Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat, released in 1992, holds a significant place in gaming history as both a groundbreaking title and a subject of controversy. Developed by Midway Games, Mortal Kombat initiated a new level of violence and graphic content into the genre like never before. The digitised graphics showcased realism that had people questioning if this content itself was suitable for children. The departure from the more cartoonish style of other games at the time, such as Street Fighter II, immediately garnered attention.
What truly fueled the controversy surrounding Mortal Kombat was its introduction of “Fatalities.” These signature finishers allowed players to execute gruesome and explicit acts of violence on their defeated opponents, resulting in decapitations, impalements, and other sadistic displays. The nature of said fatalities, combined with the game’s popularity among younger audiences, led to widespread concern about its potential impact and violence it might promote.
Mortal Kombat became a lightning rod – no pun intended – for debates on video game content and prompted the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to provide age-based ratings for games. It resulted in the introduction of age restrictions and content warnings for video games, with MK serving as a prime example of the need to regulate the gaming industry. An emphatic statement was made with MK’s content that proceeded to push the appeal toward all markets within gaming, rather than the platform solely commercialised for children.
