Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero
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😐 5.9/10
(Playstation - US, Fighting)
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Developed_By:
Warner Bros.
Published_By:
Midway
Released On:
01 Oct 1997
Also available on:
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero is a story-driven fighting game that casts you in the shoes of Sub-Zero, and chronicles a series of events that occurred prior to Mortal Kombat 1. In this storyline, the Lin Kuei assassin/thief is sent to steal an important document; this mission proves to be a test from a mysterious character who charges you upon retrieval of this object to recover an ancient medallion of untold power.
In reality, the mission proves to be a trap, and Quan Chi reveals that he tricked you. The medallion is the key to awakening the demonic Shinnok, a villain from Mortal Kombat 4. You must now become a reluctant hero, as you pursue Quan Chi through hell itself in an attempt to reach Shinnok before him.
Gameplay-wise, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero combines the familiar 2D fighting environment of Mortal Kombat with elements of a platformer game. You must travel through hazardous levels, running and jumping while fighting your way against both digitized and polygonal enemies.
The game features an updated interface similar to other MK games, with additions such as an inventory and RPG-style experience points that grant new techniques and moves to execute in the game.
Technically, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero represents a significant evolution in the series' 2D engines. New features include zooming, 3D lighting, and 3D backgrounds and characters.
UPC-A:
031719269754 (United States)
eBay Product ID:
1851 (United States)
ASIN:
B000021Y5U (United States)
Sony PN:
SLUS-00476 (United States)
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Input Devices Required:
Gamepad
Number of Offline Players:
1 Player
Save Game Methods:
External Storage
Number of Players Supported:
1 Player
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
This is a fighting/action game where the player, as Sub-Zero, navigates the treacherous Netherealm to confront the fallen Elder God Shinnok. Players will explore locations like the Prison of Souls and the Bridge of Immortality, utilizing combat skills and elemental powers to overcome enemies and progress through the quest. The ultimate goal involves defeating Shinnok, who seeks to recreate Earth in his own image.
Story
KEY ELEMENTS
The Netherealm
The regions of the Netherealm are largely uncharted. However, some information is known about a few locations and the various items needed to traverse their treacherous paths.
The Prison of Souls
Prior to Shinnok's reign as the ruler of the Netherealm, the prison was used to capture and torture the souls that were banished there.
Each Elevator Key Card gives access to one of three levels in the Prison of Souls. They are automatically activated when in possession and on a lifter.
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To operate a lifter:
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Hold the USE BUTTON and press HIGH KICK to go up a level.
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Hold the USE BUTTON and press LOW PUNCH to go down a level.
The Bridge of Immortality
Named after the Sea of Immortality that it crosses, the bridge exists as a battered remnant and constant reminder of Shinnok's war with the Netherealm's previous ruler. It connects the world's solid landmass with Shinnok's fortress.
The only way to gain access into the fortress is to use all three keys simultaneously. Each key is held by one of the three bridge keepers. The keepers were created by Shinnok to do battle with his former enemies within the realm.
Shinnok's Fortress
There is no known information available concerning Shinnok's fortress.
THE QUEST
Lives Remaining
The main game screen displays your Health, an Ice Meter and the number of Lives remaining.
Health
As you battle your way through each level, the Health of SUB-ZERO will diminish from green to grey, then red as you take on damage.
As your condition turns critical, it's a good idea to press your Select Button and boost your health using the Health Status Screen. You can then return to the fight and continue your journey.
Ice Meter
When you've achieved enough Experience Points to give SUB-ZERO freeze powers, you can make use of the Ice Meter. As you use the ice against your opponents, the meter contents will diminish, then slowly rise again.
You can replenish your ice faster by grabbing a Cold Regenerator when you see one.
Lives Remaining
As your journey begins, you can keep track of the amount of Lives you have remaining displayed in the upper left portion of the screen (i.e. 3x, 2x, etc.).
MYTHOLOGIES
Over the millennia, the Netherealm has had many rulers. Most of them were forged within its fiery pits, eventually ripping their masters mercilessly from their thrones. One however, came not from the bowels of the Netherealm, but from the heavens of reality. He was the fallen Elder God known as Shinnok.
Upon entering the realm, Shinnok found himself immediately under attack by its then ruler Lucifer. He would exist tortured and tormented by the dregs of hell for thousands of years. Until he met Quan Chi.
God of Wind
Quan Chi is a free roaming sorcerer. That means that he can travel the various planes of reality without detection from his gods. It also means that over the years he has obtained great power.
