Mortal Kombat has always boasted in-depth fighting mechanics and impressive graphics (be it via painstakingly digitized actors or modern-day HD renders). That being said, there’s no doubt in my mind that the gnarly Fatalities were what really motivated Mortal Kombat‘s massive success.
These elaborate finishing moves were so violent that they become a source of controversy during the 90s, with politicians claiming that the simulated murder of Mortal Kombat was contributing to the “corruption of America’s youth”, with the game even becoming a catalyst for the creation of the ESRB. On the other hand, these bloody spectacles were also responsible for crowds forming around arcade cabinets as gamers anxiously awaited for comically exaggerated executions, leading to increasingly absurd fatalities in the sequels.
And since there are so many bloody finishers to admire (not to mention the franchise celebrating its 30th anniversary), we’ve come up with this list celebrating six of the most gruesome Fatalities in MK history!
While this list is based on personal opinion, there are a couple of rules. First, we’ll only be including one Fatality per character. Second, we’ll only feature Fatalities performed by the main Kast, so no kills by DLC characters like Jason Voorhees or the Predator, since those are mostly inspired by existing cinematic kills.
With that out of the way, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite Fatalities if you think we missed a particularly brutal one.
Now, onto our list of the most gruesome Mortal Kombat Fatalities!
6. Sindel – Skinned Alive (Mortal Kombat 3)
Some fans remember Sindel as a comical character due to Musetta Vander’s unique performance in 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, but the Queen of Edenia was originally an intimidating addition to the MK3 roster. Capable of enchanting her voice with destructive power, Sindel stood toe-to-toe against other fighters, soon becoming a fan favorite.
Part of her popularity is due to her impressive finishing moves, with Sindel using a variety of supernatural abilities to destroy her enemies. While some fans adore her “Hair Spin” finisher, where she wields her hair like massive white tentacles and crushes her opponents to death, I’m partial to her “Skinned Alive” fatality, where the super-powered Queen screams so loudly that she literally removes the flesh from her enemy’s bones.
There’s a reason why this screaming kill has become a recurring staple in Sindel’s moveset!
5. Noob Saibot – Make a Wish (Mortal Kombat 9)
The original Sub-Zero became a hell of a lot scarier when he came back from the dead as the secret fighter Noob Saibot. Capable of manipulating darkness itself, Noob’s unique set of skills allowed developers to get creative when coming up with his supernatural fatalities (though he was originally relegated to merely imitating other fighters).
While this bloodthirsty fighter has several tricks up his shadowy sleeves, his most iconic fatality sees the wraith conjuring a shadow clone of himself and then teaming up with his creation to vertically rip his opponent in half like a human wishbone. Now that’s dark.
4. Shang Tsung – Inner Ear (Mortal Kombat II)
Unconventional powers mean unconventional kills, and that’s why the soul-stealing sorcerer Shang Tsung boasts one of the goriest fatalities in the franchise. Using magic to enter his opponent’s body through their ear, the fighter then proceeds to slowly expand until his enemy explodes into a disgusting torrent of digitized blood and guts.
While it’s a level of super-powered mayhem that’s sure to be appreciated by fans of hyper-violent media like The Boys, it does make you wonder why Shang wouldn’t immediately begin every match with this overpowered move.
3. Kung Lao – Buzzsaw (Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks)
This fun little move originally showed up in an underrated spin-off before making its way into the main series, but I’m glad it did! Featuring Kung Lao’s serrated hat being used like a magical circular saw as he drags his opponent through it like an improvised Saw trap, the brutality on display here is matched only by the absurdity of the weapon being used.
A classic kill that’s been revisited in several sequels and even showed up in the recent movie, this creative use of headwear is one of my personal favorite fatalities in the series. It’s made even more fun by the fact that Kung Lao’s infamous hat was inspired by the 007 villain Oddjob, who famously wielded a derby hat as a weapon. The more you know!
2. Johnny Cage – Here’s Johnny (Mortal Kombat X)
He may have started out as a thinly veiled parody of Jean-Claude Van Damme, but Johnny Cage soon evolved into his own unique character as the MK franchise went on. Often incorporating his signature sense of movie-star humor into his moves, Johnny stands out by allowing the developers to get silly with his finishers.
The “Here’s Johnny” fatality from MKX is a perfect example of this, with Cage recreating an iconic moment from Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation The Shining by using his bare hands to rip a hole in the middle of his opponent and then introducing himself to the camera. Not only is it exceptionally gory, but it’s also a neat little treat for horror fans!
1. Sub-Zero – Spine Rip (MK)
The Mortal Kombat franchise may have upped the ante when it comes to gnarly finishers over the years, but there’s no denying that the first game’s attempts at brutality still boast some janky digitized charms. That’s why we’re including Sub-Zero’s original Spine Rip on this list, as it was most gamers’ first introduction to the bloody world of Mortal Kombat and remains just as iconic thirty years later.
Often cited as an example of the game’s corrupting influence on children, this good-old-fashioned spine rip is gory enough to make the Predator blush, but it was also responsible for several budding friendships as young gamers shared the knowledge required to properly execute the fatality in a pre-internet world.
Simple, shocking and wickedly entertaining, I don’t think anyone will disagree with its placement on this list.
The post Finish Him: Six of the Most Gruesome Fatalities in ‘Mortal Kombat’ History! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.