Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 is a fighting game in the Mortal Kombat series, released in arcades in 1995. It is an update of Mortal Kombat 3 and was later updated into Mortal Kombat Trilogy. Midway has also announced an online version of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, called Ultra Mortal Kombat 3, for the Xbox Live Arcade on the Xbox 360 due for release sometime in 2006.

Characters and cast

UMK3 has all of the Mortal Kombat 3 fighters plus some of the characters that were left out from Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II:

Jade (Becky Gable)
Kitana (Becky Gable)
Scorpion (John Turk)
Smoke, robot form (Sal Divita). Formerly only accessible via a secret code in MK3, Smoke became a normal playable character in UMK3.
Reptile (John Turk)

The following characters were hidden unlockable characters:

Mileena (Becky Gable) - Unlocked by Ultimate Kombat Kode (2-2-2-6-4-2-2-2-6-4)
Classic Sub-Zero (John Turk) - Unlocked by Ultimate Kombat Kode (8-1-8-3-5-8-1-8-3-5)
Ermac (John Turk) - Unlocked by Ultimate Kombat Kode (1-2-3-4-4-4-4-3-2-1), he was rumored to be a glitched red ninja from the original Mortal Kombat game. He is now a new playable character.
Human Smoke (John Turk) - Unlocked by holding Back + HP + HK + BLOCK + RUN after choosing Robot Smoke. He is an improved clone of Scorpion, due to having a faster walking speed and a popup combo that starts with a low hit.

Hidden opponents:

Noob Saibot (John Turk) - Although he was featured in the original MK3, he is no longer the palette swap of Kano but once again of a ninja. Like before, he is fought via Kombat Kode. Some machines known as Wavenet machines which were mostly placed throughout the Chicago area had a hidden code to play as Noob Saibot.
Rain (John Turk) - Featured in the games opening montage, he is a fake hidden character that is not found in this game. He was obviously intended as a means of generating interest in the game and to keep quarters flowing into the machine as die-hard fans tried to find or unlock him. In the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and Super Nintendo version he was, however, playable. He also becomes playable in Mortal Kombat Trilogy. A clue to his identity is presented in the fact that the font used in his name is different from all the other characters.

New to UMK3

Other mentionable changes

New 2-on-2 kombat mode (similar to an Endurance match but with humans on both sides).
New 8 player tournament kombat.
"Chain combos", commonly called "dial-a-combos", can now be started by using a jump punch or a hop kick.
Stryker now has a "rapid fire gun" special move added to his arsenal. His grenades have been given a delay which greatly tones down his ability to bombard foes.
Kano now has a diagonal cannonball among his special moves.
Liu Kang and Sonya have new knock-up dial-a-combos.
On stages where the opponent can be knocked to the stage above it, knock-up dial-a-combos will no longer do this. Only regular uppercuts allow this to happen.
A "toned down" Kabal, whose combos do less damage. Also, Kabal cannot perform his ground saw move after a spin. This makes little difference though as any moves performed on someone after the ground saw can be blocked.
A "toned down" Sub-Zero, who can no longer create an ice clone next to the opponent to freeze him on the spot. If he tries, the statue will not form.
Cyrax's air throw adds to the "combo meter."
Sheeva's ground throw activates damage protection.
Performing Liu Kang's bicycle kick special drains the run meter.
Jax's projectiles have a longer recovery time.
Sonya's MK3 Friendship, which had her waving her arms back-and-forth in a silly manner, is removed. Now she simply does her victory pose and a row of flowers grow out of the ground.
Sonya's leg grab move adds to the "combo meter" and does reduced damaged after 3 comboed hits.
Performing a roundhouse when your opponent is in the corner pushes your character out of the corner.
Robot Smoke's spear is disabled after 4 comboed hits. Also worth noting, the spear actually comes out of the compartment on his chest, where in MK3 it was actually summoned from behind him.
When Shang Tsung juggles an opponent with his fireball, there is now a minimum of two other hits needed before another fireball can be performed.
Improved CPU opponent AI.
Shao Kahn's Lost Treasures are added to when you beat the game.
The "Select Your Fighter" screen no longer states which Kombat Zone is going to be used during the match.
The original red portal background used for the "Choose Your Destiny" screen is now replaced with a blue portal.
The character endings are only accompanied by text and your character's versus screen picture.
The spelling mistake in Sindel's ending is corrected.
The same applies to the character bios during the attract mode. However, the only bios featured are for Kitana, Jade, Scorpion, and Reptile; the ninja characters who weren't featured in the original MK3 and don't have to be unlocked via Ultimate Kombat Kode in this game. The full body artwork from MK3 of each character is completely removed and only features these four ninjas in their verses screen pictures plus text on a background of the battleplan/portal. This "cheap solution" for the characters to save space on artwork is also used in Mortal Kombat Trilogy, although there are bios for most of the characters in that game.
The storyline pictures and accompanying text have been removed (beginning with "These are the words of Raiden" and explaining the plan to conquer Earth and the Tournament warriors' struggle).
An extra "Master" difficulty is added to the "Choose Your Destiny" screen.
"Endurance Matches" return since last being featured in the first Mortal Kombat. Some matches have you face as many as three opponents in a given round.
When Shang Tsung morphs, the name of the character he transforms into is now announced.
During the game's end credits, when Dan Forden's image is shown, the "Toasty!" sound is now played.

Kombat zones

Including all of the original backgrounds from the Mortal Kombat 3, minus The Bank (which was removed), UMK3 includes several new backgrounds:

Scorpion's Lair (Hell): This stage also contains a new pit fatality, where the opponent is uppercutted into a river of lava.
Jade's Desert
- In a reference to his MK3 ending, Cyrax is seen stuck waist-deep in sand in the background.
Kahn's Kave
River Kombat
Scislac Busorez (Blue Portal): A combination of the background from the UMK3 "Choose Your Destiny" screen, The Pit 3 bridge, and the mountains and bridge from The Pit II in MKII.
- This stage is added to the permanent level cycle when Mileena, Classic Sub-Zero, and Ermac are unlocked.
- When unscrambled, "Scislac Busorez" spells out "Classic Sub-Zero."
Noob's Dorfen: An obvious knock-off of The Balcony stage, can now be played using a Kombat Kode unlike having to fight Noob to see it like in MK3.
Smoke's Portal (Hidden Portal) - A combination of the background screen and the Pit 3 bridge, this stage is only accessible when the player is fighting CPU Smoke via Kombat Kode.

Layers

The following displays the Kombat Zones where a character can be uppercutted into different backgrounds.

The Subway → The Street
The Soul Chamber → The Balcony
Scorpion's Lair → Kahn's Kave

Storyline

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 is assumed to be the same as the Mortal Kombat 3 story, except with more added characters. Mortal Kombat Trilogy later overrides the UMK3 story.

Character bios and endings

Note: This only pertains to new bios/endings not found in the original Mortal Kombat 3.

Unlike the original MK3, UMK3 did not feature graphics illustrating the character's endings, instead superimposing their "versus" image on top of a background showing a portal. Also, the only bios that were featured in the original arcade version of UMK3 were for Kitana, Jade, Reptile and Scorpion. The console ports included the rest of the character bios not featured in the arcade game.

Classic Sub-Zero

Bio: Thought to have been vanquished in the Shaolin Tournament, Sub-Zero mysteriously returns. It's believed this secretive member of the Lin Kuei, a legendary clan of Chinese "ninjas", has returned to again attempt an assassination of Shang Tsung. To do so, he must fight his way through Shao Kahn's tournament.

Ending: Having been killed in the first tournament, Sub-Zero somehow seems to have emerged to win the third tournament. However, upon removing his mask both the Outworld and the Earth-born warriors...

Are shocked to discover the true identity of this warrior. A warrior who has long been missing from a previous Mortal Kombat, and one who will return in the fourth tournament.

Ermac

Bio: An enigma to all who come into contact with him. Ermac's past remains shrouded in mystery. It's believed that he exists as a life force brought together by the souls of extinguished Outworld warriors. Shao Kahn has managed to take possession of these souls and use them to fight on the side of tyranny.

Ending: Having been in hiding since the first Mortal kombat, neither the Earth nor the Outworld has recognized this elusive ninja. Ermac uses his victory in the tournament to prove his existence...

As well as a warning that he will return as an unstoppable force in the fourth Mortal Kombat.

Jade

Bio: When the renegade Princess Kitana makes her escape into the unknown regions of Earth, Jade is appointed by Shao Kahn to bring his daughter back alive. Once a close friend of the Princess, Jade is faced with the task of betraying her friend or disobeying her Emperor.

Ending: Jade makes the decision to assist her longtime friend, Kitana. She thwarts an assassination attempt by Reptile against the princess and fends off their other Outworld enemies.

This clears the path for Kitana to turn Sindel against the Emperor Shao Kahn. With Sindel removed as an enemy Jade finds herself facing the Emperor in Kombat.

She defeats him and both Earth and her former homeland of Edenia are transformed to their original states. Jade has earned herself a place alongside the great heroes of Mortal Kombat.

Kitana

Bio: Kitana is accused of treason by the High Courts of the Outworld after murdering her evil twin Mileena. Shao Kahn takes it upon himself to appoint a group of warriors specifically to catch his daughter and bring her back alive. But Kitana must find a way to reach the newly crowned Queen Sindel first and warn her of their true past.

Ending: Kitana evades the evil clutches of Shao Kahn and escapes into the unknown regions of Earth. She survives an assassination attempt by the vile creature Reptile, and allies herself with her onetime comrade - Jade.

Together with the help of Earth's Warriors, Kitana reaches Sindel and turns the Queen against her Emperor. With Shao Kahn defeated the Earth is changed back to its original state, as is Kitana's realm of Edenia.

She will be forever in debt to her friends from Earth as she rules the new realm of Edenia at Queen Sindel's side.

Mileena

Bio: Murdered by her twin sister Kitana, Mileena finds herself brought back to life by Shao Kahn himself. Her skills as a vicious fighter will be needed to defeat Earth's chosen warriors. Her ability to read the thoughts of her twin sister will enable Kahn to stay one step ahead.

Ending: Winning the third tournament enables Mileena to reclaim her role as the Outworld Queen. With the help of Baraka she then takes both Sindel and her daughter Kitana hostage.

Together they threaten Shao Kahn with their lives unless he lures the Earth-born warriors into a fourth Mortal Kombat where Baraka can return regain his title as the Ultimate Mortal Kombat Champion

Reptile

Bio: Always a reliable servant to Shao Kahn, Reptile is chosen to assist Jade in the capture of Kitana. In contrast to Jade's instructions, Reptile is ordered to stop the renegade Princess at all costs... Even if it means her death.

Ending: Reptile is ordered by Shao Kahn to find and kill Kitana. He is successful in completing his task, but upon returning, finds himself shunned by the Emperor.

Shao Kahn promised Reptile that if he was successful that he would resurrect Reptile's race. Shao Kahn never had any intentions of fulfilling his promise.

Enraged, Reptile turns against his master and defeats him in battle but by killing his master, Reptile destroys the one chance to ever know his true race.

Scorpion

Bio: When Shao Kahn makes a failed attempt at stealing the souls which occupy Earth's hell, Scorpion is able to escape from the nether region. Free to roam the Earth once more, Scorpion holds allegiance with no one. He's a wild card in Earth's struggle against the Outworld.

Ending: Scorpion is inadvertently released from his damnation in hell when Kahn's Plan to overtake that realm goes awry. Free to roam Earth, Scorpion is enlisted by the Emperor to aid him in his quest to destroy the chosen warriors.

But, his allegiance to Shao Kahn falters when he discovers one of the chosen warriors to be Sub-Zero. Scorpion has vowed to protect the former ninja as restitution for killing his brother.

Shao Kahn finds himself the victim of his own scheme as Scorpion is forced to turn against him, he destroys the Emperor and the Earth is returned to normal.

Scorpion finds himself once again roaming the pits of Hell, only to one day rise again.

Smoke

Human Smoke bio: In his human form, Smoke was a lethal assassin working for the Lin Kuei. But when they decided to automate their ninjas, Smoke is caught in the middle. He became a cyborg assassin, whose human form would exist as a memory forever more.

Human Smoke ending: Winning the tournament enables Smoke to escape his artificial body. He then devotes his life to study the fighting skills of his counter part ninjas: Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Reptile. Without warning, Smoke once again vanishes...

He retreats into the hidden forest to continue his study, and will remain there until he has perfected the skills of the remaining ninjas and can compete in Mortal Kombat 4.

Arcade vs. consoles

Like most Mortal Kombat games of its time, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 made its debut in the arcade. When it was ported to home consoles, it underwent several changes.

Sega Saturn changes

"The Bank" stage is back.
There are a few new Kombat Kodes, and a couple from the arcade do not work here.
The Ultimate Kombat Kodes (to unlock the secret characters) have six slots instead of ten (probably in order to be performed with only one control).
Alternatively, the secret characters can be unlocked via a secret options screen, which is faster than entering all three UKKs one by one (since the characters unlock cannot be saved).
Noob Saibot is a shadow Kano as in Mortal Kombat 3, not a black ninja as in the arcade version of UMK3.
Since the arcade intro is missing, Rain does not appear in the game, yet the message kombat kode "Rain can be found in the Graveyard" is still there.
Shang Tsung can morph into Robot Smoke, which is not possible in the arcades.

