Mortal Kombat 4

Mortal Kombat 4 is a 1997 fighting game developed and published by Midway for arcades. It is the fourth main installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise, and a sequel to 1995's Mortal Kombat 3. It is also the first title in the series to use 3D computer graphics, as well as the last in the series to have an arcade release. The game was ported to the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Microsoft Windows, and Game Boy Color in 1998, followed by an updated version, titled Mortal Kombat Gold, for the Dreamcast in 1999.

The gameplay system in Mortal Kombat 4 is similar to that of the previous games; one of the most notable additions is the use of weapons and objects during fights. The storyline chronicles the attack from the corrupted Elder God Shinnok against his former comrades who trapped him in the Netherealm many years prior to the beginning of the series. The other 17 playable characters take part in the battle between good and evil, with the forces of light trying to stop Shinnok and the forces of darkness from conquering all the realms.

While developing the game, the Midway staff had problems rendering the graphics as it was one of the first 3D fighting games they developed. Co-creator Ed Boon stated that the staff wanted to make Mortal Kombat 4 more violent than its predecessors, removing the comical finishing moves featured in them. Since its release, the game received generally positive response from critics, with the exception of the Game Boy Color port.