The controversial but popular 'Mortal Kombat' was Midway's biggest seller in 1992, meaning a sequel was perfectly viable. The following year, 'Mortal Kombat II' was unleashed onto the public. It was every bit as good as it's predecessor, though naturally a few improvements were made. An opponent could now perform a choice of two fatalities as opposed to one, as well being able to perform new finishing moves such as Friendship ( in which the player performs a kindly gesture towards the opponent ) and Babality ( in which the defeated opponent is transformed back into a whimpering baby ). The gore of fatalities was not toned down either. If anything, it was pepped up.
From the first game, Sub Zero, Scorpion, Reptile ( now a playable character ), Rayden, Johnny Cage and Liu Kang all return to battle in the tournament. Shang Tsung faced execution by emperor Shao Kahn ( who is the protagonist in this game ) for his failure in the previous battle but somehow persuaded his master to give him a second chance. Now reincarnated in a younger body, Shang Tsung is brought in here as a playable character. Four new characters were introduced - Jax ( a special forces agent and friend of Sonya Blade who enters the combat to rescue her after Kahn captures her ) Kitana ( a female ninja and alleged daughter of Shao Kahn ), Mileena ( a hideous clone of Kitana ) and Baraka ( a hideous beast who belongs to a race known as Tarakatan ).
Sonya and Kano make uncredited appearances here as prisoners in Kahn's fighting arena. Appearing as unlockable characters are Jade ( a green pallete swap of Kitana ), Smoke ( a grey pallete swap of Scorpion who has smoke rings billowing from his body ) and Noob Saibot ( a shadow silhouette of the other ninjas ). In place of Goro is Kintaro, a four armed beast who is half human, half tiger.
Three stage fatalities were brought in here. In one zone, an opponent can be uppercutted into the air onto a row of spikes protuding from a ceiling, in another an opponent could be dissolved in a bath of acid. My favourite however would see an opponent knocked off of a bridge and thrown fatally onto a bed of concrete.
Daniel Pesina, who portrayed all the male ninja characters, was later fired from Midway along with Elizabeth Malecki ( who played Sonya in the first game ) and Katalin Zamilar ( who portrayed Kitana, Mileena and Jade ) over disagreements about royalty fees.
'Mortal Kombat II' was released on all Sega and Nintendo consoles and later was released ( in Japan only ) on the PS1. It is vintage fun that any true 'Mortal Kombat' will enjoy throughly with each play. Two years later, 'Mortal Kombat 3' appeared, and despite some unfavorable changes was nevertheless a successful release.
From the first game, Sub Zero, Scorpion, Reptile ( now a playable character ), Rayden, Johnny Cage and Liu Kang all return to battle in the tournament. Shang Tsung faced execution by emperor Shao Kahn ( who is the protagonist in this game ) for his failure in the previous battle but somehow persuaded his master to give him a second chance. Now reincarnated in a younger body, Shang Tsung is brought in here as a playable character. Four new characters were introduced - Jax ( a special forces agent and friend of Sonya Blade who enters the combat to rescue her after Kahn captures her ) Kitana ( a female ninja and alleged daughter of Shao Kahn ), Mileena ( a hideous clone of Kitana ) and Baraka ( a hideous beast who belongs to a race known as Tarakatan ).
Sonya and Kano make uncredited appearances here as prisoners in Kahn's fighting arena. Appearing as unlockable characters are Jade ( a green pallete swap of Kitana ), Smoke ( a grey pallete swap of Scorpion who has smoke rings billowing from his body ) and Noob Saibot ( a shadow silhouette of the other ninjas ). In place of Goro is Kintaro, a four armed beast who is half human, half tiger.
Three stage fatalities were brought in here. In one zone, an opponent can be uppercutted into the air onto a row of spikes protuding from a ceiling, in another an opponent could be dissolved in a bath of acid. My favourite however would see an opponent knocked off of a bridge and thrown fatally onto a bed of concrete.
Daniel Pesina, who portrayed all the male ninja characters, was later fired from Midway along with Elizabeth Malecki ( who played Sonya in the first game ) and Katalin Zamilar ( who portrayed Kitana, Mileena and Jade ) over disagreements about royalty fees.
'Mortal Kombat II' was released on all Sega and Nintendo consoles and later was released ( in Japan only ) on the PS1. It is vintage fun that any true 'Mortal Kombat' will enjoy throughly with each play. Two years later, 'Mortal Kombat 3' appeared, and despite some unfavorable changes was nevertheless a successful release.