MK4 was a fairly ok version of MK but it wasn't there best
it was basically just a step into the 3D world for Mortal Kombat.

A version of Mortal Kombat to keep the series going they really
didn't get back in the game untill Deception came out.

So basically fans i knew were disappointed and so was I.



Just my opinoin

No.

MK: Gold was good too bad they didnt make it for the pc.

MK4's graphisc were laughable, the character constructions were unconnected, as were the shadows. The models were low on surface details, and for example, Scorpions torso was messed up (look at the shoulder joints). the only good thing about this pseudo 3D game was the fact that it utilized the lighting and effect coloring pretty much better than any other fighting game.

And there is a lso the intensively annoying engine, what was a big stepdown from MK3,UMK3, MKT. Everyone with the same character moves and basic attacks. No variability except you put in some specials.

The blood looked even more rificulous than in MKDA and MKD. And the constant video card issues what coused the game to freeze out on Pc's not to mention the fact, that the sound was horrily programmed (lags and occasional freeze outs when entering hemenu in game). My experience.

I have an old Tips and Tricks which did a big feature on the MK4 Road Tour. From the reaction of the reporters and the fans who played the game, people weren't too impressed. People could obviously tell right away that it wasn't a good game...

I don't remember my reaction to the graphics when it was new. And I never played it (or really even saw it) in the arcades after the initial try. I remember the gameplay not being anywhere near as good as SoulEdge.

I liked it. It obviously wasn't the best MK game, but I still enjoyed it. But damn, the fatalities in that game are the hardest to do out of the entire series. Out of all the times i've played the game, I'd say I pulled off a fatality maybe 4 times, if even that.

MK4 wasn't a bad game, but there wasn't enough there to really get arcade goers excited. Tekken 3 was out at the time and was the attraction of most fighting game fanatics. MK4 just didn't have the depth that fighting game fans were looking for, and even MK fans were looking for something more from their favorate fighter. So no, MK4 didn't really get much respect, but it wasn't because it was a poor game. Just wasn't much there in comparison to everything else out at the time.

I didn't really care about that at the time though, I was such a big MK fan that it didn't matter. I had a lot of fun times playing this game against others in the arcade. I think I had more arcade time with MK4 than any of the previous MK games, and I was even lucky enough to enter a MK4 tournament which was a blast! Yeah, I played that game for all it was worth while it was in the arcades and had a good time doing it.

I think the people who actually played the game like I did noticed the gameplay was actually not bad at all. It was fast-paced, and wasn't really much different than the previous MK games. Maybe that was the problem though, it was time for a change and MK4 was just too much of the same thing. 3D graphics, cinematic endings, the addition of weapons, and the side-stepping feature just wasn't enough. If you liked tradtitional MK style gameplay though, it was a fun game. Someone here mentioned that they took away everyone's individual dailup combos and gave everyone the same basic one. I think they did that to get the series back to old-school gameplay, where juggles were the name of the game instead of remembering a button tap dailup combo. I think it worked for people who knew how to play MK4, but I think most people would notice and immediately become bored with the idea and just left the game alone.

The game just wasn't impressive enough, but in my opinion it was still a very fun game. I still enjoy playing it when I can actually find someone who wants to play me. But for it's time, I felt it was understandably underrated.

~Jason Rainwater

In all honesty, it was a completely terrible game. Here is why.

It was several steps down in terms of the engine. The only thing they did better was speed, and that actually ruins a lot of what was a solid engine at the speed it already was. They essentially tried to adapt a combination of MKII and UMK3, with a single 3D element (sidestepping and it was unreliable at best) and call it a revolutionary, fast, 3D, but still MK.

They redid some old school fatailities, and took the gore up a notch, which pleased some MK1 fans, however the gameplay was too competitive for that type of player, so they could merely request a fatality to be done to them an instant after they lose.

The graphics were sub-par for the year they were released. There were other games released with better graphics.

Strictly coming from a gameplay perspective, it is weak as hell. There are two character models, and then Tanya is unique because she is small, fast and incredibly broken. So this means in terms of range and physics you have two different types of characters to play with beyond special moves. Characters in other MK games have specific differences in speed, range, etc, even though they look the same, high level players take advantage of frame data.

