Mortal Kombat (1992)
Violence had been a part of video games at least since “Space Invaders,” but as improved technology gave the ability to produce more lifelike representations of the action, the moral panics of the late ‘80s/early ‘90s (warning labels on records, etc.) spilled over to video games. Though not significantly different than “Street Fighter” or even Rock’em Sock’em Robots, the game stood apart with its “Finishing Moves,” which enabled you to do things like, say, pull an opponent’s spine out through their throat. Finish him!
