Mortal Kombat 2 improves upon the original game by adding in several features. There is now a crouching punch, low and high kicks have more differentiation, and roundhouse kicks are more powerful.
Also, the game now includes Fatalities – the bloodier and more brutal ways to destroy an opponent. This makes the game less family-friendly.
Characters
With Shang Tsung’s plan to conquer Earthrealm through the titular tournament foiled, Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn prepares to execute the sorcerer. However, Tsung comes up with an idea that may save him: he will invite the warriors of Earthrealm to Outworld and force them to fight to the death, which only he can win.
Several playable characters return from the first game. Liu Kang accepts the challenge, while Raiden monitors the proceedings to make sure everyone abides by the rules. Reptile, who killed Sub-Zero in the first Mortal Kombat, also returns to avenge himself.
The game introduced a new fighting system, using digitized actors to create movement and giving players more control over special moves than its competitors. It also added multiple Fatalities per character, as well as a stage-based Fatality and Friendships that trade brutal punishment for a kind gesture. One example of the latter is Mileena, who removes her mask to reveal tarkatan teeth before swallowing her victim whole and leaving behind a shower of shiny bones.
Gameplay
Mortal Kombat 2 takes the basic fighting game concepts from its predecessor and improves upon them. The standard moves now include a crouching punch, low and high kicks that vary in speed and distance, and roundhouse kicks that knock opponents across the screen. There are also a number of different special attacks and a new Fatality system.
In addition to adding more variation to gameplay, the game’s graphics have been improved as well. This version uses William’s DCS sound board, which all later arcade versions of the game would use, and characters now display more detailed models.
The story follows a tournament hosted by an evil emperor called Shao Kahn in the otherworld of Outworld. The tournament includes representatives from Earthrealm and Outworld, including Sonya Blade, Jax Briggs, Kitana, Mileena, Kung Lao, and Noob Saibot, who are all led by Raiden.
Graphics
For a game released in 1993, Mortal Kombat 2 still looks pretty good by today’s standards. Character models are a little blocky but the levels and backgrounds have nice color, and some of the more important attack animations (such as the roundhouse kicks that launch opponents into the air) are improved over the original game.
This is especially true on the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive version of the game, which was ported by Probe Software and retains all of the blood and Fatalities without needing a special code to activate them. Other improvements include different animations for victory poses, a crouching punch command (which launches your character into the air rather than down) and voice samples of Shao Kahn and Kitana.
Sadly, this version also suffers from annoying load times. Every time a character does a special move the game pauses for 1-2 seconds while it loads the animation. This is annoying and breaks the flow of the fight.
Story
After the success of the original Mortal Kombat film, studio executives decided to produce a sequel. They promised it would be bigger and better in every way. This was not a misrepresentation, as Mortal Kombat 2 introduced more characters, more fighting, and more blood.
The story centers on a new tournament held by Outworld’s emperor, Shang Tsung. He wants to defeat all of Earthrealm’s warriors and take over the realm. The heroes of Earthrealm, led by MMA fighter Cole Young and Sonya Blade, are sent to defend their home.
Other characters include the cyborg Sub-Zero, a Special Forces major named Jax Briggs, and Kitana, the half-tiger, half-human daughter of Shao Kahn. Kung Lao, a Shaolin monk, enters the tournament to get revenge for the destruction of his monastery, and Jax’s mission to rescue Sonya and Kano. Kitana’s step-daughter, Mileena, also enters the tournament to assist her mother in overthrowing Shang Tsung.