Thankyou all for repying to my thread. I honestly didn't expect it to get the amount of replies it has. I don't have the time right now to commet on what's been posted, but I will do asap. You've all actually gone all out, I don't know if it's worth me introducing the actual Fatality elements now as I was going to. However, you've all made great discussion out of this topic. Thanks again.

Kaizudragon: I might look into stickying it!

I would like to see fats go back to being location specific. Also, it wont be done, but I liked the old school fat discoveries. You weren't given a sheet that had all the commands. You would experiment and research the fats. It was all about the discovery of them. I'd like to see that again. People going out and sharing fats that they found. With the net we would be finding them in no time, but it would still be fun to witness the discovery of a new fat. Again, it would prolong the playing experience, too.

I'd also like to see some inventive ways in which to execute them. Like the old Shang/Kintaro morph. I loved that shit. It was different. Also, fat combos like subs back in MK2, or double cart wheels from Kang in MK1, that was good stuff. Certain characters that could have fats that interact with the back ground, but are not specificly pits.

I'd like to see that kind of stuff come "back." Doubt it will, but it would be realy nice.

There is no limit to the originality of Fatalities, its up to the designers imagination. I like the idea of COMBINING different elements of a fatality to make something really unique.

For example, Kenshi is a swordmaster AND skilled with telekenesis, why not combine these? Why not have him slice open his oppenents gut so that their intestines drop to the floor... not THAT original, but hell, its alright... so what happens when we combine this with his telekenisis so he then forces their internal organs back down their throat, creating a viscious cycle of pain, but wait, they'd have to die some time, so we would hear their heart beat faster and faster, until it stops... so then he could resusitate them and keep them alive with his telekinesis, pumping his fist to beat their heart, finally, once he has had his fun, open out his palm, then crush it inwards, so their heart explodes out of their cheast... never seen THAT before have you.

I believe they are trying to do new little things, but combining currently used techniques, such as organ spilling, or heart ripping, with other elements, such as telekenisis, ice powers, fire powers, poisons, blade arms, etc. could make up many unique fatalities.

the fatalities now are boring, no excitement in pulling them off anymore...and how the screen goes dark as if you are in a blank room kills the feeling. we've all seen these kind of fatalities before...need something different and orignal as well. i guess mk being 3D just makes fatalities look stale, 2D holds more creativity and unrealism which i prefer than fake looking ones in MKDA and MKD.

Also, the fatalities should be much more bloodier and violent, more harsh or hilarious too.

Fatalities IMO should NEVER NEVER NEVER be: extremely realistic or extremely unrealistic.

*****They have to be in the middle. Its just plain dumb when you see fatalities that have original concepts but made so unrealistic that they look lame in the end. These kind of fatalities don’t even make you laugh.

EXAMPLES:

Mk3 Jax: When he grows...well, this is an original concept for a fatality but does it fit Jax or any character for that matter? Its just too unrealistic!

MkDA/MkU Kitana: The kiss of doom in this game, for some reason, looks plain dumb in this game. I loved it in Mk2 but here it looks so badly done its 100% unrealistic.

Mk3 Smoke: Please...the world explosion...one of the worst. After everyone dies you still fight.

Mk3 Cyrax: The self explosion fatality is a cool concept, but it just doesn’t make sense in Mk, you kill yourself but still fight...

MkU Mileena: When she eats and spits those nails...stupid!

MkU Noob Saibot: The constant teleport hits that end in a shower of blood...stupid!

Mk3 Liu Kang: The Arcade cabinet...oh God, not even funny.
And then we have others that are nicely thought but are so realistic they aren’t fun at all.

MKDA Shang Tsung: Too repetitive and uninspired. A bid disappointment.

MKDA Kano: I love his heart rip Fatality, but this one was way too much. They exaggerated his fatality that it didn’t even look cool...and it ended in a rather pathetic way.

MKDA Quan Chi: While it was an interesting concept, it was so exaggerated it ended being one of the worst!

And many more from MKD Im just too tired to name.

*****And then there are those that are made to look realistic but just end up being so plain they look lame!

EXAMPLES:

MKDA Jax: This fatality is sort of “realistic”...but plain boring.

MKDA Li Mei: Same as Jax. Not original.

Mk Decapitations: Only Johnny Cage makes them look good in Mk1, Mk2 and MK4...but the others are exactly the same! Boring!

MKDA Scorpion: This fatality is sort of “realistic” but so simple it makes you want to sleep.

MKDA Kung Lao: I don’t know, but I find this one of the most boring fatalities of all time!

