Fighting games are amazing, there is no question about that. I have been enamored with the genre ever since I first played Mortal Kombat 2 when I was just five years old ( which may explain why I am the way I am today). There is just something amazing about fighters that other games do not have. They bring out the best in competition and craft amazing worlds for the fights to take place in. The modern era of fighting games has brought us so many gems, but the game that stands out as the best to me, is Killer Instinct 2013.
Killer Instinct’s modern incarnation is everything a fighter should be. The full version has amazing online play, plenty for single players, and enough content to keep you coming back for more. The developers took the games that came before, and built on them to create a game that exemplifies the best of the best. From the music, to the animation to the intense combat, Killer Instinct is the complete package.
One reason Killer Instinct stands out to me, is the tutorial. Killer Instinct’s tutorial is perhaps the greatest tutorial in a fighting game ever, with the only contender being Guilty Gear Revelator, and even that doesn’t surpass KI. The tutorial will teach you not just how to play the game, but also how to play any fighting game. There is the saying “easy to learn but difficult to master” but KI goes above and beyond to ensure that everyone playing will have the resources to become a master.
Then we have the characters. The classic characters are all back and given new redesigns that improve on many flaws. TJ Combo is a much more interesting character now, and Thunder is no longer an offensive stereotype. Some like Cinder have new personalities that help them stand out in a good way, and some like Eyedol have been given redesigns to give them more of their own identity rather than just being a reference to something else from pop culture. The new characters like Hisako and Mira show that the game could easily add new characters that can stand well with the originals. Add in the guest characters, and you have a game that goes above and beyond what is expected of a fighter.
KI’s amazing visuals were matches only by the excellent music by people like Mick Gordon, who gave us some of the most memorable tune in gaming. But the music also goes a step further by interacting with the gameplay and including changes to factor in striking an opponent.
Obviously I must also mention the gameplay, and that is where the game shines brightest. An amazing netcode that allowed flawless online play made this a favourite for me. The fighting here was heads and shoulders above what I was seeing in Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, and I saw a real attempt to add more innovation. The game built on the combat from previous entries and brought new ideas like combo breaking a combo breaker for example. The story was done differently but handled well, and I found myself realizing that Killer Instinct 2013, despite its lackluster launch, ended up as the greatest fighting game of the modern era so far. I do not know when it will be surpassed but for now, KI reigns as king.
Disclaimer: The above was the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of ROG or its staff.