Finish Him! My top 5 mind-blowing Mortal Kombat fatalities
Mortal Kombat single-handedly changed the nature of video games. As I mentioned in my post on gaming controversies, this game was so notoriously gory that it drew the ire of parents and the US government. It sparked constant conversation in the schoolyard that was further fueled by tons of the related merchandising, including: TV shows, movies, toys, trading cards, and a legendary soundtrack that had everyone shouting “MORTAL KOMBAT!” In a word, it was awesome.
With the upcoming release of Mortal Kombat 1, we’re stepping back into a reborn Mortal Kombat universe created by the newly crowned fire god himself, Liu Kang. There’s a lot of stuff I’m excited to check out in the new game—the stages, the characters, the goofy story—but nothing more important than the most iconic part of the Mortal Kombat series: the fatalities! These classic, bloody finishing moves made the franchise what it is today.
To celebrate that legacy and get ready for a new start with Mortal Kombat 1, let’s look back at five of the best fatalities from some of my favorite characters in the franchise.
1. Sub-Zero: Spine Rip
In the battle between Scorpion and Sub-Zero, I am admittedly team Scorpion, but who could deny how epic it was watching Sub-Zero pull out an opponent’s spine as easily as a farmer yanking a vegetable from the ground? This was one of the original fatalities and, in my opinion, the best one featured in the first Mortal Kombat. In fact, this was the image many critics used to point out how violent the game was. Of course, that just made it all the more exciting to kids of that era.
In later editions of the series, Sub-Zero makes greater use of his ice powers when dealing out fatalities. And if you really know your Mortal Kombat lore, you’ll know that the original Sub-Zero has an even greater list of bloody fatalities as Noob Saibot. However fancy his final moves would get in the future, though, this original finisher made everyone realize just how special Mortal Kombat was.
2. Liu Kang: Dragon Bite
I would be remiss if the fire god himself didn’t make my list at some point. Not only is Liu Kang responsible for creating the newest iteration of the Mortal Kombat universe, but he was also the protagonist of the movies and arguably the original games. That being said, his fatality sucked in the original game, but that was soon rectified.
Starting in Mortal Kombat 2, Liu Kang could turn into a dragon and devour his opponents whole—or, well, in half. This fatality is not only creative but was also completely unexpected and shocking the first time I saw it. I remember thinking, “Wait, is he really a dragon masquerading as a human?” Fatalities like this actually made me excited to learn more about the backstory.
3. Sindel: Deadly Scream
Queen Sindel was introduced in Mortal Kombat 3, but this is one that I originally saw in the arcade. Her character had a truly unique weapon, using her hair to attack enemies. But what really got me was witnessing her fatality, wherein she screamed and her opponents flesh melted away from the pure sonic force.
Maybe it was because, subconsciously, it brought me to a place of terror, thinking about how it felt to get yelled at by my mom. Or maybe it was because of Sindel’s lore and connection with Princess Kitana. Whatever the cause, this character has always made an impression on me, and this memorable fatality is definitely one of the reasons.
4. Johnny Cage: Here’s Johnny / And The Winner Is...
Johnny Cage is one of the series’ original characters and one of the most memorable heroes from the films. I remember feeling outraged when his neck was broken near the beginning of Mortal Kombat Annihilation. (Uh, spoilers for a twenty-five-year-old movie, I guess!)
But honestly, it wasn’t until later renditions of the game that I started to understand the appeal of Johnny Cage, and it was mainly his fatalities that brought me around. Many folks like Cage’s Triple Punch Decapitation finisher, but I thought his And The Winner Is... move from 2011’s Mortal Kombat was hilarious! In this move, he karate chops an opponent’s head in half and then places an award trophy right into the center of it.
If that’s not outrageous enough, Mortal Kombat 10 tries to do one better. In that one, Johnny bursts his head through an opponent’s chest before shouting, “Heeeeeeere’s Johnny,” reenacting the famous scene from The Shining. I crack up every time I see it.
5. Scorpion: Toasty!
I’ve got to have my man Scorpion on this list. Toasty! may not be the most complicated fatality, but it was awesome watching this mysterious character remove his mask, only to reveal a burning skull that incinerated the enemy to ashes. The best part was a little voice that would shout, “Toasty!” at the end of it. This fan favorite has been with Scorpion in one form or another through each Mortal Kombat game, and it’s not a surprise why it’s so enduring and endearing.
💬 There are hundreds of fatalities throughout the Mortal Kombat Franchise. Which ones are your favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Mentioned games
Comments
Latest
No more comments. Why not add one?
