• "Mortal Kombat" is the world infamous fighting game that was first released in the early 90s and known for its graphic and gory fatalities. The initial game's premise was simple: a set of combatants facing each other to defeat Shang Tsung. Since then the story has evolved episodically, growing more vast and complicated with each game release, and introducing even more characters to the "Mortal Kombat" ethos.
  
  

Mortal Kombat I

• "Mortal Kombat" is the flagship title which would later spawn the rest of the gaming series. In the first game's story, a 2,000 year old half human dragon named Goro was the undefeated champion for 500 years until he was defeated by Kung Lao. Afterwards the "Mortal Kombat" tournament was taken over by Shang Tsung, and since then fighters have come from all over the world to fight one another to become the "Mortal Kombat" champion. The first game features seven selectable characters: Johnny Cage, Kano, Sub-Zero, Sonya, Raiden, Liu Kang and Scorpion.
  
  

Mortal Kombat II

• The story continues from the first game. With Shang Tsung defeated, he retreats to the "Outworld" where he, along with Shao Kahn, lures a new set of fighters to death in another tournament. This iteration features the cast of seven characters from the first game, along with an additional five more members: Kung Lao, Scorpion, Shang Sung, Kitana, Jax, Mileena and Baraka. "Mortal Kombat II" also introduces the new finishers: "Babality" and "Friendship."
  
  

Mortal Kombat III

• The saga continues in the third installment of Mortal Kombat. Raiden, a previous contestant of the Mortal Kombat tournament, speaks of Shao Kahn's plan to take over Earth. By resurrecting his long dead Queen, Sindel, he can transform Earth into the Outworld and claim all souls. Now a new set of combatants must face against each other and the Outworld invasion in order to save all of humanity. Only five combatants return in the series, with a cast of 12 new characters. In addition to the finishers found in the previous games, players can also perform "Animality," "Mercy," an extra fatality, and three "Stage Fatalities."
  
  

Mortal Kombat IV

• In "Mortal Kombat IV" Raiden speaks of a battle he once had against an elder god named Shinnok who had killed an entire civilization. Raiden was able to defeat and banish Shinnok into the "Netherrealm" but the defeat of Shao Kahn in the previous Mortal Kombat was enough to release the elder god on Earth. Now, new heroes must rise to defeat him and save civilization from certain doom. "Mortal Kombat IV" is known for the first to have 3D graphics in the series, as well as usage of weapons and objects during battle. While there are eight returning characters, there are also seven new characters that enter the series. In addition, there are three hidden "Kombatants" to choose from: Meat, Noob Saibot and Goro.