Mortal Kombat 4 May 2026
| Platform | Pros | Cons | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Arcade | Fastest gameplay, original graphics, no loading. | Hard to find. No Goro/Noob. | | PlayStation | Good music. All Fatalities intact. | Long loading times. Pixelated textures. Missing 3D backgrounds (2D pre-rendered). | | Nintendo 64 | Full 3D arenas. Goro is playable via code. Smooth framerate. | Censored Fatalities (No blood pools). Cartridge limits audio. No FMV endings. | | PC (DOS/Windows 98) | Highest resolution (640x480). Fast load times. | Requires Glide or DirectX wrapper. Horrible MIDI music. | | Dreamcast (Gold) | Best roster. Arcade-perfect visuals. CD Quality audio. | Rare. Emulation requires tweaks. |
If you are losing badly (your health bar flashes red and time is low), you can perform an Elder God Combo. This is a unique, cinematic 10-hit combo that cannot be blocked. Inputs vary per character (e.g., Liu Kang: HK, HK, HP, HP, LK, LP, LK, HP, LK, HK). It’s a “catch-up” mechanic.
Run button and pressing Down or Up, you can sidestep attacks in the 3D plane. This is crucial for avoiding projectiles.Mortal Kombat 4 features the following characters: Mortal Kombat 4
Knock your opponent into a specific hazard.
Mortal Kombat 4 received mixed reviews upon release but is remembered for its attempt to bring the Mortal Kombat formula into the 3D era. It laid the groundwork for subsequent games in the series, which continued to evolve the gameplay and graphics. | Platform | Pros | Cons | |
The narrative of Mortal Kombat 4 picks up immediately after the apocalyptic events of Mortal Kombat Trilogy. Shao Kahn has been defeated, and Earthrealm is saved—for now. However, the realm of Edenia is in chaos. Its former protector, the fallen Elder God Shinnok, sees an opportunity. Shinnok, once the keeper of the realm of the Elder Gods, was stripped of his power and banished for attempting to seize the power of the One Being. Now, wielding the corrupted Amulet of Shinnok, he launches a full-scale invasion of all realms.
The plot is simple but effective: Shinnok, aided by the demonic sorcerer Quan Chi (making his first major playable appearance), has captured the essence of the Elder Gods. The remaining warriors of Earthrealm—Liu Kang, Raiden, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, and others—must venture into the corrupted fortress of Shinnok’s Temple to stop him. If you are losing badly (your health bar
What makes Mortal Kombat 4’s story memorable is its branching endings. For the first time, the game introduced a "Choose Your Destiny" component. Before the final boss fight against Shinnok, the game poses a moral question: do you accept his offer of godhood or reject it? The ending you receive depends on your choice. This added a layer of player agency rarely seen in arcade fighters at the time. Johnny Cage’s cheesy acting career revival, Sub-Zero’s quest to erase his clan’s curse, and Raiden’s sacrifice all gave a satisfying closure to the first four-game arc of the series.