MK1 - Gameplay wise, go with the Genesis/Sega CD version. But both SNES and Sega versions suck.

MK2 - If you can find it, get the Playstation version. It is extremely hard to find the game as it was only released in Japan. Other than that SNES.

MK3 - Playstation.

UMK3 - Screw this game on consoles, get MK Trilogy.

MKT - Playstation. The controller is better for fighting games.

MK4 - If you have to get it, Playstation...but if you don't like load times, get the N64 version. But why even bother when you can get MK Gold?

Why not just emulate MK1-UMK3, then get a Dreamcast for MKG? Best way to go IMO.

My high reccomendations for purchasing Mortal Kombat.
(That doesn't mean you should disregard one's reccomendation because of mine, I'm just throwing in my thoughts.)

-Mortal Kombat-
Snes- It looks similiar to the arcade (powerbars, music, graphics).
It has all arranged music from the arcade, far better graphics than Genesis, correct character stances but the violence are rated "G".
That means no head-ripping or heart being torn out.

Genesis- I think Genesis is better than SuperNES, atleast it has the real fatalities, blood code, and I find some of the music pretty nice with the chinese-touch. Graphics are hurt, but what the heck.

Sega CD- Do not buy it. It loads, and has just a few ripped-off music on CD from the arcade.
Graphics are no difference from Genesis, but no blood code is required.

Computer- Arcade-port game with decent sounds if you have a good sound card.
I wouldn't reccomend it. I bought mines a while back for five bucks.

-Mortal Kombat II-
*SNES is highly reccomended!*
Snes- MKII on Snes isn't missing one sound. It is close to the arcade.
Nice fatalities, sfx, gameplay and funfactor.

Genesis- Very bad. Cheap and not worth it. Same for 32X.

Sega Saturn- Nice game. This game is an arcade port, but has music very similiar to the PC instead of the original.
Its still attractive and makes you come back for seconds!

Playstation- Just like I mentioned in Saturn's, arcade port without the original arcade music. This time the narrarator mention names.

Computer- This game is just like Saturn and PSX's. There are a few differences though, like the startup.

-Mortal Kombat 3-

Go with Super NES. Its very nice and similair to the arcade.

Genesis- Forget the Genesis version, unless you're up to play a game with very bad graphics and odd colors, and irratating music.

Saturn- I played UMK3, its a very nice game. MK Trilogy is reccomended over Playstation's. It loads faster and I had more fun with it.

Playstation- Go with Trilogy instead, it doesn't load crappy and Trilogy has much more characters.

Nintendo 64- Leave N64's Trilogy to dust. It has character sizes of Super NES'. Mini characters, arranged music, and lots of characters left out. No cartridge compares to a CD game of Mortal Kombat.

Here's my picks.

The PC games are a wild card. If you can find them, get them to run and have a decent controller they're great. But thats a lot of "ifs". I leave them out of this talk since there's outside factors on if they're be any good for you.


MK1: Check out the Genesis port. The SNES one looks a million times better but has very poor gameplay. It's slow and unresponsive. The Genesis port is fast, even faster than the arcade, and is much more fun. What Genesis loses in graphics it makes up for in gameplay, presentation(ending pics, cast of credits, bio pics) and of course the original fatals. The Sega CD version is pretty much the same but with more little touches(like Sub-Zero's correct stance and bodies in the Pit). I do not think it is worth tracking down.

MK II: Go with SNES this time. It is the overall most complete port of the arcade, even compared to the Saturn and 32X versions. It's got the endings, the bio pictures, almost all the sound, all the stages, and it looks pretty good too. Besides some minor things like the opening pictures and a downgrade in graphics it's a very good representation of the arcade. The Genesis MK II is terrible, it's not even worth discussing. 32X MK II is basically the Genesis port but with different colors and a few other things like the annoucer. It's awful. Bones still disapear, it still looks like crap, Kahn's taunts are still gone, Cage's win poses is still cut, nearly all the problems with Genesis MK II are still in this. Saturn MK II is also very lame. It looks good but has terrible sound and is just overall very halfassed(like Kahn's death animation is horrible). From what I hear of the PSX port it's the same deal and not worth picking up unless you're a collector.

MK3: PSX. PSX. PSX. There isn't much to say here. The PSX port of MK3 is VERY good, one of the best arcade to home ports in the series, and it's competition is two weaksauce 16 bit ports. Genesis MK3 is pretty bad and the SNES one is alright...but neither of them are even in the same league as the PSX port. The PSX port, besides load issues and a few other minor things, is probably as close to arcade perfect as we're going to get.

