Rare working on Killer Instinct 3?

By Robert Purchese Published 16 October, 2008

Themed Viva Piñata cards fuel rumours.

Rare may be hard at work on a third Killer Instinct fighting game.

Rumours were fuelled by the arrival of three Viva Piņata animal cards based on characters from Killer Instinct - these are free and need simply to be scanned by a Live Vision camera to appear in-game.

The significance lies in Rare having teased the past two Killer Instinct instalments in other games: the first in Donkey Kong Country 2, and the second in Diddy Kong Racing.

This rumour joins mounting evidence almost purposely leaked by the developer itself in recent months - a bit like leaving the door open at naughty time.

Killer Instinct was a brutal fighting game with swanky graphics that appeared on arcades in 1994. It was later ported to SNES and GameBoy.

One of the main attractions was stringing together enormous combos sometimes made up of over 80 hits. There were finishing moves, too.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (49) Latest comment 1 year ago

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  • Lexx87 #1 3 years ago

    I knew they would do it eventually.

  • radlord #2 3 years ago

    bet it doesn't happen.

  • dog2_99 #3 3 years ago

    Great news in my book...i was a massive fan!

    Anyone remember the CD they gave away with the SNES game

    "such a feelin' such a feelin' such feelin' killer feelin'"

  • jonsaan #4 3 years ago

    ULTRAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH@dogg2. I still have that cd somewhere.
    Edited by 1 at 16/10/08 @ 12:18

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #5 3 years ago

    Never played the first 2, but the seem to have large fanbase. Were they any good?

  • andywilkie35 #6 3 years ago

    my mate assures me that the Killer Instinct on the N64 is one of the best games ever so I hope they do

    But I reckon they're just teasing coz they know everyone wants it but they can't be arsed

    edit: altho they missed a generation of consoles with Banjo and Perfect Dark so maybe they are...
    Edited by 1 at 16/10/08 @ 12:22

  • dog2_99 #7 3 years ago

    i always was gutted i never got the N64 version! is it on the Wii download yet?

  • Darren #8 3 years ago

    Nice for people who liked the games I guess but I've never understand exactly what it was that made Killer Instinct so good. The compromised N64 version was absolutely dreadful at worst and borderline mediocre at best; the sound was pitiful, the animation wooden and lacking in frames, the controls unresponsive and the gameplay utterly ordinary, it didn't even come close to the Tekkens and Virtua Fighters of that time. I don't even think it bettered Mortal Kombat and that's a game I've always considered gimmicky rubbish (i.e. its sole selling point was the gore).

    Serious question... what is that makes Killer Instinct so good in the eyes of those people who like it? I'd love to know.

  • seasidebaz #9 3 years ago

    @Darren:

    COMBOS!!!!

  • Der_tolle_Emil #10 3 years ago

    The significance lies in Rare having teased the past two Killer Instinct instalments in other games: the first in Donkey Kong Country 2, and the second in Diddy Kong Racing.

    Both Donkey Kong Country 2 and Diddy Kong Racing were released AFTER the SNES or the N64 version of Killer Instinct respectively. So you cannot count those two as hints that KI was coming because it had been already released.

    There's a good chance though that this time it really is a small teaser and I hope it is beacuse I have always been a great fan of KI.
    Edited by 1 at 16/10/08 @ 12:33

  • dog2_99 #11 3 years ago

    @ Darren

    well I was really a fan of the SNES version, where I thought that the graphics were amazing (hard to believe now i know) and the ability to play for hours trying to get the combo! Plus I was always impressed that it was like having an arcade machine in my own room!...hmmmm innocent times! :)
    Edited by 1 at 16/10/08 @ 12:34

  • mingster #12 3 years ago

    I only ever played KI in the arcade but the thing that made it so good was the ease of being able to pull off massive combos...

    Once you start off a string off moves that go together if you the oppent down to last bit of health you could do ultra combos. I got this up to about a 50+ hit combo i remember but it was possiblt to do 80+ hits.

    Also combo breakers where easy to pull off.

    The graphics where excellent for the time.. and the sound was awesome.

    It was the only fighter in the arcade i could go all the way through and beat the boss on one credit.

    Loads of easy fatalities, and humiliations as well.

  • mingster #13 3 years ago

    UUlltraaaaa Commmbooooooooo....................

  • NickJC1 #14 3 years ago

    Rare are known for playing pranks, this is just a video game cock tease designed to get your hopes up before smashing them down again.

    Plus Rare...Nuts and bolts has terrible controls from what I've read and looks kinda shit gameplay wise, maybe they're well past their best.

    PD0...ouch

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #15 3 years ago

    Didn't having huge combo's kind of ruin the PvP system? I could imagine it would a total pain in the arse if you're helpless to do anything and know you're gonna lose the round because of a 80 hit combo?

    I know that's why I didn't like some of the Capcom 2D fighters where the combos just became silly.

  • Gnort #16 3 years ago

    In my opinion, Killer Instinct slotted in below Mortal Kombat as far as fighting games go. I think the only reason we don't look down on KI as much as MK is that they haven't released any games since 2 so we only have our good memories of it (imagine if there hadn't been a MK game since MK2, we'd all be "I wish they'd release another Mortal Kombat! That game was ace!";), whereas there have been many MK games to remind us of the series' deficiencies.

    Also, when was the last time a non-Japanese company released a decent fighting game?