Aware of Shinnok's dilemma, Quan Chi traveled to the Netherealm and made the fallen god an offer. He will free him from his confines and assist him in defeating Lucifer and his minions in exchange for power and the ability to rule at his side if and when he escapes the Netherealm entirely.
Shinnok agreed and the two waged a war in the Netherealm that lasted for centuries. But, the ex-Elder God eventually won as he viciously slew his former master then took his seat as the new ruler supreme of the dead realm. Shinnok, however, had nothing to rule. The realm was a desolate wasteland of fire and brimstone inhabited by grotesque demons. So, he decided to create a physical world, trying his best to emulate the realm he wanted so badly... Earth.
He took the demons of his realm and transformed them into as human a form as possible. But unlike the Outworld, which became a wasteland after Shao Kahn sapped its energies, the Netherealm never was a living planet. It always will exist as a dead world. Its true form hidden by its ruler.
It was through the Mortal Kombat tournament that the Outworld's soul-stealing sorcerer Shang Tsung discovered the location of the sacred Map of Elements. After Goro, the reigning Outworld champion, defeated the original Kung Lao over 400 years ago, Shang Tsung sapped the human's soul. He retained his thoughts and memories thus discovering the secrets of the sacred map, which has been hidden within the Shaolin temples for centuries. These events enabled Shang Tsung to strike a bargain with Quan Chi.
God of Water
In exchange for Shinnok's assistance in a plot to reincarnate the Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn's dead queen, Shang Tsung would reveal to Quan Chi the location of the map that would lead to Shinnok's sacred amulet. But, Shang Tsung failed to inform Quan Chi of the elemental guards that protect the amulet.
Their mere existence makes it impossible for Quan Chi to enter the temple where the amulet rests. But, if he could get a human to enter, the right human, one who could perhaps defeat the elements...
Sub-Zero and The Lin Kuei
Somewhere in the northern most parts of Asia, there exists a secret clan of assassins and thieves known as the Lin Kuei. This group has existed for centuries and thrives on the evil intention of
Controls
L2 BUTTON
Turn
R2 BUTTON
Run
DIRECTIONAL BUTTON
Move Character all directions
SELECT BUTTON
Action/Use
START BUTTON
Block
TRIANGLE BUTTON
High Kick
CIRCLE BUTTON
High Punch
X BUTTON
Low Punch
SQUARE BUTTON
Low Kick
Directional Button Up
select options
Directional Button Down
select options
Directional Button Left
highlight options
Directional Button Right
highlight options
How to Play
OPTIONS
To change your default option configuration, highlight the option you want to change. Press the X BUTTON to make changes or call up a sub-menu.
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Controller Configuration
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Sound Configuration
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Memory Card
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Password
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Game Settings
Controller Configuration
Modify your controller to meet your personal fighting style. (See KONTROLLER KONFIGURATION, pg. 7 for details).
Sound Configuration
Adjust the volume levels for Sound Effects and Music. Move the icons next to the option you want to change, then press the X BUTTON to select it. Once selected, press the Directional Button Left or Right to make the adjustments.
Memory Card
Following each level, the option to save your game data to your Memory Card appears. Select Yes to save the data to a file. Select this option the next time you want to play. Your file will appear on-screen. Select the file to return to your game.
When you save a game, you retain all your experience points and collected items.
Password
Following each completed level, a password will be displayed. Write it down, so you can continue your saga later. To enter your password, follow the on-screen instructions that appear when you select this option.
When you use passwords to save your game, you do not retain your experience points and items collected. However, you will return to the level you were last on.
Game Settings
To make changes to the following settings, move the cursor icons to the option you want to change, then press the X BUTTON to highlight it. Press the Directional Button Left or Right to cycle the available settings.
•
Difficulty - Set the game's difficulty to meet your level of expertise. Select settings ranging from Very Easy (easiest) to Very Hard (most difficult).
•
Lives - Select the amount of Lives you'd like to have available for your game. Set the amount for 3 to 6 Lives. Set Lives high if you're playing the game for the first time, then lower them as you get more experienced.
•
Continues - The amount of CONTINUES you select determines how many times you can continue your saga once your Lives have run out. Select from 1 to 4 credits.
THE QUEST
Combo Hits/Experience Points
As you attack your opponent with vicious combos, the number of hits in your combo and the number of Experience points received will be displayed briefly on-screen.
