Mortal Kombat II - Kyuukyoku Shinken (Japan) on gb Game

Step into the brutal, pixelated arena of Mortal Kombat II - Kyuukyoku Shinken, where the Game Boy brings the bone-crunching action of Midway’s iconic fighter to your palms! This Japan-exclusive port might not have the flashy visuals of its arcade big brother, but don’t let that fool you—it packs all the fatalities, secret characters (hello, Reptile!), and ruthless combat that made MKII a legend. Sure, the sprites are tiny, but the adrenaline is huge as you pull off Scorpion’s spear or Sub-Zero’s spine-ripping finisher on the go.

What makes this version weirdly charming? It’s a stripped-down yet surprisingly faithful adaptation, complete with the eerie Toasty! voice clip and the addictive ladder-climbing tension. Whether you’re a ‘90s kid reliving arcade nostalgia or a curious newcomer, this pocket-sized Mortal Kombat proves that even on a monochrome screen, Liu Kang’s bicycle kick still hurts. Flawless victory? Maybe not. But flawlessly fun? Absolutely.