Killer Instinct

Spending most of my childhood in arcades I saw a lot of fighting games come and go, from various Street Fighters, to Tekken, SNK Fighters, and Mortal Kombat, but there is one fighting series that holds a special place in my heart. I don’t know why it does exactly. It could have been the stylish graphics for its time, the bass-thumping high-energy soundtrack, or the intense action. Whatever the reason Killer Instinct was my “go-to” arcade machine back then. A sequel was released a few years later that also caught my interest, but nothing lasts forever. As the years passed by arcades closed one-...

Killer Instinct is a beautiful, fun and entertaining fighting game. But the lack of fighters and arcade mode is sorely disappointing.

C-c-c-combo breaking its way into your heart.

Killer Instinct is an incredible fast paced, technical fighter with plenty of Evo tournament potential and ideal for those looking for a combo-centric challenge to master. For the more casual fighting game player it's hard to master and the basics aren't going to cut it once you come face to face with the ridiculous combos that can be unleashed against you. However, right now it's essentially in Beta release; until all planned content is implemented the game's only half done. For now the future's looking bright for the reimaged Killer Instinct. Time will tell.

What gamers will get is a well-balanced fighter that takes time to teach users how to play against foes online and offline — and have fun while doing so. There isn't much to Killer Instinct quite yet, but there's a lot of potential that the resurrected series still has up its sleeves. With additional characters and modes planned to hit by March, 2014, laying down the cash in advance allows fans to experience the frameworks for one of the best fighting games in recent memory. As it stands, the lack of content keeps Killer Instinct from achieving greatness — the lackluster look of the game doesn...

Killer Instinct is by and large a more than satisfying return for a fighting series that's been left on the shelf for far too long. As a modern fighting game, it manages to hold its own against more seasoned stablemates, thanks to its accessibility and hidden depths. Killer Instinct is a superb fighting game that's currently lacking in content. Please sir, can we have some more?

The spirit of Killer Instinct remains sometimes painfully true to its roots, but Double Helix has competently filled the gaps in the original's foundation. They've also laid new groundwork to teach players how fighting games actually work. For now, Killer Instinct feels like a beta — but next year, it could be something much more.