It has begun! After evil sorcerer Shang Tsung won the second Mortal Kombat tournament, the hideous realm of the Outworld extended its dark talons into the Earth Realm, destroying millions of souls and destroying much of the planet. It was discovered that Tsung was working for Shao Kahn, Emperor of the Outworld.

A few hardy souls remain on what remains of planet Earth. Among these are Earth's Warriors, a group of fighters determined to save the human race. They can achieve this noble goal by winning the latest Mortal Kombat tournament -- Mortal Kombat 3.

This game lets you choose from 14 Kombatants, including eight new characters, two new bosses and one hidden fighter. Veterans such as Liu Kang, Sonya and Sub-Zero join Nightwolf, Stryker, Cyrax and other newcomers. Contestants can pull off a number of basic moves such as flips, jumps, punches (high and low) and kicks (high and low) as well as more sophisticated roundhouse kicks, foot sweeps and flying kicks. When you are close enough to an opponent, you can knee and throw him or her.

In addition to expert fighting skills, each warrior is capable of pulling off several special moves, such as the ability to perform superhuman kicks and release elemental bolts. Also, pressing attack buttons in certain sequences will result in combos for different fighters. After winning a fight, you can strut your stuff and humiliate and/or dismember your opponent by pulling off fatalities, animalities and babalities.

Mortal Kombat 3 is a violent game, but you can turn off the blood if you like. Other features and options include four difficulty levels, 3D rendered moving backgrounds, secret portals that allow you fight on a bi-level battlefield, and fully digitized fight sequences. Fights are timed and are fought in a best-two-out-of-three format. Meters at the top of the screen indicate each fighter's health status.

Is Mortal Kombat 3 bigger and badder than its predecessors? Play the game and found out. But always remember one thing: Prepare yourself!

Mortal Kombat 3 (Sega Genesis, 1995)