Shinnok
The fallen Elder God and the main antagonist, who seeks to conquer the realms.
How it plays
How does Mortal Kombat 4 play?
Mortal Kombat 4 uses one-on-one matches viewed from a side-on perspective, with fighters able to sidestep around parts of the arena. The objective is to win two rounds by depleting the opponent's health. Players use punches, kicks, throws, character-specific special moves, and weapons that can be picked up or knocked loose during combat.
Arcade mode leads through a sequence of opponents toward a final battle with Shinnok. Versus mode supports local competition, while practice and other options depend on the console release. Winning matches unlocks progress through the arcade ladder and exposes each fighter's ending.
Plan your run
What is the best way to play Mortal Kombat 4?
Learn the spacing of each character's normal attacks before relying on special moves. Blocking, quick punishment, and sidestepping are especially important because weapons and arena movement can change the distance between fighters.
Practice one reliable combo, one anti-air response, and each character's finishing input. Against Shinnok, avoid predictable approaches and punish his recovery rather than attacking continuously.
Meet the cast
Who are the key characters?
Quan Chi
A powerful sorcerer who assists Shinnok and manipulates events behind the conflict.
Raiden
The thunder god who leads Earthrealm's defenders against Shinnok.
Liu Kang
Earthrealm's champion and a returning central fighter in the series.
Scorpion
The undead ninja driven by vengeance and armed with his iconic spear.
Sub-Zero
The cryomancer ninja who returns with ice-based attacks.
Sonya Blade
A Special Forces officer and veteran Earthrealm fighter.
Johnny Cage
A Hollywood action star whose martial-arts persona brings comic relief to the roster.
Documented inputs
What cheats and unlocks are documented?
Clear Arcade Mode and meet version-specific conditionsHidden characters and extra content can be unlocked through normal progression; exact requirements vary slightly by version.
Before you begin
What should you know before playing?
- 1
Use sidesteps to evade linear attacks, but return to a guarded position quickly.
- 2
Pick up weapons only when the opponent cannot immediately punish the animation.
- 3
Practice finishing moves separately because their timing differs by character.
Editorial context
What do players highlight?
A faithful Nintendo 64 version of Mortal Kombat 4 with the full fighting-game structure and local multiplayer, although its visuals are less detailed than the arcade release.
Community discussion
What are players saying? 0