If you have spent time playing the fighting action game Mortal Kombat and its various releases throughout the years, then you have surely heard the famous “Finish Him” right before you proceeded to horribly and gruesomely ‘take care’ of your opponent.
In 1992 the first Mortal Kombat game was released, and it introduced gamers of the time with a unique fighting experience characterized by digital graphics, martial arts inspired gameplay and over-the-top violence. In keeping with the game’s violent theme, the game featured ‘fatalities’ allowing players to execute special movies after defeating their opponent to finish them off in a brutal manner.
In the original release the “Finish Him” or the “Finish Her” announcement was made by the announcer after the final round of a match signaling that they could perform a fatality to end the match in a spectacular and often gory fashion.
These fatalities along with the iconic “Finish Him” announcement quickly helped Mortal Kombat to gain popularity and notoriety, making it unique than other fighting games of the time due to its graphic violence.
Over the years, Mortal Kombat has evolved and with each new instalment came better animations, graphics, and even more gruesome fatalities, but the iconic “Finish Him” announcement has been same more or less, once again cuing players to get ready for some epic bloody finishers.
Fans of the game wait eagerly for the announcer to say “Finish Him” to perform fatalities giving conclusion to their intense matches, and since the voice has remained the same it’s a nostalgic callback to the series’ roots.
In recent times the phrase “Finish Him” has transcended its origin in Mortal Kombat and has become recognizable meme and reference in internet culture. It is often used humorously or metaphorically to signify the decisive or conclusive moment in various situations. Various parodies and homages for the phrase have also appeared in various media such as movies and television shows.
“Finish Him” has become a memorable and iconic phrase in the gaming industry, representing the exhilarating and visceral gameplay experience of executing fatalities. Its popularity both within the gaming community and in broader popular culture, showcases the lasting influence of the Mortal Kombat series on the fighting action game genre.
