The newly released Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection has made history by reviving the long-lost WaveNet Edition of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. This edition was never officially launched and had been considered “lost media” until now. Fans of the franchise can finally experience this obscure version of the game, thanks to the efforts of developer Digital Eclipse.
Originally, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was released in arcades in 1995. Over the years, it saw multiple updates, with the WaveNet Edition intended to introduce online multiplayer features and additional playable characters. Despite being tested in select arcades in Chicago and San Francisco, the WaveNet Edition was never widely released due to the high costs associated with its online network, which required expensive T1 lines.
The ROMs for this version were not publicly available until the launch of the Legacy Kollection. Stephen Frost, head of production at Digital Eclipse, explained in a recent interview that they had not initially considered the possibility of reviving the WaveNet Edition. The team was primarily focused on older games, where the expectation of finding preserved materials was low.
One of the key figures in the project’s revival was Stephanie Brownback, a QA lead at NetherRealm Studios. She prompted the Digital Eclipse team to explore the potential of the WaveNet Edition. The breakthrough came when they were able to connect with Mike Boon, brother of Ed Boon, who was instrumental in the Mortal Kombat franchise. Boon owned a version of the WaveNet Edition and provided the necessary ROM dumps for the project.
Emulation programmer Daniel Filner played a critical role in getting the game operational. He worked on the provided ROMs, which included approximately 25 to 26 files. Filner noted that while many of the files matched known names from the arcade game database MAME, the main program contained crucial modifications. His task was to ensure that the game logic, including balance adjustments and bug fixes, was functional.
Interestingly, the WaveNet Edition does not malfunction when it cannot connect to the original Midway servers. Instead, it gracefully defaults to a standard gameplay mode, similar to the original Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. Filner explained that when the game starts, it attempts to connect to WaveNet but continues to operate normally if the connection fails.
Despite its revival, the WaveNet Edition is not without its flaws. The developers acknowledge that the game was never fully completed due to its lack of an official release. Filner undertook the challenge of identifying and fixing bugs within the ROM files, but many aspects of the game remain a mystery. As Frost noted, the absence of comprehensive documentation means that significant elements are still unknown.
The community’s involvement will be crucial in uncovering the finer details of the WaveNet Edition. Players are encouraged to compare their experiences and share findings regarding the differences between this edition and the original game. Frost expressed excitement about the potential for community-driven exploration, emphasizing the need for collaboration to document any changes and improvements.
The launch of Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection not only revives a piece of gaming history but also invites fans to engage in the ongoing discovery of its secrets. As players dive into the WaveNet Edition, they participate in a unique journey that celebrates the legacy of the Mortal Kombat franchise.
