IGN lists the seven most brutal Mortal Kombat fatalities

"Ouch." That's what many gamers say whenever they see a Mortal Kombat fatality. IGN has counted down the seven most brutal ones in the franchise's history.

A 20 year retrospective of Mortal Kombat by Gamespot

20 years.

That's how long it's been since Mortal Kombat (MK) made its controversial debut. The fatalities of the first MK game in 1992 caused an outcry from parents who didn't want their kids to see violence of that magnitude.

Today, MK is one of the most highest grossing fighting games on the market. Its longevity is nothing short of impressive. Even though MK may not be a favorite on the competitive side, one can't deny its place in fighting game history.

Watch Gamespot's 20 year retrospective below:

Blast From the Past: Interview with Mortal Kombat 1 Cast

Old school.

In 1992, Midway released Mortal Kombat in Arcades and home consoles such as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Sega Genesis and others. The controversial title introduced fatalities and violence never seen before in a fighting game.

To make the game more realistic, Ed Boon and John Tobias utilized a real cast to produce digital sprites. Watch the 1992 interview with the original cast posted by MK Legacy below: