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Fatality (Mortal Kombat)

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Fatality is a gameplay feature in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series, in which the victor of the match's final round inflicts a brutal finishing move onto their defeated opponent. Prompted by the announcer saying "Finish Him" or "Finish Her", players have a short time window to execute a Fatality by entering specific commands while positioned at a specific distance from the opponent. The Fatality and its derivations are notable features of the Mortal Kombat series and have caused a large amount of controversy.

Mortal Kombat 11 trailer of fatalities

History

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Further information: Controversies surrounding Mortal Kombat

The origins of the Fatality concept has been traced back to several violent Asian martial arts media. In The Street Fighter (1974), a Japanese martial arts film, Sonny Chiba performs x-ray fatality finishing moves, which at the time was seen as a gimmick to distinguish it from other martial arts films.[1] In the Japanese shōnen manga and anime series Fist of the North Star, the protagonist Kenshiro performs gory fatalities in the form of finishing moves which consist of attacking pressure points that cause heads and bodies to explode.[2] The Japanese seinen manga and anime series Riki-Oh (1988 debut), along with its Hong Kong martial arts film adaptation Story of Ricky (1991), featured gory fatalities in the form of finishing moves similar to those that later appeared in Mortal Kombat.[3][4]

While creating Mortal Kombat, Ed Boon and John Tobias started with the idea of a Street Fighter II style system and retained many of its conventions but tweaked others. The most notable additions were graphic blood effects, more brutal fighting techniques, and especially the fatal finishing moves (this was a novelty as the traditional fighting games ended with the loser simply knocked unconscious and the victor posing for the players).[5] According to Boon, it started with an idea to enable the player to hit a dizzied opponent at the end of the match with a "free hit", and that idea "quickly evolved into something nasty."[6] Tobias recalled it differently: "Our first idea was to use them as a finishing move for final boss Shang Tsung, who was going to pull out his sword and behead his opponent. Then we thought, 'What if the player could do that to his opponent?'"[7] Tobias and former Midway Games programmer Mark Turmell stated that initially no one at Midway expected players to find the Fatalities in the game.[8][9] Tobias said: "When we watched players react to the Fatalities, we knew we had no choice but to give them more."[7]

Gameplay

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Much like special moves, a Fatality may require certain requirements in order to achieve the desired result. Usually, every character has their own special Fatality that must be performed at a certain distance from the opponent,[10] the three distances are close (the finishing move would not work unless the player is right next to the opponent), sweep/mid (the player should stand a step or two away from the opponent, but still within the distance that a sweeping low kick should hit), and far (at least one jump's forward length away from the opponent).[11]

Variations

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Animality

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This finisher allows the player to morph into an animal and maul their opponent. This style of Fatality debuted in Mortal Kombat 3.[12] According to Boon, his team "listened to what the players said about MKII and the Animalities that they thought were in there but really were not. To answer all these rumors, [they] put Animalities in MKIII [sic]."[6]

Babality

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Introduced in Mortal Kombat II, Babality turns a defeated opponent into an infant version of the character.[13] They returned in Mortal Kombat (2011) with distinct animations for each character.[14]

Brutality

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Introduced in Mortal Kombat Trilogy and the Super NES and Genesis versions of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, this finisher allowed players to perform a combo that would cause the opponent to explode. Brutalities were not very popular, as they were extremely difficult to accomplish, requiring the player to memorize and perform a special 11-hit combo.[15] As of Mortal Kombat X, brutalities are featured as enhanced versions of specific moves that serve as finishing blows in the final round of a fight.[16]

Faction Kill

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Appearing only in Mortal Kombat X, the winning player performs a unique fatality pertaining to which faction that player is part of in the game. Each faction has a set of five completely unique faction kills; however, the player has to play continuously for one single faction to reveal every faction kill available to that particular faction, including one that is unlocked by a Faction War victory.

Hara-Kiri

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The Hara-Kiri (Japanese for a certain type of ritual suicide literally meaning "belly cut"; Kenshi is the only character who uses it in this form) is a finishing move in which the losing player kills themselves at the end of a match, rather than be finished off by their opponent. Mortal Kombat: Deception is the only series installment to feature this finisher.

Heroic Brutality

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Heroic Brutalities are finishing moves exclusive to the 2008 crossover game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. In addition to the MK characters' Fatalities being toned down therein to accommodate the game's "Teen" rating, the Heroic Brutalities represented the DC characters' moral code against killing.[11] The censored finishers from both sides were considered a negative point of the game.[17]

Kreate-A-Fatality

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For Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, the Fatality concept was completely revised. This concept has been met with a mixed reaction, with some fans and critics preferring the more interactive nature and freedom of the Kreate-a-Fatality system and others missing the previous games' character-specific ending moves and alternatives to killing the opponent.[5]

Stage Fatality

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Stage Fatalities brought environmental interaction within the series, occurring when a player uses a part of the stage or map to execute a player. It is a finishing move that is not a standard character Fatality. Some examples of Stage Fatalities are having the victim fall into a pool of acid or a pit of spikes or being run over by a subway train. Stage Fatalities are present in the series from the first Mortal Kombat.