MKDA Mavado: Ugh....lame.

Mk3 Shang Tsung: The “magic nails” that appear are cool, but its just too simple.

MkU Ermac: Realistic for his character...but extremely boring.

And many more from MKD Im too lazy to write.

The point is, Fatalities should be original, gory, brutal, and painful, but they must not cross the lines of realistic and exaggeration. Only a few can actually pass this challenge, but most fatalities that are like this aren’t good.

They must bring back the old feeling fatalities used to cause and start thinking that a lot of blood doesn’t make a fatality look good.

I agree with more or less everything you said. Fataltiies may never reach the greatness of what they were back in MK1 and MK2. You're right about the use of blood in so many other games and I guess MK has become just another game with blood and guts and people just take it as cartoonish rather than something serious. I know many people just laugh when they see the Fataltiies nowadays from experience because I play MKD online.



See, you're sick! And that's a good thing! Fataltiies like that would most likely add a bit more shock value to the game and given recent atempts at it, I think they'd be very welcome. Given the various entrances of which you speak, I think that alone would be cause so many different reactions and outcries from people dependant on who they are and how they perceive it. I think that'd be fun to see.



That is very interesting and I like that idea. I just need to see that film.



Excellent ideas! I love the arena interactiona nd I think that can be one of the elements of the fatality. That could add a new dimension to them as it'd be arena specific in some cases. Plus there would always be different outcomes dependant on the character and how they go about it maybe.



Excellent post! I'm not a fan of the Freidnships or Babalities. They're not needed in MK imo and should never come back, but I guess to each his own. If they want to add such things then I suppose they can. No need to do them if you don't like them, right?

Keeping things in character is a must. Going beyond that causes some of the unrealism within the Fatalities and they become laughable. The joke factor needs to be toned down a little. Some Fatalities can be funny but at the same time brutal or maybe even cringe worthy. If they could find a balance there, that'd be great.



This is a great idea and one I would welcome. Camera focus could help exploit this too within the Fatality.



I loved the evaluations, even though not everyone was included and they were pretty accurate. Great job.



Interesting post. The reason for a Fatality is just humilatiing your opponent and it's kind of like a final statement to go with the ass kicking you just gave them. It's a matter of how you perceive them I guess.



Brilliant! Fatality speed - another possible element! Awesome ideas, bro!

I commented about this before and it's a shame that Fatalties are seen as lauaghable now. We need the old feel that they once had back. But for the fell, I guess the entire game would need to feel the same way.



A great idea, bro. Subtle humour could help a lot. It could finish off a brutal Fatality as a bonus twist at the end. Implemeting this could be very good idea.



I always loved that. It was a cool after effect. It'd be nice to see it again.



You know, I actually found some of the harder ones to pull oof rather irritating. Some people however like that challenge and I think it'd be nice to see Fatalities harder to pull off once again. That Kintaro one was so annoying to try, but it gave a cool Fatality in the end so it was kind of worth it, even if you were just wanting to see it the one time.



Pointless repetition and stupid explosions bug me also. It's so unreal and ruins the overall effect of the Fatality. After seeing these kind one or two times, they become so stupid and boring. there's nothing interesting there to make you want to see it again.



I suppose you're right about the sales, but there can be some realism to a degree. And yeah, the skillful feel after pulling off a difficult Fatality is good. It makes you smile at the end.



Good ideas, man. The internet has made such hidden secrets easily accssible and I know some people these days are too in a hrry to see things that they don't want to take the time to try and figure it out. I think the wait makes the Fatalities more interesting after you see them, rather than rushing and having them lose their sparkle. Imagine if the Fatality combination changed slightly after every use. That would stop the overuse of them.

Thanks to all that have replied. You've made a some great points, ideas etc. I hope to update this soon with the first element.

The best fatalities will always be the simpler ones. Nightwolf's Tomahawk to the face from Deception, Kung Lao's slice in half from MK2, Baraka's impalement from MK2, the Kintaro body blow, etc.

Fatalities now are just far too over the top, especially in the explosion department. Look at Li Mei's decapitation/head kick from Deception. That would've been (as far as I'm concerned) a classic if it wasn't for the needless explosion. Have the head punch a hole through the torso or something and it looks infinitely better.

I mean, goofy fatalities are fine if that's the intent (like Liu Kang's possession from Deception). They're NOT fine when they're supposed to be visceral.

