Was Killer Instinct Released Too Soon?

Despite being praised for its gameplay and presentation, Killer Instinct is receiving mediocre reviews for its limited content. Was releasing Killer Instinct as an Xbox One launch title the right decision?

[Ramon3MR]

I think it was a terrible idea to release it the way it was.

[Nujabes_]

And what way is that?

[Rainstorm81]

No Arcade Mode..Limited Modes overall really....Limited Fighters.....tiered Seasonal DLCs

It just wasnt ready

[guitarded77]

Yeah, KI is not content deep. Should have gone for a full retail version instead of the download and buy bit by bit. I know some like it because they can get in cheaper, but people have been waiting a long time for a new KI, and fans of the series and fighting games in general would have been willing to bite at $60 for a full game. Sure, it can improve with more DLC, but I'd rather have it all in one shot instead of paying each time for more content.

[Fireseed]

@Rainstorm81

Ok then, you tell us the exact number of fighters and content this game will need in order to be considered "ready" is it after next seasons 8? Or how about at 32 fighters? Well whatever the case you can just wait till the "finished" pack comes out, and until then we'll alkl play the fully functioning game and body you when ya get here :)

[dedicatedtogamers]

The entire Xbox One lineup including the console itself was released too soon. Microsoft sacrificed quality and quantity for quickness: they couldn't let Sony run too far ahead by launching earlier.

Ryse
- QTEs and incredibly short, linear campaign. Was supposed to be a "hardcore killer app" for all those who bought Kinect on 360, but hey, 2nd time's the charm I guess.

Forza
- Gutted of content. Approx. half the content was removed compared to previous Forza games (the rest is sold as DLC)

Killer Instinct
- A game that was clearly in development for the 360 and was rushed out the door to make launch for X1

Dead Rising 3
- Explicitly stated by CAPCOM that this game was in development for 360. Hmm, I wonder why it got shifted to X1?

And then of course the console itself
- bloated OS that takes over 100G of the harddrive
- Kinect functions that don't work
- Laggy UI
- Day One patches
- Inferior versions of multiplats
- Not to mention the news that X1 is being delayed further and further in other territories

If Microsoft cared so much about gamers (and if the XBox brand was so powerful, so popular, so prolific) they should've waited 6 months to give the Xbox One more time to develop. If the Xbox brand was so popular, it would've been just fine, right?

[Rainstorm81]

@fireseed

The last KI i played was KI gold on N64....it should meet (at minimum) or surpass that game, that released 17 years ago.

KI gold has 12 characters and like 4 or five game modes....is that asking too much?

i dont mind good DLC, i dont want DLC to be the main content missing from the game

This makes me feel like the game is incomplete and they are feeding me bits and pieces til full completion...The game looks amazing i just want the full version at release

No TJ Combo Cinder or Fulgore come on man.....they are KI mainstays

[Gazondaily]

@dedicated

"The entire Xbox One lineup including the console itself was released too soon. Microsoft sacrificed quality and quantity for quickness"

Like how Guerilla Games did with Killzone Shadowfall? A short rushed campaign and MP- only 3 classes, around 8 or so uninspired maps and less modes than its predecessors?

"Forza
- Gutted of content. Approx. half the content was removed compared to previous Forza games (the rest is sold as DLC)"

And yet, Forza is one of the most complete launch racers EVER released. Let's not talk about the quality of the gameplay.

"Killer Instinct
- A game that was clearly in development for the 360 and was rushed out the door to make launch for X1 "

Actually, whilst Killer Instinct was rushed, development on it only started this time last year, not as a 360 game.

However, the game only costs £15 and it has a different pricing model. And the underlying fighting game is brilliant.

Dedicated, are you going to even buy the Xbox One? You seem to spend an incredible amount of energy hating on the machine (well in particular MS).

"If Microsoft cared so much about gamers (and if the XBox brand was so powerful, so popular, so prolific) they should've waited 6 months to give the Xbox One more time to develop. "

Well the launch line-up of exclusives ended up being better than Sony's anyway so what's the beef?

