Unlike later, slower 3D entries, MK4 retained much of the "speed" from the 2D era.
As the tournament progresses, the characters face off against Shinnok's minions and other opponents. Along the way, they discover that Shinnok's plan is to use the Soul of Onaga, the ancient dragon, to gain ultimate power. Mortal Kombat 4
However, the game faced criticism for its character design. The departure from digitized sprites meant the characters looked "plastic" or "blocky" compared to the hand-drawn artistry of Street Fighter III or the fluid motion capture of rival games. Additionally, the "New Era" characters—specifically Jarek and Tanya—were often cited by fans as some of the least interesting additions in series history. Unlike later, slower 3D entries, MK4 retained much