When the first Mortal Kombat hit arcades, it was a popular success, despite causing controversy for its intense violence (which was realistic due to the use of digitized actors and the inclusion of finishing moves known as Fatalities), which would lead to the creation of the ESRB (which allowed companies to make games for a certain age groups). The success would result in the creation of a sequel, Mortal Kombat II. The opening scene in the arcade version would reveal more backstory, revealing Shang Tsung's purpose of taking over the Mortal Kombat tournament (called the Shaolin tournament) and his defeat at the hands of Liu Kang. Afterwards, Shang Tsung is facing execution for his failure at the hands of the game's main antagonist, Shao Kahn, but manages to beg for a second chance, as the emperor restores his youth and allows him to lure the warriors of Earth to their home realm of Outworld, which includes having the mutant Baraka (this is long before his species was revealed as Tarkatan) attack the shaolin temple Liu Kang is from, and even kidnapping Sonya Blade and Kano. So, this game is a complete improvement over the first game, and proves how sequels should be done. In this game, you get twelve characters to choose from, seven returning fighters in Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, and even Shang Tsung and Reptile (the latter two being boss characters last game, with this game being the first to make them playable), but also five new fighters in Baraka, Jax, Kung Lao, Kitana, and Mileena. Three secret bosses, Smoke, Jade, and Noob Saibot, can be fought in Goro's Lair after meeting certain conditions, and Kintaro, a tiger Shokan, and Shao Kahn serve as the non-playable bosses to beat. The gameplay is like the first game: You and your opponent (either the computer or a second player) fight in a two out of three match. The winner is the one who wins two rounds, with the second round win triggering the "Finish Him/Her" message, allowing the winner to perform a finishing move. And boy, did they not disappoint. Each character now has five finishing moves: two fatalities, which are the finishing moves from the first game, a stage fatality for the Kombat Tomb and The Pit II, and Babality and a Friendship. The latter two were introduced in this game as Midway's idea at poking fun at the controversy of the last game, Babality turns your opponent into a baby, and Friendships have your character doing a random act that spares the opponent (like dancing or selling a ninja doll). The gameplay and graphics have improved. Characters look more detailed and the stages are very imaginative and detailed. Controls are better in this game, and the game has some tough challenges (good luck beating Kintaro without continues).