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Fatality (Mortal Kombat)

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An example of Fatality from Mortal Kombat 1

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.

History

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Further information: Controversies surrounding Mortal Kombat

The origins of the Fatality concept have 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] The nature of graphic violence depicted in Fatalities from the original Mortal Kombat was considered highly controversial and contributed to the formation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), a regulatory system for video game content.[5] The impression of Fatality inspired other video game franchises to have finishing moves, including Killer Instinct, Gears of War, War Gods, and ClayFighter.[6]

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). 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".[7] However, Tobias recalled it differently, stating that Fatalities were not initially part of the game's design. Early development focused on using a finishing move exclusively for the final boss, Shang Tsung, who was envisioned decapitating his opponent with a sword. This concept evolved when developers considered allowing players to perform similar finishing moves on their opponents. The positive reactions from players solidified Fatalities as a core mechanic of the game, leading to their prominence within the franchise.[8] In Mortal Kombat 1 (2023), an accessibility feature for visually impaired individuals was made available, in which the properties of Fatalities are explained through in-game narration.[9]

Gameplay

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Fatalities, like special moves, often have specific requirements. Each character has a unique Fatality that must be performed at a specific distance: close (right next to the opponent), sweep/mid (one or two steps away, within sweeping kick range), or far (about one jump's length away).[10]

Variations

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  • Animality: This finisher allows the player to morph into an animal and maul their opponent. It debuted in Mortal Kombat 3.[11] According to Ed Boon, this finisher was rumored to be in Mortal Kombat II and was later added to Mortal Kombat 3 due to high demand from series enthusiasts.[7]
  • Babality: Introduced in Mortal Kombat II, it turns defeated opponents into an infant version of themselves.[11]
  • Brutality: Introduced in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, this finisher allowed players to perform a multi-hit combo that would cause the opponent to explode. Brutalities were later featured as enhanced versions of specific moves that serve as finishing blows in a match's final round.[11]
  • Death Trap: Initially featured in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. This game mechanic allowed players to instantly kill their opponents using interactive stage elements.[12]
  • Faction Kill: Appearing only in Mortal Kombat X, this finisher aligns with the game's faction system, offering faction-themed finishing moves as a reward for allegiance to that particular faction.[13]
  • Hara-Kiri: It 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.[11]
  • Heroic Brutality: This finishing move is exclusive to the 2008 crossover game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. In addition to the Mortal Kombat characters' Fatalities being toned down therein to accommodate the game's "Teen" rating, the Heroic Brutalities represented the DC characters' moral code against killing.[10]
  • Kreate-A-Fatality: For Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, the Fatality concept was completely revised, which focused more on combination of attacks instead of being character-specific finishers.[14]
  • Stage Fatality: It brought environmental interaction within the series, occurring when a player uses a part of the stage or map to kill an opponent. Some examples of Stage Fatalities are having the victim fall into a pool of acid or a pit of spikes or colliding with a subway train.[15]
  • Seasonal Fatality: This concept of Fatality was introduced in Mortal Kombat 1, in which the Fatalities are themed around a special festival. Examples include Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Christmas.[16]
  • Quitality: Introduced in Mortal Kombat X, it occurs when a player disconnects during an online match. This results in their character instantly dying, and their opponent is awarded a win. Examples of quitalities include the loser exploding or swiftly snapping their own neck.[17][18]

Miscellaneous

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Notable Fatalities

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In December 1994, GamePro conducted a reader poll to determine the most popular Fatalities from MKII. The results, published in March 1995, highlighted Jax's "Arm Rip", Sub-Zero's "Ice Grenade", and Shang Tsung's "Soul Stealer" as fan favorites.[21] Years later, in November 2008, GamePro's Patrick Shaw ranked his "12 Lamest Fatalities" across various fighting games. Among those from the Mortal Kombat series were Liu Kang's "Death by Arcade Machine" from MK3 in twelfth place, The Flash's "Tornado Slam" from MKvsDCU in eleventh place, Jax's "Amazing Growing Man" from MK3 in ninth place, and Scorpion's and Rain's Animalities from UMK3 and MKT tied in eighth place. Other notable entries included Sindel's "Killer Hair" from MK3 in seventh place, Kano's "Stomach Pounce" from MKvsDCU in fifth place, the Babalities in third place, and Kano's "Ripping Out an Invisible Heart" from the censored Super NES version of the original game, which took the top spot as the lamest Fatality.[22]

