Killer Instinct is one of the most highly remembered old school fighting games of the 90's, and it had the same popularity as other fighting games like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. This game is one of the most highly remembered, yet faded games of the 1990's, and it's history is legendary.
Plot. In the near future, a very powerful megacorporation known as Ultratech has replaced all governments and hosts a tournament called Killer Instinct. Along with other regular participants, the company has competitors of it's own, and it's a group of genetically engineered robots and mutants to test their abilities in order to produce mass quantities of them. Ultratech also discovers a technology to make bridges between dimensions, and from that prison, they release a two-headed monster named Eyedol. Certain people such as Jago, a ninja monk, and his sister Black Orchid, an undercover spy working as a secretary for the company, enter the tournament to collapse the company to the ground.
The game can be played in tournament mode, or a 2P versus against a friend or family member. My favorite characters are: Jago, Fulgore, Glacius, Riptor, and Orchid. Players will spend hours of fun and excitement with this fighting game.
Concept. In tournament mode, players must fight against all fighters of the game, including themselves in order to reach the reigning champion of the tournament, the other dimensional being, Eyedol. Depending on what character the player chooses, he/she can see the ending of one of them after beating the game.
Design. Killer Instinct's design is like the same concept of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Like Mortal Kombat, the sprites are rendered in 2D, and looks almost realistic. Some morbid backgrounds in the respective stages of the characters look really good, which fits a post-apocalyptic future like setting.
Memories. In 1995, during the school year, a friend of mine had a SNES and showed me the cartridge. It was black colored, and I could tell that the game was really awesome since then. I played the game for the first time since then, but later when I went to another school in 1996, I didn't play it again. Then in 1997, I played Killer Instinct Gold on the Nintendo 64 during the summer at my cousin's house. Besides playing Killer Instinct Gold, we also played other great N64 titles like: Star Fox, Mario Kart 64, and Wave Race, oh the memories.
Tips and Strategies. To easily defeat your opponents, you have to study their movements and attack patterns. Riptor can be very quick and nifty, easily performing a lot of combos on you. If you can catch him off guard while getting away from him, give it all you got if you can perform an ultra combo against him. Eyedol is the final boss of the game, and he can hurt you bad with his club, and to permanently put him down, make a superb punch strong enough to push him off the bridge. I usually use Jago, since his attack patterns mimics those of Ryu's in Street Fighter.
Rantings. Sometimes the moves can be excruciating to perform, because sometimes you will be confused on what different movements and patterns you have to use. Sometimes, when fighting in Tournament Mode, Riptor will get to your nerves very easily, because his dinosaur like combos pack a punch.
Good Aspects. The game has very high replay value, and it's history is legendary. Players will enjoy the game playing it in Tournament or against friends and family alike in 2P Versus. This is a great game, and I really wish they would make a remake of it.
Legacy. Killer Instinct was very successful since it's release in 1994 and then in 1995 on the Super Nintendo and Game Boy. The success of the first game prompted Rare to make a sequel for the Arcades. In 1997, Killer Instinct 2 was released, and it was most successful than the first game. The second game featured new characters and a new main antagonist, Gargos. The second game was also put on the Nintendo 64, being re-titled as Killer Instinct Gold.
Overall. This has to be one of my most favorite fighting games of all time. It is very memorable, and you can either play it on an emulator, or if you still have your SNES, you can play it if you have the game as well. Killer Instinct gets a 10 out of 10