Overview
Blood changed everything. Mortal Kombat’s digitised actors and gruesome fatalities made Street Fighter II look quaint. The violence was the selling point—and the controversy. Congressional hearings followed. The ESRB was born. Meanwhile, the game itself offered solid fighting mechanics beneath the shock value, launching a franchise that outlasted its scandals.
Fast facts
- Developer: Midway.
- Creators: Ed Boon, John Tobias.
- Year: 1992.
- Controversy: Congressional hearings, ESRB creation.
Digitised graphics
| Technique |
Implementation |
| Actor capture |
Real performers |
| Rotoscoping |
Frame-by-frame |
| Realistic look |
Distinct from sprites |
| Violence impact |
Heightened effect |
Original roster
| Character |
Archetype |
| Liu Kang |
Hero |
| Johnny Cage |
Hollywood |
| Scorpion |
Ninja (yellow) |
| Sub-Zero |
Ninja (blue) |
| Raiden |
God |
| Sonya |
Military |
| Kano |
Criminal |
Fatality system
| Feature |
Impact |
| Hidden inputs |
Discovery element |
| Graphic violence |
Controversy source |
| Reward structure |
Victory bonus |
| Identity |
Franchise defining |
Cultural impact
| Event |
Outcome |
| Senate hearings |
1993 |
| ESRB creation |
1994 |
| Censored ports |
SNES blood removed |
| Genesis version |
“Blood code” |
See also