Global InformationMortal Kombat 4 information
| Mortal Kombat 4 | |
|---|---|
 North American PS1 cover artwork featuring Goro in the background, and Raiden and Tanya in the foreground | |
| Developer(s) | Midway Games (Arcade) Eurocom (N64, PC, PS1) Digital Eclipse (GBC) |
| Publisher(s) |
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| Designer(s) |
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| Programmer(s) | Ed Boon |
| Artist(s) |
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| Composer(s) | Dan Forden |
| Series | Mortal Kombat |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Game Boy Color |
| Release | September 11, 1997
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| Genre(s) | Fighting |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Arcade system | Midway Zeus hardware Main CPU: TMS32031 (@ 50 MHz) Sound CPU: ADSP2104 (@ 16 MHz) Sound Chips: (2x) DMA-driven (@ 16 MHz) |
Mortal Kombat 4 is a 1997 fighting game, the fourth main installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise, and a sequel to 1995's Mortal Kombat 3. It was developed by Midway Games. Released to arcades in 1997, Mortal Kombat 4 is the first title in the series, and one of the first made by Midway overall, to use 3D computer graphics. It is also the last game of the series to have an arcade release. It was ported to the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, PC, and Game Boy Color in 1998. An updated version titled Mortal Kombat Gold was released exclusively for the Dreamcast.
The gameplay system in Mortal Kombat 4 is similar to that of the previous games, with no additions more significant than the use of weapons and objects during fights. The storyline chronicles the attack from the corrupted Elder God Shinnok against his former comrades, who trapped him in the Netherealm millennia prior to the beginning of the series. The other 17 playable characters take part in the battle between good and evil, with the forces of light trying to stop Shinnok and the forces of darkness from conquering all the realms.
While developing the game, the Midway staff had problems rendering the graphics as it was one of the first 3D fighting games they developed. Co-creator Ed Boon stated that the staff wanted to make Mortal Kombat 4 more violent than its predecessors, removing the comical finishing moves featured in them. Since its release, the game received generally positive response from critics, with the exception of the Game Boy Color port.
- ^ Johnston, Chris (September 5, 1997). "MK4 Update". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 6, 1998.
- ^ Fielder, Joe (September 25, 1997). "Mortal Kombat Release Details". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 5, 1998.
- ^ Fahs, Travis (May 5, 2011). "The History of Mortal Kombat". IGN. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ "News for June 30, 1998". Online Gaming Review. June 30, 1998. Archived from the original on December 4, 2000. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
"June 30, 1998: "Midway has announced that...Mortal Kombat 4, has shipped for the PC..."