History VideoGame / MortalKombatMythologiesSubZero

* FireWaterJuxtaposition: The mid-section of the game involves Sub-Zero traversing the Temple of the Elements to gain access to Shinnok's amulet deep within its walls. The fourth stage is "Water Element", where Sub-Zero has to traverse a labyrinthine water reservoir and avoid drowning. The next stage is "Fire Element", which takes place in a underground volcanic area.

Framed as an opportunity to better-explore the Lin Kuei clan and Outworld, it featured (for the time) impressive visuals and FullMotionVideo cutscenes. Sub-Zero begins with a limited moveset but unlocks new ice-based attacks as you progress. The developers wanted to keep the ''Mortal Kombat'' combat system intact while shoe-horning in some other capabilities. {{Creator/Acclaim}} did a similar thing with the ''Film/BatmanForever'' console game two years earlier, using the ''[=MK1=]'' engine on loan from Midway. ''Mythologies'' went a long way toward inspiring the creation of the Konquest mode in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception''.

* FourElementEnsemble: The game's mid-section occurs inside the Temple of the Elements, in the Himalayan Mountains. The temple is divided into four stages, each representing "the four elements which comprise the very existence of [Earth]realm": Wind, Earth, Water and Fire. The stage bosses are also Earthrealm's elemental gods.

''Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero'' is a GaidenGame BeatEmUp in the ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' franchise, developed by Creator/MidwayGames and released in 1997 for North America and in 1998 for Europe. Canonically, it is a {{prequel}} set before the events of [[VideoGame/MortalKombat1 the first game]] and, by proxy, ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9''.

** The battle against Fujin, which requires taking cover in a small niche.

* AbortedArc: Quan Chi needs all the elementals to obtain Shinnok's amulet. The amulet is instead found inside the Fire temple for no apparent reason.

* AmazonBrigade: Quan Chi's personal assassins act as his bodyguards. Sub-Zero has to fight all three of them to obtain three keys to gain access to Quan Chi's sanctum.

%% * AmazonBrigade: Quan Chi's bodyguard assassins.
* AscendedExtra: Sareena debuted here as one of Quan Chi's personal assassins, and even gained something of a ShipTease with his Sub-Zero during a cutscene. She returns later as a playable character in both ''Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition'' (2003) and ''Mortal Kombat Armageddon'' (2006).

%% * AscendedExtra: Sareena.

* HeistClash: Quan Chi hires Sub-Zero steal a map leading to Shinnok's amulet from a Shaolin temple. What Sub-Zero doesn't know is that Quan Chi had hired Scorpion, another ninja from a rival clan, for the same task in case Sub-Zero failed. Neither ninja is aware they are both being employed by Quan Chi and the two have a fight which ends in Scorpion's death.

* AmazonBrigade: Quan Chi's bodyguard assassins.
* AscendedExtra: Sareena.

* BerserkButton: Sub-Zero does ''not'' take kindly to being called a ninja by Quan Chi. [[spoiler: Scorpion, a ninja, is his mortal enemy.]]

* '''NintendoHard''': An '''''egregious''''' example. Even if you figure out the cheat codes for no damage/infinite lives, the game is ''still'' hard as ''hell'', due to the bizarre control schemes and the extreme caution you need to take during some of the platforming elements. Not to mention the [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard A.I. opponents]], which ''will'' punch you into a pit if they can.
* OneWingedAngel: Shinnok after you take his amulet. Fighting this phase is optional, you can just scamper through the portal and end the game. [[spoiler:Defeat him and you will be rewarded with a blooper reel]].
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler: Sareena, except that was [[{{Retcon}} retconned]] into being a DisneyDeath.]]

* DifficultySpike: Earth God and Prison Guard/Warden fight. Hope you can use Sub-Zero's Slide move. And then there's the Wind Temple...

* EarlyBirdCameo: Each of the ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' characters present in the game, most notably Quan Chi, Shinnock, and Sareena.

* NintendoHard: The cheat codes for no damage/infinite lives are practically a must.

%%* EverythingTryingToKillYou

* GiantMook: Hulk Monks.

%%* SmashingHallwayTrapsOfDoom:

Framed as an opportunity to better-explore the Lin Kuei clan and Outworld, it featured (for the time) impressive visuals and FullMotionVideo cutscenes. Sub-Zero begins with a limited moveset but unlocks new ice-based attacks as you progress. The developers wanted to keep the ''Mortal Kombat'' combat system intact while shoe-horning in some other capabilities. {{Creator/Acclaim}} did a similar thing with the ''Film/BatmanForever'' console game two years earlier, using the ''[=MK1=]'' engine on loan from Midway. ''Mythologies'' went a long way toward inspiring the creation of the Konquest mode in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception'',

--> ''"Thousands of years ago, the Earth was devastated by a battle between the gods. It was a war between good and evil. A war that would decide the fate of the world, and plunged it into centuries of darkness. Now the world is in danger of being fought once again. Only one mortal can stop it."''
-->-- ''OpeningNarration of the game.''

''Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero'' is a GaidenGame BeatEmUp in the ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' franchise, developed by Midway Games and released in 1997 for USA and in 1998 for Europe. Canonically, it is a {{prequel}} set before the events of [[VideoGame/MortalKombat1 the first game]] and, by proxy, ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9''.