The special move limitations in MK4 are bizarre. It is similar to MKII in some instances where you can repeat moves, but there are limitations in other ares that don't make sense. Think of Mileena's roll in MKII and Stryker's riot gun in UMK3. The messed around with moves they shouldn't have, and didn't in places they should.

Every character has the exact same combos and combo damage. Moronic. Everyone can launch, everyone has the same tiny repetitive combos.

Side Stepping is a waste and barely works, only for projectiles, otherwise you get snuffed constantly.

No push back on close range knee lifts = knee jabbing instead of run jabbing.

You can run instantly after launchers and in other places you shouldn't be able to, and run is WAY too fast, completely no thought was put into it, everyone runs like Reptile's elbow dash in UMK3.

Finally, Maximum Damage is a way out of infinites and big combos without testing the game. Dumbest idea ever. That's the only thing anyone has to say to completely refute the idea that MK4 was good in any way.

Something interesting they added was the second jump kick that has a different reaction, and being able to do two air hits.

I'm sure there's other pros and cons I missed, but the cons FAR outweigh the pros, making MK4 a BAD GAME. Don't play it, ever.

Hmm, MK2KungBroken does make a lot of good points. MK4 was a step down in some respects. I still wouldn't go so far as to call it a bad game though. I'm certainly not saying it was the best of the old-school MK games, but my experience playing the game was positive. But the answer to the topic's question would probably be, no. For it's time, it wasn't all that great. I wouldn't go as far as MK2KungBroken and call it terrible, although I respect his opinion and agree with some of his points. A stepdown the game was perhaps, which is a bad thing, but I can't really call a game I have fun playing terrible. I can understand why it wasn't well received though. The important thing is that the lesson was learned, and we got MKDA for our next installment. As much as I like the new games though, I'll always love the old school style of gameplay.

~Jason Rainwater

I think my review of MK4 is video game magazine worthy.

Yes, you made a lot of good points. You should at least get some dragon points for such a well thoughtout review. Someone give the man some dragon points!

~Jason Rainwater

I hate the fact you can knock down an opponent, run half the screen to where they landed, and CONTINUE the combo 1-2 seconds after they hit the floor

But there are so many aspects of MK4 that made it pretty lame, most of which KungBroken listed, so I wont go over them again.

However one thing I did like was that the combo meter would read out combo hits / damage from both fighters at the same time, which I think is specific only to MK4 / MKG in the MK series. It's nothing at all, but I just think it looks cool

MK4/G is really only a good game for casual gamers. I enjoy playing MKG still with my friend, cus we go into practice mode (no lifebars, clock etc.) and just beat the hell outta each other. He's not into high level MKT play, and hates the new MK's, so MKG is great. It's very fast, easy for people to just pick up and play, and can be fun if you treat it as a casual game.
The only way MK4/G is really any good is in the situation I just listed, otherwise it's a terrible game. Which is a shame cus I remember in 97/98 I was really excited about it, especialy since there was so much hype surrounding it's release. The zeus hardware (that was supposed to give it amazing graphics), the return to old dark aura (gruesome fatals, dark stages), classic characters (Sub Zero, Scorpion, Liu Kang, Raiden, Sonya, Johnny Cage, Reptile - Goro on the home systems, Jarek was practically Kano) and weapon kombat - all of which failed miserably to live up to expectations.

MK still hasn't recovered from the damage done...

It's really ashame. When MK3 came around, they started making bad advertising and release decisions, however if they didn't release MK3 before UMK3, they wouldn't have gotten the paid beta testing. They were able to fine tune the game SO much through this making the first release of UMK3 essentially perfect gameplay wise. The only things they really fixed were vs CPU related from 1.0 - 1.2. MK4 came out and had a lot of revisions but nother ever really came of it. I don't understand why they didn't keep UMK3's formula/concept and add sidestepping (even if it was bad) and the new jump kick properties and stuff like that. Slapping a 3D skin on UMK3 at the time would have probably been acceptable, and even though it seems like that's what they did, it's not, it' s a very sloppy, thoughtless job of it.