Mortal Kombat 3

After the success of Mortal Kombat II, the franchise did not know where to go. It wanted to take the next step (and it tried), but unfortunately MK3 didn't quite know what to keep from its predecessors and what to leave behind.

The fatalities return, but lack the punch of the previous game. While the graphics and overall tone of the game has stepped back towards realism, the fatalities have taken a few steps (read: leaps and bounds) towards goofy. Kabal takes off his mask, and scares his opponent to death with his hideous face. Sindel wraps her hair around her prey, and they spin to death. Sub-Zero breathes on his victim, turning them to ice, and they shatter. Jax grows fifty stories and stomps on his defeated opponent.

Why bother with Friendships (again) with such over the top and ridiculous fatalities? They're back anyway, and probably the most amusing of the finishing moves … sadly.

The Babalities make a return proving that a pointless and uninteresting finishing move in one game is also pointless and uninteresting in the sequel. The lettered blocks were a nice touch, though.

MK3 introduces the Mercy (universal execution amidst all characters), which primarily serves as a prerequisite for the new Animatlity. Beyond that cruel players might use the Mercy's second chance as a taunt or perhaps to rub salt in the wound of a crushing defeat (or it might be their undoing.) New to MK3, the rumored Animalities from MKII, finally materializes in the second most underwhelming series of finishing moves to appear in an MK. Characters turn into an unconvincing looking animal and maul their opponent (read: knock the victim on his back, and then show nothing.) I think I would like the Animalities more if the animals did not look so deliberately stylistic (thick lines around the creature, all of them tinted to some unnaturally bright color) and if the majority of the Animalities had unique kills associated with them.

While on the topic of underwhelming elements, let's discuss MK3's lineup of characters. Returning characters include Shang Tsung, Jax, Kano, Liu Kang, Sonya, Sub-Zero, and Kung Lao. With the exceptions of Sub-Zero, Sonya, and Kano most of the characters feel as though they've regressed into something less fun to play. Liu Kang and Kung Lao gain no additional moves plus their existing moves don't feel as effective as the previous game. Jax and Shang Tsung, by contrast, did receive new moves, and yet still don't feel like they've gained anything. Only Sub-Zero, Sonya, and Kano genuinely feel like they've taken the next step in their characters evolution.

The new characters are a mixed bag of archetypal, quasi-retreads, and one original character. In the cliché department, Midway delivers Stryker, the urban SWAT team member. And let's not forget NightWolf, the Indian complete with face makeup and tomahawk (er, hatchet). As for the retreads with minor variations, MK3 introduces Sindel whose attire bears resemblance to Kitana/Mileena, and she has a scream that functions like Kitana's fanwave. Sheeva, the female version of Goro/Kintaro, who stole Kintaro's teleport stomp. Cyrax and Sektor, robot palette swap ninjas. The former has a green net that functions similar to Scorpion's spear. The latter has a teleport attack that, while uniquely different, does show traces of the underlying concept behind Mileena's teleport kick, and Scorpion's teleport punch. Even NightWolf's shadow-ram bears resemblance to Cage's Shadow kick (not to mention Shao Kahn's charging move.) This leaves Kabal all by his lonesome as the most unique character as far as original moves and non-cliché design.

The new characters, like many of the returning characters from MK2, just don't seem to go anywhere. Granted, Sindel, Cyrax, Sektor, and Sheeva are not spitting images of previous characters; however, they don't seem to venture far enough out into new territory as if Midway didn't want to fully let go of Kintaro, Kitana, Mileena, Scorpion, and Cage. So they came up with characters with designs and moves that are neither new, nor retreads. As if they don't know where they're going.

Is it any wonder I liked Sub-Zero and Kabal the best? MK3 brought into play Kombat codes which have varying effects in matches from fighting with a black screen, to unlimited run, to quick uppercut recovery, to half/quarter life, to an assortment of text messages. Also coming into play, the "Ultimate Kombat Kode" which unlocks the fifteenth character -- MK2's hidden ninja, now a cyber-ninja, Smoke.

Smoke is the most blatant retread in the game, being a palette swap of Sektor/Cyrax, whose special moves include Sektor's teleport punch, Reptile's invisibility, and Scorpion's spear move (now called a "harpoon".) Midway countered all this by making Smoke one of the most effective characters in the game with how his moves effortlessly chain together for some devastating combos.

On the positive side of the koin, MK3 moves away from the isolated island of MK1, away from Outworld in MK2, and brings the battle for Earthrealm to more urban environments. Venues include a bank, a bell-tower, a sub-way, a city street, a cemetery, giving the game a setting totally unique from its predecessors.

One controversial change (a positive change in my book, though many will disagree) came with the new combo system, dubbed dial-a-combo. A chain of button taps will unleash a flurry of attacks. Easy to do? Yes. Room for change ups and wake up games? Not really, no. It does, however, give players another tool to use in their fights, it does give the MK3 fights a different flavor, and more importantly it does not entirely replace the juggles of the previous game, allowing players to mix-up battles.

Overall, a disappointing entry, but it's not without its share of perks.

MORTAL KOMBAT 3, in my opinion, is one of the best arcade games I have ever played. Even though I haven't owned my Nintendo Wii for very long, I enjoy this game very much. In addition, even though I've never beaten the game, I still find this game very appealing, even though I've never owned the game. The only place I've played it is at the arcade. However, when and if this game is available to download on the Nintendo Wii, I'm definitely going to download it. Before I wrap this up, I'd like to say that the people at Sega Genesis know how to keep video game fanatics entertained. Now, in conclusion, if you're a video game fanatic, this is definitely one you'll want to play and own.

