What do the words “Finish Him” mean to you? For most of us, the call brings to mind the thrill of victory, that telling sound, and some unspeakable violence. Heads uppercut off of shoulders. Bodies split down the middle. For the 27 years we’ve been playing Mortal Kombat, fatalities have been at the heart of what’s drawn us to the series. The nature of that heart, however, has changed quite a bit. In 1992, Mortal Kombat’s explicit but rudimentary depictions of violence were considered shocking, even vulgar. In 2019, the most popular TV show in America is among the goriest on the air. We aren’t so easily shocked anymore. In Mortal Kombat 11, fatalities still find ways to excite us though; Not by grossing us out or pushing our buttons, as most people assume, but by being clever, funny, and, as always, giving us a way to gloat that’s far more satisfying than the sassiest emote. As Mortal Kombat’s bloody crown jewels, Fatalities cleverly surprise and delight, while giving us a uniquely satisfying chance to revel in victory.