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Mortal Kombat has been a staple in the gaming industry since its release in 1992. Known for its brutal fatalities and iconic characters, the franchise has become a fan favorite for gamers worldwide. However, there are some things about Mortal Kombat that even the most die-hard fans may not know.
In this article, we will delve into some of the lesser-known facts about Mortal Kombat. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a cultural phenomenon, we’ll explore the history of the game and its impact on the gaming industry. So pick up those sticks, and get ready to learn some things you never knew about Mortal Kombat.
History of Mortal Kombat
Origins
Mortal Kombat is a popular fighting game that was first introduced in 1992 by Midway Games. The game was created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, who were both working at Midway at the time. The concept for the game was developed after Ed Boon saw a demonstration of a game called Street Fighter II at a trade show. He realized that there was a gap in the market for a more violent and graphic fighting game, and Mortal Kombat was born.
The game was initially released in arcades, and it quickly gained a cult following. The game’s popularity led to several sequels and spin-offs, including Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, and Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance.
Development Journey
Mortal Kombat’s development journey was not without its challenges. The game was initially rejected by several publishers due to its violent content and graphic nature. However, Midway Games eventually decided to take a chance on the game, and it turned out to be a massive success.
The game’s success was not without controversy, however. Mortal Kombat was criticized for its violent content, and it was even banned in some countries. The controversy surrounding the game led to the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which is responsible for rating video games based on their content.
Despite the controversy, Mortal Kombat continued to be a popular franchise, and it has since spawned movies, comic books, and even a television series. The game’s popularity has also led to several crossovers with other popular franchises, including DC Comics and the WWE.
Overall, Mortal Kombat’s history is a testament to the power of innovation and risk-taking in the video game industry. The game’s creators took a chance on a new concept, and it paid off in a big way.
Toasty!
Sound designer Dan Forden is the face you see and the voice you hear in the bottom right hand corner of the screen in Mortal Kombat 2 and beyond when big attacks are unleashed. When playing games among the development team, Dan was infamous for his trash talk and taunting. When playing Super High Impact Football, Forden would proclaim “I predict toast” before a play. That would evolve into “Toasty” and Ed Boon loved it so much that he wanted it in their game!
Fatalities
One of the most iconic aspects of Mortal Kombat is its brutal and gory finishing moves, known as “fatalities.” These moves are typically performed at the end of a match, and involve the winning player performing a gruesome and often over-the-top attack on their opponent.
The feature was actually inspired by Street Fighter 2. The “dizzy” effect was something that game developers really liked, but they weren’t too keen on the idea of it being in the middle of a fight. The creators would decided to move it to the end of a fight and make it even more interesting with a violent twist!
Controversies and Bans
Mortal Kombat has been a controversial franchise since its inception, with many countries and organizations banning or censoring the games due to their violent content.
One of the most well-known examples of this is the “Mortal Monday” controversy in 1993, when the first Mortal Kombat game was released for home consoles. The game’s violent finishing moves, called “fatalities,” led to calls for it to be banned, and several countries, including Germany and Brazil, did ban it.
In the United States, Mortal Kombat was the subject of a congressional hearing in 1993, where it was criticized for its violence and accused of contributing to real-world violence. The controversy led to the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which rates video games based on their content and age-appropriateness.
Since then, Mortal Kombat games have continued to be banned or censored in various countries. For example, Mortal Kombat X was banned in Pakistan in 2016 for “excessive gore,” and Mortal Kombat 11 was temporarily banned in Indonesia in 2019 for “violence and gore.”
Despite these controversies, Mortal Kombat remains a popular franchise, with millions of fans around the world.
Trivia and Lesser Known Facts
Mortal Kombat has been around for over 25 years, and it’s safe to say that it has a lot of interesting and lesser-known facts. Here are a few trivia tidbits that you may not have known about the iconic fighting game franchise:
- The original Mortal Kombat arcade game was developed by a team of just four people: Ed Boon, John Tobias, John Vogel, and Dan Forden. Despite its small team, the game went on to become a massive success and spawn numerous sequels and spin-offs.
- The character of Johnny Cage was originally modeled after Jean-Claude Van Damme, but the developers were unable to secure the rights to use his likeness. As a result, they created a new character that was inspired by Van Damme but had a unique look and personality.
- Mortal Kombat co-creator and the voice of Scorpion Ed Boon holds a world record for the longest serving voice actor of a video game at 20 years!
- Sub-Zero has been the only character to appear in every single Mortal Kombat game. He’s been played by several different actors over the years, including Daniel Pesina, John Turk, and Keith Cooke. Each actor brought their own unique style and personality to the role, but all have helped make Sub-Zero one of the most popular characters in the franchise.
- The original fatality would be performed only by Shang Tsung. Once a character was defeated, Shang Tsung would come down and steal the soul of the loser!
