Mortal Kombat
The first of its kind, introducing an entire generation to violent fighting games (and for many, violent games in general). Mortal Kombat differentiated itself from the competition by featuring digitized characters, allowing for more realistic violence. In terms of gameplay, it introduced a dedicated block button with chip damage being minimal and characters staying rooted in place, thus allowing for better counter-play. Then there’s juggling which involved continuously hitting an enemy in mid-air. Of course, perhaps the most memorable part of Mortal Kombat was the Fatality system which allowed players to execute deadly finishers on defeated foes, utterly annihilating them after the words “Finish Him/Her!” appeared. Controversial, gruesome and an altogether stellar fighting game, Mortal Kombat is simply one of the biggest trendsetters in gaming history.
