9 Best Stages In Mortal Kombat, Ranked
These Mortal Kombat sets are not just cool to look at. Some of them changed the way fighting games are played as a whole.
In fighting games, many players don’t pay much attention to the stages, which are just there to set the scene for the action. But there’s no denying that some fighting game brands have made memorable fight arenas that stand out for their design, atmosphere, and music. In the Mortal Kombat series, this is especially true. It has a deep story and a lot of different places where players can fight. In many stages, characters can also interact with their surroundings. This really brings the field to life.
Since the days when Mortal Kombat was in arcades, the stages have been one of the things that set it apart from other games, along with its violent gameplay and Fatalities. The story of this popular series was always hinted at in these stages. There are a few stages that longtime fans agree are much more popular than the others.
Warrior Shrine
The only stage from the original Mortal Kombat that didn’t come back in Mortal Kombat (2011) was the Warrior Shrine.For anyone who played the first game, the figures of Goro, Kano, Scorpion, and the other powerful fighters showing off their skills are instantly recognizable.
In the history of Mortal Kombat, this stage is very important. It was shown that it was where Liu Kang and Shang Tsung fought their last fight, which can be seen in the beginning of Mortal Kombat II. Liu Kang does his famous flying kick while zipping past all the statues at the back of the stage.
Acid Bath
Mortal Kombat 4 tried a little bit of 3D gaming, but Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance went all the way with it. It let players side-step around each stage, which made it possible to make a lot of different settings.
The Acid Bath was the most famous stage in the game, and it really tested how well players could move around in 3D space. This small circular stage was in the middle of a pool of bubbling acid, which made it feel like a real fight to the death. There were also four Acid Buddhas all over the stage. If a player got too close to them, they would hurt them, making each fight much more strategic.
Living Forest
People say that the creepy Living Forest is full of trees that have minds and will eat anyone who wanders into their territory. Even though the stage has been used in other games in the series, its design in Mortal Kombat II is especially scary.
Jade and Smoke will poke their heads out of the trees every once in a while, which makes the area even more spooky. Back when the games were only on arcade machines, there were even tales of a secret stage death where trees would eat a defeated opponent. NetherRealm actually added this to later games.
Kove
Kove was one of the first stages that players could see before Mortal Kombat X came out. Fans were blown away by how beautiful it looked and how many things players could connect with.
The huge cave in the shape of a skull and the crashing waves in front of it are a stunning sight. There were also a lot of barrels and even people in the water that players could use to throw at their opponents. Kove was one of the most famous stages in Mortal Kombat X. It showed how far fighting games have come in terms of graphics since they were first made.
Evil Monastery
Mortal Kombat II is the first time we see the gothic-styled Evil Monastery. But it wasn’t until Mortal Kombat (2011) that the developers were able to make this iconic place in the series feel as dangerous as they had always said it would.
The day and night cycle changes on the stage, and there are creepy Shadow Priests in the background and robed ghosts with swords. All of these things make this stage fun to look at, let alone fight on. This doesn’t even include the intense music that will get both players pumped up for the fight once it starts.
The Dead Woods
The Dead Woods is a snowy forest that has been left to die after a bloody fight. It is one of the most famous stages in Mortal Kombat X. Its past is clear from how many dead bodies are still there.
This feeling of being alone is a nice contrast to many other stages, which are usually where most of the action is happening. Instead, The Dead Woods puts two opponents against each other in a deserted arena. There, they can fight as much as they want without anyone getting in the way. The Dead Woods was the stage shown in the now-iconic dramatic reveal trailer for Tunnel Rush, so it has become a symbol for the game in many ways.
Portal
Portal has been in a lot of games in the series. In Mortal Kombat 11, it was even one of the Retrocade venues. But its look in Mortal Kombat II is still one of the most unique in the series’ past.
The portal in the middle of the stage is in the mountains of Outworld. As thunder crashes around it, it stays still. Shadow Guards stand on each side to protect this mystery being wherever it goes. In the Sega Genesis versions of Mortal Kombat II, there is a version of Portal with a different color scheme. When the secret characters Jade, Smoke, and Noob Saibot are fought, the stage goes blue.
The Pit
There have been many different versions of The Pit in different games. The first one from the first Mortal Kombat game is famous because it showed what kind of game it was. It showed how much bloodier and more intense it was than the other arcade fights.
Shang Tsung’s Island is where the Pit is. It is a bridge that is hanging above a bed of spikes that has killed many fighters in the past. Even though there is a lot of killing on this stage, the dark blue sky and dark moon almost make it feel peaceful. This stage is one of the best in the series, and longtime fans will know it well.
Dead Pool
Dead Pool might have been the first stage in Mortal Kombat that felt like it was really a part of the fight. Part of the reason for this was the horrible Stage Fatality in Mortal Kombat II, where a defeated opponent could be uppercut into a pool of acid and only their skeleton would rise to the top.
Dead Pool was the first game to have stages with exchanges that players can use to get ahead. In addition to the Stage Fatality, Dead Pool had a unique look. Many people made up stories about this strange place because it had a torture room full of dead bodies. Since Mortal Kombat II, Dead Pool has been in almost every game. This shows how popular it is with fans and how much it has influenced the way the games have gone.
