The Marine Electronics Hub

Mortal Kombat 4 -

MK4 brought back the classic "Fatality" system but also introduced "Stage Fatalities" and the humorous "Friendships" (though Friendships were more prominent in the console ports).

Fatalities (Cinematic + Interactive):

Brutalities (Round-Ending):

Hara-Kiri (Self-Fatality):

After a match win, you have 3 seconds to choose: Mortal Kombat 4

No Mercy, no Friendship – MK4 is mean, fast, and weapon-obsessed.

Final Verdict: This Mortal Kombat 4 feature keeps the awkward, experimental charm of the original (weapons, 3D steps, weird Fatalities) but polishes the mechanics into a fast, high-skill fighter. It's not MK11 nor MK1 – it's the dirty, weapon-swinging middle child that finally gets its respect.

  • Dropping Weapons: You can intentionally drop your weapon to fight hand-to-hand, or if you are disarmed by an enemy.
  • Maximum Damage: Unlike previous entries, MK4 introduces "Maximum Damage" caps on combos to prevent infinite loops. If a combo exceeds a certain damage percentage, the opponent will be knocked away automatically.
  • Side-Step: By pressing the Run button and pressing Down or Up, you can sidestep attacks in the 3D plane. This is crucial for avoiding projectiles.

    • This applies primarily to the Arcade and N64 versions.

    At the Versus screen, you can enter Kombat Kodes using the icons (P1 and P2 use different buttons to cycle symbols). MK4 brought back the classic "Fatality" system but

    Useful Kombat Kodes:

    How to Unlock Noob Saibot: In the Arcade version, you must beat the game with Reiko. In console versions, specific Kombat Kodes or unlocking requirements (like beating the game with a hidden character) are required.

    Mortal Kombat 4 features the following characters:

    For 1997, the arcade version of Mortal Kombat 4 running on Midway’s Zeus hardware was a technical showcase. The characters were fully 3D polygonal models, able to move in real-time 3D space. In motion, it was impressive. However, standing still, the character models have aged terribly. Faces were blocky, expressions were nonexistent, and the animation lacked the organic snap of the digitized sprites from MK2 and UMK3. The game fell deep into the "uncanny valley." Brutalities (Round-Ending):

    The sound design, however, remained excellent. The bone-crunching impacts, the electric hum of Raiden’s moves, and the iconic "Toasty!" shout all returned. The music, composed by Dan Forden, was an experimental blend of industrial metal and gothic choir. While not as memorable as the techno beats of MK3, tracks like "The Prison" and "Shinnok’s Temple" perfectly captured the game’s grim, medieval-horror atmosphere.

    The narrative of Mortal Kombat 4 picks up immediately after the apocalyptic events of Mortal Kombat Trilogy. Shao Kahn has been defeated, and Earthrealm is saved—for now. However, the realm of Edenia is in chaos. Its former protector, the fallen Elder God Shinnok, sees an opportunity. Shinnok, once the keeper of the realm of the Elder Gods, was stripped of his power and banished for attempting to seize the power of the One Being. Now, wielding the corrupted Amulet of Shinnok, he launches a full-scale invasion of all realms.

    The plot is simple but effective: Shinnok, aided by the demonic sorcerer Quan Chi (making his first major playable appearance), has captured the essence of the Elder Gods. The remaining warriors of Earthrealm—Liu Kang, Raiden, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, and others—must venture into the corrupted fortress of Shinnok’s Temple to stop him.

    What makes Mortal Kombat 4’s story memorable is its branching endings. For the first time, the game introduced a "Choose Your Destiny" component. Before the final boss fight against Shinnok, the game poses a moral question: do you accept his offer of godhood or reject it? The ending you receive depends on your choice. This added a layer of player agency rarely seen in arcade fighters at the time. Johnny Cage’s cheesy acting career revival, Sub-Zero’s quest to erase his clan’s curse, and Raiden’s sacrifice all gave a satisfying closure to the first four-game arc of the series.