This late prototype of Mortal Kombat was provided by David Sauer, and dumped by Hidden Palace in 2021.

Prototype
Final
In the prototype, the sprite for "0" has a line through it. The final version removes this.



Prototype
Final
The prototype has a few different winning streak initials when compared to the final. The "8" sprite was also slightly edited for the final version.



Prototype
Final
In the prototype, Cage's bio screen has his first name, but the final version removes it.



Prototype
Final
In the prototype, you have to wait for the first demo to play before this screen to appear. In the final, this screen appears earlier, after the Probe logo.

The final version moves the text up slightly, fixes the "TOURNEMENT" typo, and also adds a TM to the Mortal Kombat words.

I couldn't get the blood code to work in the prototype.



Prototype
Final
In the prototype, the default difficulty is the medium setting. The final version lowered it to easy. The prototype only lets you have up to 5 credits, whilst in the final, you can have up to 6.



Prototype
Final
Sub-Zero's sprites are glitched in the prototype -his skin is the same blue color as his outfit. The final version fixed things up.

Scorpion's sprite was also slightly changed colors wise, although it's not as noticeable as the change made to Sub-Zero.



Prototype
Final
Sub-Zero's sprite is also glitched during the test your might bonus games. The final fixes this. The sprites for the ninjas are also very slightly different between versions -check above their right eyes.



Prototype
Final
In the prototype, the "FIGHT!" text appears differently, using a sprite scaling technique to pop in and out of the screen. The final version gets rid of this completely. However, it would be restored for the SEGA CD port.

This also happens with the "FINISH HIM" and "FINISH HER" text.



Prototype
Final
In the prototype, the bonus score for doing a fatality appears on screen with the other score bonuses. In the final, it appears separately.



Prototype
Final
On the warrior shrine stage, the Goro statue has a slight difference on it -check his loincloth.



Prototype
Final
At the battle plan screen, the prototype's "Johnny Cage" was changed to just "Cage" for the final, like on his character bio. Did the developers forget to change it for his life bar? It still says "Johnny Cage" in the final (see below).



Prototype
Final
Goro's lair looks different in the prototype, with the greens seen here being replaced with grays for the final. The skeleton is colored slightly differently, and a column in the background is missing. Some of the brick work is also different.



Prototype
Final
Additionally, the prototype has blood on both the far left wall...



Prototype
Final
...and far right wall. The final version removes this blood, even if you use the blood code, it still doesn't appear.



Prototype
Final
In the prototype, the special thanks credit for Eric is missing. The final version adds the credit, and also changes the positioning of the text for the special thanks part.


NOTES

-In the prototype, the codes for blood and the cheat menu don't work. The cheat menu is in the prototype, but it can't seem to be accessed.

-The controls are different with a 6 button controller. In the prototype, A is for high kick, whilst Z is low punch. In the final, A is for low punch, and Z is for high kick.

-On the battle plan screen, the prototype will take you to the next match without you having to press any buttons. In the final, you have to press a button to get the next match to start.

-The announcer does not say "fight!", "finish him" or "finish her" in the prototype, but will say these things in the final.

-The proto seems to crash when trying to use a continue if you lose to Shang Tsung. At least, that's what happened to me.

-The prototype also seems to have an issue with the "double ice back fire" message coming up during the Shang Tsung fight. If you freeze him, but he still has time to throw out a projectile before being frozen, the message will come up when his fireball hits you. He can be transformed to other characters, and their projectiles can make it appear as well. This can lead to some interesting palette problems for Sub-Zero. This appears to have been totally fixed for the final game.