"Killer Instinct shows you the ropes quite well and has a combo system that's fun to execute, though slightly less fun to defend against."
Killer Instinct
The fighting game series that defined high-risk, high-reward combos returns as a free-to-play launch title for the Xbox One, later receiving constant updates with new characters and game modes. It can also be played on Windows 10 systems with cross-platform multiplayer.
Overview
Killer Instinct is back for more Ultra Combos!
Killer Instinct is a free-to-play 2.5D fighting game developed by Double Helix (later by Iron Galaxy) and published by Microsoft for the Xbox One (Platform) (as a launch title) on November 22, 2013. It was later released for the PC (Platform) (running Windows 10) on March 28, 2016, featuring cross-platform play with Xbox One owners. On November 28, 2023, the game received a free next generation update for Xbox Series S and X owners for the game's tenth anniversary.
The game is a same-name reboot of the original Killer Instinct (Franchise) franchise, with assistance from Ken Lobb (Person) (designer of the original game) and Rare. It features classic characters from the series, online multiplayer (including ranked and eight-player lobby matches), multiple single-player and training modes, and character cosmetic customization.
The free download does not come included with a permanent playable fighter (later changed so that protagonist Jago (Character) is unlockable). Instead, one single fighter is made available to everyone, which changes on a weekly basis. Characters are available for purchase à la carte (for $4.99 each) or in various bundles (including the multiple $19.99 Combo Breaker packs, the multiple $39.99 Ultra Edition packs, the $39.99 Definitive Edition pack, and the $59.99 Supreme Edition pack). Players are able to compete against the entire roster both offline and online, regardless of whether they own the opposing character or not.
After the game's development moved to Iron Galaxy, the game has received numerous updates, titled "Seasons" throughout the years. Each Season added new characters (including bonus guest characters from other Microsoft and Rare franchises, such as Halo (Franchise) and Battletoads (Franchise)), stages, game modes, and gameplay mechanics.
Ports of the original arcade versions of Killer Instinct (Game) and Killer Instinct 2 (Game) can be downloaded as a bonus when players purchase the Ultra Edition packs (Season 1 for the first game, Season 2 for the second). Players who own the Supreme Edition pack get both games.
Gameplay
Sabrewulf and Jago battling it out
Killer Instinct is a combo heavy fighting game. The game is a 6 button fighting game with light, medium and heavy kicks and punches. Combos mean everything, maximizing combos will increase the damage a player makes to their opponent, though if a player does not finish a combo with a combo ender the damage output will not be fully maximized. Almost everthing in Killer Instinct can be broken, when a player breaks a combo the player has a chance to counter attack but also has the risk of being broken as well.
Your basic combo follows a structure Opener > Auto > Linker > Auto > Ender.
Openers are Special or Shadow attacks that can start combos. After an Opener, any attack button will start an Auto. An Auto is a chain of two Normals that are basically executed from a single button press. After an Auto, you can preform a Linker, a Special Attack that can extend your combo. You can execute Linkers by using Light or Medium Special Attacks. The last element in a basic combo is an Ender. An Ender is a hard-hitting attack that finishes a combo. Ender power is determinded by the length of your combo. A Ender is executed by using any Heavy Special Attack.
Shadow Attacks are extra-powerful versions of special attacks. They require at least one stock of your Shadow Meter. Earn Shadow Meter by connecting with attacks. The amount of Shadow Meter you have is indicated by the blue rectangles below you character. A Shadow Attack is inputting the same stick motion as a Special Attack but pressing two attack buttons.
Game Modes
- Story Mode - Play through a story mode and unlock a mural, there are 3 different difficulties with a different ending attached to each one.
- Arcade Mode - Play through the entire cast and receive character unique endings
- Versus - Play locally against CPU or a friend.
- Survival - Play against CPU forever.
- Dojo Mode - Separated in Basic and Advanced lessons, here one can be taught Killer Instinct fighting game fundamentals.
- Practice - Practice your killer moves here.
- CPU vs CPU - Pit two AI opponents against each other.
- Trials - Complete quick challenges for XP reward.
- Combo Breaker Training - Practice your combo breaker skills against opponents of multiple skill levels.
- Xbox Live - Here ranked and un-ranked matches (exhibition mode) take place.
- Shadow Lab - Train asynchronous copies of your characters to fight exactly like you online.