Forget that you ever saw the horrible Mortal Kombat movies and stick to the impressions that the video games created if you want to take this superb series seriously. MK-3 was the last of sprite based games of its series but the action remained fluid and dynamic as ever. The animation was great and the sketches in the manual were something that every MK fan should preserve. The length of the game itself and the number of opponents depends on the skill or difficulty level that you select. Problem is that even on normal difficulty, one could breeze through most opponents by merely throwing upper cuts and only during the very end did it get difficult.

Mortal Kombat and its sequels are some of the greatest games ever created! It has a good story, incredible action, great music, awesome characters, very fun, really interesting looking stages, and more! Below is an In-depth review of the game called Mortal Kombat 3!

Story: Many fighters around the world enter this deadly tournament. Since now the contest is in Shao Khan's hands it will become much more difficult for the Kombatants to win!

The Kombatants!

Liu Kang - This Chinese warrior is a fearless fighter who is bent on getting revenge!

Johnny Cage - An action movie star, Cage enters Mortal Kombat!

Sonya Blade - A beautiful Texan who is a Lt. in the United States Army. The is skilled fighter enters the tournament but why? Is it because a certain red eyed individual is Kompeteing?

Shang Tsung - This old shapeshifting fighter is one of the greatest fighters ever in the history of the world! He has the power to take a living being's soul!

Kano - A member of the Black Dragon Organization, Kano fights with no fear in the tournament!

Scorpion - A poor soul, when he was a live his wife and child were murdered by Sub Zero and the Lin Kuei clan of ninjas. Scorpion with his trusty spear is seeking revenge on the cold one.

Sub-Zero - The younger brother of the murderer of Scorpion's family is in the tournament. Now it will be a big showdown like never seen before!

Reptile - Not much is known about this fighter except he wears the same exact ninja uniforms as Scorpion and Sub Zero but only green and can mimic other fighters maneuvers! Though it is thought that he is the last of an ancient reptilian humanoid specie, he protects Shang Tsung from enemies.

Kung Lao - The last decedent of the heroic fighter Kung Lao is a former Shaolin monk and is also a member of White Lotus Society. He enters the tournament.

Jax - U.S. Special Forces Major Jackson Briggs enters the tournament with his huge bionic arms!

Cyrax - Built by the Lin Kuei to kill Sub-Zero, The second Cybernetic ninja is unit LK4D4.

Kabal - The mysterious Kabal enters the tournament because apparently he is the loan survivor of by Khans' extermination squad. Kabal plans on getting revenge.

Knightwolf - This historian used the powerful magic of the Shamen to product his sacred land in North America on Earth. Since Khan has invaded, this Native American enters the tournament.

Sheeva - This four-armed beauty from Shokan is Sindel's protector. She was chosen by Shao Khan but why wasn't she chosen to be the leader of his squads? She questions him because he chose Motaro, a Centaurian which is the natural enemy of the Shokans.

Sindel - The queen of Outworld. This evil beauty has something to scream about!

Stryker - Kurtis Styker was the leader of a riot control brigade. Shao Khan has caused much destruction on Earth and Stryker enters the tournament to seek out the killer of millions.

Smoke - Built by the Lin Kuei to kill Sub-Zero, The third Cybernetic ninja has a few surprises in his arsenal.

Sektor - Built by the Lin Kuei to kill Sub-Zero, The first Cybernetic ninja's unit name is Sektor LK-9T9.

Motaro - A huge Centaurian. His people has been in war with the Shokan for generations. He is the leader of Khan's extermination squad. He is a force not to mess with!

Shao Khan - A large and muscular being the supreme ruler of the Outworld, the Astrial Plane of Shokan, and all of the surrounding regions. The fighters have gathered and the tournament has begun! Will Khan rule supreme over Earth or can the earthlings defeat their opponents and Shao Khan?

Game Play: The game play is very good. The basic movies are easy to perform but the fatalities are very hard to do but with the help of cheats it can be much easier.

Graphics: The graphics are wonderful. Most of the game is digitalized!

Difficulty: The game can be very easy or it can be very hard depending on what you set the difficulty level.

Music: The music is great! Just awesome catchy tunes through out the game! In My opinion its some of the best music ever in a video game!

Sound: The sound is great. The real voices sound clear and the punching and kicking does as well.

Overall: I have always loved Mortal Kombat. If you like excellent fighting games then I strongly recommend you play Mortal Kombat 3 today! To purchase this video game on many game formats check out Amazon.com!

Mortal Kombat 3 also changed the history of fighting video games for many reasons...

It generated an easy to perform combo system that became a favorite for fans and best of all, it was addictive. You could perform 8 button combo attacks combined with your special powers.

Also, the story is very interesting not to say creepy and powerful. It deals with earth's invasion by Shao Khan. This time, Rayden who "cannot interfere anymore" created a new earth army that brings the most interesting new characters in the series plus the beloved ones like Sub-Zero, Sonya (returns), Liu Kang, Kung-Lao, Kabal, and Stryker. Now it's up to them to defeat Kahn's minions, Motaro (the new Shotokan leader) and in the end, Kahn himself.

The graphics are excellent! The characters look bigger, shaped, and have cool clothing. The sound is just wonderful, maybe not as impressive and haunting as in part II but still really good with modern tracks and the always creepy and haunting "The Pit III" tune.

The fatalities are a letdown in terms of originality and brutality. Some of them are even laughable like Kabal's banshee scream, Kang's arcade, or "giant Jax". Some of them are spectacular like Jax performing a la T-100, the Sektor Kompaktor, Cyrax's helicopter, Kung Lao's hat cutting, Kano's skeleton rip, and Sub-Zero's frozen destruction, to name some.

The game play is addictive, even more than in part II. You just don't get tired of the combo system and best of all, because the story and music catches your attention and senses.

A classic fighting video game. One of the best ones of history.