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{{Short description|1996 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Mortal Kombat Trilogy
| image = MKTBox.jpg
| caption = North American MS-DOS/Windows box art
| developer = {{Collapsible list|'''PlayStation'''<br/>[[Avalanche Software]]<br/>'''Nintendo 64'''<br/>[[Leland Corporation|Leland Interactive Media]]<br/>'''Saturn, MS-DOS, Windows'''<br/>Point of View}}
| publisher = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|[[Midway Games #Subsidiaries and studios|Midway Home Entertainment]]}}|'''PlayStation, Saturn'''{{vgrelease|NA|Midway Home Entertainment|PAL|[[Atari, Inc. (formerly GT Interactive)|GT Interactive]]}} '''Nintendo 64'''<br/>Midway Home Entertainment<br/>'''MS-DOS, Windows'''<br/>GT Interactive<br/>'''R-Zone, Game.com'''<br/>[[Tiger Electronics]]}}
| producer = Michael Gottlieb<br />Michael Rubinelli
| designer = [[Ed Boon]]<br />[[John Tobias]]
| programmer = Ed Boon
| artist = John Tobias<br />Steve Beran<br />Tony Goskie
| composer = [[Dan Forden]]
| series = ''[[Mortal Kombat]]''
| platforms = [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[Nintendo 64]], [[Sega Saturn]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[R-Zone]], [[Game.com]]
| released = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|October 11, 1996}}|'''PlayStation'''{{vgrelease|NA|October 11, 1996<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 9, 1996 |title=Catch It Here First! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/280474910 |access-date=July 30, 2024 |work=[[The Daily Journal (New Jersey)|The Daily Journal]] |pages=16 |quote=''Mortal Kombat Trilogy''//Available Friday, Oct. 11}}</ref>|PAL|December 9, 1996<ref name="CTW617">{{cite magazine |title=CTW Games Guide |magazine=Computer Trade Weekly |___location=United Kingdom |date=9 December 1996 |issue=617 |page=25 }}</ref>}} '''Nintendo 64'''{{vgrelease|NA|November 12, 1996<ref>{{Cite web |date=1996-11-01 |title=MK Trilogy Slides |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1996/11/01/mk-trilogy-slides |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>|PAL|March 14, 1997}} '''Saturn'''{{vgrelease|NA|August 8, 1997|PAL|November 14, 1997}} '''MS-DOS, Windows'''{{vgrelease|NA|September 1997|EU|1997}} '''R-Zone'''{{vgrelease|NA|1997}} '''Game.com'''{{vgrelease|NA|1998}}
}}
| genre = [[Fighting game|Fighting]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
}}
'''''Mortal Kombat Trilogy''''' is a 1996 [[
==
{{Further|Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3#Gameplay|l1=Gameplay of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3}}
[[File:Mkt fight.png|thumb|left|[[Raiden (Mortal Kombat)|Raiden]] from ''[[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|MKI]]'' battles the ''MKT'' version of [[Johnny Cage]] in ''[[Mortal Kombat II|MKII]]'''s armory stage. The [[Head-up display (video gaming)|HUD]] is the same as from ''[[Mortal Kombat 3|MK3]]''/''[[Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3|UMK3]]'', while the Aggressor bar is exclusive to ''MKT''.
]]
''Mortal Kombat Trilogy'' introduces the "Aggressor" bar, which fills as the combatants fight (twice as much if the opponent is blocking). Once the bar is filled, it grants the character fast movement and greater attack damage for a short period of time.
Many characters gained additional special moves. Some were simple edits of existing moves (such as Stryker throwing two grenades instead of one), while others were unused animations never implemented in their intended previous games. These special moves included ''[[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|MK1]]'' [[Kano (Mortal Kombat)|Kano]]'s Knife Spin move, ''[[Mortal Kombat II|MKII]]'' [[Kung Lao]]'s Air Torpedo, [[Goro (Mortal Kombat)|Goro]]'s Spinning Punch move, [[Raiden (Mortal Kombat)|Raiden]]'s Lightning that shoots from behind the opponent, and [[Baraka (Mortal Kombat)|Baraka]]'s Blade Spin move. Additionally, [[Shao Kahn]] gained a throw and grab-and-punch move, and [[Motaro]] gained a proper throw move. [[Sub-Zero (Mortal Kombat)|Sub-Zero]]'s famous "Spine Rip" Fatality reappears in the game but is completely censored, as the screen blacks out with only the "Fatality" text visible. This was due to avoid having to re-animate the fatality for this game.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}
''Trilogy'' introduces the "Brutality" finishing move, which consists of repeatedly attacking the opponent until they explode. It was incorporated into the [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive/Genesis]] and [[SNES]] ports of ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'', which were released the same month as ''Trilogy''. All of the arenas that featured a [[Stage Fatality]] are featured in this game, except for the one in the Pit II, for similar reasons to the "Spine Rip" Fatality.
