Earlier this week it was revealed that the Classification Board had given Mortal Kombat a "refused classification" rating due to its violent gameplay, effectively banning it from sale in this country unless the publisher, Warner Bros., submits a more toned-down version.
At the same time, a new risqué title for the Wii, We Dare, is due for release tomorrow and has been given a PG rating despite the game promoting spanking, stripping and sexual partner swapping.
The Australian Christian Lobby said the We Dare decision showed the classification system was "broken".
Trevor Walker said: Fighting games have always been able to simultaneously experiment and innovate while staying true to their roots in the best of ways. Mechanics change, crossovers take place, and evolution occurs. One of the best examples of all three can be seen in the coveted guest character.
The fighting genre is full of mini-games, from Street Fighter's car destruction to Tekken Ball. Here's the best Mortal Kombat mini games.
Cultured Vultures: We've gone to the trouble of ranking the Mortal Kombat games across the series' history. Special Forces is clearly number one.
My favorite is always going to be Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. I know some people didn't like the addition of the run button. But, man that game is burned into my memory from childhood, lol.
That's the one I played the most as a kid. Fun times gaming on my Sega Genesis, the memories
MK2 will always be the best in the series. Been playing a lot of MK1 lately though. Definitely enjoying it more than any other NRS era MK game.
I will always have a special place in my memory for MK 1 and 2. You had to be there during that era at the arcades. Martial arts tournament fighting movies were still popular, and MK 1 was exciting. Real life motion captured characters done well (unlike Pit Fighter). A cast of characters we all liked like Bruce Lee(Lui Kang), Van Damme(Johnny Cage), the Lightning god(Raiden) from Big Trouble in Little China, and Ninjas, gotta have Ninjas. Goro was menacing as hell. The MK arcade had some of the best speakers similar to Killer Instinct as you could hear the loud crisp and bassy sound that was distinctly different than other arcades. MK 2 improved greatly on the controls and fighting mechanics
I think this is the first time I ever hear of violence being rated harsher than sexuality. Violence is so common in the media, yet you rarely ever see a nipple at any regular time of day... I guess in Australia it's the opposite from North America.
IT'S NOT FAIR AT ALL. I'M A 34 Y.O GAMER AND ALTHOUGH MORTAL COMBAT IS NOT ON MY MUST HAVE LIST, I'M PISSED. WHY IS IT OK FOR ME TO BE OLD ENOUGH TO GO AND WATCH A 18 RATED MOVIE IN CINEMA, OR HIRE ONE BUT I CAN'T PLAY ONE? THIS IS B*LLSH*T. DAMN RIGHT THE CLASSIFICATION BOARD HAS TO CHANGE. SALES WILL BE DOWN, LESS MONEY WILL STAY HERE IN AUSTRALIA AND BE SPENT OVERSEAS INSTEAD AND IMPORT IT INSTEAD. WHY CAN'T THESE MOTHER'S GROUPS FIND SOMETHING BETTER TO DO THAN TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN'T WATCH & PLAY. LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN LIFE. LET ME LOOK AFTER MINE F*&K oFF.
I think people are blowing the whole "We Dare" thing way out of proportion though. Yes, the ad is a little risque, but the game itself doesn't seem anywhere near as bad as Ubi would like us to think.
On the MK thing - WB have submitted an appeal, so we'll see what happens, but I won't be surprised if it doesn't get released here at all, as nobody wants a toned down MK, and gamers will just have to import it. Is generally cheaper that way in any case.
Ridiculas! Mortal Kombat should be classed as cartoon violence and be a 15 at most in my opinion.
Once again Mortal Kombat has ignited controversy and has become the center of attention.
Can't wait.