Mortal Kombat 4 (MK4) is the fourth main installment in the Mortal Kombatseries of fighting gamesdeveloped by Midway Games. Released toarcades in 1997, Mortal Kombat 4 is the first title from the series and one of the first made by Midway overall to use 3D computer graphics. Eurocom later ported it to thePlayStation, Nintendo 64,PC, and Game Boy Colorduring 1998. An updated version titled Mortal Kombat Gold was released exclusively for the Dreamcast the following year.
The gameplay system ofMortal Kombat 4 is similar to that of the previous games; one of the most notable additions is the use of weapons and objects during fights. The storyline chronicles the attack from the corrupted Elder God Shinnok against his former comrades who trapped him in the Netherealm many years prior to the beginning of the series. The other 17 playable characters take part in the battle between good and evil, with the forces of light trying to stop Shinnok and the forces of darkness from conquering all the realms.
While developing the game, the Midway staff had problems making the graphics as it was one of the first 3D fighting games they developed. Co-creator Ed Boon commented that the staff wanted to make Mortal Kombat 4 more violent than its predecessors, removing the comical finishing moves featured in them. Since its release, the game received generally positive response from critics, with the exception of the Game Boy Color port.
Gameplay
Mortal Kombat 4 is played in a similar way to the previous titles from the series with some changes. MK4 introduces a limited weapon system, allowing each character to take out a special weapon using a set button combination. Once equipped, the weapons are primarily used through the punch buttons. This includes swinging, clubbing or even tossing the weapons. The weapons can also be purposely dropped, in similar fashion to the arena objects such as severed heads and rocks; if an opponent's weapon is dropped, the other character is able to pick it up and use it. By sidestepping, the player is able to move in a 3D manner, shifting the camera angle, preventing both characters from holding up the weapons or objects they had on the ground.
MK4 added a "Maximum Damage" cap to the game's combosystem, automatically breaking combos if they deal over a set amount of damage to a player and, thus, preventing infinite combos (although this cap can be removed with a code). UnlikeMortal Kombat Trilogy which contained multiple finishing moves of various kinds, Mortal Kombat 4 only has two Fatalities per character and two Stage Fatalities that can only be done in certain arenas and involve the character throwing the opponent to part of the arena where he or she dies. Unlike the first three games, this game does not include unplayable boss characters except Goro from the home versions.
MK4 added a "Maximum Damage" cap to the game's combosystem, automatically breaking combos if they deal over a set amount of damage to a player and, thus, preventing infinite combos (although this cap can be removed with a code). UnlikeMortal Kombat Trilogy which contained multiple finishing moves of various kinds, Mortal Kombat 4 only has two Fatalities per character and two Stage Fatalities that can only be done in certain arenas and involve the character throwing the opponent to part of the arena where he or she dies. Unlike the first three games, this game does not include unplayable boss characters except Goro from the home versions.
Plot
Thousands of years before the setting of the first game, Shinnok, one of the Elder Gods who control the six realms in the Mortal Kombat universe, attempted to become the conqueror of them all. Thunder god Raiden fought and defeated Shinnok in a war that spanned hundreds of years, sending him to the Netherealm, where he would be trapped forever. Now, Shinnok has managed to escape from the Netherealm with help from the sorcerer Quan Chi, and seeks vengeance against the Elder Gods who banished him. In his plan, he first conquers the realm of Edenia, with the aid of a traitor, Tanya, while he prepares to attack the Elder Gods. In order to stop Shinnok's menace, Raiden requests help from the Earthrealm warriors who saved the realms from Emperor Shao Kahn in previous titles.
Characters
The following is a list of the characters included in theMortal Kombat 4 character selection roster, as well as the update Mortal Kombat Gold.
MK4 introduces:
- Fujin - Raiden's ally, the Wind God who first appeared in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero.
- Jarek - The last of the Black Dragon after Kano's death.
- Kai - An Asian warrior, Shaolin monk and friend of Liu Kang.
- Meat - A bloody skeleton. An unlockable character.
- Quan Chi - The mysterious evil sorcerer who aided Shinnok in his escape from the Netherealm. A sub-boss in MK4, Quan Chi had previously appeared in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero as the antagonist, and in the TV show Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm, but this was his first appearance in a fighting game.
- Reiko - Shinnok's general.
- Shinnok - A rogue Elder God. Shinnok appears as a playable character and players can only fight him as a final opponent. First appeared in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero as the final boss, and like Quan Chi, MK4 would mark his debut in a fighting game.
- Tanya - A traitor to Edenia.
Returning characters include:
- Goro - The Shokan who retains his role from the first game as a sub-boss.
- Jax - A U.S. Special Forces officer who finds out that Jarek is still alive.
- Johnny Cage - The Hollywood movie star who will produce his next movie.
- Liu Kang - A Shaolin monk who seeks to destroy Shinnok.
- Noob Saibot - The undead elder Sub-Zero, a hidden character.
- Raiden - The thunder god who again guides the mortals.
- Reptile - A Zaterran warrior who seeks to serve Shinnok to save his realm.
- Scorpion - Another undead ninja who again seeks revenge on his nemeses Sub-Zero and Quan Chi.
- Sonya Blade - A Special Forces lieutenant who seeks to destroy Jarek.
- Sub-Zero - A Lin Kuei assassin again stalked by Scorpion.
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