All of the battle arenas that were featured in ''MKII'', ''MK3'', and ''UMK3'' are available in ''MKT'', but only four backgrounds from the original ''Mortal Kombat'' are featured (Courtyard, Goro's Lair, the Pit, and the Pit Bottom). The [[Personal computer|PC]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], and [[Sega Saturn]] versions lack the Hidden Portal and Noob's Dorfen stages from ''MK3'', while the [[Nintendo 64]] version lacks Kahn's Arena and the Bank from ''MKII'' and ''MK3'', respectively. {{clear left}}
== Characters ==
[[File:Mkt select.png|thumb|left|Character select screen from the CD versions of the game]]
Along with the ''[[Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3]]'' roster, including those who were originally [[Mortal_Kombat#Hidden_content|hidden]] and specific console exclusives in previous iterations, ''Trilogy'' adds [[Raiden (Mortal Kombat)|Raiden]] and [[Baraka (Mortal Kombat)|Baraka]] exactly as they appeared in ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'', with added running animations especially created for ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy''. The actors of both characters were Carlos Pesina as Raiden (except for one sprite, which was portrayed by Sal Divita, who portrayed Sektor, Cyrax, Cyborg Smoke and Nightwolf), and Richard Divizio as Baraka (who also portrayed Kano and [[Kabal (Mortal Kombat)|Kabal]], including Noob Saibot only in ''MK3''), respectively. [[Johnny Cage]] was also added to the roster, this time portrayed by Chris Alexander (replacing [[Daniel Pesina]], Carlos' brother, who was legally at odds with Midway), making him the only character exclusive to this version of the game. He kept his moves from ''MKII'' except for the Split Punch, which was excluded since none of the characters from ''MK3''/''UMK3'' had graphics for getting hit in the groin. [[Boss (video gaming)|Bosses]] [[Goro (Mortal Kombat)|Goro]], [[Kintaro (Mortal Kombat character)|Kintaro]], [[Motaro]] and [[Shao Kahn]] are also playable characters from the start (except for the Nintendo 64 version, where only Motaro and Shao Kahn are included and must be unlocked via a cheat menu).<ref name=EGM90>{{cite magazine |title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy: Special Comparison Feature |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=90|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=January 1997|pages=158–161}}</ref> The PC, PlayStation and Saturn versions also contain alternate versions of [[Jax (Mortal Kombat)|Jax]], [[Kung Lao]], [[Kano (Mortal Kombat)|Kano]] and Raiden as they appeared in the first two titles. Unlike in ''Mortal Kombat II'', Raiden, Jax and Baraka in this game did not get proper running animations and just feature a sped-up version of their walk animation when they try to run.
Two new [[secret character (video games)|secret characters]] appear as well, depending on the version of the game. Most versions have [[Chameleon (Mortal Kombat)|Chameleon]], a semi-transparent ninja who rapidly switches between all the other male ninjas (Classic Sub-Zero, Scorpion, [[Noob Saibot]], Human [[Smoke (Mortal Kombat)|Smoke]], [[Rain (Mortal Kombat)|Rain]], [[Reptile (Mortal Kombat)|Reptile]], and [[Ermac]]) during combat, portrayed by John Turk (who also portrayed unmasked Sub-Zero and [[Shang Tsung]]). This character is playable by performing a special button combination. The Nintendo 64 version replaced him with a female character named [[List of Mortal Kombat characters#Khameleon|Khameleon]], who switches between the female ninjas instead (Kitana, Mileena, and Jade), portrayed by Becky Gable.
