - Crisp visuals, and responsive controls. |
| CONS: | - Not many user options. |
| NOTES: | - Version 5.0 is the final arcade version and has many updates and bug fixes that improve the game and make it easier to find reptile. |
GENESIS - 1993
| PROS: | - Well done port with blood and decent visuals |
| CONS: | - Missing frames
- Lower quality audio |
| NOTES: | - Codes allow for debug menu and blood (ABACABB/DULLARD) |
SNES - 1993
| PROS: | - More frames than similar ports
|
| CONS: | - No blood (I thought this was Mortal Kombat?)
- Fatalities and gameplay have been altered to make the release less graphic
- Noticeable input lag |
HANDHELD - 1993
| PROS: | - Both version are impressive for the time and have decent character models. |
| CONS: | - General limitations of handheld at the time such as graphics, audio, and framerate. |
| NOTES: | - I think you can play as Goro in the Gameboy version. |
DOS/DOS CD - 1993/1996
| PROS: | - Close to arcade perfect visuals  |
| CONS: | - Audio isn't quite the same due to sound processing
- Limited controller support |
| NOTES: | - Possibly missing frames? (Sub-Zero's jump kick) |
SEGA CD - 1994
| PROS: | - More frames of animation than other console ports
- Arcade quality audio
- No blood code needed |
| CONS: | - Basically a Genesis port. Why though?
- Load times [Also during Shang Tsung transformations]
- Missing tracks for Warrior Shrine, and Palace Gates stages |
| NOTES: | - Additional music tracks when using the audio player |
PLAYSTATION 2/XBOX - 2004
| PROS: | - Emulated arcade
- 60fps |
| CONS: | - Literally no options 
- 480i
- Forced smoothing filter
- Audio Glitches
- Slowdown
- No Palace Gates music
- Noticeable input lag |
SONY PSP - 2005
| PROS: | - Solid visuals and audio |
| CONS: | - Small screen
- Forced stretched aspect ratio
- 30fps
- Same bugs from PS2 port
- Missing or incorrect voice samples |
PC - 2006
| PROS: | - Bugs from previous ports have mostly been patched
- No slowdown
- 60fps |
| CONS: | - Palace Gates music bug
- Possibly frustrating anti-piracy
- No graphics settings |
MULTI [ARCADE KOLLECTION] - 2011
| PROS: | - Large sprites
- Video filter options |
| CONS: | - Screen tearing
- Forced filters
- Based on arcade version 4.0 instead of 5.0 |
ADDITIONAL VERSIONS
| MOBILE: | - No longer available? |
NOTABLE DIFFERENCES
SPRITE SIZING
A look at the attempts to make arcade accurate graphics with extremely limited hardware in the 90s.
CENSORED FATALITIES
Instead of ripping off the opponents head Sub-Zero freezes his opponent then smashes them with a backhand. This type of fatality would be featured in future release although much more brutal.
DEFINITIVE VERSION™
CLICK HERE TO REVEAL THE DEFINITIVE VERSION
This was a frustrating game to pin down mostly because of the very obscure Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe release. It was only on PC, but it was basically an improved version of the PS2 Deception bonus disc release so I had to give it a go. On top of that, multiple games have been delisted or are a pain to get running.
Ultimately, none of the home versions could surpass the arcade as there were noticeable differences in all of them that made the experience less enjoyable, less complete, and less authentic than the original release.
Although the Definitive Version is the original arcade I think that the Arcade Kollection is the best “at home” arcade experience if you're just looking to pick up and play. However, the Sega Genesis is probably the best version if you just want to get in an arcade run since there's no loading, and the AI feels like it was tuned to be less cheap. All that being said, don't sleep on the GOG DOS release, as it plays very well, it's just annoying to get graphics and controllers working properly.
SUPPLEMENTAL
CITATIONS
