History YMMV / MortalKombat4

** When ported to home consoles, the graphics were greatly reduced, and suffered from LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading, which ultimately led to the UpdatedRerelease being released for the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast.

** Jarek was hated by fans who felt that he was nothing but a re-hash of Kano's moves. This is because he was originally supposed to be Kano, but the developers wanted more "new" characters, so they reskinned him. Though many would still prefer Kano, Jarek still has a decent fanbase if only thanks to the {{Narm}} he brings which leads to various funny MemeticMutation. (Especially his UnEvilLaugh and "I'MSOGAAAAAAYYYY" scream)

** Every line Jarek says in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbsfJinaZWc the]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV3CQSuxL50 three]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvfP5BQxaw endings]] he appears in, particularly "I'M SO GAAAAAAAAAAY!"[[note]]This at least sees a reprise in a MUGEN Game ''MK New Era'' (which brought many Kombatants in one game), where [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxmtm7rf82U inflicting Jarek to a Stage Fatality that causes him to fall from heights makes him yell that particular memetic scream.]][[/note]] and his weird humming UnevilLaugh.

** Every line Jarek says in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbsfJinaZWc the]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV3CQSuxL50 three]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvfP5BQxaw endings]] he appears in, particularly "I'M SO GAAAAAAAAAAY!" and his weird humming UnevilLaugh.

** Jarek was hated by fans who felt that he was nothing but a re-hash of Kano's moves. This is because he was originally supposed to be Kano, but the developers wanted more "new" characters, so they reskinned him.

** Jax's ending. After Jarek kills Sonya, Jax gets his revenge by dangling him off a cliff:

--> '''Jarek:''' "I'M SO GAAAAAAAAAAY!"

* FollowTheLeader: Despite being the fourth main entry in the series, this game's graphics copies the graphics of Creator/{{Sega}}'s ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter 2'' but with DarkerAndEdgier and BloodierAndGorier elements.

* FollowTheLeader: Despite being the fourth main entry of ''Mortal Kombat'', this game's graphics copies the graphics of Creator/{{Sega}}'s ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter 2'' but with DarkerAndEdgier and BloodierAndGorier elements.

** Reiko's ending in the arcade and N64 versions. The camera does a pan-around of his body, a portal materializes, and he walks into it, causing it to close again. [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse That's it]]. They corrected this in the other home ports, tying Reiko to Shao Kahn in the process.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQAGKNIQMeo The gibberish featured in the game]]. Some of the notable examples include Tonya saying, "CAN I TAKE YOUR ORDER?!" during her Neck Twist Fatality, Raiden saying, "GUY THAT LOOKS LIKE HIS AUNT!" during his Electric Fly, and Fujin saying, "OH I'M GONNA THROW YOU OVER THERE!" during his throw.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmO1SbnHw-U All the Nintendo 64 endings]]. Since there was no room for the remade FMV endings of other console ports, they're instead done in-engine, like in the Arcade version with lower quality sound.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Kai. Another member of the White Lotus and a Shaolin warrior in training, he has interesting gameplay quirks (his handstand stance and vertical projectiles) and is even given Raiden's blessing and Lightning Staff in his ending, all of which could have potentially led to future appearances starting in ''Deadly Alliance''. He's instead PutOnABus until ''Armageddon'' as he walks the earth in search of enlightenment.

** Jarek ending. After he tosses Sonya off the cliff, he stomps on her radio, which inexplicably makes a bone-crunching sound effect. The scene ends with Jarek doing an UnevilLaugh.

** Jarek ending. After he tosses Sonya of the cliff, he stomps on her radio, which inexplicably makes a bone-crunching sound effect. The scene ends with Jarek doing an UnevilLaugh.