Shadow Lords
Introduced with Season 3, Shadow Lords is the main campaign mode of the game. It revolves around weakening the demonic half-god Gargos (Character), who is trying to conquer the world by opening portals and releasing shape-shifting servants (Mimics) to corrupt each continent.
As most of the game's roster are under an alliance, players can form a team of three characters and embark on missions throughout the world, attempting to reduce the corruption of each continent while earning new loot and preventing Gargos from gaining new abilities.
Characters
As of the release of Eagle, the game includes 29 playable characters. As a free-to-play game, each character is locked and most must be purchased (either à la carte or bundled). One fighter is temporarily made playable by all on a weekly basis. The character Shadow Jago is no longer purchasable, and can be unlocked for free through the Shadow Lords game mode.
Season 1
The original roster features six fighters, with Spinal released on January 30, 2014 and Fulgore released on March 27, 2014.
| Character Name | Stage | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Fulgore (Character) | UltraTech Industries | Killer Instinct (Game) (1994) |
| Glacius (Character) | Crash Site | Killer Instinct (Game)(1994) |
| Jago (Character) | Tiger's Lair | Killer Instinct (Game) (1994) |
| Orchid | Rebel Outpost | Killer Instinct (Game) (1994) |
| Sabrewulf (Character) | Alchemical Lab | Killer Instinct (Game) (1994) |
| Sadira (Character) | Assassin's Cave | New |
| Spinal (Character) | Shipwreck Shore | Killer Instinct (Game) (1994) |
| Thunder | Devil's Landing | Killer Instinct (Game) (1994) |
Season 2
Each character (with the exception of TJ Combo and Maya) in Season 2 were released on a monthly basis from October 2014 to May 2015. The order of release is TJ Combo/Maya, Kan-Ra, Riptor, Omen, Aganos, Hisako, Cinder, and ARIA.
Omen is only available to owners of the Season 2 Ultra Edition and Supreme Edition bundles, as well as the retail Definitive Edition release.
| Character Name | Stage | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Aganos (Character) | Forgotten Grotto | New |
| ARIA (Character) | The Pinnacle | New |
| Cinder (Character) | Fury's Core | Killer Instinct (Game) (1994) |
| Hisako (Character) | Village of Whispers | New |
| Kan-Ra | Forbidden Archive | New |
| Maya (Character) | City of Dawn | Killer Instinct 2 (Game) (1996) |
| Omen (Character) | n/a (Shadow Tiger's Lair) | New |
| Riptor (Character) | Hatchery 09 | Killer Instinct (Game) (1994) |
| T.J. Combo | Downtown Demolition | Killer Instinct (Game) (1994) |
Season 3
The original launch of the Season 3 roster on March 29, 2016 included Kim Wu, Tusk, Arbiter, and Rash. The other four characters were released on a monthly basis from April 2016 to July 2016. The order of this release is Mira, Gargos, General RAAM, and Eyedol.
| Character Name | Stage | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Arbiter | Arena of Judgment | Guest (Halo 2 (Game)) |
| Eyedol (Character) | n/a (Forbidden Archive) | Killer Instinct (Game) (1994) |
| Gargos (Character) | Astral Plane | Killer Instinct 2 (Game) (1996) |
| General RAAM (Character) | n/a (Hatchery 09) | Guest (Gears of War (Game)) |
| Kim Wu (Character) | Chinatown Brawl | Killer Instinct 2 (Game) (1996) |
| Mira | n/a (Alchemical Lab) | New |
| Rash (Character) | n/a (Forbidden Archive) | Guest (Battletoads (Game)) |
| Tusk (Character) | Icehaven | Killer Instinct 2 (Game) (1996) |
Other
Shadow Jago was originally a special skin for Jago that was given to players who purchased a Day One 12-month Xbox Live subscription, but was re-released with his own movesets (as a premium $9.99 download, bundled with KI Gold) on December 4, 2015. He is also available to owners of the retail Definitive Edition release.
Kilgore, a remix character based on Fulgore but with his own moveset, was released as a premium $9.99 download on January 3, 2017. Shin Hisako, another remix character based on Hisako but with her own moveset, was released as premium character for $4.99 on March 21, 2017. Eagle is a new original character that was released on June 27, 2017, included free for Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition and Season 3 Ultra owners, or available to purchase for $4.99.
| Character Name | Stage | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow Jago | Shadow Tiger's Lair | New |
| Kilgore (Character) | n/a | New |
| Shin Hisako | n/a | New |
| Eagle | n/a | New |
Customizations
Jago's alternative costume set
- Character Color Schemes - Killer Instinct allows for different character color schemes for each character.
