It’s been 30 years since we as a society first heard the words “Finish Him!” being shouted at us by an arcade machine, and we definitely haven’t been the same ever since.
Mortal Kombat’s legacy and impact not only on video games, but wider popular culture in general, is undeniable. Say the words “focus attack dash cancel” to most people and all they’ll have in return is a glassy-eyed look and not much else. Shout “Fatality!” and you’ll get some story about Mortal Kombat, whether it was beating friends and family at the game or their first time watching the classic 1995 movie.
Fighting games have always been a niche product compared to the likes of first-person shooters or action adventure games, but over the years, there’s been a few that have broken through and become widely recognisable. Tekken, Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros. have all successfully made their way into the public consciousness, but arguably none have achieved the same level of popularity as Mortal Kombat.
Perhaps this is because Mortal Kombat was much more controversial than other games that have launched before or since. Within a year of its inception, Mortal Kombat was hauled up in front of US Senate as an example of how those “gosh darned vidya games” are corrupting the youth with their violence. Said violence might look incredibly dated and laughable by today’s standards, but back then, being able to rip your fellow player’s spine out was kind of unprecedented.
It’s moments like that which have led Mortal Kombat to be a part of many people’s lives, largely because you never forget your first. Whether it’s punching someone’s heart out, growing to 1000ft tall and stomping on them or turning into a dragon and just eating them alive, your first Mortal Kombat finisher is a defining moment for many players. Or, more likely, the first time someone hits you with a finisher. The amount of rage that went through child me when getting to the end of Mortal Kombat 3, only to have Shao Kahn rip me in half repeatedly, has never been matched since.
Not that I played Mortal Kombat as a kid. Of course not. I’m a good boy.
While Mortal Kombat might have earned headlines early on in its lifespan for its violence and gore, it’s the most recent iterations that have proved there’s more to the series than just guts and viscera. Sure, that’s still all there in spades, but the gameplay has been massively improved to be on par with its contemporaries. Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat 11 in particular introduced the idea of variations, which added a whole new dimension to every character and the game as a whole.
With NetherRealm Studios seemingly gearing up to reveal Mortal Kombat 12 at some point, it feels like the series is in the strongest position it’s ever been within its 30 year history. With a new game, a hit movie with a sequel on the way, multiple animated movies and who knows what else coming, Mortal Kombat as a series looks like it’s never going to be finished. That’s completely fine by us.
READ MORE: Best Fighting Game Stages: Mortal Kombat’s The Pit
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