Someone mentioned it before, but I need to reiterate it because it has been what I have been saying since MK4. Yes, the shock factor on Fatals has been long gone, perhaps gone since MK3. Midway now needs to shift focus, from "gore" and "shock" to "character" and "purpose" and "variety". That is the only way to keep the finishing moves fresh. What do I mean?

Character: Instead of trying to think of "how can I shock a now violent-numb culture with a fatality?" the new style of thinking should be "ok..I have this character with a very vicious personality, almost animalistic. He has these huge blades in his arm, razor sharp teeth, and a very brutal and primative fighting style. What would he do to a vulnerable opponent? What would HE do?" And then move on to the next character with that mentality.

Purpose: Once again, instead of trying to shock the audience, I think Midway needs to focus on purpose of fatalities. Why do them?
One of the great things about the friendships and babalities in the past was that it kind of humiliated your opponent in that you didn't even need to block in the final round. We need stipulations like that back for fatalities. One fatality could have a "no weapons used" stipulation, another could have a "do not block" stipulation, and so forth. That way, they are 1. More challenging to pull off 2. More of an impressive feat for the player and 3. A little more humiliating to the opponent. There should be maybe one fatality that is basic, no stipulations needed. All other finishers, there should be stipulations to doing them.

Variety: If Midway is going to go this route, they need more variety. I also miss the strange finishers, the friendships and babalities. But there also needs to be more purpose to do those as well.
Besides one or two basic fatalities, and maybe a friendship or babality, there should be one or two finishers that should be VERY difficult to pull off...one that would be very impressive for a person to perform (perhaps a high stipulation on the match and a difficult button command as well).
What this does is not ONLY gives the player a sense of satisfaction for doing it, it also helps create an atmosphere where every fatality has NOT been seen a thousand times before. There could be those elusive fatalities that, even months later, one person may have only seen once, or may have never seen yet, because pulling them off is so rare. This could be very important, especially with a game being online.
So in the end you have, at the begining of the second match, many different methods/match stipulations to decide over how to play that match, depending on what finisher you are trying to pull off in the end.

One other thing to add to the "purpose" section. For the online community, there really should be a point system assigned to performing a fatality...as in, if you perform a fatality, it affects your rank (assuming we come up with a system where rank actually means something). The more difficult the finisher is that you pull off, the more points will go towards your rank. This also gives the player the incentive to go for those really hard match stipulations in order to pull off an elusive finisher and get more rank points.

Yeah, I like the whole "keep it simple" approach. Fats can get so cluttered and "busy" they kind of lose their "intimate" relationship with the player. Fats should be simple, focusing on the drama and anticipation of the event. Fats should be approached in the way drama is approached in movies, novels and other story telling mediums. Spend more time on the build up and secondary movement, rather than some gimmicky, half assed brain fart of a fatality.

Skaven13 just gave me an idea... Flawless Fatalities.

You would have to get a double flawless match (no health lost in both victories) or the last one flawless (im not sure what would be better) then when finish him/her comes up, you can input the flawless fatality command.

The fatality would be more drawn out then the others, and would involve maximum bodily harm. So instead of removing their heart, or decapitating their head, you would rip off their limbs, stick a blade in their throat, and kick the head off their corpse. Another addition would be that hari-kari's are disabled if you open this possibility, so they cant steal it from you.

I think of fatalities like Johnny Cage slamming the opponent down (think of the torso rip in MK2 only the whole body), with the opponents head near him, and just does this massive stomp to their head (like Kazuya's stomp) and their brains and skull halves roll out with momentum on the floor and the blood just oooooooozes in puddles out of a gaping head. Also, fine detail like if he slams Raiden or Kung Lao their hat should fall off. Maybe even roll/drip off the side if done on a pit (hats, brains, whatever).

Simple and totally brutal.

Simply put, I'd like to see some fatalities shocking enough for people like Jack Thompson to start bitching and moaning about the game again. (I don't know if Jack Thompson's rants about games have ever included Mortal Kombat, though, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did.) Basically, Jack Thompson's attention has shifted away from the games with only violence and gore (MK, Doom, etc.) and towards games with violence, gore, AND sexual content (like GTA).

Hmm you ask what can be done to help fatalities? I say what shouldn't be done to help...?

1. One thing that shouldn't be done is the "comedy" or so they think. Honestly if any one finds them funny I can never really quite understand either how dumb you are or either that you just laugh a lot for no apparent reason. The simple fact they are not really funny at all. I have never really laughed at the fatality, more like laughing at the fact of how stupid they are. For one, Bo rai chos flameing fart fatality was "suposedly funny" but honestly, came to be retarded and uncreative due to the fact its....already been done on T.V..which leads me to the next thing....

