Mortal Kombat 3

Mortal Kombat 3 is one of those games that dares you to think you’ve mastered it, right before it uppercuts you into the next dimension.

It’s a 2D fighter that builds on the first two Mortal Kombat games by throwing in new mechanics like chain combos, running attacks, multi-tiered arenas, and the absurdly fun animalities and mercies. There’s something deeply satisfying about turning into a beast and tearing your opponent apart… after giving them a sliver of health just to do it.

The character roster is stacked. Series staples like Liu Kang, Scorpion, and Sub-Zero return alongside newcomers like Kabal, Sindel, Stryker, and a pair of cyborg ninjas. There are even secret characters like Mileena and Ermac waiting to be unlocked. With so many fighters, there’s real incentive to learn different playstyles, and with enough practice, you’ll start pulling off 7+ hit combos like it’s second nature.

And you’ll need them. The single-player AI in MK3 is notoriously punishing. One round, you’re sweeping through opponents like a champ. The next, the computer reads every input before you press it. Fighting Motaro and Shao Kahn is borderline masochistic. It’s the kind of “cheap” that feels designed to eat quarters, and your patience.

But then you jump into multiplayer, and it all clicks. Whether on a couch or online, facing a human opponent turns MK3 into the skill-based, ultra-fast fighter it was meant to be. There’s no rubber-band AI here, just brutal, brilliant brawling.

The Xbox 360 Arcade version keeps the visuals and audio true to the arcade original, but skips some modern comforts. No practice mode, no move list, and the D-pad is a nightmare for precision inputs. Lag online is minimal, but it does stutter now and then. Honestly, if you’re serious about this one, hunt down a good controller, or better yet, an arcade stick.

Despite its flaws, MK3 remains one of the most fun and over-the-top fighting games ever made. The ridiculous finishers, the deep (and silly) lore, and the endless secrets make it endlessly replayable. It may not be the most balanced or fair fighter, but it’s one of the most memorable.

If you’re okay with a little pain, there’s a lot of joy in this chaos.