Mortal Kombat II

Mortal Kombat II is a 1993 Fighting video game by Midway, originally for Arcades, but later ported to various home consoles. Mortal Kombat II is the sequel to Mortal Kombat, and the second game in the Mortal Kombat series. It was followed by Mortal Kombat 3 in 1995. Mortal Kombat II broke the world record for Best-selling video game in September 1994, and held the title for 2 months until it was surpassed by Donkey Kong Country in November.

Plot
Shang Tsung the evil sorceror took control of the Mortal Kombat tournament with the aid of the dragon warrior Goro over 500 years ago. However he was defeated and dethroned by the noble Shaolin warrior Liu Kang, and now Shang Tsung is facing execution by his master Shao Kahn. Shang Tsung in an attempt to save himself convinces Shao Kahn that he can lure this year's contestants into the Outworld, where Shao Kahn can destroy them himself. Shao Kahn grants Shang Tsung a second chance, as long as he can keep true to his promise. This year's competition will pit 12 martial artists against each other; Liu Kang a noble Shaolin warrior, Kung Lao the decendant of a great warrior, Johnny Cage a famous kung fu movie star, Reptile Sub-Zero and Scorpion, three ninja warriors with origins shrouded in mystery, Shang Tsung a powerful sorcerer, Mileena and Kitana two twin sister warriors, Jax a US special forces soldier, Baraka a mutant warrior from the Outlands, and Raiden the God of Thunder and guardian of Earth Realm.

Gameplay
Mortal Kombat II has the player complete a total of 14 battles, where they must face all 12 opponents(including themselves), and defeat Kintaro, a massive four armed warrior, and Shao Kahn, the emperor of Outworld as the final boss. The player must defeat their opponent in two rounds in order to win the battle.

Mortal Kombat II features multiple combat abilities such as punches, jump kicks, grappling attacks, projectile attacks, combos, and blocking moves. The game also features the ability to "finish off" your opponent before they die in the second round, in what is known as a Fatality, a special killing blow specific to the character you're playing as. Each character has two or three personal fatality moves, as well as fatality parodies, where the character spares their opponent and does something funny or nice in what is known as Friendship, and one where the player turns their opponent into a baby, known as Babality.

Characters
Mortal Kombat II features 12 playable characters, 3 non-playable characters, and 2 bosses.

Liu Kang


After winning the Shaolin tournament from Shang Tsung's clutches Kang returns to his temples. He discovers his sacred home in ruins, his Shaolin brothers killed in a viscous battle with a horde of Outworld warriors. Now he travels into the dark realm to seek revenge.

Kung Lao


A former Shaolin Monk and member of the White Lotus Society, he is the last decendant of the great Kung Lao who was defeated by Goro 500 years ago. Realizing the danger of the Outworld menace he joins Liu Kang in entering Shao Kahn's contest.

Johnny Cage


After Shang Tsung's tournament, the martial arts superstar disappears. He follows Liu Kang into the Outworld. There he will compete in a twisted tournament which holds the balance of Earth's existence - as well as a script for another blockbuster movie.

Reptile


As Shang Tsung's personal protector the elusive Reptile lurks in the shadows stopping all those who would do his master harm. His human form is believed to disguise a horrid reptilian creature whose race was thought extinct millions of years ago.

Sub-Zero


Thought to have been killed in the Shaolin tournament, Sub-Zero mysteriously returns. It is believed he traveling into the Outworld to again attempt to assassinate Shang Tsung. To do so he must fight his way through Shao Kahn's tournament.

Shang Tsung


After losing control of the Shaolin tournament, Tsung promises his ruler Shao Kahn to shape events that will lure the Earth warriors to compete in his own contest. Convinced of this plan, Shao Kahn restores Tsung's youth and allows him to live.

Kitana


Her beauty hides her true role as personal assassin for Shao Kahn. Seen talking to an Earth realm warrior. Her motives have come under suspicion by her twin sister Mileena. But only Kitana knows her own true intentions.

Jax


His real name is Maj. Jackson Briggs, leader of a top U.S. special forces unit. After receiving a distress signal from Lt. Sonya Blade, Jax embarks on a rescue mission. One that leads him into a ghastly world where he believes that Sonya is still alive.

Mileena


Serving as an assassin along with her twin sister Kitana, Mileena's dazzling appearance conceals her hideous intentions. At Shao Kahn request she is asked to watch for her twin's suspected dissension. She must put a stop to it at any cost.

Baraka


He led the attack against Liu Kang's Shaolin temple. Baraka belongs to a nomadic race of mutants living in the wastelands of the Outworld. His fighting skills gained the attention of Shao Kahn who recruited him into his army.

Scorpion


The Hell-spawned specter rises from the pits. After learning of Sub-Zero's return, he again stalks the ninja assassin - following him into the dark realm of the Outworld where he continues his own unholy mission.

Raiden


Watching events unfold from high above, the thunder god realizes the grim intentions of Shao Kahn. After warning the remaining members of the Shaolin tournament, Raiden soon dissapears. He is believed to have ventured into the Outworld alone.

Smoke


A ninja warrior clad in grey, he is an unplayable opponent.

Jade


A ninja warrior wearing a bright green suit, she is an unplayable opponent.

Noob Saibot


A shadowy figure with the skills of a ninja, he is an unplayable opponent.

Kintaro


Shao Kahn's personal bodyguard, he is a four armed warrior sent by his people to avenge the death of Goro, who was killed in the previous tournament. Kintaro is fought before Shao Kahn, and uses brute force and strength to destroy his opponents.

Shao Kahn


The evil emperor of the Outworld, where he commands an army of evil warriors. Shao Kahn's main goal is to take over Earth Realm, so that he may reign supreme over all of it's inhabitants. He is the strongest opponent in the game and acts as the final boss.

Platforms
Mortal Kombat II was originally ported onto four home consoles on September 9, 1994, which was dubbed as Mortal Friday.

Prior to the formation of the ESRB, Nintendo allowed for the Super NES release of this game to feature the blood and fatalities intact, though they put a label on the game box to warn people of its content.

Trivia

 * Sonya and Kano are the only characters from the original Mortal Kombat not to appear as playable characters. However they do both appear as part of Jax storyline, and chained up as prisoners in Shao Kahn's Arena.


 * At the end of the credits on the arcade version, there is an advertisement for the Midway video game Revolution X, which was an up-coming arcade game released a year later.