2. The next thing is what happend to creativity, where has it gone? They should stop makeing things the same and predictable. It's not a very pretty sight to see when you have fatalities being over used. Decapitations, arm rips, etc... how many times have they been in the games? I understand they may be "signature" fatalities for characters and what elements they use. But that also leads to the fact of predictability. We all know what elements would be used for certain characters, but why don't they mix it up a bit. Use their weapons along with their fighting style, add some variety...maybe? How about adding some work into the fatalities...hmm reminds me of something we all know and love....

3. Half-Assedness! STOP IT! uh please? We all, or most of us can tell very distinctivly which fatality was worked more so than another has. Or how quickly thought out the fatality was. They really have been up to par with this game, MKD. Not only is the fatalities half assed but so is the gameplay(but that's beside the threads title) After they are complete with their half assed fatality, we all call it in the end...

4. Stupidity. This one word is a simple summary of my statements above and what needs to get rid of to make a better fatality.

These are basic problems with the fatalities element. With these stuff out, you then can incorporate new ideas to help further the fatalities. Which I would rather not talk about because I usually don't do long posts because I am lazy.

Has anyone here seen Enter The Dragon?

Remember that bit where he kills M'Uhara by knocking him down with a kick and then jumping onto his chest in slow-motion complete with horrible snapping sounds. Liu Kang's a Bruce Lee derived Character, so I think it would make a good Fatality for him.
No over the top blood either, maybe just some spat out of the mouth or something.

*sigh* A non-bloody, realistic Fatality would make a real change, too.


You know what?

I don't want Animalities or Babalities to return, but I'd like to see Friendships, back.
They allow the Fatalities to be as dark as possible, because you have an alternate, comedy option.
I had some pretty decent ideas for Friendships, too.

These are the key factors and ideas to making a Fatality work imo:

+I would LOVE to see the MK Characters have expressions on their faces when doing a fatality on their victims.(Read fatality ideas for more info)

+Those Evil Laughs and Shao Kahn saying "Outstanding" in the background.Just picture it...MK needs that scary feel like they had in MK2.I don't like the new announcers.It's just a modified MK4 announcer.Sound Effects always play a big role.

+The fatalites are very sluggish in the new MK's.And they were too fast in MK4/MKG.They need to make it fast but not too fast.Like MK2 and 1.A perfect example of a real slow fatality is Shang Tsung's fatality in MKDA.A fast but not too fast example is Jax's Arm Rip from MK2.

+Darkness,I don't like the Darkening Effect in MKDA and MKD.They need to Darken the stages like they did in MK1 and 2.It just looks boring when it's pitch black.

+They need to make it disturbing and give the player an "Oh Crap" feeling.Make the player cringe up.
========
Fatality Ideas:

Spinal Down Throat-Picture Kano stepping behind Scorpion,Kano pulls out his Spine and then walks his spine in front of Scorpion.Then he starts shoving it down Scorp's throat.They should have Scorpion on the ground face up while doing this.It wouldn't look right if he was standing up since his spine is out.And have Kano laughing while doing this.And Scorpion screaming painfully.

I'll add on later.

OK Baraka, Bo' Rai Cho, Dairou, Darrius, Ermac, Havik, Hotaru, Jade, Kabal, Kenshi, Kira, Kobra, Li Mei, Liu Kang, Mileena, Nightwolf, Raiden are done, here are the remaining dumbasses from MKD.

ASHRAH:

Voodoo stabber: kinda well outhought having a demon from the nethers use something like a voodoo doll, but!: it doesn't really befit her, though it makes a nice contrast with her all-white must redeem personality. I love how the arms get bent and fall off, too bad the characters are choppy. 2.5/5

Immolation: a good idea, but it looks horibly. The sparkling sounds don't really go with the flames, and despite it's unexpected that they fall apart, this fatality has a lackluster design. 1.5/5

Hara Kiri: egad, the spinning would make sense, but the flare combined with the falling apart spin makes this look weird and ugly. 1.5/5

SCORPION

Dismemberment: now this is where things get bloody. The spear tearing off the bodyparts, well, okay, I can live with that. I love how they hop and beg for their lives while Scorpion ends heir lives SIMPLY! by using his palms to BREAK THEIR NECK! Only minus for the improbability of the whole fatality, otherwise it's a great one, but can get staler after time 4/5

Spine Rip: Oho, now I loved this. The fatality looks gruesome (and Im not meaning the throats opened by his hand, I like that) but the sudden and completely unexpected move has paralised me for a sec the first time. Animation is downright bad but the composition is okay. 3.5-4/5

