The main strategy when playing MK II (against a human opponent, that is) is to be on the defensive end. You do not want to jump attack your opponent, as it is easily countered by a standing high kick, spin kick, vertical jumping kick, a projectile attack, and sometimes an uppercut. You want to sweep kick a lot, especially if your opponent gets close to you, and because sometimes their reflex is to jump away, thus opening themselves up for a projectile attack. If you are playing someone that is really good, the match might seem a little uneventful, as both of you will trade off series of sweep kicks. You do not want to throw a projectile, because it is easily avoidable by either jumping over and kicking you, or ducking and uppercutting you.
As for "high level gameplay," there's a couple of combos you can try on opponents that open themselves up for attack (especially in the corner).

These are my favorites:

Kitana: When they are in the corner and open for an attack, fan lift them and wait until they are "peaking" while being lifted. Jump punch them (make sure it's a deep punch) and juggle them with a second jump punch, and while in the air follow it with a fan throw. After that, they will still be in the air, so do a standing punch (high punch), followed by a teleport punch. It takes about 40 - 45 % of their life and looks really cool if done correctly.

Sub-Zero: This does not take much damage away from opponent, but I think it's the coolest combo in the game. If you have your opponent cornered and they are jumping backwards (towards the corner), freeze your opponent so that they are frozen in mid-air, but a little close to the ground. If you froze him/her correctly, approach them and do a ducking Low Punch twice, followed by an uppercut. The Low Punches should be able to juggle them, followed by an uppercut. This looks pretty badass.

If you want anything else, just post again. I hope I helped a little.
Peace.

With Scorpion, try 2-3 low punchs in a row and then a spear. about 90% of the time, they won't block the spear.

well for a tier list mileena, jax, and liu are definately top.. .and the ninjas are way at the bottom.. .

If u r really good, that Kitana kombo can be done with three jump punches, instead of two.

No, the Kitana combo cannot be done with 3 jumping punches. If you punch the 3rd one, she simply backs off and falls down as if hit.
Peace.

Actually you can since you can throw Kitana's fan while in the falling down frames. Its actually pretty darned easy to do.

Konqrr's MK2 video is almost done guys, lots and lots and lots of devastating juggles, be ready.

Matt

Combos are nice 'n all, but how do actually set them up in MK2? And how does one play Jax if he's the best?...

It seems Rayado you have a bit to learn about the MK2 Kombo system
Peace Out

Jax can use the sweep to back break approach, or the counter HK, with ground pound attached, as the most basic concepts.

In MK2 there is no combo system, but it does have a relatively weak juggle system.

Matt

You can't be serious.

I am very serious,

Prove me wrong by telling me some of your best kombos.

You have to understand that the system installed is that every fourth hit will push you back, reguardless if you are in the air or on the ground.
This was installed to stop the cheap infinite kombos.

I'm still having difficultly pulling off Liu Kang's 100% kombo in MK2 on PS2, can someone confirm if it is there or not.

All of Liu's arcade 100% combos work on the PSX version. Which one are you trying?

As for my video...be prepared for over 10 minutes of huge combos. It's coming VERY soon.

I'm trying his old version/ jump K/air fallball/Jump up K/air fireball/ standing HP/ bicycle kick.

And the Saturn one/ two standing HP's (on a jumping opponent near the corner)/ Jump P/ standing HP/ bicycle kick/ standing HP/ thrust Kick.

I couldn't pull off Mileena's Roll trick neither, was that taken out.

The Kitana 100% were both taken out, due to the fact that one back+HP will push you back. Midway clearly knew what we were up to.

I think you are beginning to understand everything we have talked to you about, this being the enormous differences between the arcade, and all other versions of MK games.

Matt

All of those combos work on the arcade.