Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection review: A history of violence
**Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection — A Nostalgic Dive into the Franchise’s Origins**
Mortal Kombat has been around for so long that it’s easy to take it for granted. NetherRealm’s newer fighting games have consistently set the standard for what fighting games could be, both in competitive contests and single-player storytelling. While older generations may have forgotten the series’ humble beginnings, younger players might not even be aware of them at all.
Enter *Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection*, from Atari and Digital Eclipse — a compilation that tells the story of the franchise’s earliest days in a way that’s informative, honest, and fun. Although the games might not be what they once were, revisiting them remains a blast — especially with some slight quality-of-life tweaks that enhance the experience.
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### Primitive Kombat: A Blend of Classic Titles
*Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection* features a mixture of classic games drawn from arcade machines, home consoles, and handheld devices. Digital Eclipse, known for reviving games from past generations, faced a unique challenge with the *Mortal Kombat* series. Many titles in the collection are presented as a “warts and all” package, providing a fascinating historical perspective.
For instance, the original *Mortal Kombat* had voices on the Super Nintendo, while the Sega Genesis version featured blood hidden behind a secret code. The visual presentation of *Mortal Kombat II* varied noticeably across platforms like arcade, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and Sega 32X, and these differences extended to gameplay as well.
One gameplay aspect that stood out was loading speed. The Super Nintendo version of *Mortal Kombat II*, in particular, exhibited a noticeable stutter at the start of each round. Generally, the older versions feel distinctly slower compared to their arcade counterparts — a characteristic that, in many ways, adds to their charm. Back in the ’90s, this was the standard, and the series’ hard-hitting violence and over-the-top finishers pushed those boundaries.
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### Enhancements and Quality-of-Life Improvements
Digital Eclipse also stepped in with notable improvements. The PlayStation versions of *Mortal Kombat Trilogy* and *Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero* benefited from optimized loading times and smoother gameplay. Titles like *Mythologies* even include a Rewind feature, addressing inherent flaws without compromising the original experience.
While having a more playable version of *Mortal Kombat Trilogy* on PlayStation is great, it does introduce a conflict: part of me wished for similar optimizations in the older titles, though there’s undeniable charm in experiencing those games exactly as they were.
Where the collection truly shines is in its quality-of-life options. Players can toggle on-screen move lists, Fatality timers, and various cheats. Some features even delve into historical curiosities, such as unlocking developer options in arcade versions.
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### Unlocking Hidden Gems and Secrets
No discussion of *Mortal Kombat* history would be complete without mentioning the secret characters from the earliest games. This collection lets players access battles against Reptile (*Mortal Kombat*) and Smoke, Jade, and Noob Saibot (*Mortal Kombat II*) without having to fulfill the original series of complex conditions — a delightful bonus for longtime fans.
There are even surprises I hadn’t known about, like the ability to play as Goro in the Game Boy version of *Mortal Kombat*.
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### What Could Have Been
For all my appreciation of the mixture of arcade, console, and handheld titles, I found myself wishing for a few additional inclusions:
– The arcade version of *Mortal Kombat 4* is a strong representation of the end of the series’ original 2D era, but I would have loved to see the Sega Dreamcast port as well.
– *Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3* is represented by the arcade and Super Nintendo versions, yet the Sega Saturn version would have made for an interesting comparison.
– The PlayStation version of *Mortal Kombat Trilogy* is amazing, but including the Nintendo 64 version would have enabled players to experience the CD versus cartridge difference.
Despite these missing pieces, the collection remains a strong assembly of notable fighting games, flawed platformers, and handheld curiosities — all worth exploring at least once to grasp their historical significance. Yes, even *Mortal Kombat: Special Forces*.
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### A Glimpse Behind the Curtain: The Mortal Kombat Documentary
Besides the games, the collection features five to ten-minute documentary vignettes telling the story of the original *Mortal Kombat* development team. It’s one thing to recognize *Mortal Kombat* as a legendary franchise, but it’s another to see the origins of Ed Boon, John Tobias, John Vogel, and Dan Forden during their humble early days at Williams Bally/Midway.
One memorable intro video shows the four creators introducing themselves in a Beatles-esque fashion. This kind of storytelling is increasingly rare in today’s video game industry.
Digital Eclipse has crafted a full-blown 1990s time capsule, packed with initial pitches, original press releases, TV commercials, magazine clippings, and behind-the-scenes footage from various events. The documentary not only tells the story of the *Mortal Kombat* games but also highlights the franchise’s status as a pop culture phenomenon.
While modern games sell more units and generate bigger profits — a point Ed Boon acknowledges — the timeline emphasizes just how much *Mortal Kombat* took over the world during its early years.
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### Honest Reflections and The Franchise’s Turning Point
Rather than a fluffy, flawless victory narrative, the documentary adopts a refreshingly honest tone. It celebrates early wins but also acknowledges the challenges and changes that lay ahead.
*Mortal Kombat 4*, now seen as a fun novelty in 2025, marked a turning point with the move into 3D and the decline of arcade culture. The original team discusses the risks involved, revealing the turmoil beneath the surface. The documentary doesn’t shy away from the merits and flaws of the late ’90s post-*MK3* games.
However, the timeline loses some focus toward the end, offering only brief summaries of the 2000s and 2010s *Mortal Kombat* entries without added context or behind-the-scenes footage. While the collection isn’t centered on those later games, it does raise the question of why they were included instead of concluding at the dawn of the 3D era, which might have felt like a more natural endpoint.
Still, the final vignette — revisiting nearly everyone featured — provides a heartwarming conclusion that’s well worth watching.
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### Round 1: The Verdict
From a fighting game perspective, nothing in *Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection* can match what NetherRealm produces today. The earliest MK games can feel jarring with their slower speed and primitive presentation.
Fundamentally, though, these games hold up—especially when playing locally with friends—offering a glimpse at the foundational blocks that shaped today’s *Mortal Kombat* series.
The quality-of-life and optimization improvements, particularly for *Mortal Kombat Trilogy*, make gameplay noticeably smoother than on original PlayStation hardware. Training tools and practice modes further enhance the experience.
Coupled with classic games and a heartfelt documentary, *Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection* proves there’s no better team at preserving and presenting such compilations than Digital Eclipse. Whether you’re an old-school fighting fan or looking to introduce your kids to how *Mortal Kombat* looked in the early days, this collection is the ultimate way to do it.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146581/mortal-kombat-legacy-kollection-review-score
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