Killer Instinct is finally here and boy it’s been a long time coming. Ever since the last Killer Instinct was released on the Nintendo 64, fans have been begging for a new entry ever since. Their wishes came true when Microsoft announced that a remake will be on its way for the Xbox One launch. This announcement also bought a few concerns and got fans worried that the popular fighter might not bring the same sense of aura as the original but thankfully that’s not the case.

Running at 60 frames per second, Killer Instinct looks stunning with stellar graphics. The game sees the the return of several characters like Jago, Sabrewulf, Orchid, Thunder and others, backed up by some inspiring animation and movements. The background sound and the overall menu structure has been implemented well which gives the game its very own “arcade-like” feel.

"Killer Instinct franchise is well known for its amusing announcers, crazy combos and ultras that players are able to pull off with a combination of buttons. Double Helix has managed to keep that same magic and take it to a new level thanks to the next-generation hardware."

Killer Instinct franchise is well known for its amusing announcers, crazy combos and ultras that players are able to pull off with a combination of buttons. Double Helix has managed to keep that same magic and take it to a new level thanks to the next-generation hardware. If you’ve played previous Killer Instinct games then you’d know what to expect and you’ll be quite happy with how it turned out

The game introduces a training mode called as Dojo which I found to be a perfect fit for beginners. Dojo Mode teaches players every single mechanic and fighting technique that the game has to offer. When I first saw the game for the first time I didn’t think the fighting system was in-depth. Once I tried Dojo Mode I made myself acquainted with several moves that each character offered. Not only did it taught me how to pull off certain techniques in the game but it also let me practice it step-by-step via small video clips that show off combos and detailed text descriptions that explained everything to the fullest.

It wouldn’t be a fighting game if it didn’t have a versus, survival and the online modes. In versus mode you can choose to play against players locally, CPU or even CPU vs CPU and watch them duke-it out at whatever difficulty level you choose. Xbox Live lets you play against other people online and you are given a choice to play either ranked or un-ranked matches. The survival mode is nothing but a mini horde mode in which the player needs to face off against a wave of enemies which will continue until your health bar gets depleted. I found both of these to be modes to be rock solid and extremely enjoyable.

"It is disappointing that it has only 8 characters to play with and the lack of a arcade mode is suprising. It is not the best fighter out there but Killer Instinct is a decent return for the franchise."

However it’s quite disappointing that the game doesn’t feature any kind of an official arcade/story mode like other games in the genre. Considering there are only 8 characters at launch you’d think that game would pack in something more for them and have more single-player content instead, but unfortunately that is not the case.

Killer Instinct also introduces Trials which are random challenges that you can accomplish as you play the game. As you complete them you will earn KP which is a currency that can be used to buy stages, cosmetic items that you can put on your characters in the customization menu. It’s an interesting feature that may extend your gameplay time with Killer Instinct.

Killer Instinct is a free-to-play fighting game on the Xbox One that uses somewhat of an interesting micro-transaction model. The free version of Killer Instinct includes a single character which is Jago and it’s needless to say that the game is not a whole lot of fun with one playable character. However, Killer Instinct offers two purchasing options. You can buy the $20 edition which is the regular game with all the launch characters or a $40 Ultimate Edition that includes the classic games as well extra goodies like accessory and costume packs. Furthermore, you can also buy each character for $5 each which I found to be expensive.

Overall, I have mixed feelings with how Killer Instinct turned out. It’s a beautiful game with a great art style and fast-paced combat mechanics. It is disappointing that it has only 8 characters to play with and the lack of a arcade mode is suprising. It is not the best fighter out there but Killer Instinct is a decent return for the franchise.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox One.