Mortal Kombat Footage Shows How The First Game Was Animated

The new clip of the recording session is currently being spread on Twitter and Reddit. The video is soundless showing off the actors doing the now iconic moveset from Mortal Kombat. It is only 24 seconds in length but it fits in nine snippets from the recording session. The real gems of the clip are Scoripion filming his reaction to Johnny Cage’s famous low blow and Kano’s actor falling off the set of stairs used for the air kick.

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This recent footage is not itself new however, with these leaks of the original Mortal Kombat recording session being out in the wild for some years. YouTube channel NeoGamer has been uploading the original capture sessions since 2018. The user has uploaded the behind the scenes videos of the original Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2, Mortal Kombat 3 and even the most recent entry with Mortal Kombat 11. The footage currently making the rounds on Twitter is a recut based on NeoGamer’s uploaded compilations. Unfortunately, NeoGamer’s footage of Mortal Kombat 2 does not feature any footage of “Friendships” being filmed, a popular mechanic making its return in Mortal Kombat 11.

Mortal Kombat is one of the most famous games to use digitized actors. Essentially, actors are filmed in costume performing the moves that will be done in game. Once filmed, the actual recordings are then used in the game for a more realistic aesthetic instead of opting for sprites as contemporary fighters did at the time. While it wasn’t a uniquely Mortal Kombat style with FMV being the rage of the 90s, Midway’s gory fighting game is still considered the best utilization of digital actors.

While it is charming to look back at the origins of Mortal Kombat nearing 30 years in age, the most recent entry in the franchise is taking its steps forwards with game’s story. Mortal Kombat 11 will be getting a new expansion with the “Aftermath” DLC. Coming in at $39.99, the DLC will feature three new fighters including the new guest character of RoboCop and a new story mode.

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath will launch on May 26, for PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.

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Source: NeoGamer - The Video Game Archive / YouTube