Hara Kiri: THE BEST! Thank god they didn't used his spear or something downright unfamiliar to end his own un-life, that would have only ruined his whole character. Scorpion is a hellborn ninja EMPHASIZING on NINJA, and NOT ON HELLSPAWN! Besides, it's realistic and supportable by history as an actual suicide method. 5/5

SUB-ZERO

Frozen Head Rip: my favourite of Sub-Zeros fatalities. It's fitting using the two best and most familiar moves in his fatality history: freezing and head ripping. I love the back and forward slide during the toss. Gruesome, this is how I picture the fatalities based on the powers of the Mortal character WITHOUT unnecessary complexity. 4.5/5

Leg freeze: while it lacks the straightforwards style of the first one, it makes up with it's excessive brutality. Sweep kick+begging+ only the stomp is bad
- I can't believe that stomping on someones chest would pop their heads off. It would have been better when he stomped on their throat cracking the neck. Still very good, could have been a it better. 4/5

Hara Kiri: first response of my classmate: "Frozen Jesus" LOL. I would have liked if he would freeze himself without the need of hugfe ice blocks. Just a regular and permanent freeze like the consequences of his special move, only having the statue crack and fall forward. Good nevertheless, but kinda looks familiar and "oh, I had something similar in mind" 3/5

NOOB - SMOKE:

Ninja star shower: the pace is a bit too fast, and it's suprisingly well outho-ught having one hand hold the shuriken, and the other toss, unilke the downright disgustingly stupid Reiko fatality. The final star, however has a slight homour value. I like this fatality slightly above the average: 3/5

Invisible stalker: hahaha it is entertaining, and reveals nothing, leaving everything for our imagination. A well outthought manouver from the fats department. Nothing excesively violent or gruesome though: 3/5

Hara Kiris: self destruct. Okay logical, but it looks rather like him dismem-bering himself and blowing his brains out. If the brain case is okay by your looks and opinions, I can give this a 3/5. If you look at it as a simple self-destruct, than it's only deserving a 1.5/5 for the choppiness.

The shuriken harakiri has made me smile, it's logical, slightl over the line of impossibility but nothing overall stupid or flashy. I give it equilibrium and it gets a 2.5/5

SHUJINKO

Dao beheading stabber: tylish, and not so fast. it has an unusual pace of animation, but the body reacts better, and staggers around. I like how Jinko embeds the two Daos into the shoulders. It has style, it's simple
and it has the feeling of sudden but mild brutality of great levels. 3.5/5

Slice and Dice: errr, the slicing up animation looks good, but the whole idea is far fetched. First: even though the Dan Tien Dao is specifically against human opponents, no weapon can carve through a well built adult body. Forget the katana slicing someone in two with one slice on the real battlefield, save for weapon test with a tied up convict senctenced to de-ath. Second: the body would stand in one place. 2/5

Hara Kiri: it inflicts too much pain on the self, and it is thus unlikely, however the two wounds would quickly bleed someone to death (few minutes with the high blood pressure near those areas). unlikely but tricky. I like it. 3.5/5

SINDEL

Banshee scream: it fits her powers I presume. But why does it hears like someone is whistling or blowin wind? Where is the scream sound? The idea of a banshee scream is to be loud, not ultrasound pitched. 2/5

Rotor spin: I dislike this fatality but not becouse of it's owner. The whole idea is soo far fetched and irreal that it completely misfits the whole game, let alone the character (the weapon does not however, but they compeltely misdrawed the actual kwan dao's looks) 1/5

Hara kiri: OMG! That was soo sudden and brutal I cried out in agony. The whole neck breaking and the dislokated look of the head made me shi-ver through the whole day i thought about it. A gem for an although realy hol-low character. 4/5

TANYA

Multi slap stab: despite that her weapon is nonexistent as a kobudo wea-pon, come to think of it, her entire weapon style is phantasmagorism, has a nice pace, the needed level of brutality and design. it is actually believab-le as a fatality. 3.5/5

Femur intubation: the idea is good, but thats it. Ripping out the femur (the FEMUR!) of someones leg is just downright idiotic. The strongest bone in your body fetched out, ehhh 1.5-2/5

Hara Kiri: the worst. Ripping out your femurs (plural, ladies and gentle-men) while still standing, let alone stab your eyes out with them during the whole pocedure. Sheesh. Mindless, idiotic, overall -excuse me- fuckin' bad hara kiri! 0.5/5

Chrome: I see your problem with the realism in MkD, if you look at from the angle of the Characters having the strength of a real person.
However, if you look at the Mk Characters as being super-human, then the ripping of femur bones and the tearing of spines is no longer an issue.
A real ninja cannot rip someones head off, but I've always thought of the Mk Characters being pretty much as strong as a Terminator!
Good analysis, though, Chrome!