- Character Accessories - Killer Instinct will also allow accessory customization options. Such as swapping out Jago's mask and sword for something different. Accessories can be purchased by real currency, although all accessories can be unlocked by achieving a certain criteria.
- Classic Skins / Skins - A player can swap the skins of the characters. Classic skins allows the player to use the originals skins of the Killer Instinct roster. Though it is worth noting they are reinterpretations of the classic skins.
Soundtrack
Season 1 Soundtrack
Composed by Mick Gordon the Killer Instinct Official Soundtrack features 10 songs, most of them character specific. The album is being sold along with the original soundtrack from the first game "Killer Cutz".
The entire soundtrack is available to stream on Spotifiy and available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon Music, etc.
| # | Song Title | Artist | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Touch me and I'll break your face | Mick Gordon, Ali Edwards | 5:49 |
| 02 | The Instinct | Mick Gordon | 6:54 |
| 03 | Hinnamatoom | Mick Gordon | 5:51 |
| 04 | Warlord | Mick Gordon | 6:27 |
| 05 | The Tiger Warrior | Mick Gordon | 5:04 |
| 06 | Type-03 | Mick Gordon | 5:23 |
| 07 | Shatterhail | Mick Gordon | 4:45 |
| 08 | Ballet of Death | Mick Gordon | 5:13 |
| 09 | Lycanthropy | Mick Gordon | 9:16 |
| 10 | The End | Mick Gordon | 2:58 |
Season 2 Soundtrack
The season 2 soundtrack was released on August 04, 2015. (Amazon, iTunes) This release also features vintage tracks and remixes from Robin Beanland.
| # | Song Title | Artist | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | I'm Back (to Rise!) | Mick Gordon feat. Omega Sparx | 8:49 |
| 02 | Village of Whispers | Mick Gordon feat. Erika Mariko Olsen | 7:16 |
| 03 | Inferno | Mick Gordon feat. LittleVMills | 7:15 |
| 04 | Temperance & Vengeance | Mick Gordon feat. Ali Edwards | 8:10 |
| 05 | Polemos | Mick Gordon | 6:41 |
| 06 | Sandstorm | Mick Gordon | 6:01 |
| 07 | .execute | Mick Gordon | 7:30 |
| 08 | Hatchery | Mick Gordon | 3:41 |
| 09 | Herald of Gargos | Mick Gordon feat. Grant Kirkhope | 8:55 |
Season 3 Soundtrack
The season 3 soundtrack, composed by Celldweller and Atlas Plug, released October 28, 2016.
| # | Song Title | Artist | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | A Warrior's Journey | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 2:07 |
| 02 | The Dragon Spirit | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 5:19 |
| 03 | For the Horde! | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 5:12 |
| 04 | Enter the Battletoad | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 4:25 |
| 05 | Kneel to Your God | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 5:25 |
| 06 | Nocturne in Blood | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 4:28 |
| 07 | The Champion of Sanghelios | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 5:43 |
| 08 | The Watchman of the Gods | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 4:48 |
| 09 | A Shattered Eyedol | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 4:59 |
Singles for Kilgore, Shin Hisako, & Eagle
Singles for characters released after Season 3, composed by Celldweller and Atlas Plug, released August 25, 2017.
| # | Song Title | Artist | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Kilgore's Theme | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 6:30 |
| 02 | Shin Hisako's Theme | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 5:54 |
| 03 | Eagle's Theme | Celldweller, Atlas Plug | 5:33 |
Branded Accessories
Official MadCatz Killer Instinct Fightstick.
Releasing along side Killer Instinct will be a Mad Catz (Company) Branded Arcade FightStick TE2 for the Xbox One. This fight stick retails for $200.
Links
Similar Games
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- Name
- Killer Instinct
- Release Date
- November 22, 2013
- Platform
- PC (Platform)
Xbox One (Platform)
Xbox Series X (Platform) - Developer
- Publisher
- Genre
- Fighting (Genre)
- Theme
- Martial Arts (Theme)
- Franchise
- Killer Instinct (Franchise)
- Aliases
- Killer Instinct: Season 2
Killer Instinct: Season 3
Killer Instinct 3