[creatchee]

I find it funny that people complain about KI not having enough fighters with 6/8 for $20, and yet $60 releases with 30+ characters see the same 6 or 8 being used in every match. At least every fighter in KI is dramatically different and not a palette swap (Shadow Jago aside). There's more variety in the current 6 characters than there is in fighting games with 5 or more times as many characters.

[pivotplease]

I feel like Dedicated has somewhat of a point as far as rushing the games out. I agree Sony had to rush out Killzone and maybe even Knack, but they made some stronger choices. I think Infamous and Driveclub both could have been rushed to make the bracket as launch games (or at least Q4 2013). However, sony was smart about it and the ps4 will likely end up with the best open world game and maybe (if Driveclub turns out amazing as well) the best driving game too... all at the expense of a a few million early adopters having to wait a bit longer. Not a bad sacrifice considering both games could end up being some of the best early releases of the generation. I won't be able to afford my ps4 until spring, so I'm not missing out on anything.

[XboxFun]

@Dedicated

Once again DedicatedtoSony up to his usual troll tactics...

"Explicitly stated by CAPCOM that this game was in development for 360. Hmm, I wonder why it got shifted to X1?"

Well lets see why Dedicated...

http://www.examiner.com/art...

Does this answer your question?

"- bloated OS that takes over 100G of the harddrive
- Kinect functions that don't work
- Laggy UI
- Day One patches
- Inferior versions of multiplats"

WOW, do you even own a Xbox One? Or do you just follow every piece of bad news and a few couple of unknown reports of problems? Kinect functions work, the UI is not laggy and every system including the PS4 has a day one patch. Inferior multiplats? not being 1080p is now inferior? They both played the same and even with PS4's "50%" power those multiplat games still crashed and burned.

I love your opinion on a console you don't own. Like true to form fashion of the rest of your sony troll brigade you just regurgitate puke you see others post and pass it off as your own.

[CYCLEGAMER]

You obviously don't own the game.

[Boody-Bandit]

6 characters.
No background information on any of the characters. No story mode or arcade of any kind.
Barebones online mode with complaints of vsync issues by top tier players. Barebones single player modes. Even the Dojo mode can only be completed with one character.

2/3rds less content and less than half the characters of the original which was released nearly 20 years ago.

Oh and yes I own the game.
XBL - BoodyBandit

[CYCLEGAMER]

@brutalyhonest
All of that at a $20 price tag, and you are complaining???

I could see if they were charging you the average $60 for the game, but 20 bucks? Seriously?

[Boody-Bandit]

Stating facts equates to complaining only to those that don't want to hear the truth.

Name one other fighting game made in the last 10 years regardless of price with only 6 characters. This game falls somewhere between demo and an XBA game. It's a barebones XBA game at best.

You say it's only $20 for 6 characters and 2 to be released later. Okay let's compare it IGAU. That game has 30+ characters, over 20 single player modes, 4x the backgrounds, extensive training mode, tutorial mode, story mode, stars mode to learn the intricacies of every character in the game, interactive backgrounds that can be used as weapons and to inflict damage on the enemy, character backgrounds and endings for each character, and a plethora of other options and features too many to remember off the top of my head. All for $60 dollars. It is more than 10x the game that Killer Instinct is and that's being overly modest/kind.

So when you compare KI to current fighting games it's over priced at $20. If anything MS should've just thrown it in as an incentive to purchase an XBOX ONE.

I am one of the guys that have been screaming at MS since they acquired Rare to bring us fight fans Killer Instinct. Yet this is what they give us after all this waiting?

You can gloss over it all you want. This game was released too soon and is far from being a finished product.