Framed as an opportunity to better-explore the Lin Kuei clan and Outworld, it featured (for the time) impressive visuals and FullMotionVideo cutscenes. Sub-Zero begins with a limited moveset but unlocks new ice-based attacks as you progress. The developers wanted to keep the ''Mortal Kombat'' combat system intact while shoe-horning in some other capabilities. {{Creator/Acclaim}} did a similar thing with the ''Film/BatmanForever'' console game two years earlier, using the ''[=MK1=]'' engine on loan from {{Creator/Midway|Games}}. It went a long way toward inspiring the creation of the Konquest mode in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception'',

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Its because of Sub-Zero that Quan Chi gets the amulet and must be stopped.

* EarlyBirdCameo: For all the Mortal Kombat 4 characters present in the game and Sareena.

* GaidenGame: Typical MK gameplay applied to a BeatEmUp.

* HilariousOuttakes: The cutscenes alone make the [=PS1=] version a klassic. as well as [[CreativeClosingCredits the post-credit clips]].

** If you manage to do combos, Sub-Zero can level up to learn his moveset. [[JustifiedTrope Which makes sense]], [[FridgeBrilliance given that this is a]] {{prequel}}.
* SmashingHallwayTrapsOfDoom: And how!
* SuperDrowningSkills: Sub-Zero can't swim, as the water temple shows. Rather ironic considering how Sub-Zero has the power of ice.
* VideoGameCaringPotential: While most enemies just fall over and die (or explode) when defeated, you're given the option to either kill or spare two of them: Sareena and Scorpion. In both cases, choosing to show mercy has positive results later. [[spoiler: Specifically, if you spare Sareena, she'll have a HeelFaceTurn and help Sub-Zero in the battle with Quan Chi. If you spare Scorpion at the beginning of the game, you avoid having to fight him again as a wraith in the Netherrealm.]]
* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: Huzzah! You've acquired the amulet! ...Only five levels in? Sorry guys, completion doesn't come that quickly.

* FullMotionVideo: In the [=PS1=] version, complete with [[LargeHam Large Hams]] in every {{cutscene}}, as well as HilariousOuttakes [[CreativeClosingCredits after the credits]].

** The battle against Fujin, which involves taking cover in a small place.
** The final battle with Shinnok is even worse, since it involves a combination that must be timed ''perfectly''.
** Hell, '''every''' level, bar the first, is a damn warren that involves a ludicrous amount of backtracking

Framed as an opportunity to better-explore the Lin Kuei clan and Outworld, it featured (for the time) impressive visuals and FullMotionVideo cutscenes. Sub-Zero begins with a limited moveset but unlocks new ice-based attacks as you progress. The developers wanted to keep the ''Mortal Kombat'' combat system intact while shoe-horning in some other capabilities. {{Creator/Acclaim}} did a similar thing with the ''Film/BatmanForever'' console game two years earlier, using the ''[=MK1=]'' engine on loan from {{Creator/Midway|Games}}.

* EverythingTryingToKillYou
* FakeDifficulty: The ''Mortal Kombat'' controls didn't translate well to the [[PlatformHell platforming sections]], obstacle courses or enemy swarms (you have to press a separate button to turn around), and ''Mythologies'' was written off as a Mulligan.

* NintendoHard: Earth God and Prison Guard/Warden fight? Hope you can use Sub-Zero's Slide move. And then there's the Wind Temple.

Framed as an opportunity to better-explore the Lin Kuei clan and Outworld, it featured (for the time) impressive visuals and FullMotionVideo cutscenes. Sub-Zero begins with a limited moveset but unlocks new ice-based attacks as you progress.

It was followed by ''VideoGame/MortalKombatSpecial Forces'' and ''VideoGame/MortalKombatShaolinMonks''. Despite being mostly-forgotten, this game plugs a few holes in the backstory to ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'', and also helps explain how Sub-Zero started on the path to becoming Noob Saibot. For more, see [[DevelopersForesight/MortalKombat the series' Developers' Foresight page]] and [[ShoutOut/MortalKombat its Shout Out page]].

* FakeDifficulty: The ''Mortal Kombat'' controls didn't translate well to the [[PlatformHell platforming sections]], obstacle courses or enemy swarms, and ''Mythologies'' was written off as a Mulligan.

* FranchiseKiller: The entire Mythologies series was shelved after the game sold poorly and was panned by critics.

Framed as an opportunity to better-explore the Lin Kuei clan and Outworld, it featured (for the time) impressive visuals and FullMotionVideo cutscenes. Sub-Zero begins with a limited moveset but unlocks new ice-based attacks as you progress. However, the ''Mortal Kombat'' controls [[FakeDifficulty didn't translate well]] to the [[PlatformHell platforming sections]], obstacle courses or enemy swarms, and ''Mythologies'' was written off as a Mulligan. Presumably we would've had more character-focused standalone games had this been a hit, but the unpopularity of this game and the even-more obnoxious ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombatSpecialForces Special Forces]]'' kind of put a damper on that idea.

It was followed by ''Special Forces'' and ''VideoGame/MortalKombatShaolinMonks''. Despite being mostly-forgotten, this game plugs a few holes in the backstory to ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'', and also helps explain how Sub-Zero started on the path to becoming Noob Saibot. For more, see [[DevelopersForesight/MortalKombat the series' Developers' Foresight page]] and [[ShoutOut/MortalKombat its Shout Out page]].

-->''"I am mortal.\\
I am a thief and assassin.\\
I am a Lin Kuei warrior.\\
I am Sub-Zero."''