Quitality

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Quitalities, first introduced in Mortal Kombat X, occurs when a player disconnects in the middle of an online match. This results in their character instantly dying, and their opponent is awarded with a win. Examples of quitalities include the loser's head simultaneously exploding or the loser swiftly snapping their own neck.[18][19]

Miscellaneous

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  • Fergality: The Mega Drive/Genesis version of Mortal Kombat II featured an exclusive finishing move that allowed Raiden to transform his opponent into Probe Ltd. employee Fergus McGovern, who worked on that port of the game. This finisher could only be performed on the Armory stage.[20]
  • Multality: Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks features Multalities, which are Fatalities performed on multiple common enemies at one time.
  • Animalities and Brutalities were both rumored to be featured in MKII, but were only later added in MK3 and Mortal Kombat Trilogy, respectively. The rumored types of Fatalities that did not actually exist in any of the games included "Nudalities".[21][22]

Notable Fatalities

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  • In December 1994, GamePro polled readers for their favorite Fatalities and published the results in their March 1995 issue. All of the fatalities were from Mortal Kombat II: Jax's "Arm Rip", Sub-Zero's "Ice Grenade", and Shang Tsung's "Soul Stealer".[23]
  • GamePro counted down their "12 Lamest Fatalities" from various fighting games in 2008. Those from the Mortal Kombat series were Liu Kang's "Death by Arcade Machine" (Mortal Kombat 3, #12); The Flash's "Tornado Slam" (Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, #11); Jax's "Amazing Growing Man" (Mortal Kombat 3, #9); Scorpion's and Rain's Animalities (Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3/Mortal Kombat Trilogy, tied at #8); Sindel's "Killer Hair" (Mortal Kombat 3, #7), Kano's "Stomach Pounce" (Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, #5); all of the Babalities (#3); and Kano's "Ripping Out an Invisible Heart" in the censored Super NES version of the first game (#1).[24]
  • Game Informer published a list of the series' best, worst, and "downright confusing" Fatalities in 2010:
    • Best: Liu Kang's "Dragon" (Mortal Kombat II); Sub-Zero's "Spine Rip" (original Mortal Kombat); Reptile's "Head Snack" (Mortal Kombat II); Jade's "Head Gymnastics" (Mortal Kombat: Deception); Sektor's "Compactor" (Mortal Kombat 3); Jax's "Arm Pull" (Mortal Kombat II); Dairou's "Ribs to the Eyes" (Mortal Kombat: Deception); and Sindel's "Scream" (Mortal Kombat 3).
    • Worst: Liu Kang's "Cartwheel" (original Mortal Kombat); Kano's "Knee Stomp" (Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe); Kitana's "Kiss of Death" (Mortal Kombat II); Kabal's "Inflating Head" and "Scary Face" (Mortal Kombat 3); Rain's "Upside-Down Uppercut" (Mortal Kombat Trilogy); and Bo' Rai Cho's "Fart of Doom" (Mortal Kombat: Deception).
    • Most confusing: Liu Kang's "Arcade Machine" (Mortal Kombat 3); Jax's "Giant Stomp" (Mortal Kombat 3); Johnny Cage's "Three Head Punch" (Mortal Kombat II); Cyrax's "Self-Destruct" (Mortal Kombat 3); Darrius' "Rearranger" (Mortal Kombat: Deception); and Smoke's "Earth Detonation" (Mortal Kombat 3).[25]
  • UGO.com counted down their top 50 "Most Gruesome Finishing Moves Ever" in video games in 2011. Those from Mortal Kombat were: Sub-Zero's "Spine Rip" (original Mortal Kombat, #50); Johnny Cage's "Triple Uppercut" (Mortal Kombat II, #45); the Joker's "Last Joke" (Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, #40); Kung Lao's "Hat Slice" (Mortal Kombat II, #35); Johnny Cage's "Nutbuster" (Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, #29); the "Pit" Fatality (original Mortal Kombat, #22); Sektor's "Iron Clamp" (Mortal Kombat 3, #15); Dairou's "Ribeyes" (Mortal Kombat: Deception, #5); and Smoke's "Armageddon" (Mortal Kombat 3, #2).[26]
  • Prima Games, in 2014, counted down their selection of the top fifty Fatalities from the entire Mortal Kombat series, with the top ten being Baraka's "Lifting Stab" (Mortal Kombat II); Noob Saibot's "Make a Wish" (Mortal Kombat 9); Kitana's "Kiss of Death" (Mortal Kombat II); Johnny Cage's "Nut Buster" (Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks); Ermac's "Mind Over Splatter" (Mortal Kombat 9); the "Pit" Fatality (original Mortal Kombat); Dairou's "Eye Stab" (Mortal Kombat: Deception); Kung Lao's "Blade Drag" (Mortal Kombat 9); Kano's "Heart Rip" (original Mortal Kombat); and Sub-Zero's "Beheading, Complete with Spine" (original Mortal Kombat).[27]
  • GameSpot posted their chronological selections of the ten best and worst Fatalities in Mortal Kombat history in 2022, in their commemoration of the series' 30th anniversary:
    • Best: Sub-Zero's "Spine Rip" (original Mortal Kombat); Kung Lao's "Hat Split" (Mortal Kombat II); Shang Tsung's Kintaro transformation (Mortal Kombat II); Quan Chi's "Shake a Leg" (Mortal Kombat 4); Sub-Zero's "Pitch" (Mortal Kombat: Deception); Scorpion's "Nether Gate" (Mortal Kombat 9); Ermac's "Inner Workings" (Mortal Kombat X); Cassie Cage's "Selfie" (Mortal Kombat X); Shang Tsung's "Kondemned to the Damned" (Mortal Kombat 11); and D'Vorah's "New Species" (Mortal Kombat 11).
    • Worst: Liu Kang's "Cartwheel Uppercut" (original Mortal Kombat); Jade's "Shaky Staff" (Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3); Classic Sub-Zero's "Blackout" (Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3); Quan Chi's "Neck Stretch" (Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance); Scorpion's "Only a Flesh Wound" (Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance); Ashrah's "Voodoo Doll" (Mortal Kombat: Deception); all Fatalities in MK: Armageddon; Kano's "Stomp, Drop, and Roll" (Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe); Cassie Cage's "I <3 You" (Mortal Kombat 11); and Skarlet's "Heart Condition" (Mortal Kombat 11).[28]

