Killer Instinct (2013 video game)
| Killer Instinct | |
|---|---|
Season One retail cover art
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| Developer(s) |
Double Helix Games Iron Galaxy Studios Rare Microsoft Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft Studios |
| Director(s) |
Ken Lobb Adam Isgreen Michael Donges |
| Producer(s) | Michael Willette |
| Designer(s) | David Verfaillie Adam Heart James Goddard |
| Artist(s) | David Donatucci David Hall |
| Composer(s) |
Mick Gordon Atlas Plug Celldweller |
| Series | Killer Instinct |
| Platform(s) | Xbox One,Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) |
Season One
Season Two
Season Three
|
| Genre(s) | Fighting |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 75% (Season One) 85% (Season Two) 84% (Season Three) |
| Metacritic | 73/100 (Season One) 85/100 (Season Two) 86/100 (Season Three) |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| Edge | 7/10 |
| EGM | 6.5/10 |
| GamesRadar |   |
| Giant Bomb | |
| IGN | 8.4/10 |
| Joystiq | |
| OXM (US) | 7.5/10 |
| Hardcore Gamer | 4/5 |
Killer Instinct is a fighting video game, the third in the Killer Instinct series, developed by Double Helix Games, Iron Galaxy Studios, Rare and Microsoft Studios under supervision of Ken Lobb, and released as a free-to-play launch game for the Xbox One in 2013. The game is a reboot of the series, though some plot elements from Killer Instinct and Killer Instinct 2 have been retained. Development of the game involves individuals with histories in fighting games on both the developmental and competitive sides. It received positive reviews for its mechanics and engine, but was criticized for its initial lack of content. A second season of characters was released between 2014 and 2015. A third season, along with a port of the game for Windows 10, has been released on March 29, 2016.
Killer Instinct is a return to the series which retains its traditional combo-based gameplay. The main mechanic of combos are the openers (special attacks that start combos), "Auto-Double" (button presses following special attacks will create automatic combo hits instead of each individual hit requiring player input), linkers (required between auto-doubles to extend the combo), finishers (solidify the potential damage of the combo) as well as "Manuals" (attacks that don't fit in the preceding combo system). A signature feature of Killer Instinct, the Ultra Combo, is included (an Ultra Combo is an automatic combo that can only be done to end a match and consists of a long string of attacks). "Combo Breakers" also return (attacks that, when executed properly, can stop an opponent's combo), with the new addition of "Counter Breakers" (the ability to reverse an opponent's Combo Breaker into a "Lockout" instead, the failure state of a Combo Breaker which prevents another breaker attempt for three seconds or when the current combo ends). The Season Two update added the ability to use Combo Breakers and Counter Breakers even when in the air, as well as an "Aerial Recapture" option that allows certain characters to attack opponents in the air and pull them down to the ground to continue their combos. A two-segmented meter enables the use of "Shadow" moves that have upgraded hit properties and can cause more damage/combo hits, though certain characters' meters function differently. All characters can use a Shadow Counter, a variation of Alpha Counters from the Street Fighter Alpha series, while blocking to instantly cancel into a shadow attack.
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