In May 2010, Dan Ryckert from Game Informer reviewed the Mortal Kombat series, categorizing Fatalities into the best, worst, and most confusing. "The Best" included Liu Kang's "Dragon" from MKII, Sub-Zero's "Spine Rip" from the original MK, Reptile's "Head Snack" from MKII, Jade's "Head Gymnastics" from MKD, Sektor's "Compactor" from MK3, Jax's "Arm Pull" from MKII, Dairou's "Ribs to the Eyes" from MKD, and Sindel's "Scream" from MK3. Conversely, "The Worst" included Liu Kang's "Cartwheel" from the original MK, Kano's "Knee Stomp" from MKvsDCU, Kitana's "Kiss of Death" from MKII, Kabal's "Inflating Head" and "Scary Face" from MK3, Rain's "Upside-Down Uppercut" from MKT, and Bo' Rai Cho's "Fart of Doom" from MKD. "The Confusing" Fatalities featured Liu Kang's "Arcade Machine" from MK3, Jax's "Giant Stomp" from MK3, Johnny Cage's "Three Head Punch" from MKII, Cyrax's "Self-Destruct" from MK3, Kano's "Skeleton Pull" from MK3, Darrius' "Re-arranger" from MKD, and Smoke's "Blow Up The World" from MK3.[23]

In February 2011, UGO Entertainment's K. Thor Jensen ranked the top fifty "Most Gruesome Finishing Moves Ever" in video games, with several Fatalities from the Mortal Kombat series making the list. These included Sub-Zero's "Spine Rip" from the original MK in fiftieth place, Johnny Cage's "Triple Uppercut" from MKII in forty-fifth place, The Joker's "Last Joke" from MKvsDCU in fortieth place, Kung Lao's "Hat Slice" from MKII in thirty-fifth place, Johnny Cage's "Nutbuster" from MKSM in twenty-ninth place, the "Pit" Fatality from the original MK in twenty-second place, Sektor's "Iron Clamp" from MK3 in fifteenth place, "Fergality" in eighth place, Dairou's "Ribeyes" from MKD in fifth place, and Smoke's "Armageddon" from MK3 in second place.[19] In April 2014, Prima Games's Robert Workman compiled a list of the top fifty Fatalities from the Mortal Kombat series. The top ten included Baraka's "Lifting Stab" from MKII, Noob Saibot's "Make a Wish" from MK9, Kitana's "Kiss of Death" from MKII, Johnny Cage's "Nut Buster" from MKSM, Ermac's "Mind Over Splatter" from MK9, the "Pit" Fatality from the original MK, Dairou's "Eye Stab" from MKD, Kung Lao's "Blade Drag" from MK9, Kano's "Heart Rip" from the original MK, and Sub-Zero's "Beheading, Complete with Spine" from the original MK.[24]

In May 2020, Gavin Jasper of Den of Geek chose his three best Fatalities from each Mortal Kombat game, spanning from the original MK to MK11. Fatalities from the original MK included: Kano's "Heart Rip", Scorpion's "Toasty", and Sub-Zero's "Spine Rip"; from MKII: Mileena's "Devourer", Baraka's "Blade Elevation", and Kung Lao's "Hat Splitter"; from MK3/UMK3/MKT: Sektor's "Compactor", Shang Tsung's "Soul Steal", and Scorpion's "Hell Hand"; from MK4/MKG: Raiden's "Overload", Reiko's "Throwing Stars", and Quan Chi's "Leg Beatdown"; from MKDA: Kano's "Organ Robbery", Kenshi's "Telekinetic Destruction", and Kung Lao's "Splitting Headache"; from MKD/MKU: Goro's "Limb Tear", Havik's "Arm Feast", and Sub-Zero's "Leg Shatter"; from MKSM: "The Tearing Down of Kintaro", Johnny Cage's "Crotch Destroyer", and Scorpion's "Judgment Day"; from MKvsDCU: The Joker's "Cards", Scorpion's "Trip to Hell", and The Joker's "Gun"; from MK9: Kung Lao's "Hat Trick", Sheeva's "Lend a Hand", and Noob Saibot's "Make a Wish"; from MKX: Quan Chi's "Mind Game", Mileena's "Tasty Treat", and Cassie Cage's "Selfie"; lastly from MK11: The Terminator's "Target Terminated", D'Vorah's "New Species", and Johnny Cage's "Who Hired This Guy?".[25]