Here's a really advanced, mind-blowing fatality idea for Mk7:



:-----------> :
get over here! errrr, scorpion, what are you doing....

*splat! kerbang! pan! poc! dead shinook...*

FATALITY!


Cool, huh?

Are you serious? Kissing a person and their body exploding is unrealistic and idiotic. Did you know that it is impossible to rip a persons head off with your bare hands, or that it is impossible to be dead with an exposed skull blowing fire into someones face? Or how about a man with a lizard head spewing acid over somebody and then eating the skull whole, and people turning invisible. Hardly realistic I'd say. It doesn't take someone with half a brain to know that most of the fatalities are unrealistic and idiotic, how many people do you know that can eat a persons arms in a microsecond? If you ask me, the idea of someone ripping out a persons femur is a more realistic than someone possessing another persons body and then having them rip their own heads off. I think I've made my point.

The absurdity of all the fatalities is what makes them appealing, except when they become repetitive. As for fatalities, I think that they should have less retarded explosions and decapitations and less cartoony effects. I think they should go for shock value and the unexpected, MK2 had the best fatalities, since then they have run out of ideas.

My point is, what you already have made fun of to what point, is that when a character executes something that is far more closer to the laws of phy-sics and NOT based on supernatural or extreme phisical conditions sho-uld stick with a simplistic, more close-to-the-ground aproach.

there is a point when something is grotesque enopugh to have shock value, or to become completely devoid of that factor. P.S: let me cite the MK2 fatalities that were non based on superpowers: all of Barakas fatalties can be done, Mileenas sai ripper can be done easily with a household knife, Kitanas decapitation is doable with tessen (if the wound is enough to let the head fall off from the sewere wounds), Hat throw? well doable, same applies as previously, a disc with an acredition with that can slice through flesh. So far, MK2 had the most realistic fatalities.

Do you see my point now? Or should I revise the whole MK fatality list?

Fatalities have gone down hill so fast it's pathetic. While there are exceptions to some about 60-70% are completely unwatchable and, like Chrome said idiotic. Just by watching them, you can tell that the MK team was scrapping the bottom of the barrel for these fatalites, and what I find most interesting is that the lamest fatalities are given, oppropriatley to the dumbest characters, such as Tanya. First off, if you rip out the femur, you would instantly come crashing down to the ground since the femurs are the two bones which support most of your body weight. Second the effect would've been gruesome enough if it was physically possible. By removing the femur your whole top half would come crashing down, from the knees up right on to your ankles. The fact that she stabs her self in the throat give you that "wtf, was it really necessary" effect.

One of my problems in any of the MK games was that everytime you did a fatality, especially in the recent games, is having the arena go dark? Why? There's no need for that, I could understand in the old games that might have been a sign, but it wasn't needed back then. MK4 did it right with the only thing dissapearing was the health bars. it gave the game a better sense of realism by keeping it believeable in sense. Another thing it did right was using dynamic character angles or adding some extras to make the fatality more rewarding to watch. The whole concept is supposed to be a finishing manuever, at the very least go the extra mile for some eye candy to make it look like one, not just blacking out the stage. Lui Kang's Fireball fatality was a great example. The camera switched to his view when he swung the opponent, and then panned away to show them getting tossed and blown to pieces some distance away. MK4 might have it's flaws, but one thing it managed to do right was deliver some ambience when performing a fatality.

The fatality needs to match the character's traits, that's why so many of them are lame, because so many characters are lame. Kano's Eye Laser in MK3 might've been simple and predicitable, but at least it made sense. Here's how bad it's gotten, I'm praising Jarek for his version of the Eye Laser because it WORKED. I'm not sure how he can do that, but it's a laser, so what did he do? He cut you into pieces with it. Hotaru's multi-slam is one that sticks out in my mind that doesn't seem to fit his look or style of character. It might've been fun to watch, but I always thought that it would've worked so much better for somebody with beastly strength like Goro. It just seems that all the fatalites have become revamps with shock value in them few and far between. I'm not saying that you have to make the fatalities ultra realistic, but make them logical in proportion to the character, and that's something I think the MK Team has lost sight off. Maybe that's one sideeffect of having quantity over quality, where everything just looks the same, in one instances, or too simplisitc in another.

