Killer Instinct

Though the roster limits the possibilities a bit, Killer Instinct makes a triumphant return with smart, fluid fighting.

Killer Instinct won't win awards. At the end of this new generation, it won't turn up in the lists of greatest console launch titles ever. And it won't cause the established fighting game creators - the Capcoms and Namco Bandais of this world - to fear for their jobs. But its heart - and its business model - are in the right place. Success!

Double Helix has competently filled the gaps in Killer Instinct's foundation

Excellent mechanics and incredible playability make up for Killer Instinct's shortage of single-player content. Franchise fans and fighting game junkies will be most pleased.

Killer Instinct may not be the new king of fighting games, and it feels a bit rushed in terms of content, but it is very solid and far exceeds my expectations for it. With a pricing scheme that doesn't feel exploitative and a balanced character roster, the well developed mechanics will keep you busy until the new content drops next year. It'll be interesting to see what the community at large thinks of it over time, but in my living room, it's a welcome addition to my fighting game roster.

The revival of the old-school fighting game has over-the-top appeal but still feels like a half-strength title, even when you buy everything.

Killer Instinct is an incredible fast paced, technical fighter with plenty of Evo tournament potential and ideal for those looking for a combo-centric challenge to master. For the more casual fighting game player it's hard to master and the basics aren't going to cut it once you come face to face with the ridiculous combos that can be unleashed against you.

At launch, Killer Instinct serves as a solid foundation for what could eventually become a good fighting game. More characters and stages are coming down the line, but at launch, the game's limited single and multiplayer modes are glaring and will grow stale quickly.

With a stellar training mode and open-ended combo system, "Killer Instinct" is a knockout next-gen fighter for fans old and new.

Killer Instinct is available in a variety of pay models, with the free version just getting you Jago playable in all modes, while $20 gets you the five other characters currently available and the season two characters. $40 gets you that, some costumes, items and the original KI game.