Mortal Kombat: Arcade Edition (MD, 1992/2022)(Hack)
Graphics-7 Sound-8 Control-7 Challenge-7 Story-5
Level Design-6 Frustration-8/10* Fun-6.5 Originality-6
Overall Score-6.5
*Ermac
+
8+2 different chars (8+4 in SF2, second digit is boss only/non-playable; this ver. also includes reptile as an unlockable char via a cheat code however he only has Scorpion's moves when you play as him)
Pretty fast gameplay
Fatalities (brutal special moves performed while the opponent is dizzy after the second defeat)
Difficulty options (very easy-very hard)
Nice drum samples (same as in original)
Arcade Edition:
Ermac boss (red colored combo of scorpion and sub-zero, don't get a gamer over during the game to face him - brutally hard though)
Overall better visuals (better colors, more background variety) and more samples used
Includes the ARC ver. DIP switch options (starting bg, mini-game difficulty, music track order toggle, etc.)
3- or 6-button controls toggle
Somewhat more responsive controls
+/-
Separate block button
Basically unlimited continues (can choose from 3 to 99)
Gore
Starts off kinda tough
Button masher mini-games in-between some fights (not that hard)
Short fights
Can't make more advanced combos with combined punches and kicks (only basic punch combos). Can combine certain special moves with basic moves and/or throws however
Weird how you can't quickly follow up scorpion's back attack/teleport punch move with something else
Can't unlock Ermac as a playable char?
-
Can't pause
Unskippable bootup logos and staff roll
Some control issues (some movement delay after certain moves - inputs don't register during it, sometimes odd move hit priority, sometimes sloppy hit detection - leg sweeps reach further than it looks like for example)
No speed advantage to blocking a special or heavy attack - can't follow it up with a jab for example
Some trial & error (no in-game moves list, how the mini-game works, standing in the right spot to perform a fatality, various opponent patterns, one of scorpion's specials doesn't work if you have your back against the edge of the arena)
Have to fight two opponents in the same fight 3 times in a row before the finale (endurance fights where previous opponents are repeated)
Only two special moves per char
Uneven difficulty (enemy AI sometimes much harder, other times you can win by spamming jump kicks and leg sweeps or uppercuts, goro is pretty easy - alternate jump kicks and punches)
Kinda scratchy voice samples
Notes:
-Moves list: https://www.mksecrets.net/mk1/eng/mk-specialmoves.php
Level Design-6 Frustration-8/10* Fun-6.5 Originality-6
Overall Score-6.5
*Ermac
+
8+2 different chars (8+4 in SF2, second digit is boss only/non-playable; this ver. also includes reptile as an unlockable char via a cheat code however he only has Scorpion's moves when you play as him)
Pretty fast gameplay
Fatalities (brutal special moves performed while the opponent is dizzy after the second defeat)
Difficulty options (very easy-very hard)
Nice drum samples (same as in original)
Arcade Edition:
Ermac boss (red colored combo of scorpion and sub-zero, don't get a gamer over during the game to face him - brutally hard though)
Overall better visuals (better colors, more background variety) and more samples used
Includes the ARC ver. DIP switch options (starting bg, mini-game difficulty, music track order toggle, etc.)
3- or 6-button controls toggle
Somewhat more responsive controls
+/-
Separate block button
Basically unlimited continues (can choose from 3 to 99)
Gore
Starts off kinda tough
Button masher mini-games in-between some fights (not that hard)
Short fights
Can't make more advanced combos with combined punches and kicks (only basic punch combos). Can combine certain special moves with basic moves and/or throws however
Weird how you can't quickly follow up scorpion's back attack/teleport punch move with something else
Can't unlock Ermac as a playable char?
-
Can't pause
Unskippable bootup logos and staff roll
Some control issues (some movement delay after certain moves - inputs don't register during it, sometimes odd move hit priority, sometimes sloppy hit detection - leg sweeps reach further than it looks like for example)
No speed advantage to blocking a special or heavy attack - can't follow it up with a jab for example
Some trial & error (no in-game moves list, how the mini-game works, standing in the right spot to perform a fatality, various opponent patterns, one of scorpion's specials doesn't work if you have your back against the edge of the arena)
Have to fight two opponents in the same fight 3 times in a row before the finale (endurance fights where previous opponents are repeated)
Only two special moves per char
Uneven difficulty (enemy AI sometimes much harder, other times you can win by spamming jump kicks and leg sweeps or uppercuts, goro is pretty easy - alternate jump kicks and punches)
Kinda scratchy voice samples
Notes:
-Moves list: https://www.mksecrets.net/mk1/eng/mk-specialmoves.php