AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
OK, so we're leaving the oh-so-delightful world of children's books behind because it's time for...
(SOUNDBITE OF GAME, "MORTAL KOMBAT")
KYLE WYATT: "Mortal Kombat."
RASCOE: That's right. "Mortal Kombat." You got to say it like that.
(SOUNDBITES OF GAME, "MORTAL KOMBAT 11")
MATTHEW YANG KING: (As Liu Kang) I'm Liu Kang. It is an honor to duel with you.
RICHARD EPCAR: (As Raiden) Is it possible that the past and future are colliding?
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "MORTAL KOMBAT")
CARY-HIROYUKI TAGAWA: (As Shang Tsung) It has begun.
RASCOE: The iconic fighting video game turns 30 this weekend. The original was released in arcades with an old-school joystick to use for kicks and blocks. I played the at-home version of it back in the day. Those finishing moves were intense.
(SOUNDBITE OF GAME, "MORTAL KOMBAT")
STEVE RITCHIE: Finish him. Scorpion win. Flawless victory. Fatality.
RASCOE: As for the plot, it started with seven warriors fighting in a tournament to protect their realm. Let's just say it's complicated, but that doesn't really matter. There was Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, Scorpion, Sub-Zero.
(SOUNDBITE OF GAME, "MORTAL KOMBAT 11")
STEVE BLUM: (As Sub-Zero) I'm not so cold as to mock your pain.
RASCOE: "Mortal Kombat" is known for over-the-top gore, and it isn't without controversy. It had a starring role back in 1993 in U.S. Senate hearings urging formal content ratings for video games, just like movies. All these years later, though, Mortal Kombat lives on, movies, comic books and sequel after sequel of that legendary video game.
(SOUNDBITE OF GAME, "MORTAL KOMBAT")
WYATT: "Mortal Kombat." Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
