The Console That Could Not Handle Blood – Retro Replay FYI

When Mortal Kombat hit arcades in 1992, it shocked the world with its brutal fighting, over the top violence, and those unforgettable Fatalities. It was the game every kid wanted to play and the game every parent wanted to ban. So when the time came to bring it home to consoles, Nintendo and Sega faced a tough decision on how much of the blood would make it into living rooms.

On the Super Nintendo, the answer was simple. None of it. Instead of blood, the characters in Mortal Kombat sweated when struck, turning red splatters into white droplets. Fatalities were toned down and the overall feel of the game was softened. Nintendo wanted to protect its family friendly image, even if it meant stripping away one of the arcade version’s biggest draws.

Meanwhile Sega took a different approach. The Genesis version included a cheat code that re enabled the full gore and Fatalities. With a quick button combo, players could unlock the arcade experience at home. The result was that the Genesis version outsold the Super Nintendo version by a wide margin, with fans flocking to the version that stayed true to the arcade original.

This decision became a defining moment in the so called console wars of the 1990s. It showed how Sega was willing to lean into edgy content to capture older gamers while Nintendo clung to its family friendly reputation. Ironically, Nintendo learned its lesson. By the time Mortal Kombat II released, the blood was back, even on the Super Nintendo.

Sometimes sweat just is not enough.

Which side of the Mortal Kombat divide were you on, Sega Genesis with all the gore or Super Nintendo with the toned down version?