In October 2022, Justin Clark of GameSpot celebrated the 30th anniversary of the series by selecting the ten best and worst Fatalities in Mortal Kombat history. Among the best were Sub-Zero's "Spine Rip" from the original MK, Kung Lao's "Hat Split" from MKII, Shang Tsung's Kintaro transformation from MKII, Quan Chi's "Shake a Leg" from MK4, Sub-Zero's "Pitch" from MKD, Scorpion's "Nether Gate" from MK9, Ermac's "Inner Workings" from MKX, Cassie Cage's "Selfie" from MKX, Shang Tsung's "Kondemned to the Damned" from MK11, and D'Vorah's "New Species" from MK11. The worst included Liu Kang's "Cartwheel Uppercut" from the original MK, Jade's "Shaky Staff" from UMK3, Classic Sub-Zero's "Blackout" from UMK3, Quan Chi's "Neck Stretch" from MKDA, Scorpion's "Only a Flesh Wound" from MKDA, Ashrah's "Voodoo Doll" from MKD, all "Ultimate Fatalities" from MKA, Kano's "Stomp, Drop, and Roll" from MKvsDCU, Cassie Cage's "I <3 You" from MK11, and Skarlet's "Heart Condition" from MK11.[26] During that same time frame, Luiz H.C. of Bloody Disgusting listed his six most "Gruesome Fatalities" from the series. The list included Sindel's "Skinned Alive" from MK3, Noob Saibot's "Make a Wish" from MK9, Shang Tsung's "Inner Ear" from MKII, Kung Lao's "Buzzsaw" from MKSM, Johnny Cage's "Here's Johnny" from MKX, and Sub-Zero's "Spine Rip" from the original MK.[27]

Further reading

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  • Ozzie Mejia (April 13, 2015). "Finish Him! A Mortal Kombat Fatality retrospective (part 1)". Shacknews. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  • Ozzie Mejia (April 13, 2015). "Finish Him! A Mortal Kombat Fatality retrospective (part 2)". Shacknews. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2025.

References

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  1. ^ Sam Stone (April 14, 2020). "Mortal Kombat Legends' Jeremy Adams Explains How Scorpion's Revenge Adapts the Game". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  2. ^ Geoff King; Tanya Krzywinska (2002). Screenplay: Cinema/videogames/interfaces. Wallflower Press. p. 199. ISBN 978-1903364239 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Bad Movie Night Toronto presents RIKI-OH: THE STORY OF RICKY". BlogTO. Annex Business Media. June 28, 2015. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  4. ^ Trev (May 14, 2011). "MORTAL RIKI-OH!!!". Gameblog (in French). Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  5. ^ Nicole Carpenter (April 19, 2021). "How Mortal Kombat invented the ESRB". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  6. ^ James Egan (October 27, 2016). 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1. p. 100. ISBN 978-1326828929 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ a b "Mortal's Master: Programmer Ed Boon". GamePro. No. 86. IDG. November 1995. pp. 38–40.
  8. ^ "Ten years ago, "Mortal Monday" brought us controversy, game ratings, and Mortal Kombat". 1UP.com. September 13, 2003. Archived from the original on September 10, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  9. ^ Justin Carter (August 24, 2023). "Mortal Kombat 1's accessibility options include vivid Fatality narration". Game Developer. Informa TechTarget. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Pat Reynolds (March–April 2009). "Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Strategy Guide by Pat Reynolds". Tips & Tricks. Larry Flynt Publications: 5.
  11. ^ a b c d e Dominic Allen (July 6, 2023). "Mortal Kombat: 8 Best Types Of Finishers". TheGamer. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  12. ^ Francisco Ruiz (August 20, 2023). "Mortal Kombat's Weird History Needs More Love". The Escapist. Gamurs Group. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  13. ^ Carlos Gomis (August 20, 2019). "Facciones - Mortal Kombat X". Vandal (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  14. ^ Tom East (January 7, 2008). "Mortal Kombat: Armageddon". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  15. ^ Cameron Miller (September 24, 2022). "10 Best Stage Fatalities From The Mortal Kombat Series". TheGamer. Archived from the original on January 1, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  16. ^ Mike Wilson (November 19, 2023). "Seasonal Fatalities Bundle Now Available for 'Mortal Kombat 1'". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  17. ^ Cassidee Moser (March 19, 2015). "Mortal Kombat X Will Punish You For Rage Quitting". IGN. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  18. ^ Wesley Yin-Poole (June 26, 2023). "In Mortal Kombat 1, a Quitality Is a Real Pain in the Neck". IGN. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  19. ^ a b K. Thor Jensen (February 11, 2011). "The Most Gruesome Finishing Moves Ever". UGO.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ GamePro Issue 68 (March 1995)
  22. ^ Patrick Shaw (November 25, 2008). "The 12 LAMEST Fatalities". GamePro. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  23. ^ Dan Ryckert (May 3, 2010). "Mortal Kombat's Best And Worst Fatalities". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012.
  24. ^ Robert Workman (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.
  25. ^ Gavin Jasper (May 27, 2020). "Best Mortal Kombat Fatalities Ever". Den of Geek. DoG Tech LLC. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  26. ^ Justin Clark (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.
  27. ^ Luiz H.C. (October 10, 2022). "Finish Him: Six of the Most Gruesome Fatalities in 'Mortal Kombat' History!". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
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