DESCRIPTION

The third and final Mortal Kombat game on Saturn combines the characters, stages, and moves from earlier installments in the violent fighting series. Players begin with a choice of 32 playable characters along with four alternate versions of Kano, Jax, Raiden, and Kung Lao. As in previous games, players must advance past each opponent in succession until they confront and defeat the evil Shao Khan. Each match is a best-of-three contest where players perform various combos until their opponent's health is depleted, at which point the victor can finish off his or her rival by initiating a character-specific "-ality" move: fatality, animality, babality, or brutality.

Other finishing moves include the peaceful "friendship" and the health giving "mercy," and seven stages, from the Pit to Scorpion's Lair, feature distinct fatalities as well. One of the key new features in Mortal Kombat Trilogy is the "Aggressor Kombat Mode." By performing successful combos, players will be able to fill a horizontal meter that, when maxed, allows them to unleash even more powerful attacks. In addition to the single-player arcade mode, players can challenge a friend to a one-on-one fight, a two-on-two battle, or engage in a round-robin tournament spanning eight combatants. Defeating Shao Khan has the added benefit of unlocking up to 12 treasure boxes, with surprises ranging from a Galaga mini-game to video demonstrations of the title's fatalities. ~ Brian Arnold, All Game Guide