When MK4 was released in the arcades late in the summer of 1997, it had some of the best visuals gamers had ever seen. Using Midway's own Zeus hardware, the game attracted a lot of attention - being the series' big jump into 3D. Now for some good news and bad news. The good news is, Mortal Kombat Gold is an exact replica of Mortal Kombat 4. Unfortunately, this is also the bad news. Even though the game is a step above its N64 counterpart, it can't hold a candle to the Dreamcast's current fighting champion, Soul Calibur. As I said, though, the game is an exact port graphically. If you weren't (and still aren't) disappointed by the arcade game's visuals, you certainly won't have a problem with the Dreamcast version.

Along with being an exact port of the arcade game, MKG gives us a few new additions. The most obvious change is the addition of a few older kombatants. Cyrax, Sektor, Goro, Mileena, Baraka, Kitana and Kung Lao all return to the tournament, basically ruining any continuity in the storyline. However, each character (new and returning) is treated to an FMV ending, ranging from bad to average. Also included are the usual home conversion modes, such as practice, team, tournament and endurance.

Mortal Kombat Gold, unfortunately, still plays exactly like MK4. Dial-a-combos, which originated in MK3, reign supreme. If you're familiar with MK4, you know what you're getting into with MKG.

Most of today's fighting games are tested and tested again to make sure that almost every character is balanced - as to not give someone an unfair advantage just by picking a certain fighter. While a character here and there may slip through the cracks, MKG seems to have multiple. It's easy to tell that the secret characters were a last minute addition, as for example, Sektor's teleport punch can juggle until "Maximum Damage" every time. The addition of weapons and projectiles (to MK4), such as rocks ad skulls, littered around the terrain only help to make the game even more unbalanced. The gameplay just screams sloppy and rushed, which is really sad since they've had over two years to touch it up.

The AI in MKG hasn't come very far since even MK3. Your computer opponent still performs air defense moves the second your jumping animation begins and when he gets low on health, you can expect to be thrown multiple times. Of course, if you yourself employ cheap tactics, the AI will fall to its knees.

Mortal Kombat Gold controls fairly well with the Dreamcast controller, but there's still a problem with using the left and right triggers to block and run. Don't fret. Any control issues that arise due to the DC's unfriendly controller can be solved by picking up the Agetec Arcade Stick.

The sound effects and music are about all that remains of the series' better days. Many of the returning characters have their original grunts and groans from MK2, however, hearing them makes you wish you were off playing the superior game.