Personally, and apparently I'm the minority opinion here, but I enjoyed Mortal Kombat Trilogy, the extension of UMK3, far more than MK2. I agree with all of you that MK2 did take it more seriously, and to be honest, that is exactly what I don't like about it. It is a difference of taste. I love Mortal Kombat because it is an intently over-the-top surreal fighting game parody. Or, at least it was as MK3 and MK4. Mortal Kombat Trilogy has a sense of cocky showmanship that takes the over-the-topness to a level that you can only get with cocky sarcasm and never with realism, in my honest opinion. The fatalities were far more flashy in MK3. MK2 fatalities were far bloodier, and I suspect that is why most fans like them more. In MK3 Stryker would jump over, strap on a bomb, jump back, plug his ears, then KABOOOM! In MK3 Smoke would let loose a barrage of bombs, then we see the entire world explode! In MK3 Sektor would bring out a huge claw and completely squish the opponent. In MK2, all you get is people split in half and heads ripped off. There is some sarcasm in the friendships, but nothing to the level of sarcasm of MK3. To me, a gory fatality is awesome, but a comical, gory, sarcastic one with showmanship if priceless. MK3 is the latter. MK3 also had far better digitizing of kombatants and arenas. I am not talking about style here, just technicals. The style, just like style in anything, can be debated endlessly. What I am talking about is technically the kombatants and arenas were clearer and had better frame rates. Also, personally, I like the style better too. More surreal, again. More showmanship. The storyline was also more expansive. MK2 was very, in my opinion too, simplistic with its storyline. MK3 is what broadened it and made it more accessible as a true mythology and not just a short story. MK3 is what started the story being more archetypal and legendary, and not simply like old karate movies which is as creative as MK1 and MK2 got with the story. I like UMK3 far better than MK3 and MKT far better than UMK3. MK3 was, unfortunately, still trying too hard for real and not surreal. UMK3, with its new backgrounds and larger story, really brought MK into being surreal. MKT, for me at least, gave it a sense of completeness. Why have every kombatant in the 2D series and leave out five? Raiden, Baraka, Goro, Johnny Cage, and Kintaro. Also, the four alternate kombatants gave the series a sense of completeness as well; as well as a glimpse into the nostalgic past; as did revitalizing the arenas from MK1 and MK2. I am far more a fan of MK3 than MK2. And my favorite version of MK3 is MKT. I prefer it for a more legendary story, better graphics, surreal atmosphere, and better showmanship in fatalities. And I prefer MKT for having all of this plus completeness and nostalgia. MKT is the best 2D MK, and I am talking the non N64 versions. MKT rocks, and that is my take on it all!