SNES changes

Animalities removed.
Sonya's Friendship from Mortal Kombat 3 is used as opposed to her Friendship from the arcade version of UMK3.
Brutalities are introduced, a new form of Fatality which allows the player to attack their opponent with a series of kicks and punches which result in the victim exploding, leaving a somewhat unrealistic amount of bones on the ground.
Shao Kahn's treasure chest has only 10 boxes instead of 12.
Ermac's Fatality is altered.
Scorpion's Hellraiser fatality is different. He just takes the opponent back into the Hell stage where they just catch on fire and explode.
Sheeva has been removed.
Kitana's kiss of death only inflates heads..same effect as Kabal's air pump fatality.
Rain and Noob Saibot are playable. Mileena, Ermac and Classic Sub-Zero are playable without any need of codes.
Motaro and Shao Kahn are unlockable characters for two player fights, although only one player can choose a boss.
Announcer no longer announces the characters names.
Most of the MK3 levels are missing.

Mega Drive/Genesis changes

Animalities and Mercies removed.
Sonya's Friendship from Mortal Kombat 3 is used as opposed to her Friendship from the arcade version of UMK3.
Brutalities introduced, a new form of Fatality which allows the player to attack their opponent with a series of kicks and punches which result in the victim exploding.
Shao Kahn's treasure chest has only 10 boxes instead of 12.
Scorpion's Hellraiser fatality is different. He just takes the opponent back into the Hell stage where they just catch on fire and explode
Sheeva has been removed.
Kitana's kiss of death only inflates heads..same effect as Kabal's air pump fatality.
Rain and Noob Saibot are playable. Mileena, Ermac and Classic Sub-Zero are playable without any need of codes.
Motaro and Shao Kahn are unlockable characters for two player fights, although only one player can choose a boss. In addition, only one boss can be unlocked at any given time.
Shang Tsung can morph into Robot Smoke, which is not possible in the arcades. He can also morph into Noob Saibot and Rain.
Announcer no longer announces the characters names.
Most of the MK3 levels are missing which include the Balcony and Street so uppercutting in the Subway and Soul Chamber does not take you to level above.

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Wave Net

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Wave Net was a rare network version of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. It was only tested in the Chicago and San Francisco areas and many people do not know about it. No one seems to have the ROMs. One outlet that stocked it still had the jack for. There was extra stuff in the game that you could use even in local play. It ran over a T1 line that was directly connected back to Midway HQ in Chicago.

You would be better off playing vanilla MK3 via a MAME networking kit like Kaillera. The T1 line was one of the reasons WAVENet didn't really take off. This was long before the age of cablemodems and DSL. T1 was the only guaranteed way to get broadband into an arcade.

Times have changed, but it still is kind of hard to get net service in a lot of places. The internet jukeboxes are starting to drive the adoptance of broadband, which is a good sign.

The game didn't use much of the T1. Midway picked up the cost of the line during the tests. You can get a T1 installed anywhere you want, as long as you pay what Ameritech wants. It's just a dedicated copper pair that's specially installed at the telco.

WAVENet was never publicly released. It's highly unlikely any of those test games were ever sold to the public after WAVENet was dismantled so it's unlikely the ROMs are out there.

There were also a few minor differences such as playable Noob Saibot.

Game Play

After you coined the game and started it you had a choice of vs. cpu or wavenet If you picked wave net it started to look for an open player. If it did not find one after 30 seconds, you started vs. cpu while it was still looking. Once I was playing against someone over wavenet, and I got resigned by Shao Kahn. Then, the game started to look for a new player.

Play as Noob Saibot (note : this can only be enabled on WaveNet machines) : Play against a human opponent. Select Kano then hold Back+LP+LK+HP+BL until the match begins.

Trivia

Unlike the rest of the characters, Jade doesn't have a pit fatality combination.
Sheeva was removed from Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for the SNES. However, only her graphics were removed, not her character itself. If the player uses the code to play in the 8 on 8 tournament mode and chooses "random select" for all characters, a question mark is displayed, instead of a character portrait. When this happens, the player will have access to an invisible Sheeva that is incredibly fast and very glitchy, complete with fatalities.
It is often mistaken to be a exclusive for the PlayStation platform.

External links

Incredibly In-depth Strategy Guides for Each Character at UltimateMK
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Comprehensive Strategy Guide at Kamidogu
Some information from someone who was working at WMS at the time.
http://unmamed.mame.net/non_midway.html
http://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=3018

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