Killer Instinct, the fighting-game launch title for the Xbox One has a bizarre distribution model. It’s a digital download fighting game that you buy in chunks. It’s available to download for free, but gives you only one character, with other available on a per-character basis, or all together as part of a Season One pass. Right now, it’s incomplete, which makes it tricky to review – but reviews are out anyway. Is Killer Instinct a killer, or does it instink?
The reason I say it’s unfinished is that it only has 6 available characters right now, of the 8 that will be coming in Season One. It’s also missing any sort of real single player mode beyond training; Arcade mode will be coming once all Season One characters are ready to download. More characters will be coming in Season 2 in 2014 , bringing the total to 16. In the end, the whole game is going to cost $40. It does, however, come bundled with two versions of the original RARE arcade games, so that’s pretty neat.
Here’s what reviewers who’ve been able to play the game have to say.
- IGN – 8.4/10: Not only is its combat system flashy and well thought out, it’s well explained too, thanks to its powerful training tools, and what is easily the most complete guide to terminology and tactics ever assembled in a fighting game.
- Gamesbeat – 8/10 : Unfortunately, the weird pricing structure and noticeable depth of features holds back the screaming, rage-filled “Powerthirst” of fighting games from really making a statement. It’s no Street Fighter competitor this time around, but it’s good enough to measure up against the rest.
- GamesRadar – – 4/5: Excellent mechanics and incredible playability make up for Killer Instinct’s shortage of single-player content.
- OXM – 7.5/10: The new Killer Instinct succeeds at stoking nostalgic fires while updating the action. However, a piecemeal season-based approach means that the initial incarnation is extremely light on content, revealing a fighter that’s as packed with vibrant combos as it is unfulfilled promise.
- Edge – 7/10: There’s a fantastic combo system at Killer Instinct’s core, but right now it feels like half a game – one full of promise, certainly, but not an especially next-gen one either. The cascade of particles may not be enough to retain player interest until the rest of the game arrives.
- Joystiq – 3/5: As much as Killer Instinct is a sound and inviting fighter mid-battle, it’s an experience that ultimately feels hollow everywhere else. Online play – as spare as it is – may present a limitless well of competition to draw from, but with only six fighters to master and very few modes of play, Killer Instinct lacks the value and staying power offered by most other modern fighting games.
That’s actually…a far kinder critical consensus than I would have imagined. It seems Killer Instinct on the Xbox One really isn’t bad at all. We’ve been wanting tiered pricing for games for ages, and this sort of model might actually make way for that.
Last Updated: November 19, 2013
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2013 at 10:40
“Is Killer Instinct a killer, or does is instink?”
Is Killer Instinct a killer, or it is N’Sync. You’re welcome. Free of charge.
TiMsTeR1033
November 19, 2013 at 10:44
Why bring out a fighting game in parts… just sounds stupid.. but overall the game does look really good.
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2013 at 10:45
Imagine buying a car like that.
TiMsTeR1033
November 19, 2013 at 10:47
1 part at a time! first is the seat! lol
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2013 at 10:45
It’s an evolution of DLC, people are happy to pay extra for stupid costumes, now let’s make them pay extra for every character.
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 10:48
It’s actually cheaper than paying for the full game in Killer Instincts sense.
RinceandShrubbery
November 19, 2013 at 10:49
IF you have unlimited internet.
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 10:52
Telkom Internet will zero-rate any XBL, PSN or Steam downloads on capped packages. Other ISPs should follow.
RinceandShrubbery
November 19, 2013 at 10:54
Oh agreed. I have unlimited so I worry not. Others sadly do not 🙁 I think it could be a good model actually. If I had to buy Street Fighter there are plenty of characters I wouldn’t pay for!
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 10:57
It’s something like R50 to have unlimited gaming downloads on any capped package. The service is free from now until March 2014 and then users will have to pay. I have uncapped Internet myself and once 2mb becomes standard in January, uptake in the country will increase.
I know what you mean about SF. Guile and Chun Li were such pains :/
RinceandShrubbery
November 19, 2013 at 10:59
Not sure what package you are talking about? I pay R339 plus the ADSL line from Telkom for a 1mbps uncaped. Give me more info!
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 11:00
I’m referring to the measly cheaper capped packages.
Anon A Mouse
November 19, 2013 at 11:00
Isn’t it sad that we in Souf Afrika gets all giddy with 2mb as standard when the rest of the world have moved so far beyond that.
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 11:02
Getting the speed is one thing, getting a non-throttled/shaped package is something else.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
November 19, 2013 at 11:20
Here it is
http://www.do.co.za/broadband/entertainment/gaming/promotion/
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 11:22
Yes that’s the one!
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
November 19, 2013 at 10:54
That’s what the Fox said!
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 10:57
Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!
Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!
Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
November 19, 2013 at 10:59
WHAT THE FOX SAID!
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2013 at 10:49
Why wouldn’t you want the full game, when has this ever happened?
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 10:51
I can think of a few racing games and some fighter. The only game that had me getting through it’s full roster was DoA4.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2013 at 10:50
Assuming that you only want a few of the other characters and that you like the ones you buy, sure.
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 10:53
$40 for the whole roster according to Geoff.
Even the latest Tekken has followed the same model and the developer is calling it a success.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
November 19, 2013 at 10:58
So if you buy only one character, do you only get to fight the one character? If you don’t, then all the other fighters would already be loaded on…
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 11:21
No no…all the other characters will be there to play against you, not for you.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
November 19, 2013 at 11:33
That’s I meant. So basically we have a licensing agreement!
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 11:39
Yes. Like any other cloud based software.
