Mortal Kombat 4 is the fourth main installment of the Mortal Kombat series, developed by Midway Games. Released in 1997, Mortal Kombat 4 is the first title in the series to use 3D computer graphics and is also the last game in the series. Eurocom (which had previously developed the Sega Saturn version of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3) later released it for PlayStation, Nintendo 64, PC, and Game Boy Color in 1998. The following year, an updated version called Mortal Kombat Gold was released exclusively for Dreamcast. The gameplay of Mortal Kombat 4 is similar to that of previous games; one of the most notable additions is the use of weapons and objects during fights. The story follows the corrupted Elder God Shinnok as he attacks his former allies who imprisoned him in the Netherrealm years before the series began. The other 17 playable characters participate in the battle between good and evil, as the forces of light try to prevent Shinnok and the forces of darkness from conquering all realms. While developing the game, Midway’s staff experienced difficulties with the graphics because it was one of their first 3D fighting games. Co-producer Ed Boon stated that the staff wanted to make Mortal Kombat 4 more violent than its predecessors and to remove the humorous finishing moves it contained. Since its release, the game has generally received positive responses from critics, except for the Game Boy Color port.
