Mortal Kombat Advance (GBA)

Introduction to Mortal Kombat Advance (GBA)

I still remember unwrapping that little cartridge and diving straight into the chaos of Mortal Kombat Advance. It felt strange to see familiar fighters squashed down to fit a smaller screen, but somehow it worked. The menus were crisp, the intros snappy, and there was this thrill in dragging Scorpion through the rounds with his classic spear move, even if it didn’t look quite as slick as on bigger setups.

The roster might’ve been trimmed compared to the arcade lineup, but you still got staples like Sub-Zero, Sonya, Liu Kang, and the ever-annoying Kano. A couple of secret characters lurked behind a few victories, and unlocking them added an addictive hook. Special moves became a bit more forgiving, too—you didn’t need to pull off quarter-circle motions with the same precision, which made pulling off spinnies and projectiles mid-match feel oddly satisfying.

Graphically, the game was a mixed bag. Sprites were detailed enough to read each character’s outfit, but the backgrounds were flat and repetitive after a few fights. The sound effects did their job, though; every punch landed with a solid thwack, and you could almost hear those pop-up exclamations when someone got knocked into a Fatality pose—even if that move was simplified into a basic button-tap finish.

All things considered, it wasn’t the deepest Mortal Kombat experience you’d ever have, but there was something comforting about taking its brand of block-and-punch action with you wherever you went. It scratches a nostalgic itch, especially if you appreciate a stripped-down, on-the-go remix of that classic fighter.