I was around eight years old when I first experienced the game Mortal Kombat, a one-on-one fighting game that stirred controversy among parents and politicians in the early 1990s. Playing with my cousins at Toronto’s Pearson airport, I inadvertently triggered a secret finishing move. The character I controlled, Scorpion, unveiled a skull beneath his mask and unleashed a fireball, incinerating his opponent to a charred skeleton, with “FATALITY” flashing on the screen in bold green letters. This shocking moment exemplified why Mortal Kombat became the standout game of 1992.
The latest release, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, by Digital Eclipse focuses on compiling classic game series, including extensive developer interviews and historical content. While the collection admirably covers much of Mortal Kombat’s legacy, it somewhat overlooks the moral uproar stemming from its graphic content.
Legacy Kollection offers a comprehensive selection of 23 Mortal Kombat games spanning from 1992 to 2003, featuring notable titles from arcade machines to home consoles like Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. The collection encompasses various versions, including adaptations for portable systems like the Game Boy and spin-offs like MK Mythologies: Sub-Zero.
The interactive documentary component delves into the background and launch of the original Mortal Kombat, providing insights from key creators like lead programmer Ed Boon and artist/designer John Tobias. Despite Mortal Kombat’s groundbreaking impact, it was not the first fighting game or the pioneer in graphic violence and digitized characters.
While the archival material in Legacy Kollection pleases long-time fans, it lacks sufficient depth in exploring the controversies surrounding the game. The documentary could benefit from more in-depth coverage of the moral debates and the implementation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
The Mortal Kombat games themselves may lack the complexity of other fighting games from that era but are memorable for their distinctive style and characters. Although the home console versions may show their age with technical limitations, they hold nostalgic value for many who experienced them during the decline of arcade gaming.
Legacy Kollection serves as a nostalgic trip down memory lane, allowing fans to compare and contrast different versions of the game. While it may not fully encapsulate the game’s cultural impact, it remains a significant homage to a pivotal chapter in Western entertainment history.