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| GENRE |
| Fighting |
| DEVELOPER |
| Rare |
| PUBLISHER |
| Nintendo |
| NUMBER OF PLAYERS |
| 1-2 |
| CONTROLLER PAK |
| yes |
| RUMBLE PAK |
| no |
| RAM PAK |
| no |
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Killer Instinct Gold
Think back to 1995… The Nintendo Ultra 64 had been delayed to the following year, the original KI and all of its incredible 64-bit potential had been watered-down and ported to the Super NES, and a lackluster follow-up with several new fighters substituted in for a couple of old favorites hit the arcades. And though the original KI arcade machines promised a 64-bit release in ’95, it was never to be. KI2, renamed to KI Gold, was substituted in for a December ’96 release shortly after the N64 launch. Being the only N64 fighting game out that year besides the horrific Mortal Kombat Trilogy, genre aficionados had no other alternative, and to some extent, still don’t.
visuals
Graphically sub-par in the arcades next to the first KI, KI2 almost looked like a Super NES game and easily portable to that system whereas the first seemed destined for 64-bits. Again, two-dimensional sprite characters fight in three-dimensional, real-time backgrounds – a real accomplishment for Rare in their experimental days with the system. Clearly a first-generation N64 title, there are abundant black lines between polygons and blurry textures to be found. Special effects like finishing moves, fireballs, and transforming attacks look nice, though short-lived.
audio
Though there was no free soundtrack CD packed in like the Super NES title, the compositions were just as deserving. Rare has composed some slick dance tunes that you can really fight to. Some of the voices are reused on different characters, repeating the same few cries frequently enough as to get a bit annoying. On the plus side, the sound effects accurately depict the action on screen, further drawing players into the simple rotating world.
gameplay
While trying to improve on the ingenious combo system of the original, Rare added a “Rock-Paper-Scissors” style of attack comparisons and a high-low means of combo breakers. But while the thought was there, the system just didn’t hold up under button-mashing tests; that is, pushing random buttons as fast as possible was an effective way for more inexperienced fighting game players to do rather well in battle, almost as good as those using advanced strategies. Loads of options in varied modes of play brought excitement to the typical vs. computer and vs. 2nd player fights. The training mode is still excellent by any standard, bringing newbies up to speed in no time and allowing the learned to receive new colored-costumes for their fighters to appear in, including white, gold, and shadow.
multiplayer
The two-player mode holds the game’s challenge long after expert level Gargos is defeated with every last character.
overall
Looking back, Killer Instinct Gold is still a very solid fighting title despite being in the shadow of the first KI. While it seems that KI3 has been in the rumor mill forever and a half, we’ll hopefully see another Rare fighting game on the Dolphin with a better-refined battle system and all the old characters back for more punishment.
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