References

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  1. ^ Stone, Sam (14 April 2020). "Mortal Kombat Legends' Jeremy Adams Explains How Scorpion's Revenge Adapts the Game". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  2. ^ King, Geoff; Krzywinska, Tanya (2002). Screenplay: Cinema/videogames/interfaces. Wallflower Press. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-903364-23-9.
  3. ^ "Bad Movie Night Toronto presents RIKI-OH: THE STORY OF RICKY". BlogTO. Annex Business Media. June 28, 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  4. ^ Trev (May 14, 2011). "MORTAL RIKI-OH!!!". Gameblog (in French). Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b East, Tom (2008-01-07). "Mortal Kombat: Armageddon". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  6. ^ a b "Mortal's Master: Programmer Ed Boon". GamePro. No. 86. IDG. November 1995. pp. 38–40.
  7. ^ a b "Ten years ago, "Mortal Monday" brought us controversy, game ratings, and Mortal Kombat". 1UP.com. September 13, 2003. Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  8. ^ ARGpodcast (2018-06-26). "ARGcast Mini #14: Making Mortal Kombat with John Tobias". RetroZap. Archived from the original on 2018-12-24. Retrieved 2018-12-24.
  9. ^ Leone, Matt (January 9, 2013). "The story behind Total Carnage's confusing ending". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  10. ^ "Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe: Ed Boon interview". CraveOnline. 2008-10-08. Archived from the original on September 4, 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
  11. ^ a b Reynolds, Pat (March–April 2009). "Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Strategy Guide by Pat Reynolds". Tips & Tricks. Larry Flynt Publications: 5.
  12. ^ Greeson, Jeff; O'Neill, Cliff. "The History of Mortal Kombat - Mortal Kombat 3 (1995)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2007-10-05. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  13. ^ "The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z: Fatality". Next Generation. No. 15. Imagine Media. March 1996. p. 33.
  14. ^ "Mortal Kombat Fatality and Babality List". GamesRadar+. April 22, 2011. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  15. ^ "History of Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat 3". UGO. 2008-10-28. Archived from the original on 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  16. ^ Futter, Mike. "Mortal Kombat X Will Feature Over 100 Brutalstrikes". GameInformer. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  17. ^ Jasper, Gavin (June 22, 2010). "The Top Ten Most Ridiculous Things to Come Out of Mortal Kombat". 4thletter.net.
  18. ^ Moser, Cassidee (19 March 2015). "Mortal Kombat X Will Punish You For Rage Quitting". IGN.com. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  19. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (2023-06-26). "In Mortal Kombat 1, a Quitality Is a Real Pain in the Neck". IGN. Archived from the original on 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  20. ^ Severino, Anthony (February 3, 2011). "Top 10 Old School Mortal Kombat Characters". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  21. ^ "Mortal Kombat III". GamePro. No. 77. IDG. February 1995. p. 148.
  22. ^ "The 16-Bit Gamer's Survival Guide". GamePro. No. 93. IDG. June 1996. p. 70. A year ago that's what we were told: Nudalities would be in [Mortal Kombat 3]. However, Williams Entertainment changed its plans and released the game without Nudalities.
  23. ^ GamePro 68 (March 1995)
  24. ^ Shaw, Patrick (November 25, 2008). "The 12 LAMEST Fatalities". GamePro. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  25. ^ Ryckert, Dan (May 3, 2010). "Mortal Kombat's Best And Worst Fatalities". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012.
  26. ^ Jensen, K. Thor (February 11, 2011). "The Most Gruesome Finishing Moves Ever". UGO.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-30. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  27. ^ Workman, Robert (April 2014). "The Top 50 Mortal Kombat Fatalities of All Time: 10-1". Prima Games. Gamurs. Archived from the original on May 15, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  28. ^ Clark, Justin (October 11, 2022). "30 Years Of Mortal Kombat's Best And Worst Fatalities". GameSpot. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
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