Publisher: Midway
Developer: Sculptured Software
Size: 32 Megs
No. of players: 2(simultaneously)
Official Ad: Yes
Got it for: $44.95, new, the day BEFORE it came out at the store.
The third attempt of Shao Kahn to overthrow the Earthrealm. A handful of warriors have had their souls spared by Rayden and are set out to stop Shao Kahn's minions and his final attempt at taking Earthrealm. Well...kinda his last attempt, after this UMK3 alters the story a bit, then MKT comes through and alters it a bit more...and well, it's the same story, just modified a lot...I guess. Who knows, who cares, it's MK! Well, I say that, but I really do enjoy MK's storyline. For those of you who are also into it, I would like to point you to Gavok's Mortal Kombat Plot Canon Guide for a really well done overview of the entire MK story.

What's it all about?
It's MK, you either love it or hate it. Here in the third game a "run" button has been added as well a shitload of pre-rendered "dial" combos that makes gameplay a LOT faster than in the previous two games. Starting off with your choice of fourteen warriors, there are ways to acquire three more(though two of them really suck) and codes that can be entered(via the vs. screen) that allow for various effects during the match. Also, here we get to see the extreme quality of what Sculptured Software could attain with the Genesis, as Midway has ditched the shit-house production team at Probe.
Graphics - Though the heavy dithering gives a lot of the levels a seriously grainy look, SS did a great job toning all(barring the missing Graveyard) of the backgrounds down while still retaining an amazing level of detail. The characters are seriously well animated, and really colorful, without a lot of heavy dithering being apparent.
Sound - SS did an amazingly job re-creating Dan Forden's badass soundtrack on the Genesis. The voice samples are still a little scratchy, but really not that bad at all, and really impressive for the Genesis' sound chip.
Control - Smooth as fuck. Responsive like nothing you've experienced, except maybe for the two SF games on the Genesis, and every bit as good.
AI - Here's the real downfall of the MK series in general, not just this specific version on the Genesis. The AI is cheap as all fucking hell...though not nearly as impossible as it is in future versions(UMK3, MKT).
Replay value - Damn high. It's an arcade fighter, and an MK game on top of that. What more do you need!?

Tips for better gaming experiences:
I have a few codes I like to use everytime I play, try them out sometime.

At the Title Screen(where you can select Start or Options), enter the following codes(all three can be entered in a row).

1. Cheats: A, C, Up, B, Up, B, A, Down
This will open up a new menu called "Cheats" where you have access to the following:
* Soundtest - Listen to all the sound effects and music from the game
* Continues - Select up to 95 continues to use
* Bio Screens - View all character's bio screens

2. Secrets: B, A, Down, Left, A, Down, C, Right, Up, Down
* Timer - Goes from Off to Very Fast
* Win Screens - View all character's endings
* Kombat Zone - Select you starting Kombat Zone

3. Killer Kodes: C, Right, A, Left, A, Up, C, Right, A, Left, A, Up
* Quick End - Select which ending move you would like your character to perform
* Enable Smoke - Turn Smoke on or off
* Enable Bosses - Turn Motaro and Shao Kahn on or off
* Play Hidden Game - Play the Galaga knockoff(really, really hard)

Finally, for kicks, try out the 8 player battle: Hold A+B+C and hit start.

 Game Genie:
The damn AI is just killing you, you need an edge! Don't look to the Elder Gods, look to the Genie!

My rating: 99(out of 100) - Sculptured Software shows you exactly what can be done when you have the tools and the talent to use them; it's hard to believe just how good this conversion really is. The control, the graphics, the animation and sound are all top notch. MK3 is a great fighter, and one of the best on the Genesis.
Game Informer gave it: 9, 8.25, 8.75(out of 10)
Next Generation gave it: 4 stars(out of 5)
GameFan gave it: 91, 90, 92(out of 100)
GamePro gave it: 3.0(graphics), 3.0(sound), 4.0(control), 3.5(funfactor) (out of 5)

"JD Wins...flawless victory...Friskality!"
Cat's review: A 99!? You've got to be fucking kidding me. Listen up kiddies(and kitties), Bel is seriously biased on this, and that score is way off. Though I would say it's a great conversion, there's no way it's THAT good, and it's nowhere near as great as the SNES version. Reow!

Take a good look at this crotch!
See, I do shave my armpits!
Tony breaking out with some high kicking.
"Run, he's almost as big as we are!!!" Yes folks, Motaro has been scaled down just a bit...
Finish Him!

As insane as it may sound, I have actually gif-ed *all* of the Mortal Kombat 3 -alities. To check them out, click below. Also, MK1, MK2 and UMK3 have also received this treatment. MKG is done in Divx video...

Mortal Kombat 3 -ality Demonstration
Mortal Kombat Fatality Demonstration
Mortal Kombat II -ality Demonstration
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 -ality Demonstration
Mortal Kombat Gold Fatality Demonstration
No tabs!? :
I bought MK3 the day before it was released, I was at a local FuncoLand that said they had permission to sell it early. Regardless if they did or not, I took that shit and ran with it! MK3 is the ONLY Genesis game I own that still has its box tab. Having extreme sentimental value, I couldn't bring myself to scalp it....and send it away with the others...