* [[EnsembleDarkhorse/MortalKombat Ensemble Darkhorse]]

* AntiClimaxBoss: Shinnok. He just doesn't have the fear factor other bosses have like Shang Tsung or Shao Kahn, and on lower difficulty levels, he doesn't even use his special moveset changes. Especially jarring since he, as a fallen Elder God, is supposed to be ''leagues'' above them both yet comes across as a second rate Shang Tsung. Even [[WordOfGod Ed Boon]] admits that Shinnok probably shouldn't have been the FinalBoss of ''4''.

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: A major complaint with the game is that despite the jump to 3D, the game still plays almost the same as ''VideoGame/MortalKombat3'', which had already suffered from CapcomSequelStagnation thanks to ''Ultimate'' and ''Trilogy''. Not helping is that the much-hyped 3D basically amounts to being able to occasionally sidestep a projectile. While this helped dodge the PolygonCeiling, it still made for a fairly underwhelming game.

** Every line Jarek says in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbsfJinaZWc the]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV3CQSuxL50 three]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvfP5BQxaw endings]] he appears in, particularly "I'M SO GAAAAAAAAAAY!" and his weird humming UnEvilLaugh.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvfP5BQxaw Jax's ending.]] After Jarek kills Sonya Blade, Jax gets his revenge by dangling him off a cliff. There are also [[StockFootage variants for Sonya and Jarek's endings]]:

** When Jarek stomps on Sonya's radio, it inexplicably makes a bone-crunching sound effect.
** Cherry on top: Sonya's radio looks more like a kid's toy rather than anything resembling military equipment. And Jarek's Evil Laugh after he crushed the phone? Let's just say it [[UnevilLaugh leaves a lot to be desired]]

** Reiko's ending in the arcade and N64 versions. The camera does a pan-around of his body, a portal materializes, and he walks into it, causing it to close again. [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse That's it.]] They corrected this in the other home ports, tying Reiko to Shao Kahn in the process.

%%** Jax's ending. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvfP5BQxaw There are no words for it.]]

* WhatAnIdiot: Quan Chi in Scorpion's ending. Sure he ''could'' have just pointed Scorpion at another enemy after Sub-Zero claimed that his family's killer was still out there, but he instead boldly admits that he did it to manipulate Scorpion into killing Sub-Zero before sending him back to the Netherrealm with a spell that, for whatever reason, takes about five seconds to fully activate. Hope you enjoy Scorpion tackling you and dragging you to hell with him Quan Chi!

* FollowTheLeader: Despite being the fourth main entry of Mortal Kombat, this game's graphics copies the graphics of Creator/{{Sega}}'s ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter 2'' but with DarkerAndEdgier and BloodierAndGorier elements.

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: A major complaint with the game is that despite the jump to 3D, the game still plays pretty much the same as ''VideoGame/MortalKombat3'', which had already suffered from CapcomSequelStagnation thanks to ''Ultimate'' and ''Trilogy''. Not helping is that the much-hyped 3D basically amounts to being able to occasionally sidestep a projectile. While this helped dodge the PolygonCeiling, it still made for a fairly underwhelming game.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FytHUCiuzEU "CAN I TAKE YOUR ORDER?!"]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb4pEXK5Gdk&t=56s "GUY THAT LOOKS LIKE HIS AUNT!"]]
** [[https://youtu.be/CmN46EQkKeE?t=40 "OH I'M GONNA THROW YOU OVER THERE!"]]

** Jarek was hated by fans who felt that he was nothing but a re-hash of Kano's moves. This is because he was originally supposed to be Kano, but the developers wanted more "new" characters, so they reskinned him. Not helping is that his voice acting is atrocious and his death scream when he falls is ridiculous.

** Jax's ending. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvfP5BQxaw There are no words for it.]]

* TierInducedScrappy: Shinnok.

