Mortal Kombat 3

Mortal Kombat 3 for Sega Game Gear is the European handheld version of Midway's 1995 fighting game, developed for the system by Software Creations and published by Acclaim Entertainment. It adapts the third main Mortal Kombat game's invasion-of-Earthrealm premise for Sega's color portable hardware. Shao Kahn has crossed into Earthrealm after the resurrection of Queen Sindel, and the surviving fighters must battle through his forces before confronting the emperor himself.

This Game Gear release is a head-to-head 2D fighting game built around rounds of direct combat. Players choose from a compact roster that includes Sindel, Sektor, Kabal, Sheeva, Sub-Zero, Kano, Sonya and Cyrax, then fight a sequence of computer-controlled opponents in the single-player towers or face another player. Each combatant has a different selection of special attacks, such as projectiles, rushes, throws, teleports and character-specific moves, so success depends on spacing, timing and learning the commands available to a chosen fighter.

Software Creations reworked Mortal Kombat 3's controls for the Game Gear's limited inputs. The directional pad handles movement, jumps and crouches; the A and B buttons perform punches and kicks; and Start is used to block. Running is still possible by tapping forward and then holding it, giving the portable version a way to close distance quickly. Basic attacks can be combined with directional inputs for moves such as uppercuts, sweeps, roundhouse kicks and throws, while longer input sequences activate each character's special techniques.

The conversion retains familiar Mortal Kombat features in a scaled-down form, including finishing opportunities after a winning round and a selection of arenas such as the Bell Tower, Bridge, Pit, Temple and Subway. Its character selection is substantially smaller than the arcade game's lineup, but the Game Gear version adds hidden encounters and options through pre-match Kombat Kodes. These symbol codes can alter match conditions, unlock fights with Smoke or Noob Saibot, and even allow a player to use Shao Kahn in certain matches.

Mortal Kombat 3 Game Gear is notably distinct from the larger home and arcade editions rather than being a complete replica of them. It was released in Europe rather than North America, uses color graphics on the handheld screen, and omits the blood and gore associated with many other Mortal Kombat releases. The same adaptation was also closely related to the Master System version, while that Brazilian release had differences of its own. For Game Gear players, this edition presents the series' third tournament-era conflict as a portable, pared-back fighting game with recognizable characters, special moves and competitive one-on-one battles.