{{clear left}}
==
{{quote box|width=30%|align=left|quote=When {{sic|we going}} to release ''[[Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3|Ultimate MK3]]'' on consoles, it seemed odd to release it on the [[PlayStation (console)|Playstation]] without doing something "special" for it. Since the PS1 had so much space (CD drive) we decided to include the ''[[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|MK1]]'' and ''[[Mortal Kombat II|MK2]]'' assets and call it ''MK Trilogy''. Actually we were busy working on the arcade games and our San Diego team was doing the ports and ''MK Trilogy''. It sold HUGE !!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/noobde/status/304303449464520704 |title=Twitter / noobde: When we going to release Ultimate |publisher=Twitter.com |date=2013-02-20 |access-date=2014-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/noobde/status/304304234592100352 |title=Twitter / noobde: Since the PS1 had so much space |publisher=Twitter.com |date=2013-02-20 |access-date=2014-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/noobde/status/304306767372890112 |title=Twitter / noobde: Actually we were busy working |publisher=Twitter.com |date=2013-02-20 |access-date=2014-03-19}}</ref>|source=—[[Ed Boon]]|}}
Actors [[Ho Sung Pak]] ([[Liu Kang]]), Philip Ahn ([[Shang Tsung]]), Elizabeth Malecki ([[Sonya Blade]]), Katalin Zamiar ([[Kitana]]/[[Mileena]]/[[Jade (Mortal Kombat)|Jade]]) and [[Daniel Pesina]] ([[Johnny Cage]] and [[Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)|Scorpion]]/[[Sub-Zero (Mortal Kombat)|Sub-Zero]]/[[Reptile (Mortal Kombat)|Reptile]]/[[Smoke (Mortal Kombat)|Smoke]]) all left Midway prior to the production of the game due to [[royalty payment|royalty]] disputes, and so their respective roles were played by new actors. Initially publisher Williams Entertainment stated that Johnny Cage would not be included in the game at all due to the dispute with Pesina.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Williams Prepares for a New Era! |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=85|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=August 1996 |pages=52–55}}</ref> Carlos Pesina's original sprites were used for Raiden's gameplay, but Sal Divita's image was used for his versus screen picture.
Most of the background music tracks from ''MKII'' and ''MK3'' remained intact, especially for the [[CD-ROM]] versions of the game. In all versions of the game, many of the tracks do not match their respective arenas when compared to their original arcade counterparts. In all versions of ''MKT'', none of the music from the original ''Mortal Kombat'' game is used. All of the CD-ROM games read the background music directly from the CD, providing high-quality CD sound, but all of the music loops are used when "Finish Him/Her" appears. All of the music taken from ''MK3'' on the CD-ROM ''MKT'' games is noticeably slowed down in both speed and pitch. When these particular songs were converted to ''MKT''' Red Book [[CD-DA]] quality, they were downsampled without resampling them to maintain the original tempo and pitch in the PC, PlayStation, and Saturn versions.
== Release ==
=== PlayStation ===
This version was developed by [[Avalanche Software]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=96 |publisher=[[International Data Group]] |date=September 1996 |page=41}}</ref> There are at least three public revisions of this game for the PlayStation; the final version is the North American [[Greatest Hits (PlayStation)|Greatest Hits]] and European Platinum edition. With each revision, aspects of the gameplay were refined, producing gameplay closer to that of ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'' for the arcade. Many of the infinite combos and bugs found in the game only existed in earlier revisions.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=MKT Bugs Fixed |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=94|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=May 1997 |page=118|quote=Midway has since - without much fanfare - put out a newer version of MKT for the PS, apparently sans glitches.}}</ref> Shang Tsung never appears anywhere within the "Choose Your Destiny" towers, probably because of the loading delays when morphing in the PlayStation version (there are options to completely turn off morphs or let the system load two additional characters into memory when playing as Shang Tsung, thus eliminating the long loading delays when morphing). The only time the CPU ever controls Tsung is during the attract mode.
After beating the PlayStation version of the game, the final message in the credits says "''[[Mortal Kombat 4|MK4]]'' coming in 1997". This version of the game exhibits a number of bugs when played on a [[PlayStation 2]] or [[PlayStation 3]] console which causes the game to freeze at certain points.
