Killer Instinct 2

Last Updated: 6/1/2010 Developer(s): Rareware Publisher(s): Midway, Nintendo Designer(s): Chris Tilston, Kevin Bayliss, Mark Betteridge Platform(s): Arcade, Nintendo 64 (As Killer Instinct Gold) Release Date(s): 1995 Characters:  Orchid, Jago, Combo, Glacius, Maya, Tusk, Kim Wu, Sabrewulf, Fulgore, Spinal, Gargos Featured Video: Related Games: Killer Instinct, Killer Instinct Gold , Samurai Shodown 3, King of Fighters '95, Darkstalkers 2, Fatal Fury 3, Street Fighter Alpha, Marvel Super Heroes, Mortal Kombat 3 Gameplay Engine  7.5 / 10 Story / Theme  7 / 10 Overall Graphics  8 / 10 Animation  8 / 10 Music / Sound Effects  9 / 10 Innovation  6.5 / 10 Art Direction  8 / 10 Customization  7.5 / 10 Options / Extras  5 / 10 Intro / Presentation  7.5 / 10 Replayability / Fun  7 / 10 "Ouch" Factor  9 / 10 Characters  7 / 10 BOTTOM LINE 7.8 / 10  Review based on Arcade version Final Words: Although the sequel didn't come close to living up to the original's success or hype, KI2 was a decent arcade fighter. I enjoyed the original much much better, although I did play the hell out of KI Gold. ~TFG Webmaster

STORY:  Eyedol's death at the hands of Orchid in the previous game accidentally set off a time warp sending everyone back 2000 years and allowed Gargos to escape from Limbo. Now, 2000 years in the past, warriors that survived Killer Instinct (1) and several new faces fight for the right to face the Demon Lord Gargos in combat. Some, like T.J. Combo, just want to get home. Others, like Tusk, want to bring an end to Gargos and his reign of evil. This time there is no tournament or prize money, just a fight to the finish with the fate of the future hanging in the balance.   The selection screen animated portraits were badass. REVIEW:  Killer Instinct 2 was the surprise sequel to the somewhat underrated arcade hit, Killer Instinct. All the 2D character sprites, animations and stages were completely redone and look significantly different from the first game.   Welcome to the jungle... Stage backgrounds were done using "scaling" FMV graphics, having pre-set animations of their own as characters moved back and forth. It was a much different look than the first KI, and perhaps didn't quite live up to the original. Also, there were zero stages which offered the epic camera angles seen in the first game (when a fighter was knocked up into the air). Definitely a disappointment, but the character sprites looked decent at least.   Spinal's ship was the effin' bomb. The game engine also underwent quite a few changes. Throws were added to the system, to remedy players who over-used blocking in the first game. Normal special moves were no longer judged on priority, but instead follow a three tiered  "rock, paper, scissors" system in which certain special moves will always break another special moves... (the system was actually considered flawed in high level play so I've heard). A new super meter was added to store energy for super moves and super linkers. On top of the gameplay tweaks, many new moves and changes were made to the returning characters, of which were decent... but unfortunately Chief Thunder, Riptor, and Cinder did not return... which was possibly Killer Instinct 2's BIGGEST flaw. They were staple characters!!! How could they?!