I remeber playing MKDA for the first time, and doing Cyrax's fatality for the first time. That actually had the "wow" factor that's been missed. Yeah to a degree it's unrealistic, taking in a whole human body into that little chest cavity, but the execution is admirable. Looking back on that fatality and comparing it to MKD, I would wager money that it probably would've stopped after the third smash on the ground instead of going into the pull in like in MKDA if it was carried over.We've seen threads on making your own fatality, and we've had great examples. Some might be too complex, and some might be too boring, but there are always some that hit that special something. I remember one done by Shadaloo for Smoke. Smoke would dematerialize into vapor and then rematerialize behind his opponent, cupping thier mouth and suffocating them with his vapors. IF anything, these boards have proven that there is still alot to be done with every character, but it looks like the MK Team won't spend the time, and let the one thing that made the game famous waste away as they keep putting quantity over quality.

the main thing i don't like is that you need to draw the line at fatality and then overkill. many people say stuff like this....

sub zero should frezze the enemy, rip his heart out, frezzes it puts it back, then shatters your upper body then catchs the heart and breaks it.

now no one really every said that but the overall idea is that people take the fatality too far to the point that is an over kill. some fatalities just can't be to draw out to the point where you say "well he is mostly dead after the 50 brain stabs, so way did he rip out his organs?"

alot of the fatality flare is lost do to retarded gore and blood effects. if the expolison weren't chesse or if the blood would spill and flow correctly. MK:SM did a good job fix some retard gore effercts. like for ex



kung luo has a verison of his splitting headache, where after his splits there head it actullay splits in two parts with brains visible.
END END


good fatality idea to me would be

kano- new heart rip- firt kano slashes up the chest, making a gapping wound for to insert his other knife, witch stabs you in the heart and rips it out like a skewwer. body falls

sud zero-new spine rip- sub zero punches his hand into your gut, and reaches it far to your spine where his grabs it and rips through your gut having all the entrails gush out with it

that is IMO

Midway shouldn't have run out of ideas, yet!

You know, there's only two throat slice Fatalities in the whole of Mk and both of them end in an unnecessary way:

Scorpion in Mk2:
Slices the throat and then, unfortunately does yet another Torso removal.

Kira in Deception:
Slices the throat, kicks them away. Sounds good, so far? Then, you notice the head fly off the distant body. It's just a little thing, but it would have been so much better if they hadn't had the head detach.

There are absolutely no disembowelments, so far.

We've never seen a Fatality where the sorcerous Rain uses his Topsy-Turvy powers to turn someone inside out in a gruesome way.

Nor have we seen Raiden use his torpedo to fly straight through a victim, blasting their organs and bones out the other side, leaving a big, gore-gushing hole. The victim then, collapsing in a pool of electrically charged blood.

And where are the non-gory ways to kill someone?
Thankfully, Hotaru has an answer, but there could also be Backbreakers, Throat stomps, Pressure point strikes, Fatal Johnny Cage Nut Punches...

...Hell, even seeing someone get poisoned would make a break.


There's loads of ideas left, especially for Friendships! Bring back Friendships, goddammit! That way, we'll also cut back on "comedy fatalities"


I like the direction Shaolin Monks is taking - credit to Midway where it's due.

wow theres alot to read here...

First off i agree fatalities have gone down hill. Not all but most. One major fact is due to recycling fatalities. Not even recycled fatalties but the similarities in them. Kenshi does a fatal, Ermac does one...there is only slight differences and the differences are not enough to please myself...for some this will do but not for me. I would like to see some new ones that havent been seen before. For example how bout:

Sub-Zero perform a partial face freeze, freezing half their face and then throwing an intense punch in the face shattering the frozen part leaving them with half a face as they slowly die. Im talking the front half of the face from the whole face until the ears leaving a concaved face. That would be cool.

Not only new fatalities that are painful to see but also i would like to see a new addition to fatality performance. I would like to see in-battle fatalities. (Not like MKD Stage Fatalities) but like Killer Instinct 2 style. Let me explain. In Killer Instinct 2 when your opponents energy was low and you were in the middle of a combo you could kill them since they would die anyways...taking that i would love to see MK characters use this as a no delay fatality,...There could be a combination to use with each character that you could set in motion when your opponent is low on energy and if it lands you kill him in the middle of attacking.I would like so see a special fatality that could be performed during battle only in the last round not nessecarily with low energy, If you set in motion the chain there should be points your oponnent has a chance to block if he isnt sleeping lol and if he misses them then fatality he's dead. Im saying something like this only because a person doesnt have to be totally wasted to be killed. I guess you could call them Stealth Kills.