=== Nintendo 64 ===
The [[Nintendo 64]] port is based on the Windows PC and PlayStation versions of ''Mortal Kombat 3'' and the Sega Saturn version of ''Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3'', and was developed by Williams Entertainment's San Diego development division, [[Leland Interactive Media]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Church |first=David |date=2022-01-01 |title=Mortal Kombat: Games of Death |url=https://www.academia.edu/50886107 |journal=Mortal Kombat: Games of Death (Landmark Video Games) |doi=10.3998/mpub.11477677 |isbn=978-0-472-07522-5 }}</ref> This edition includes 3-on-3 simultaneous battles as an exclusive feature.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy: All the Kombat You'll Ever Need |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=88 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=November 1996|pages=246–7}}</ref> In this version, like in the arcade, the player begins the game with four credits, but after playing a two-player match, the player earns an extra credit, while in the CD-ROM versions anyone can play for free. Free Play must be unlocked on the N64 version, which also has a more cohesive "Supreme Demonstration" feature (which shows every Fatality, Babality, Friendship, Animality, and Brutality for every character) than the PS or Saturn versions (as the latter versions needed to load the Fatalities and thus cannot show every one in the allotted time). This version only uses music from ''MK3'' and is of considerably lower quality than the CD versions. However, all ending tunes and music loops used during the "Finish Him/Her" sequences are intact, unlike in the CD-ROM versions. For some MK3/UMK3 backgrounds, the incorrect background track is used compared to one used for arcade UMK3.
Due to cartridge limitations, only 30 characters are included, instead of the 37 featured in the other console versions. The N64 port lacks Goro and Kintaro; the classic versions of Jax, Kung Lao, Kano, and Raiden; as well as the unmasked Sub-Zero (however, the masked Sub-Zero can perform both Sub-Zeros' special moves).<ref name=EGM90/> Chameleon is replaced with the secret character Khameleon, a grey female ninja that randomly switches between Kitana, Mileena and Jade.<ref name=EGM90/> The N64 version of the game, like ''MK3'' and ''UMK3'', provides the player with an "Ultimate Kombat Kode" screen after a single-player game is over, where a 6-digit code can be entered to unlock Human Smoke and Khameleon for normal play.
Like the Saturn version, the font of the lifebars for the male and female ninjas is of a different font (Revue) versus the other characters (italicized Arial). Further, the "new" characters: Noob Saibot, Rain, Baraka, Rayden, Johnny Cage, and Khameleon use italicized Arial, but with greater spacing than the original MK3 characters. Also, the announcer does not speak the character's name once Shang Tsung morphs into them, unlike arcade UMK3, with their name appearing in the lifebar instead of Shang Tsung while morphed.
The N64 game also includes a new stage, the Star Bridge, made of the Pit II's background with a star-filled sky. Some older backgrounds are also enhanced with extra graphics and added animation. For example, the Pit I features two different sky backgrounds (a pitch-black, star-filled sky in the N64 version, and the same sky background as the Pit II in the CD-ROM versions); Kahn's Kave has animated clouds and a glowing floor added to it; and the Lost Bridge has [[List of Mortal Kombat characters|Hornbuckle]] and [[List of Mortal Kombat characters|Blaze]] appear at random in the background. In the N64 version, the Graveyard stage has more names on the gravestones near the front: besides those of the original Midway design team for ''MK3'', names of the team at Williams Entertainment were added, and the date of death on the stones was changed to the creators' birthdates.