Experience Icon
When you achieve enough points to gain another Special Move, an icon will be displayed on-screen. It represents a new power that SUB-ZERO has attained. To read about the new Special Move, press the SELECT BUTTON and highlight the icon in the Experience Points Window (see HEALTH STATUS, pg. 8).
Checkpoints
Throughout the game, you'll pass checkpoints. When you reach a checkpoint, the word "Checkpoint" will appear on screen. If SUB-ZERO should die during a fight or fall to his death, you'll restart at the last checkpoint reached.
MYTHOLOGIES
Mythology
(mó-thúl e-ji) noun plural mythologies Abbr. myth.
1. a. A body or collection of myths belonging to a people and addressing their origin, history, deities, ancestors and heroes.
2. b. A story or fable relating to gods and or supernatural events.
Shao Kahn wasn't the first to attack our realm ...
Thousands of years ago, Shinnok existed as an Elder God. The Elder Gods are the true rulers of all realms. They watch as worlds are created and destroyed and govern the realms with untold eons of wisdom.
Shinnok, however, gave in to greed and illusions of false power by the new realm of Earth. If he could have that realm to himself, he would have power unmatched. He first would have to face the young god of thunder known as Rayden, who was appointed as Earth's guardian by the Elder Gods themselves. Their battle for the realm of Earth was fierce; causing the planet's near destruction and plunging it into centuries of darkness.
Rayden soon discovered that Shinnok entered the realm through the powers of a mystical amulet. It allowed Shinnok to enter the realm without challenge and keep the other Elder Gods from intervening. The amulet could only be created once, and Rayden stripped it from Shinnok's possession.
With the aid of the true Elder Gods, he banished the fallen god into a place known as the Netherealm. Rayden buried the amulet deep within the mountains of Asia. He then created a massive temple within the mountain to house the amulet and appointed four guardians as the protectors of Shinnok's sacred amulet. Each guardian represents one of the four elements that make up the realm; Wind, Earth, Water and Fire. As long as the amulet remained on Earth, Shinnok would be trapped, forced to remain dormant for the rest of eternity.
Tips & Maps
FORWARD FREEZE
Special Move gained through the accumulation of experience points.
ANGLE FREEZE
Special Move gained through the accumulation of experience points.
SLIDE
Special Move gained through the accumulation of experience points.
AIR ICE
Special Move gained through the accumulation of experience points.
ICE SHATTER
Special Move gained through the accumulation of experience points.
ICE CLONE
Special Move gained through the accumulation of experience points.
SUPER SLIDE
Special Move gained through the accumulation of experience points.
FREEZE ON CONTACT
Special Move gained through the accumulation of experience points.
POLAR BLAST
Special Move gained through the accumulation of experience points.
HERBAL HEALER
When taken, this healer supplies a 50% increase in health.
HERBAL BOOSTER
The herbal booster doubles the potency of the herbal healer. They both must be combined in order to be effective.
URN OF VITALITY
This urn will replenish the user's power bars.
URN OF STRENGTH
This urn grants the user super human strength. Very useful in areas where large and immovable objects are present.
URN OF LIFE
The user of this urn will be awarded one extra life.
TABLETS OF TRUTH
These ancient tablets contain information and clues to assist the user on his journey. Sometimes they are written in unreadable scribe and may require the assistance of a universal translator.
DIT DOW FORMULA
This formula is used as an anti-bruising ointment and increases the amount of damage its user can sustain.
Items & Weapons
SHIELD OF INVINCIBILITY
The shield will protect its user from taking any damage. Particularly useful in rooms filled with fire, it lasts for a limited time.
EYE OF INVISIBILITY
The eye will render its user invisible and undetectable by enemies, lasting for a limited time.
UNIVERSAL TRANSLATOR
This artifact enables the user to read any map or inscription written in an unfamiliar language. Combine it with an unreadable tablet of truth.
MAP OF ELEMENTS
This ancient map, created by a Shaolin monk, is believed to lead the way to a great temple hidden in the mountains, protected by four immortal guardians and holding unseen treasures.
SHINNOK'S AMULET
This amulet harnesses the four key elements that compose the nature of Earth, created by the former ELDER GOD SHINNOK and used to unbalance the Earth's furies.
COLD REGENERATOR
These fusion-like pockets allow SUB-ZERO to quickly replenish his ice-generating powers when he has depleted the surrounding air.
KEY ELEMENTS
The Temple of Elements consists of four separate areas, each representative of one of the four elemental properties of Earth: Wind, Earth, Water, and Fire. Each area also contains keys in the shape of three symbols that can open doors or cause events when activated.
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