The PlayStation version was praised for bringing the arcade experience home with high fidelity, despite the technical limitations of the hardware. Several key innovations defined the MK4 experience:
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To prevent the "infinite combos" that plagued previous titles, MK4 introduced a system that automatically ended a combo if it exceeded a certain damage threshold. Technical Performance and Legacy The PlayStation version was praised for bringing the
Combatants could interact with their environment by picking up objects like rocks or skulls and hurling them at their enemies. For the first time, every character could draw
For the first time, every character could draw a unique weapon (such as swords, maces, or crossbows) that could be used for extra reach, thrown, or even dropped and picked up by the opponent.
While the game primarily fought on a 2D plane, players could use a "sidestep" maneuver to dodge projectiles and navigate around the opponent.