UMK3: Same deal but with Saturn. The Saturn version is very close to the arcade(except the load time issues) and the 16 bit ports are pretty nasty. Unless you're like the biggest Noob and Rain fan on Earth there is no reason to even consider the 16 bit versions of UMK3.

The SNES version has some control lag. The Genesis /32X version plays pretty much spot-on.

Saturn MK2 is missing most of the sound entirely - practically ZERO voice. It has chunky loading in the middle of gameplay (mainly when you execute moves for the first time). Other than that, it plays fine.

As for SNES MK2 not missing a single sound...wrong. "Fatality" is pronouced clearly, but ther is no musical undertone...the Genesis version has this musical tone, but no voice. Also, it's missing some of Kahn's phrases, Reptile doesn't say "MMMM" after his fatality, and some of the grunts and groans are missing. Voices get interrupted quite a few times as well..

Zero_Beats Wrote: -Mortal Kombat II- *SNES is highly reccomended!* Snes- MKII on Snes isn't missing one sound. It is close to the arcade. Nice fatalities, sfx, gameplay and funfactor. Genesis- Very bad. Cheap and not worth it. Same for 32X. Sega Saturn- Nice game. This game is an arcade port, but has music very similiar to the PC instead of the original. Its still attractive and makes you come back for seconds!

Zero_Beats Wrote: -Mortal Kombat 3- Go with Super NES. Its very nice and similair to the arcade.

I disagree. SNES MK3 is nothing like the Arcade. It has horribly cheap AI and it's very frustrating...like I said, it's nothing like the outstanding Arcade version.

ShingoEX Wrote: The Genesis /32X version plays pretty much spot-on.

I would not call having a really screwed up combo system spot on. Genesis is missing the crouching low punch and both have very messed up hit detection for air attacks.

Konqrr Wrote: MK4 - If you have to get it, Playstation...but if you don't like load times, get the N64 version. But why even bother when you can get MK Gold?

how do you figure? the n64 version smokes the psx version.

the_shirt_ninja Wrote: I disagree. SNES MK3 is nothing like the Arcade. It has horribly cheap AI and it's very frustrating...like I said, it's nothing like the outstanding Arcade version.

I hope you understood what I meant by that.
What I'm saying is that, to buy a MK3 for a console, I highly reccomended a version for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or if you want one that loads but has even better graphics, go for a PSX or Saturn version.
Lets leave CD games aside for a min., since we all know its a direct arcade port.
Super NES is the only game on the 16-bit console that have arranged music from the arcade and basically all the good sounds and gameplay.

You must've mistaken Snes for the Genesis.

Zero_Beats Wrote: the_shirt_ninja Wrote: I disagree. SNES MK3 is nothing like the Arcade. It has horribly cheap AI and it's very frustrating...like I said, it's nothing like the outstanding Arcade version. I hope you understood what I meant by that. What I'm saying is that, to buy a MK3 for a console, I highly reccomended a version for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or if you want one that loads but has even better graphics, go for a PSX or Saturn version. Lets leave CD games aside for a min., since we all know its a direct arcade port. Super NES is the only game on the 16-bit console that have arranged music from the arcade and basically all the good sounds and gameplay. You must've mistaken Snes for the Genesis.

SNES MK3 was fun, however it was an entirely different game from the arcade I always felt. They changed the juggling so incredibly much that its like playing a different game. Thats what always got me. I think I could handle the bad graphics, because actually I always thought the SNES graphics for MK3 and even UMK3 were suprisingly good all things considered. However, when they get so sloppy actually programming how the game is played, it gets aggravating.

And also, Mk4 for PSX was flat out horrible. Get MKG, but if you want MK4, get the N64 version. You'll be happier, even without the prerendered ending vids.

Mortal Kombat 4 for N64 definetly burns the PSX out.
Its fun to play and have slightly smoother graphics than PSX, and a good fact that it doesn't load.
Too bad the ending hurts, unlike Playstation and Dreamcast.

dreemernj Wrote: SNES MK3 was fun, however it was an entirely different game from the arcade I always felt. They changed the juggling so incredibly much that its like playing a different game. Thats what always got me. I think I could handle the bad graphics, because actually I always thought the SNES graphics for MK3 and even UMK3 were suprisingly good all things considered. However, when they get so sloppy actually programming how the game is played, it gets aggravating.

Not to mention that Snes's UMK3 is like 20% faster then the Arcade, prolly to make up for the lack of animation frames.