Mortal Kombat celebrates its 25th anniversary today, an amazing feat since its humble beginnings back in 1992 from Midway Games’ Chicago. From a rocky start shrouded in bankruptcy, the franchise later took off once it was acquired by WarnerBros – later NetherRealmStudios – to become a powerhouse in gaming culture.
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The Mortal Kombat series is brutal, bloody, and not for the faint of heart. As technology continues to grow, so does the graphic nature of this beloved franchise with characters and lore that gamers all over the world have grown to appreciate.
Books, comics, movies, TV shows – many medias have brought this familiar lore into light over the years with an incredibly engaging backstory concerning the surviving realms that were created by the Elder Gods. According to Moral Komat: Deception, the six realms were described as:
“Earthrealm, home to such legendary heroes as Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, and Jax, and also under the protection of the Thunder God Raiden; Netherrealm, the fiery depths of which are inhospitable to all but the most vile, a realm of demons and shadowy warriors such as Quan Chi and Noob Saibot; Outworld, a realm of constant strife which Emperor Shao Kahn claims as his own; Seido, the Realm of Order, whose inhabitants prize structure and order above all else; the Realm of Chaos, whose inhabitants do not abide by any rules whatsoever, and where constant turmoil and change are worshipped; and Edenia, which is known for its beauty, artistic expression, and the longevity of its inhabitants.”
The Beginning
The first Mortal Kombat took place in the Earthrealm and was a concept that began to gain traction back in 1991. Ed Boon, John Tobia, John Vogel, and Dan Forden took the challenge of wanting to make a game with a “hard edge” and drew from franchises such as Enter the Dragon to create a new game experience apart from the likes of Street Fighter.
The small team was heavily inspired by Chinese mythology and the speculation surrounding the Shaolin Monks. The mythological roots are definitely apparent in many of the character and stage designs, and there was enough fleshed out lore to continue this small idea and grow it into a staple within the gaming and film world.
As far as the first title itself:
“The game introduced many key aspects of the Mortal Kombat series, including the unique five-button control scheme and gory finishing moves. The game focuses on the journey of the monk Liu Kang to save Earth from the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung, ending with their confrontation in the tournament known as Mortal Kombat.”
The 1992 arcade game was only the beginning. For those that may not be familiar with this incredible franchise, here is the basic timeline to follow how the Mortal Kombat series grew over the years.
- Mortal Kombat 1992 – Arcade
- Mortal Kombat II 1993 – Arcade
- Mortal Kombat 3 1995 – Arcade
- Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 1995 – Arcade
- Mortal Kombat Trilogy 1996 – PS1, N64, Saturn, PC
- Mortal Kombat 4 1997 – Arcade, PC, PS1, N64
- Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero 1997 – PS1, N64
- Mortal Kombat Gold 1999 – Dreamcast
- Mortal Kombat: Special Forces 2000 – PS1
- Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance 2002 – PS2, GCN, Xbox, GBA
- Mortal Kombat: Tourrnament Edition 2003 – GBA
- Mortal Kombat Deception 2004 – PS2, GCN, Xbox
- Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks 2005 – PS2, Xbox
- Mortal Kombat Armageddon 2006 – PS2, Xbox
- Mortal Kombat Unchained 2006 – PSP
- Ultimate Mortal Kombat 2007 – NDS
- Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe 2008 – PS3, Xbox 360
- Mortal Kombat 2001 – PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita
- Mortal Kombat Aracde Kollection 2011 – PSN, XBLA, PC
- Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition 2012 – PS3, Xbox 360, PC
- Mortal Kombat X 2015 – PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android
- Mortal Kombat XL 2016 – PS4, Xbox One, PC
This franchise shows no signs of slowing down, as characters from the famed series continue to keep their place in today’s gaming world; most recently with the release of Injustice 2 where several of these iconic characters show off what they’ve got in the DC setting. Only time will tell what the future has in store for this amazing series. Are you excited to see Mortal Kombat continue on its legacy?
