I might be a bit old, but I don't consider MK3 a classic. You're right, it was over the top and it was suppose to be. However I don't consider this a bad thing since that was the only arcade version I new that had to be roped off into a line because so many people wanted to play it. I didn't really like the story.

The stories of the first two were good in my opinion because they flowed well together, that and the concept is intriguing to begin with.