New ideas like this would be cool but not solve the problem of the fatalities just give more options to use them in. In bettering them i definately say increase the graphics. I agree more sadistic...Some people think there is no more shock value and there never will be...i say that is because they dont properly use the resources and sometimes get lazy and give out hand me down fatalities or goof offs. The only goofy fatals i can personally except are from Bo Rai Cho. I was pissed when i saw Quan Chi's neck stretch...i dont care what explainations were behind how it could be done i thought it was crappy and i never picked him because of that. Something obviously needs to be done and i think originality combined with crossing new horizons is in order. It wont be easy but it shouldnt be hard. Take that next step. I know the AO label plays a big part coz it might decrease sales but there are untouched masses that can still be ventured into, Many i have just read in they posts on this thread. Good job everyone.

I think we should remind ourselves of two things when we deride MKD's (and any game after MK2) fatalities and finishers as ridiculous or idiotic:

1. I haven't checked, but most MK vets in this thread probably started playing Mortal Kombat when they hadn't even reached their teens yet, or were barely in it. The fatalities we all love to cherish from the old glory days are so good because of our memories, not because of their actual shock value. I'm pretty confident that if MKD had been MKII and vice versa, we would all be talking about how disappointing MKII's three (!) decapitations with the same death animations are compared to Sub-Zero's instantly classic head shatter fatality. Every MK game will always have better and worse fatalities, but we cannot expect to relive "the old days".

2. We live in a society that is saturated with violent movies, comics, video games, etc... Back in 1992 Mortal Kombat was truly shocking. I think to go back to the adult shocking value, MK needs to explore new territories. Having more complex fatality animations that provide greater detail (such as facial expressions, intenstines, torn skin, bruises, open wounds, gulping cuts, brain matter spread across the floor, etc) is one aspect of that, but another aspect is to explore the full gruesomeness and cruelty of mortal kombat and how its characters relate to each other. Merely killing another person in a video game has become too trivial.

Let me give you two examples of how the shock value would return:

* Suppose Mavado has a pretty "regular" fatality in which he carves someone open with a hooksword. Against Kabal, he would destroy his breathing apparatus, stick the bent tip of a hook through his lower jaw, drag him through the arena, then turn him around and rip off his jaw. All the while, Kabal would scream horridly. He would choke and bleed to death at the same time, possibly even choking in his blood.

* Suppose Sonya has a fatality in which she draws a knife and slits the opponent's throat, making them flail around helplessly while the blood is gulping and spraying from their jugular, until they fall down and die slowly. Against Kano, she could first knock him down, take his weapons, impale two of his arms with one of his butterfly knives, and castrate him using the other butterfly knife. Only imagine the pain...

A fatality should be so painful that you are almost ashamed to do it on someone... or that you would only do it if you crave brutal revenge. Doing a fatality should affect you morally, it should make you question your sense of compassion.

A last point I'd like to make is that fatalities are too easy. Since a variation should exist for a number of characters on whom you perform the fatality, the execution should be different each time. Also, I've always hated how friendly characters (like Sonya and Jax) can theoretically kill each other off. Making fatalities more adult and daring rather than fantastic will hopefully attract more adult gamers who also don't feel the need to do a fatality each time they win. It's dumb, and I hate it.

So, to reiterate, to improve fatalities, Midway should
1. put more effort into the animations and graphics, making many more areas and parts of the human body possible;
2. reason from the viewpoint of the killer and their relationship to the victim: what would he do?
3. reason from the viewpoint of the victim: how much pain does this inflict?
4. explore uncharted territory: claim back the title as most controversial game and go where none has before... (this could also be expanded into its storyline universe, by offering characters like sadists, schizos, sexual deviants)

Oh and one last thing: someone in these boards suggested the idea of some moves with normal move properties suddenly being lethal while the opponent is ailing (an animation which could be done much less generic, realistic and should last much shorter). I like that idea, but it shouldn't say FATALITY when you do it. I'm ok with the screen going darker at a fatality, but I don't want the announcer to say the word anymore. Just "xxx wins" and then, in slowly appearing letters, like blood-stained fingerprints, the word drips down under your name, accompanied by that MKII tune of gloom. You've done a fatality. You killed him.

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As to other alities, none should return, except maybe the animality if it were drasticaly revamped.

Cheers,
VQ