Killer Instinct
Discover your Killer Instinct! The legendary fighting franchise is back with over-the-top action, a wild cast of combatants, rocking reactive music, and C-C-C-COMBO BREAKERS!!! Choose your ultimate combatants each with fluid animations, unique combat tactics, and enthralling special attacks. Use the open-ended combo system to rack up huge combos as your opponent looks for openings to break you and turn the tides of battle. Go online and compete against players from all over the world, or master your combat skills with in-depth tutorials and intelligent AI combatants. FEATURES: • Extensive cast of powerful combatants with tons of customization options including Retro Costumes and Accessories. • 20 Stages with dynamic stage environments. • Award winning audio • Competitive online matches. • Unique, well balanced characters to fit your fighting style. • Test your skill online in Ranked Leagues.
Game Discussion
Steam User 19
GODLIKE! Underrated af, this is the HYPEST and the FAIREST fighting game out there. Marvelous for mashers and FG pros alike. Seriously, a gift from the Gaming Gods given the tumultuous conditions this game was made under. Try it for free! #BringBackKI
Summary:
✅ Godlike well-balanced gameplay with the perfect game speed.
✅ Godlike netcode with crossplay and every game mode imaginable.
✅ Godlike fairness with the combo breaker and the counter breaker systems.
✅ Godlike innovation with the shadow AI that has now become the standard in the genre.
✅ Godlike (and the craziest) roster. The most unique characters in the genre along with wildly unique gimmicks. Cinder may be trash-tier, but his gimmicks and personality are God-tier.
✅ Godlike tutorial teaches everything about the game and plenty of advanced tech in the genre. Full-fledged practice mode with dedicated practice for combo breakers...DUDE!
✅ Godlike sound design that no one in the genre has the b*lls to replicate. The sync during ultra combos is the stuff of legends. Godlike "Hypeman" announcer too!
✅ Godlike soundtrack with some of the dopest dynamic tracks you'll fight to. Cinder, Omen, Orchid, TJ, Thunder, Hisako, Maya et al. have eargasm-tier themes.
✅ Godlike detail and design on non-human character models. The human skin textures look a bit dated though - it did release in 2013.
✅ Godlike environments that react to the action on screen. Godlike particle effects that don't violate the eyes like Tekken 8 - just look at the ice on Glacius and fire on Cinder!
❌ Godlike innovation also gave us the season pass and microtransaction model that fubar-ed the genre. While KI is free to play and still fit everything within the full price range, greedy a$$ devs + publishers make fighting games cost upwards of $200 with this damn model.
❌ UnGodlike: Slightly intrusive microtransactions that impact the fantastic roguelike Shadow Lords mode. No need to purchase them to finish this mode, but it's scummy nonetheless. FU Microsoft, I won't blame the devs.
❌ UnGodlike: Given the shift in devs, composers, and the overall MS situation, seasonal content feels disjointed. Season 2 has a killer arcade mode, but season 3 doesn't. Season 1's arcade isn't as fleshed out as Season 2's. Wish all characters had ultimates also!
Steam User 15
One of the best fighting game revivals and a proper example on how to revitalize a sleeping IP.
Each character is unique, gameplay is buttery smooth, dynamic battle soundtrack, awesome art style, lagless online matches, the complete package is a just a chef's kiss.
For anyone out there itchin' to play something fresh that isnt' Street Fighter, Tekken, Marvel VS Capcom, this one is a JACKPOT.
I got a full rostered game for just 10 bucks and that.. you cannot beat.
Steam User 11
Hear and feel every hit. Discover the joy of two-way interaction in a fighting game. You won't regret it.
Full disclosure, I worked on Anniversary Edition.
Steam User 10
This is a great game. It is fairly evident why this is easily a top 10 fighting game of all time. There is a wide selection of characters and they feel unique. Unlike other fighting games I've played this one features a combo assist which I was unsure about at first but over time I preferred using the combo assist because I am trash at consistently doing the 1/4 circle and 1/2 circle motions correctly. This combo assist can be used in Ranked game play as well to help compensate for people who can't consistently hit combos however it limits your ceiling for being unpredictable with your combos.
While I have the paid version of Killer Instinct it became free to play not too long ago and it lets free players use whatever character is in the free rotation for a period of time. Online play is still slightly active and has cross-play. I mostly did the Shadow Lords mode and ranked/casual games.
The music is fantastic. The announcer and sound effects are very good as well. I really like the stages and looks of Killer Instinct. Where this game lacks the most is the story modes for each character. It feels really low end and not interesting which is unfortunate given how well the actual gameplay is.
I certainly recommend playing Killer Instinct if you are a fan of fighting games. The combo system is different from other fighting games I've played but it isn't overly difficult and it feels rewarding when you are in your opponents head by easily breaking their combos or sustaining long combos of your own. I've played the Killer Instinct on SNES as well but not on N64. I have to say I am bit surprised another Killer Instinct has not come out by now given how well received this title was and how highly regarded it is.
Steam User 9
I got the free version of this game on a Steam Giveaway. The game is a blast to play, very fun and the combo assist allows anyone to make some crazy and fun combos. I played the original KI on SNES and KI Gold (KI 2) on the Nintendo 64, I loved both games and I am happy that the Killer Instinct feeling is very strong here on this new reboot. If you love fighting games, you should definetely play it. The only thing I think is missing would be a proper Story Mode. It has the Shadow Lords mode, which is kinda a Story Mode, but more focused on Missions. Anyway, this is a great fighting game!
Steam User 9
If you've got an open mind, and are willing to dive into a fighting game with its own unique mechanics, Killer Instinct is worth a try. Especially when considering the fact that the game Is free to play with a rotating playable character as well another free character unlocked through Shadow Lords mode.
However, the game is NOT a typical free to play game; Killer Instinct released on the Xbox One as a full game, and was meant to be experienced as such. By paying nearly HALF of the price of the average fighting game on the market, you get the COMPLETE experience along with a couple of cosmetics available to obtain through gameplay. With this in mind, $30 is certainly a reasonable price. I haven't even mentioned the excellent soundtrack and graphics, either.
Whether online or local, there's plenty of modes and content to experience. Killer Instinct does have its faults, but being a "freemium" title isn't one of them! If you're interested, give the game a fair chance.
TLDR: I highly recommend if you are willing to pay $30 for the complete experience. Don't be misled by some of the negative reviews. Don't be fooled by my Steam playtime either. I've enjoyed this game since it released in 2013.
Steam User 8
A great classic fighting game! A wonderful update from the classic 90's KI games!