Anticipation was high for the next installment of the Mortal Kombat franchise. Midway had delivered two games that fans could not get enough of. As April of 1995 came closer, the third game in the series was about to hit arcades. Mortal Kombat 3 would take a step forward in how a fighting game would be presented, but it also marked an end of one era and the beginning of the next.
Shao Kahn has had enough of tournaments and rules. His desire to take over Earthrelm has become so strong that he would do anything to possess it, even use his dead wife. The resurrection of Queen Sindel has allowed Earth and Outworld to merge, creating a nightmarish landscape. Earth’s warrior, both old and new, must find a way to destroy the invading army and bring peace once again to the world.
There was not much to change in MK3. The biggest addition was a combo system, something that other fighting games had started to bring to the table. A new type of finishing move, the Animality, finally became a reality. Some stages had extra levels that could be accessed by hitting an upercut. A code system allowed players to have an advantage, unlock hidden characters and other secrets if they knew what to put in.
The roster of fighters was expanded nicely.We met other members of the Lin Kuei clan in the robotic Cyrax and Sextor. A Native American named Nightwolf and a police officer named Stryker. If there was one fighter who was embraced by the fans the most, it would be Kabal. A member of Kano’s gang, this fighter may not have gotten into much merchandise, but his strengths make him a popular choice.
Why was MK3 the end of the era? It was the last game to have the fighters be real people who were scanned into the game. The next installment would feature 3D graphics. It would also be the last game to feature Shao Kahn as the main villain. This game took everything from the past two and made it all work. The series has gotten better, but fans should look at this game as the last chapter in the beginning of this saga.