In development for the N64 game, both The Bank and Kahn's Arena backgrounds were included, seeming to be building on the UMK3 version made for the Saturn previously. In Kahn's Arena, both Raiden and Baraka (where Kano and Sonya in MK2, respectively) were held captive by Kahn if not actively participating in the fight. The captured animations are made of different frames of the respective character's winning pose. Kahn's Arena recycled The Bridge background music. Since this was only seen in beta versions and not in the final game, the reason for their capture is unknown as well as any impact on the story. Additionally, at the conclusion of the battle, Kahn rises from his seat, something rumored to have been considered for inclusion in MK2 (either after defeating Kintaro or at the end of the match) but ultimately was not.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tcrf.net/Proto:Mortal_Kombat_Trilogy_(Nintendo_64)/May_Build|title = Proto:Mortal Kombat Trilogy (Nintendo 64)/May Build - the Cutting Room Floor}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/w_y64xf9eCk Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20181027183305/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_y64xf9eCk Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_y64xf9eCk| title = N64 Mortal Kombat Trilogy BETA GAMEPLAY! | website=[[YouTube]] | date = 24 October 2018 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hiddenpalace.org/Mortal_Kombat_Trilogy_(May_13,_1996_prototype)|title = Mortal Kombat Trilogy (May 13, 1996 prototype) - Hidden Palace}}</ref>
In this version, there are two secret menus, because not all the playable characters are unlocked from the start. Motaro and Shao Kahn can each perform a Fatality exclusive to this port. They also have an aggressor meter, unlike in other versions.<ref name=EGM90/> In the Subway's stage fatality, new animations were added for the characters. [[Nightwolf]] has a very different Friendship move exclusive to this version, which he pulls out 3 hatchets and begins to juggle, as opposed to turning into Raiden since this character became playable in this game (although in the other versions, Nightwolf retains his original ''MK3'' Friendship move). In addition, many frames of animation were cut from each character.<ref name=EGM90/> Specific examples of this include Sheeva's win stance (it is essentially reduced to her bowing), Jax's win stance is shortened to just flexing instead of bumping his fists together first, Smoke and Sektor simply assume their winning stance instead of crossing their arm on their chest, among others.
==
The [[Sega Saturn]] version, converted by Point of View and released almost a year after the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 versions, is a straight conversion of the PlayStation version without any substantial changes in content. Due to hardware differences, the porting process from the PlayStation had some technical changes, which included the replacement of almost all transparency effects with mesh patterns and the loss of certain voice samples, like most fighters' running yells and some alternative phrases used by characters like Raiden and Scorpion in their attacks.
=== MS-DOS and Windows===
The MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows versions are direct ports from the PlayStation by Point of View and released almost at the same time as the Saturn port. These versions have faster load times than the PlayStation. There are at least two public revisions of the game, the latest of them characterized by the word "final" next to the version number in the about dialog box, and featuring gameplay identical to the Greatest Hits release on PlayStation.
The game was re-released digitally on [[GOG.com]] on 15 August 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy |url=https://www.gog.com/en/game/mortal_kombat_trilogy |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=GOG.com |language=en}}</ref>
=== Game.com ===
The game was a launch release for the [[Game.com]] handheld console. The game includes a multiplayer mode, accessible only with the compete.com game link cable (to link two Game.com consoles together). Only 13 characters (Cyrax, Ermac, Jade, Mileena, Sektor, Kitana, Motaro, Nightwolf, Noob Saibot, [[Raiden (Mortal Kombat)|Raiden]], Rain, Reptile and Shao Kahn) and 10 Kombat Zones remain in this version (screenshots of early releases showed a different assortment of characters). In addition, each character only has two special moves and four finishing moves: one Fatality, Babality, Friendship, and Brutality. In this version, each finishing move has the same command for every character.
== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
| PS = true
| N64 = true
| SSAT = true
| GR_PS = 67%<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197997-mortal-kombat-trilogy/index.html |title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy for PlayStation |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=2012-10-14}}</ref>
| GR_N64 = 52%<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/n64/197996-mortal-kombat-trilogy/index.html |title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy for Nintendo 64 |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=2019-03-21}}</ref>
| EGM_N64 = 8.125/10<ref name=EGM89>{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: MK Trilogy |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=89|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=December 1996 |page=85}}</ref>
| GI_SSAT = 8.75/10<ref name=GISat>{{cite magazine|title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/aug97/mortal.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971021120233/http://www.gameinformer.com/aug97/mortal.html |archive-date=October 21, 1997|date=August 1997 |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Game Informer]]}}</ref>