[CYCLEGAMER]

@brutallyhonest

lol...you cannot compare KI to Injustice, it is a full blown game that went through full development, at a cost of $60 with no free option or choice of purchasing it at a lower suggested retail price or seperate characters. Also it is just not Killer Instinct, its a superhero fighting game...come on man. Side note: I am not a fan of IGAU's fighting mechanics.

I consider it complaining because @ $20 I don't see a need to whine or complain.

If you feel that way about the game then just wait until it is everything you want it to be, before purchasing, you have that option. I am loving playing this game with Jago, Thunder, and now Glacius (my characters of choice), I am able to play online with one of the best netcodes I have seen, the tutorial educated me a lot on things I never new about fighting games, on a techincal standpoint, and the game is a out fun and the graphics are great.

So you guys can go ahead and complain all you want about the $20 fighting game with 8 characters, it's still a game that I have enjoyed everyday since I owned my xb1, especially knowing that there is more content coming in the future.

Again...if you don't like the way the game is being offered, then wait until next year and stop trying to rain on everbody elses parade.

[Boody-Bandit]

If anyone is whining, complaining and being defensive it's you. You accused the OP of not even owning the game because he agreed KI in it's current form shouldn't have been released.

I merely stated the facts and than you act as if I'm a complainer or am whining. Must you be so insecure and reduce to accusations and immaturity because some people have differing opinions to your own?

KI was rushed and could've been so much better if only they started the project sooner or wait several months to release it. I bought it because I'm a fighting addict and an OLD KI fanatic that has been dying for the game since I grew bored of the N64 version.

I'm not neither sorry nor happy that I purchased it. It is what it is. What it is though is a very rushed unfinished game even for $20 dollars.

My opinion. Equate it as to how ever it makes you feel better about you. I'm done here.

BTW what's your XBL GT?
The one under you N4G profile comes up invalid.

[Rainstorm81]

Im not understanding anyones logic behind "just wait til everything is available"

Isnt the game out now? As fighting game fan i like to get in early and practice by the time KI is a full game not only will everyone else have an upper hand.....How many games will have released on these new consoles.

20$ for 6-8 characters is crazy....i havent played a fighting game with only 6-8 characters since Street Fighter 2 on SNES.

I wonder if the reception would be as forgiving if all games starting doing this?....or if EA did this with their games.

I've been waiting on a new KI for quite sometime, as well as many fans of the series. I guess we should keep waiting or accept what was released...huh

Its really a sad state in gaming when fans cant have actual concerns about games without being "branded"...this is why some things will stay the same and get worse, companies can get away with anything under the guise of exclusivity.

[rainslacker]

@Rain

"I wonder if the reception would be as forgiving if all games starting doing this?....or if EA did this with their games"

Nope. Capcom has been releasing their games using this model all this generation. however they do offer more content in them for the $60 price tag. But all those extra things come later, or day one in some cases.

People have complained about it all generation. If KI were not a MS exclusive, the people praising the model now would be complaining about it. The console wars bring in a level of acceptance for inferior products and business models that I find quite disturbing at times.

The idea behind the new KI was to monetize the game for long term gain well beyond the initial sell phase. It wasn't put out to appease KI fans. Many, such as Brutal can see it for what it is an enjoy it, but this game is not the game that those ardent KI fans have been clamoring for for years.

There are indie fighting games with more content, at half the price or on a F2P model, that have micro-transaction models that actually work.

Now, in reference to the quoted comment. If this model is popular with KI, I have no doubt other companies will take note, and start making their games this way. The days of the content rich fighting game may be numbered, as publishers are quick to think that one successful business model is the way of the future.

[jetlian]

lol brutal didn't i make you block me lol when all the seasons release it will be 60 dollars with 20+ characters and story mode etc

divekicks has what 12 characters and it was 10 dollars with 1 hit kills

this will have story mode and arcade once fulgore and spinal are released.

whats this vsync you talking about? ive had people str8 up disconect no v sync

[colonel179]

It was indeed not complete, and even the developers have said that. Microsoft didn't let them miss launch, so they had to come up with the seasons idea.