** [[https://youtu.be/f9SWl1Z-t9I Scorpion's ending.]] Quan Chi informs Scorpion that it was he, not Sub-Zero, who murdered his family, before [[DraggedOffToHell returning him to the Netherealm]] one body part at a time, which results in Scorpion appearing as a disembodied groin. Scorpion rushes towards Quan Chi, [[TakingYouWithMe causing both of them to be taken to the Netherealm]]. Quan Chi immediately lets out a BigNo and keeps repeating the same movements.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poo3Rux1zg0 Sub-Zero's ending.]] Sub-Zero defeats Scorpion and claims that the latter's quest for vengeance is over. When Scorpion explains that he can't be killed, Quan Chi appears behind Sub-Zero and whacks him in the back of the head, causing him to [[ThePratfall comically fall to the ground]]. The comedic timing is impeccable.
** Jarek, in the endings he appears, when he falls from the cliff, he says, "I'M SO GAAAAAAAAAAY!"

*** Cherry on top: Sonya's radio looks more like a kid's toy rather than anything resembling military equipment. And Jarek's Evil Laugh after he crushed the phone? Let's just say it [[UnevilLaugh leaves a lot to be desired]]

* FollowTheLeader: Despite being the fourth main entry of Mortal Kombat, this game's graphics copies the graphics of Creator/{{Sega}}'s ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter2'' but with DarkerAndEdgier and BloodierAndGorier elements.

** Reiko's ending in the arcade and N64 versions. The camera does a pan-around of his body, a portal materializes, and he walks into it, causing it to close again. [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse That's it.]] They corrected this in the other home ports, tying Reiko to Shao Khan in the process.

** Every line Jarek says in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbsfJinaZWc the]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV3CQSuxL50 three]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvfP5BQxaw endings]] he appears in, particularly [[{{Mondegreen}} "I'M SO GAAAAAAAAAAY!"]] and his weird humming UnEvilLaugh.

** Thanks to the love for Perfectly Cut Screams and as stated below. In Sub-Zero's ending where Quan Chi comes out of nowhere and suddenly whacked in the head from behind was memed quite a bit too. Usually cutting out half of Sub-Zero's yell of pain.

--> '''Jarek:''' [[AccentOnTheWrongSyllable I'm SorrYYYYYYYYYY!]]

* MemeticMutation: Every line Jarek says in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbsfJinaZWc the]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV3CQSuxL50 three]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsvfP5BQxaw endings]] he appears in, particularly [[{{Mondegreen}} "I'M SO GAAAAAAAAAAY!"]] and his weird humming UnEvilLaugh.

--> '''Jarek:''' I'M SORRYYYYYYYYYY!

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poo3Rux1zg0 Sub-Zero's ending.]] Sub-Zero defeats Scorpion and claims that Scorpion's quest for vengeance. While the ninja explains that he can't be killed, Quan Chi appears behind Sub-Zero and whacks him in the back of the head, causing him to [[ThePratfall comically fall to the ground]]. The comedic timing is impeccable in that scene.

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: A major complaint with the game is that despite the jump to 3D, the game still plays pretty much the same as ''VideoGame/MortalKombat3''. (which had already suffered from CapcomSequelStagnation thanks to ''Ultimate'' and ''Trilogy'', too.) Not helping is that the much-hyped 3D basically amounts to being able to occasionally sidestep a projectile. While this arguably helped dodge the PolygonCeiling, it still made for a fairly underwhelming game.

* ToughActToFollow: Coming up after ''Mortal Kombat Trilogy''. This game was supposed to return to the series' dark atmosphere, having exclusively two Fatalities per character as well as two Stage Fatalities. Sadly, this game lacked the charm of the first three games.

** Jarek was hated by fans who felt that he was nothing but a re-hash of Kano's moves. This is because he was originally supposed to be Kano, but the developers wanted more "new" characters, so they reskinned him.

** [[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poo3Rux1zg0 Sub-Zero's ending.]] Sub-Zero defeats Scorpion and claims that Scorpion's quest for vengeance. While the ninja explains that he can't be killed, Quan Chi appears behind Sub-Zero and whacks him in the back of the head, causing him to comically fall to the ground. The comedic timing is impeccable in that scene.