| GSpot_N64 = 5.8/10<ref name=GS64>{{cite web|first=Jeff|last=Gerstmann|author-link=Jeff Gerstmann|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mortal-kombat-trilogy-review/1900-2544832/ |title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy Review |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=December 4, 1996 |access-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref>
| GSpot_SSAT = 6.0/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/mortal-kombat-trilogy/reviews/mortal-kombat-trilogy-review-2533994/ |title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy Review |website=GameSpot |date=1997-08-31 |access-date=2012-10-14}}</ref>
| GSpot_PS = 8.6/10<ref>{{cite web |first=Hugh|last=Sterbakov|url=http://www.gamespot.com/mortal-kombat-trilogy/reviews/mortal-kombat-trilogy-review-2548427/ |title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy Review |website=GameSpot |date=1996-12-01 |access-date=2012-10-14}}</ref>
| IGN_N64 = 4.1/10<ref name="IGN64r">{{cite web|last=Schneider|first=Peer|title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1996/11/21/mortal-kombat-trilogy-2|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=17 January 2018|date=November 20, 1996}}</ref>
| IGN_PS = 6.0/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/1996/12/20/mortal-kombat-trilogy |title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy - IGN |publisher=Uk.ign.com |date=December 19, 1996 |access-date=2012-10-14}}</ref>
| N64_N64 = 34%<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy | date=April 1997 | issue=1 |pages=84–85 |last=Hawkins |first=Marcus |magazine=N64 Magazine | publisher=Future Publishing}}</ref>
| PO_N64 = 70<ref>{{cite web|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Player+One/playerone_numero078/Player+One+n%25B078+(Septembre+1997)+-+Page+069.jpg|title=Player One 078|website=download.abandonware.org}}</ref>
| SGP_SSAT = 5/5<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/SuperGamePower_Ano_03_No._042_1997-09_Nova_Cultural_BR_pt|title=SuperGamePower - Ano 03 No. 042 (1997-09)(Nova Cultural)(BR)(pt)|date=1 September 1997|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
| SGP_N64 = 4.8/5<ref name="MKTSGP"/>
| rev1 = ''Super Power''
| rev1_N64 = 91%<ref name="SP"/>
| rev2 = ''CD Consoles''
| rev2_PS = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=101&num=7224&album=oui|title=CD Consoles 101|website=www.abandonware-magazines.org}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]''
| rev3_SSAT = 88%<ref name=SSM22>{{cite magazine|last=Yeo |first=Matt |title=Review: Mortal Kombat Trilogy|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|issue=26|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=December 1997|pages=68–71}}</ref>
}}
The game's critical reception has varied considerably, depending on the platform and publication. Brazilian magazine ''SuperGamePower'' gave the Nintendo 64 version 4.8 out of 5, and regarded it as the best Mortal Kombat game.<ref name="MKTSGP">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/SuperGamePower_Ano_03_No._033_1996-12_Nova_Cultural_BR_pt/page/n19/mode/2up|title=SuperGamePower - Ano 03 No. 033 (1996-12)(Nova Cultural)(BR)(pt)|date=1 December 1996|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> French magazine ''Super Power'' gave the N64 game 91%, favoring it over the PlayStation version.<ref name="SP">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s): no by-line.-->|title=Mortal Kombat Trilogy|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Super%20Power/superpower_numero47/SuPow%20n%B047%20-%20Page%20078%20(Et%E91997).jpg|language=fr|magazine=Super Power|page=78|date=c. 1997}}</ref> The four reviewers of ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' all gave the Nintendo 64 version their recommendation, citing the impressive amount of content and absence of load times, though Dan Hsu and Crispin Boyer found the graphics disappointing given the capabilities of the console. Both Boyer and Shawn Smith said the game had converted them to the Mortal Kombat fandom.<ref name=EGM89/> ''[[GamePro]]'' likewise praised the amount of content, as well as the accurate recreation of the arcade games' graphics, the addition of the Aggressor meter, and the application of new mechanics to characters from older games in the series. They complained that the game suffers from some slowdown and muted music, but concluded it "delivers with all the fighters, secrets, and carnage that made the series the phenomenon it is today."<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Major Mike|title=Nintendo 64 ProReview: Mortal Kombat Trilogy|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=99 |publisher=[[International Data Group]]|date=December 1996|pages=106–7}}</ref> [[Jeff Gerstmann]] of ''[[GameSpot]]'' contradicted ''GamePro'', saying that the music is normal for a non-CD game and it is the sound effects (which ''GamePro'' described as "arcade-perfect") that sound muffled. And while he complimented the Nintendo 64 version's large selection of play modes, he said it is conspicuously missing frames of animation from the arcade games, and that the characters left out of this version are "favorites".<ref name=GS64/> Peer Schneider of [[IGN]] contended that ''all'' of the audio aspects sound muffled. He said the Nintendo 64 version is a faithful conversion of the arcade games, though he compared it unfavorably to the PlayStation version. However, he held that the arcade games themselves are too aged to merit an appearance on the Nintendo 64, referring to them as five years old (in actuality, ''Mortal Kombat 3'' was barely a year old at the time, and even the oldest in the series was four years old).<ref name="IGN64r"/> ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy'' was said to be a "particularly horrible game" among the Nintendo 64 library by ''[[Forbes]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Michael |last=Noer |title=Blood on the Snow |url=https://www.forbes.com/1997/09/19/col.html |date=1997-09-19 |magazine=Forbes |access-date=2010-03-13 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123081745/http://www.forbes.com/1997/09/19/col.html |archive-date=2013-01-23 }}</ref> but was honored in [[Nintendo Power Awards]] '96, coming second in the category "Best Tournament Fighting Game".<ref>''[[Nintendo Power]]'' #96 (May 1997)</ref>