The game has been in development for LESS than a year.

[caseh]

I can see that approach being a pain in the ass as far as tier lists and balance issues go which will inevitably result in patches.

It's not until the community gets it's hands on it for a while that players will see if its broken or not.

[rainslacker]

It's really a shame. I haven't played the game, but from the people that have and have commented on it, they say it's a solid enough fighting game, and fun to play.

I don't like it when games are rushed, and while the seasons idea may have been to get it out in time for release, or a way to monetize the game for more than it's worth, the more time spent delivering the initial content is more important to the long term success of a game than waiting to buy it. This game could have been amazing given another year of hype, and a butt load more content. Those higher sales could have led to more DLC being sold.

In some ways I want the business model to fail for this game, but the game to still succeed. This is nothing more than a F2P game with a premium entry point. Most gamers have spoken out against the F2P model for the past few years, but now it seems acceptable.

[yankolo]

I think the game is awesome but why it cant be played offline????

[XiSasukeUchiha]

IKR

[4logpc]

Uh..it can.

[FANTA1180]

i played it offline for 3 weeks.

[yankolo]

U played offline..the other day i try so i went and turn my router off..i could play fifa or ghost ...but when i put KI the game wont open after pressing start on the fire screen for KI it'll go home so i couldnt play it offline ooooo but when i turned the router on again there it was.....explain me if u know whats hapening bro

[DeathOfTheFanBoy]

Local is offline... should have gone to specsavers.

[towelie1288]

love this game really fun

[IanVanCheese]

Mediocre reviews is 5 or 6/10 right? haven't seen many 5 or 6's for Killer Instinct.

[4logpc]

Same thing I was thinking.

[nategrigs]

I think that mediocre is in the 7-8 range. Reviews tend to be more like grades (0-6=F, 6=D, 7=C, 8=B, 9=A). Seriously, how many games have you seen get below a 6? very few.

[hazardman]

Shit 7+ is already good.

[JohnnyTower]

Free-to-Play is still a fairly new concept to console gamers. Add to the fact that this game doesn't really support a generous roster even after buying all the characters doesn't help either. I am not sure what Xbox was trying to accomplish with this one. It surely isn't a system-mover or a must-have, and it doesn't feel like a full game. No story or character progression whatsoever. It would have been better to focus on a full $60 game, or a F2P with a ton of characters you could purchase.

[ceedubya9]

story mode is coming once all 8 characters are released. When they do their 2nd season of characters, i'm sure they will add their stories to that too. They could have doen a full 60 dollar game, but they decided to get what they have out into people's hands now. It is lite on content, yes, but it is also lite on price as well. Doing a 60 dollar full game would mean another 1.5-2 year wait. Is it really so different, or so bad, to instead get bits and pieces of the game over the same time frame that will eventually (probably) equal the costs of a 60 dollar game anyway? I mean, but the everything is done, you'll have spent 60 dollars on the base game anyway.

[JohnnyTower]

It sure does give it an unfinished feeling getting the game piecemeal like that. And it's a very bold way to publish a game.

[xDHAV0K24x]

legit tho, how many character's ur gonna use?

[Volkama]

This one doesn't really fit the established "free to play" model though. It's more a "pay for what you want" approach, there isn't much there for free.

In the current time of publishers experimenting with new ways to extract our cash, this model is actually quite reasonable. You can get the lot for a decent price, or you can get pieces ad-hoc. All the expenditure is finite, none of this "consumables" or "currency" nonsense that even full retail games try to exploit us with.

[Ashby_JC]

I disagree as I would have NEVER played the game for $60.

But the way it is now I gave it a try and like it. There are many that have never played killer instinct...I would be one of them.

[4logpc]

7 additional characters for $20, and people still complain.

For $20 this game is an absolute must have.