Umar Moe Moe
November 19, 2013 at 10:57
Man remember the days of unlocking
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2013 at 10:58
Started with Tekken. Everytime you clear the game with a different character you would unlock an additional one. Man I miss those days.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2013 at 11:01
I made a mistake when I bought Sleeping Dogs, got all the DLC as well without noticing that the one gave you skill advancements that otherwise you earn through playing the game. I was kinda annoyed by that – part of the fun is earning advancement, not paying for it upfront.
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2013 at 10:46
This is a fighting game meant for online play if there ever was one. Hence the lack of arcade modes.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
November 19, 2013 at 10:46
Hmm.. Not too sure about this pricing structure.
How big is/are the download/s?
If it’s 8 gigs total, at say R150 per gig in SA, that’s a cost of R1200. With all the additions it would come to R1650
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2013 at 10:48
See they clearly don’t have that issue in the US. So they wouldn’t care much about the rest of the world. They’re attitude reeks of “you can join the party but only if you can afford too.” At least they are not launching a sabotaged console so far as we know.
RinceandShrubbery
November 19, 2013 at 10:48
Also XBOX ONE…
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
November 19, 2013 at 10:52
I hope my PS4 is not sabotaged! Or else… Or else… I’ll replace it!
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2013 at 10:53
Bwahaha that’s and you will still be able to play PS3.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
November 19, 2013 at 10:56
My PS3 is terminally ill with YLoD syndrome. 🙁
HAPPENED JUST BEFORE THE LAST OF US RELEASED :(((
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2013 at 10:57
Sad to hear man.
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 11:23
What’s the cost of having it repaired? Your console has served you well 🙂
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
November 19, 2013 at 11:31
500 bucks, but they stressed that the fix has no guarantee and likely to last six months only.
TiMsTeR1033
November 19, 2013 at 10:48
You can’t look at it like that, alot of gamers have uncapped internet these days. I myself Don’t but I get bundle deals, and as soon as I can get uncapped I will.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
November 19, 2013 at 10:51
I realise that many people have uncapped. Hammersteyn explains below. I speak for de peepul
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 10:49
Hey Dude, 1998 just called.
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2013 at 10:50
Not everyone has or can afford uncapped…
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 10:59
Capped Internet is from R5 per gb right now on ADSL.
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2013 at 11:00
Where?
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 11:04
Afrihost and OpenWEB
http://www.afrihost.com/site/product/adsl_capped?src=website_nav
http://www.openweb.co.za/freedom-capped.html
These accounts fly 24/7.
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2013 at 11:15
Not bad at all, but for general use only? Doesn’t seem very broadband minded.
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 11:20
It’s unshaped. The caviar of internet. I use the Afrihost one for my daytime usage and that thing is always at full speed. Sign-up for the free 1gb account and see for yourself.
iAmWeasel
November 19, 2013 at 10:48
Dear gamer,
Thanks for being so faithful to the Xbox brand. In return have this brand new AAA title *FREE OF CHARGE!
Best Wishes,
Microsoft
* Terms and conditions apply.
oVg
November 19, 2013 at 11:11
What has happened to gaming?
You have to download it. Death to the second hand market..
You have to pay for a season. There is your episodic content for you.
You get one character for free. There is your carrot on a stick DLC.
You have to be on-line to play. There is your DRM.
Talk about buying into a service plan. They can also do on the fly DATA capturing so if the game tanks a year from now they can just turn off the servers. Saves them so much money going to retail.
anointedsword
November 27, 2013 at 03:44
If you people would judge yourselves like you judge others, this world might be a better place.
RinceandShrubbery
November 19, 2013 at 10:48
Cool. Glad it is getting good reviews. So this is not going to be released in any physical medium? Damn, that means I won’t get to kick the snot out of OVG… 🙁
TiMsTeR1033
November 19, 2013 at 10:56
I would love to kick the snot out of you though!
Umar Moe Moe
November 19, 2013 at 10:50
We want tiered pricing?
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2013 at 10:51
I misread that as “tiered piercing.”
“What’s a tiered piercing?” lol
Umar Moe Moe
November 19, 2013 at 10:56
Lol that does not sound like a good time
Rikus
November 19, 2013 at 11:00
A tiger piercing? Hardcore man!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2013 at 11:03
I’ve earned my stripes. 😉
Deano
November 19, 2013 at 10:54
Glad to see the game is getting better scores after everyone was willing it to flop.
Im a big fan of the old Killer instinct so excited to give it a try 🙂
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2013 at 10:56
That and you get the previous installments too. Actually it’s a pretty nice deal.
Deano
November 19, 2013 at 10:58
yeah super stoked to hear that!
Will def be getting this….
oVg
November 19, 2013 at 11:05
Season Pass lol What is this?… DSTV?
Deano
November 19, 2013 at 11:24
I don’t see the problem with the whole Tiered purchasing.
As far as I understand the game will cost the same price as a normal game if you buy everything ?
or did I miss something ?
So if the price is not more than a normal game if you buy all the extra’s then its win win, cos you only need to buy as many characters as you’d like.
Deano
November 19, 2013 at 11:25
What they could do to make extra cash is release extra outfits for each character and charge extra like League of legends ect.
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 11:27
That’s when gaming goes full retard.
Deano
November 19, 2013 at 12:13
Thats fine at least its the buyers choice and result in a pay to win situation.
FoxOneZA
November 19, 2013 at 11:25
Some loyal Xbox gamers got the game for free from M$!
Deano
November 19, 2013 at 11:26
Where is my copy ?
Devourer of Small Bunnies
November 19, 2013 at 12:37
“Is Killer Instinct a killer, or does it instink?” That just gave my aneurysm cancer.