Reviewing the PlayStation version, ''GamePro'' criticized the overly difficult opponent AI and the unbalanced nature of the playable boss characters, and said the music tracks "sound like a [[45 record]] played at 33 [[RPM]]." They nonetheless concluded it to be "a must for any fighting gamer's library", due to the responsive controls and large amount of content.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Major Mike|title=PlayStation ProReview: Mortal Kombat Trilogy|magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=100|publisher=[[International Data Group]]|date=January 1997 |page=84}}</ref> Though ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' never reviewed the PlayStation version of ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy'', they ran a four-page feature comparing it to the Nintendo 64 version. Shawn Smith picked the Nintendo 64 version as the one to buy, saying that the major bugs in the PlayStation version outweigh the Nintendo 64 version's various shortcomings. The other three members of the review team all voted for the PlayStation version, particularly citing the additional characters and the lower price ($49.99 as compared to $69.99 for the Nintendo 64 version).<ref name=EGM90/> They later named both versions runner-up for Fighting Game of the Year, behind ''[[Tekken 2]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Best of '96|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=92|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=March 1997|page=88}}</ref>
The Saturn version arrived nearly a year (over a year in some countries) after the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 versions and received comparatively little attention. ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]'' said the long wait for the conversion was baffling (since the game's 2D visuals fall within the Saturn's specialty and no new content had been created for the Saturn version) and damaging (since superior 2D Saturn fighters had since come out and home versions of ''Mortal Kombat 4'' were on the horizon, making ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy'' both graphically and stylistically outdated).<ref name=SSM22/> ''Sega Saturn Magazine'', ''[[Game Informer]]'', and ''GamePro'' all concluded it to be a must-have for ''Mortal Kombat'' fans due to its comprehensive content and features, but advised non-fans to look to other fighting games on the Saturn, and described it as virtually identical to the PlayStation version.<ref name=GISat/><ref name=SSM22/><ref>{{cite magazine |author=Art Angel |title=Saturn ProReview: Mortal Kombat Trilogy|magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=108 |publisher=[[International Data Group]] |date=September 1997|page=98}}</ref> ''GamePro'' printed a warning to "think twice before purchasing this version of MK Trilogy" in a reader response section after they learned that Midway had deliberately omitted the animations for some fatalities in order to ship the game on time.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=The Watch Dog |title=Buyers Beware|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=111|publisher=[[International Data Group]]|date=December 1997|page=26}}</ref>
Released at a time when the Nintendo 64's popularity was burgeoning and there were few competing games for the system, the Nintendo 64 version of ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy'' saw impressive sales figures.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Who Won the Videogame Wars of 1996? |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=28|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=April 1997|pages=16–19}}</ref> According to a later IGN retrospective, ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy'' "offered something no fan could ignore: It brought every character from the series into the fold, along with most of the levels, making for one massive game that had enough to please everyone. Sure, some of the balance went out the window with the massive cast, but it was a small price to pay to make the ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'' family whole again, and it gave fans the closure they needed for [[Midway Games|Midway]] to move on to ''[[Mortal Kombat 4]]''."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://retro.ign.com:80/articles/919/919357p4.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319194829/http://retro.ign.com/articles/919/919357p4.html|archive-date=2011-03-19|title=IGN Presents the History of Mortal Kombat - Retro Feature at IGN|date=2011-03-19|access-date=2018-12-29}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
*{{moby game|id=/mortal-kombat-trilogy}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120626155928/http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/games/mkt/ ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy'' at Mortal Kombat Online]
{{Mortal Kombat
{{Avalanche Software}}
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