[N4Flamers]

I have yet to decide if I like this system. The roster is lite with 8 characters and there is not much to the game 20 is for all 8. If you want everything it's 40 that sounds good too, but what if a season comes out in 3 months that's either 60 for 16 characters or 80. However if the season releases next year it wouldn't be as bad but 8 characters for a year would get stagnant.

The other thing you need to consider is that the KI series doesn't have a lot of notable characters. After the next season what can they produce to keep people interested? I can think of 3 I would like then I'm drawing a blank.

[CYCLEGAMER]

I think that they should make an entirely new game after season 2, with better graphics a few additional characters, stage fatalities, and finishers.

[N4Flamers]

I didn't know they took out the finishers. I watch maxamillian play and he does ultras.

[Rainstorm81]

@N4F

KI1-2 used to have Ultra combos , Finishing moves and stage fatalities

[sandman224]

Yes!

[FANTA1180]

realistically it got amazing reviews for having such little content .... its that much fun.

once the rest of the content and levels and fighters get released ...its gonna be one hell of a game.

anyone who owns it currently cant deny its alot of fun and it looks great and plays great.

[ceedubya9]

I don't think it was released to soon. Really, I don't think it even matters. Anyone that is interested in it but wants more characters before buying can just wait until everything is available and THEN buy it. Nobody is forced to buy it right now, or even download the demo. Anyone that wants to get a head start on the game though, can get it right now for a very fair price. Not really seeing an issue.

[SliceOfTruth888]

This game is not F2P this is a full game. The only thing that has changed is the demo system. Instead of you getting 1 character to only play 1 round against an easy computer AI they are giving you the ENTIRE FREAKING GAME to play with one character FOR FREE. You can play online, get achievements, use the KI store and eventually play story mode FREE. If you pay 19.99 you get the entire game future characters, online lobbies, story mode EVERYTHING...for 19.99. These articles are trash.

[xDHAV0K24x]

sure as hell beats the $60 regular priced games

[buynit]

I like ki a lot especially since its free but I been wanting this game for so long that I would of paid full price for the full experience day one.

The dev team did a wonderful job with the game I just dont think the interest will be around for too long especially with the dlc's being so far apart..

[mhunterjr]

I think the reviews are fine for what it is. At $20, the value is fine. But people expect more characters with their fighting games. I think a lot of people would have been just as happy to pay $60 for the full roster.

The game will only get better with time. Personally, I prefer this model to what capcom has done with sfIV: making you buy a new game every time they add to the roster and make tweaks to the system.

[Tzuno]

no finishers.... lame.

[loulou]

I love the game... But, I think that they should have waited til Nov 2014 and released the full complete game.

Can't wait til season 2..

Lmao @ mediocre reviews

[kewlkat007]

It's a fighting game..These days it does t matter...hardcore like to play against other players..who buys a fighting game just to play story mode?

Because of the price of the game and what your getting , I think it's fair knowing much more content will be released later..

If I was buying this at $60 then that would of been an issue with me.

[Ashby_JC]

I can understand the complaints.

But look at like this from my perspective...

....I would have NEVER PURCHASED killer instinct for $60. The thing is..I'm not into fighting games. BUT being that it's free to download with one character.

I went ahead and downloaded it. Took the time to learn how it plays in the dojo. played some games against the cpu. Played one game against a live opponent. Lost. But with more practices and learning how to play better I'll win some.

So....I just may ppt money into the game in the future. MS was up front and said what the model is for the game. We knew before it was released. But yet people still complain.

It's already out and nothing is going to change.

I feel this way...more people will try the game. Where asa full fledged game would have scared me off from dropping $40-60

[keoskey]

I am not very good at fighting games but I played quit a bit of this game b/c Microsoft gave me all the DLC for Free

[LaWiiG]

there are far too few people who really observe a "fighter" for what it is. Some, not saying all, just want to bash skulls. If it isn't easy, well, something's fuckin' broken. There are fun times, the missteps by IGN's standard in the video, and other quarrels. It's a revisitation to a fighter f old. Take it for what it is.