About a year shy of its 10-year anniversary, Mortal Kombat is one of the most popular and controversial fighting games ever released. I spent many a quarter on the Mortal Kombat arcade games, and many a dollar on the home console conversions. So naturally I was excited when I learned that Midway was going to release a port of one of the MK games to the Game Boy Advance. I was a tad disheartened when I found out that the port was of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. I personally would have preferred the first MK or MK2, but I figured beggars can’t be choosers. As long as it’s MK, I’m happy. And while this game isn’t all that it could be, it still left me somewhat happy.
Aesthetics:
The graphics in Mortal Kombat Advance are not all that bad. They could have been better, though. The characters all look and animate just like they do in the arcade version of UMK3. The backgrounds, however, are not as graphically impressive. For some of the levels it seems as though the characters are fighting on a flat surface with a giant poster of the level behind them. But this only applies for one or two of the backgrounds. The rest look just fine.
Now, I am not sure if this option is included in any other Game Boy Advance game, but it damn well should be. Virtucraft actually added in the option of changing the contrast, which makes the game brighter or darker. Whoever thought of adding this option deserves a gold star. It definitely helps, seeing as though there have been many complaints regarding the brightness of the Game Boy Advance screen.
Sound:
Probably the best aspect of MKA, the sound is a near-perfect conversion of its arcade predecessor. The music for each level is clear, although a bit repetitive. Each sound, from Liu Kang’s bicycle kick “Yahdadadadada” to Scorpion’s infamous “Get over here!” is transitioned perfectly.
Gameplay:
The gameplay can be summed up using one word: rushed.
That is how, in my opinion, the game feels. Perhaps the powers that be “requested” that Virtucraft finish the game so they can have it on store shelves by Christmas. Or perhaps the developers were given as much time as they needed. Either way, the game plays as though someone forgot to tie up all the loose ends. This does not make the game unplayable, but it does make it a bit annoying. There is not anything actually missing from the game (aside from Sheeva), but it just feels rushed.
That having been said, I must say that the gameplay is pretty much identical to the arcade and home versions of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. The object of the game is pretty straightforward: fight your opponent and hope to win, then move on to the next opponent. But what sets Mortal Kombat apart from all other fighting games is the famous “fatality.” For those of you who are not MK literate, I shall explain. A fatality is basically a way to finish off your opponent in an act of violence. It is a great way to add insult to injury.
I have one major complaint about the gameplay in MKA - The difficulty. Now, I could royally suck at the Mortal Kombat games, but as far as I know, I consider myself pretty skilled. And in my opinion, “very easy” should mean very easy. Not “pretty much easy until you get to Motaro. Then it’s not so easy.” Motaro is so difficult, the only way I could defeat him is with Sektor’s or Smoke’s teleport uppercut – used over and over and over again. But this is my experience. Your results may vary.
But not all is bad with Mortal Kombat Advance. There are good things about this game as well. For example, the fatalities can be done anywhere. In previous MK games, you had to be at a certain distance to successfully perform a fatality. In MKA, you can execute a fatality, and your character will go where he or she should be and finish off your opponent. This is an excellent change in the gameplay. I only wish the game had a programmed-in list of how to do the moves/fatalities for each character (a la Tekken or Soul Blade).
Control:
The arcade version of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 utilizes a six-button layout: high and low punches, high and low kicks, run, and block. I was concerned as to exactly how well Mortal Kombat Advance would be, seeing as though there are only four buttons on the GBA. But I must say that Virtucraft did a good job at using the buttons that they were given.
The controls in MKA are, much like the other aspects, a mixed bag. Most moves are easy to pull off, while some are not so easy. For example, fatalities are very easy to execute, while the foot sweep move is very difficult. As stated earlier, the controls are not all that bad, but do have that “rushed” feel that the game conveys. But once you get used to the controls, they are not all that bad.
Multiplayer:
Unfortunately, with only one Game Boy Advance at my disposal, I was unable to test out the multiplayer mode of Mortal Kombat Advance. But I must say that I am very proud of Virtucraft. It isn’t specifically stated in the instruction booklet, but I assume that only one copy of the game is needed to play the multiplayer mode.
OVERALL:
Mortal Kombat Advance is basically a port of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 – nothing more, some things less. The game had excellent potential, but because of problems in almost every aspect, it leaves MKA barely above “a good rent.” Had the developers had about a month or so to put the finishing touches in the game, it could have been something special. But what we’ve been given isn’t all that bad. Die-hard fans of the series will have an enjoyable time with Mortal Kombat Advance, while those who are new to the fighting game genre may have a difficult time with it. All in all, Mortal Kombat Advance is an average game that could have been great.
The Lowdown on  Ultimate Mortal Kombat
| Aesthetics: Average |
Control: Average |
| Gameplay: Below Average |
Multiplayer: |
| Sound: Very Good |
Innovation: 3/6 |
| Lasting Appeal: 3/6 |
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Overall: Average!
"An Average Game"
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Ultimate Mortal Kombat
