Retro Review by Retro Game James
🎮 Watch gameplay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKBlUHCV6-0
In the late ’90s, the arcade world was evolving fast. Polygonal graphics were the new hotness, 2D fighters were getting a 3D makeover, and every franchise was scrambling to stay relevant. Enter Mortal Kombat 4—the first 3D installment in the blood-soaked, spine-snapping franchise that defined an entire generation.
Released in arcades in 1997 and ported to home consoles in 1998, Mortal Kombat 4 brought the iconic brutality of the series into a new dimension. But did the leap to 3D elevate the experience—or was it a fatal mistake?
Let’s take a trip back through the portals of nostalgia and dive into this controversial yet memorable entry in Mortal Kombat history.
⚔️ The Plot Thickens – With a New Threat
Mortal Kombat 4 picks up after the events of MK3, and this time, the threat isn’t just Outworld—it’s an Elder God gone rogue. Meet Shinnok, a fallen deity who escapes from the Netherrealm with the help of his sorcerer sidekick Quan Chi.
The Earthrealm and Edenia are in jeopardy once again, and the warriors we know and love—Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage—return to battle for the fate of the realms.
The plot is darker, the stakes are higher, and the cutscenes—though hilariously stiff by today’s standards—were among the earliest attempts at fully 3D cinematic storytelling in fighting games.
🎮 Gameplay: 2D Roots, 3D Wrapping
Despite the new look, Mortal Kombat 4 stays surprisingly faithful to its 2D mechanics. Most of the movement remains on a 2D plane, with limited 3D sidestepping. But the combat is faster, tighter, and slightly more technical than its predecessors.
What’s New in MK4:
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Weapons System: Each character can now draw a weapon mid-match. Want to see Sub-Zero swing an ice dagger or Scorpion slice with twin blades? It’s here.
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3D Graphics: Say goodbye to digitized actors—MK4 uses full 3D models, complete with polygonal gore and animated fatalities.
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Item Throws: You can pick up rocks, skulls, or even your opponent’s dropped weapon and throw it at them.
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Combo Chains: The combo system is more fluid and encourages mid-string juggling.
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Fatalities: Still violent. Still over-the-top. Now in glorious low-poly 3D.
While other franchises like Tekken and Virtua Fighter were building fully 3D systems, MK4 clung to its 2D fighting roots, using the 3D tech primarily for flash and flair.
🧍♂️ Character Roster: New Blood, Old Rivals
MK4’s roster includes returning legends and a few fresh faces:
Returning Fighters:
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Liu Kang
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Johnny Cage
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Sonya Blade
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Jax
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Sub-Zero
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Scorpion
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Raiden
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Reptile
New Faces:
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Shinnok – The main boss, former Elder God, and all-around jerk
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Quan Chi – The pale-faced necromancer, now a fan-favorite
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Fujin – God of Wind, and a future MK staple
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Jarek – A poor man’s Kano (literally)
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Kai – A monk who’s not quite Liu Kang
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Reiko – Mysterious and possibly linked to Shao Kahn
The roster is a mix of hit and miss. Shinnok and Quan Chi brought gravitas to the lore, but characters like Jarek and Kai failed to leave much of a legacy. Still, every fighter comes with unique combos, weapons, and fatalities, which keep things fresh across matches.
🎥 Graphics & Audio – A Rough New Reality
Let’s be honest—Mortal Kombat 4 hasn’t aged gracefully in the visuals department. The jump to 3D was ambitious but clunky. Characters are blocky, animations are stiff, and faces sometimes look like they were sculpted out of mashed potatoes.
But at the time? It was jaw-dropping. Seeing Scorpion yell “GET OVER HERE!” in polygonal form, or watching an enemy shatter into 3D chunks after a fatality—it was enough to make your local arcade crowd erupt in cheers.
The sound design is still stellar: meaty punches, gruesome screams, and that unforgettable announcer voice booming “FINISH HIM!”
🏠 Console Ports: MK4 at Home
Mortal Kombat 4 hit multiple home platforms: PlayStation, Nintendo 64, PC, and Dreamcast (as Mortal Kombat Gold with additional characters).
Each version had its quirks:
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N64: Fast load times, solid performance, but compressed audio and missing FMVs
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PlayStation: Full motion cutscenes, but frequent loading and frame drops
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Dreamcast (MK Gold): Best visuals, extra characters like Baraka, Sektor, and Kitana
No version was perfect, but all captured the core gameplay faithfully enough to deliver that arcade thrill at home.
📺 Want to See the Action?
Check out the full gameplay experience right here:
🎮 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKBlUHCV6-0
From character intros to fatalities, this video showcases everything that made Mortal Kombat 4 a brutal gem of its time.
🧠 Legacy: Forgotten or Underrated?
Today, Mortal Kombat 4 is often viewed as a transitional entry—more of a stepping stone between the classic era and the modern cinematic MK games we know now. It gets flak for its janky graphics, odd voice lines (“You will never win!”), and some awkward character designs.
But it also deserves credit. MK4 kept the franchise alive during a turbulent shift in the gaming landscape. It introduced characters and lore that would later become core to the series, and it dared to innovate with weapons and 3D space in a way few others attempted.
🔚 Final Verdict:
Mortal Kombat 4 may not be the most polished entry in the series, but it’s a fascinating, gritty snapshot of ’90s gaming ambition. For longtime fans, it’s a nostalgic bloodbath. For newcomers, it’s a quirky but fun reminder of how far the genre has come.
Retro Game James Rating:
🔥 7.5 out of 10 Fatalities – Flawed, fun, and full of low-poly charm.
Whether you’re here for the nostalgia or just want to throw a boulder at Sub-Zero, MK4 still has something to offer. Just don’t expect it to go easy on you. This is Mortal Kombat, after all.
🩸 Test your might. Relive the chaos. And remember… in the end, there can be only one victor.
🎮 Watch it all unfold here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKBlUHCV6-0
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