227 Mortal Kombat

When the television advertisement for the KS1 version of 'Mortal Kombat' aired, viewers were pleasantly surprised. The game, akin to 'Street Fighter,' distinguished itself through its narrative. According to the commercial, the storyline revolved around the clash between Earthrealm and Outworld.

The graphics, along with the character sprites showcased in the advertisement, created a lifelike impression of real people brought to animated existence.

The gameplay mirrored the fighting dynamics of 'Street Fighter' on KES and SKES, with the key distinction lying in superior graphics. Whether the fighting experience surpassed 'Street Fighter' remained to be seen, as players had yet to engage with the game themselves.

When 'Mortal Kombat' debuted at Akihabara KiShin Store, a considerable number of eager buyers had already formed a line. While the queues didn't match the length seen during the KS1 sales, there was still a substantial crowd demonstrating keen interest in the new video game.

Following the lineup of KS1 video games, 'Mortal Kombat' emerged as the sole new release after approximately a month and two weeks. Days later, as enthusiastic video game fans purchased and played it at home, they found themselves pleasantly surprised by both the graphics and gameplay.

Initially, the menu presented a variety of options, including tournaments and battles with player 2. Opting for the 'Tournament' feature, players selected their characters and engaged in battles against computer opponents, reminiscent of 'Street Fighter.' However, this time, the standout differences were the enhanced graphics and 2D rendering featured in the game.

Notably, 'Mortal Kombat' distinguished itself as a fighting video game with elements of blood and gore. Adding to its allure was the presence of a more hype-inducing announcer compared to 'Street Fighter.'

In the video game 'Mortal Kombat,' upon selecting the 'Tournament,' a cinematic intro unfolded, so convincingly crafted that had it not been a video game, it could easily be mistaken for a KiShin film. Following the film-like intro, character selection ensued, accompanied by the announcer's declaration before the battle commenced, unveiling the battle plan. As the player's battle initiated, the announcer's iconic proclamation echoed, "Round 1, Fight!"

In moments of close victory, the announcer intensified the excitement with phrases like "Finish her!" or "Finish him!"—with "Fatality!" being a favorite among video game fans. These lines, including "Animality" and more, added an extra layer of hype for players, amplified by the enhanced sound effects accompanying every punch and kick.

While 'Mortal Kombat' garnered player approval, the film-like intro sparked widespread discussion among video game enthusiasts. Many felt that the intro possessed cinematic potential comparable to scenes in films like 'Resident Evil.' The zombie head-turning scene from 'Resident Evil,' though not filmed in real life, served as a benchmark. However, the cinematic execution and acting in the 'Resident Evil' story intro failed to impress players.

Diverging from the cinematic story intros of 'Mortal Kombat,' featuring the game's announcer as the narrator, players perceived it not merely as an introduction to the video game but as a serious cinematic piece. The gravity of the actors' performances and actions in the fighting scenes conveyed a level of seriousness that, if not for the awareness that it was a video game, could be mistaken for a genuinely serious film scene.

Despite not being avid film enthusiasts, players found themselves compelled to discuss their observations with friends. A 30-year-old man, recently acquiring the 'Mortal Kombat' video game, remarked to his colleagues, "Hey, didn't you notice how seriously the 'Mortal Kombat' story intro was filmed? It's unlike the 'Resident Evil' story intro... I find it intriguing. If KiShin ever plans to make a film adaptation of 'Mortal Kombat,' I hope it maintains the same quality as that 'Mortal Kombat' story intro."

"I agree, but simultaneously, I doubt that if KiShin decides to adapt one of their video games into a film, it might not achieve the same quality, not even matching the level of their KS1 video game story intros," one of them remarked.

"I'm specifically referring to the 'Mortal Kombat' story intro," clarified the 30-year-old man.

"I understand, but what I'm emphasizing is that a full-length film, stretching to an hour or so, may struggle to maintain the same quality seen in that brief story intro of the 'Mortal Kombat' video game," the individual added, shaking his head.

"Well, maybe you're right," the 30-year-old man nodded and added with hope, "I'm just interested to see the result if it ever gets filmed, you know."

"The story intro of the video game 'Mortal Kombat' was good as a story intro, but I don't think we could expect much from a full-length film," another guy remarked.

"That's true."

Following that, the colleagues delved into discussing the intriguing combos they could execute in 'Mortal Kombat.'

"I'll be honest, I prefer the fighting gameplay style of 'Mortal Kombat' over 'Street Fighter,'" a man said with a smile.

"Yeah, 'Mortal Kombat' just conveys a sense of violence and brutality compared to 'Street Fighter,'" someone agreed.

"Well, maybe 'Street Fighter' was geared towards kids, and the new fighting video game from KiShin, 'Mortal Kombat,' is more for adults who appreciate the visceral elements," another speculated.

"It wasn't restricted beyond 7," chimed in another.

"Not so surprising... The blood looks fake and all."

"It should at least be restricted, right? Or is KiShin just too influential now?" a man couldn't help but question.

"You're only realizing that now?" another said with a chuckle.

"Hahaha!!!" They couldn't help but laugh.

Little did the new 'Mortal Kombat' fans know that KiShin had actually incorporated scenes from their upcoming film 'Mortal Kombat' into the video game itself.

In Hollywood, the film project went by the name 'Fighter's Destiny.' Surprisingly, no one knew that the film project had already been adapted into the video games before its official release.

The 'Mortal Kombat' film project began when Shin observed that the Marvel 'Spider-Man' film faced delays due to casting issues, with Stan Lee being particularly selective. After Shin granted Stan Lee the authority to cast the main actors, Lee took the task seriously, displaying a meticulous approach. During this time, Shin invested in studios equipped with green screens and film production resources.

Given the nature of Marvel's requirements, many scenes would likely involve costly CGI.