I remember reading about MK I in magazines. It was first at a local Marsh grocery store. Played it all the time. Beat a kid once, and he and his two goons followed me outside after and wanted to fight. I walked away, they pursued. Chased me home only to get met by one of my older brothers who took the three of them down with minimal effort. Turns out one had a knife, the one who wanted to fight me.....
Ended up saving money doing chores to buy MK I on SNES. Got it for myself for my bday. Always saw people doing cool shit with Scorpion, so played him mainly. Amazing game. Remember the Reptile fight being insanely difficult, not sure if I ever beat him. Remember a friend having a Genesis and seeing the blood code for the first time. Then felt a bit slighted that I didn't see blood in my SNES version
MK II was something else man. I studied the sheet outta this game. I knew every move for every character, seriously. I wrote down everyone's complete move list to give to my oldest brother as he set off to Purdue. He would go on to win a few hundred dollars because he would use that list and practice. Liu Kang was his go to. Also remember a hidden "start menu" where Shao Khan and Kintaro would beat the shit out of the Accliamed logo. Think you had to hold in L+R and Start before turning on the power. I remember the Toasty dude, and trying to time uppercuts to get to the secret Ermac (?) fight.
Wasn't Noob Siabot, Smoke and Jade all in this one too, as secret characters?? Good lord MK II was legendary at the time.
Stepped away from the franchise for a bit after UMK III, which I recall being alright, but not enjoying as much as MK II.
MK 11 has been insane. I never get to the point, on any fighting game, where I am good enough to go against other players, but this game almost got me there with how long I played.