Summary

Release Year: 1994
Genres: Fighting
Platforms: Arcade, Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Developers: Rare
Publishers: Midway, Nintendo, Playtronic

Killer Instinct (1994): A Revolutionary Fighting Game

Killer Instinct is a fighting game developed by Rare and published by Midway and Nintendo. It was released as an arcade game in the fall of 1994 and, the following year, ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the Game Boy. The game’s plot involves an all-powerful corporation organising a fighting tournament. The story was adapted in a limited comic book series published under the short-lived Acclaim Comics imprint.

Killer Instinct was a critical and commercial success, praised for its innovative gameplay, stunning graphics, and memorable characters. It is considered one of the greatest fighting games of all time and has been ranked among the best games ever made by several publications.

Gameplay

Killer Instinct features several gameplay elements unique to fighting games of the time. Instead of fighting enemies in best-of-three rounds bouts, each player has two life bars. The player that depletes the other player’s life bars first wins the match. This system makes for more intense and strategic matches, as players have to be more careful not to get hit.

The game also introduced “auto-doubles”, a feature which allows players to press a certain sequence of buttons to make characters automatically perform combos on opponents. This feature made the game more accessible to new players, as they could perform complex combos without having to memorize long button sequences.

Also featured in the game are “combo breakers”, special defensive moves that can interrupt combos. This feature added an extra layer of depth to the game’s combat, as players had to learn how to use combo breakers effectively to avoid being juggled into oblivion.

Characters

Killer Instinct features a cast of 12 characters, each with their own unique fighting style and special moves. The characters include:

Jago: A martial artist who fights with a combination of punches, kicks, and fireballs.
Sabrewulf: A werewolf who fights with a combination of claws, teeth, and agility.
Fulgore: A cyborg who fights with a combination of lasers, rockets, and brute strength.
Glacius: An ice elemental who fights with a combination of ice blasts, freezing attacks, and teleportation.
Cinder: A pyromancer who fights with a combination of fireballs, flamethrowers, and explosions.
Spinal: A necromancer who fights with a combination of bones, skulls, and dark magic.
T.J. Combo: A breakdancer who fights with a combination of punches, kicks, and flips.
Riptor: A dinosaur who fights with a combination of claws, teeth, and tail attacks.
Eyedol: A giant stone monster who fights with a combination of punches, kicks, and eye beams.
Shadow Jago: An evil version of Jago who fights with a combination of Jago’s moves and dark energy.
Orchid: A ninja who fights with a combination of throwing knives, kunai, and teleportation.
Maya: A shaman who fights with a combination of animal spirits, elemental magic, and curses.

Development

Killer Instinct was developed by Rare, a British video game developer known for their work on games such as Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, and Perfect Dark. The game was directed by Ken Lobb and produced by Chris Tilston. The game’s soundtrack was composed by Graeme Norgate and Robin Beanland.

Killer Instinct was developed using Rare’s own proprietary game engine, the Killer Instinct Engine. This engine was designed to push the Super Nintendo hardware to its limits and allowed the game to achieve stunning graphics and smooth gameplay.

Reception

Killer Instinct was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay, stunning graphics, and memorable characters. It was also a commercial success, selling over 2 million copies worldwide.

Killer Instinct has been ranked among the best games ever made by several publications. In 2010, IGN ranked the game as the 13th best video game of all time. In 2012, GamesRadar ranked the game as the 25th best video game of all time.

Legacy

Killer Instinct has had a lasting impact on the fighting game genre. The game’s innovative gameplay elements, such as auto-doubles and combo breakers, have been adopted by other fighting games. The game’s characters have also become iconic figures in the fighting game community.

In 2013, Microsoft Studios released a new Killer Instinct game for the Xbox One. The new game was developed by Double Helix Games and Iron Galaxy Studios. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to revive interest in the Killer Instinct franchise.

Killer Instinct is a classic fighting game that deserves its place among the best games ever made. The game’s innovative gameplay, stunning graphics, and memorable characters make it a must-play for any fan of the fighting game genre.