  • Darren #17 3 years ago

    I've heard that the SNES version was highly regarded when it came out but if I recall correctly the N64 version was pretty much slated because it was one of those rushed early launch games that all new consoles get. Clearly, I made the mistake of playing the wrong game as I've never played the original SNES game or the arcade version. I never owned a SNES you see, the N64 was my first Nintendo console. For shame, I know... /blushes

    Perhaps a Killer Instinct 3 could be good given the processing power of the Xbox 360 but in a market crowded with SoulCalibur IV, Dead Or Alive 4, Virtua Fighter 5 and soon Tekken 6 and a new Mortal Kombat game, it's going to have to be really, really special to stand out. There's really only so much you can do with the beat 'em up genre before the games all start to feel the same IMO.

    I'm a huge, huge fan of Rare's games but I'd rather they were making a brand new game not Killer Instinct 3 but I guess that's just me being selfish! LOL

  • dog2_99 #18 3 years ago

    its a shame they cant just tart up the SNES graphics and release it as a download like Wipeout HD or Street Fighter HD

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #19 3 years ago

    That's the problem. Most beat 'em ups are Japanese and as we're seeing with SCIV etc and all the new JRPG's they don't seem to be too good at thinking outside the box (generally) with their established genres.

    Beat 'em ups need something revolutionary to break the mould and maybe Rare would attempt that with KI3.

  • kungfubob #20 3 years ago

    I loved this game and i really hope it does come back again soon but wether it will or not is another story.

  • Gnort #21 3 years ago

    @SpaceMidget75
    You have a point, and as a fan of the genre I'm always keen to see any new fighting game on the market. However, considering the developer's previous contribution to the genre was adding the longest dial-a-combos ever, I won't be holding my breath.

  • Santino #22 3 years ago

    if it is 2D it'll be time better spent playing Street Fighter, if it is 3D it'll be time better spent playing Virtua Fighter. I do wonder if there is even a decent sized killer instinct fanbase anymore (guess they could just get some character to make a cameo appearance and break the game balance but sell more copies). still, any killer instinct (or any game for that matter) will be miles better than any mortal kombat game could ever hope to be, and unfortunately there is another one of them coming so who knows.

  • Dark_Stranger #23 3 years ago

    why does EuroGamer insist on having all exteranl links on their pages set as "self" for the target. Its so fracking annoying having to hit "back" everytime to get back to the Eurogamer site.

  • Triggerhappytel #24 3 years ago

    Killer Instinct was a bit like Primal Rage; beautiful with massive potential, but just never quite made it.

    I would like to see a third one, although until Rare produce the goods I'll remain tremendously sceptical that they could do a good fighting game.

  • jonsaan #25 3 years ago

    I loved the SNES one, but in all honesty, it wasn't that great. I can't see RARE putting together an awesome fighter now.

  • Xerx3s #26 3 years ago

    The KI games where awesome because they where easy to learn but impossibly difficult to master. Still no other fighter ever matched the satisfaction of an ultra combo.

  • T4RG4 #27 3 years ago

    Rose Tinted. Thing is, most of the people that made the game have probably long since left, and it only takes two or three people to bugger off to end chances of a repeat game matching your expectations.

    Supercars II remake... now we're talking...

  • J.C #28 3 years ago

    It wont sell. they need to redeem themselves first with goldeneye/perfect dark fans. built from the ground up on the 360, perfect dark could be awesome.

  • bad09 #29 3 years ago

    Great news KI2 was wicked!

  • andywilkie35 #30 3 years ago

    "UUlltraaaaa Commmbooooooooo.................... "

    I don't know why but just hearing this makes me want it

  • Ranger101 #31 3 years ago

    KI does not age well.

  • Razz #32 3 years ago

    I fuckign loved KI Gold. But I'm not sure a game like this could stand up in todays market. Love still lvoe to see it made though.

  • patchbox360 #33 3 years ago

    make it happen Rare

  • siksik6 #34 3 years ago

    *cough* arcade emulator *cough*

    /me tries to remember Orchid's ultra combo

  • siksik6 #35 3 years ago

    You *need* six buttons for KI. Would be difficult on the 360 pad I suspect.

  • Feanor #36 3 years ago

    They'll just use the shoulder buttons like SF IV wiil.

  • Razz #37 3 years ago

    The only reason why KI needs a sequel

    :))

  • Razorus #38 3 years ago

    Fuckin Come On! Can't wait for KI3!! B. Orchid in next-gen graphics!

  • adamamosa #39 3 years ago

    KI on SNES is one of all time faves. Its a big shame they dropped all the combo announcements on the N64 version though. It would be great to see a fully realised 3D KI3 though.

  • adamamosa #40 3 years ago

    . . . although I would still rather see an XBLA version of Blast Corps first.

  • Telepathic.Geometry #41 3 years ago

    Oh please Jesus, let it be true!!! /gets on knees and prays

    /also, has long hard think about Orchid ass shot

  • Bumhug360 #42 3 years ago

    They have also made some Halo cards, so this must mean they are doing Halo 4 as well!!

    http://www.bigsheep.ne t/?p=489

  • septimus #43 3 years ago

    I fucking loved Killer Instinct. I still hope for a arcade perfect port to be released on any platform, other than the Wii of course (I don't want to waggle the shit out of anything). Arcade perfect is probably rose tinted specs time, I guess today it will look like ass, but back in uni it was awesome. I still remember the 'Powered by Ultra64' trailer on it.

    - appropriate -> http://ww w.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/1...
    Edited by 1 at 16/10/08 @ 23:50

  • spammage #44 3 years ago

    KI was one of the best fighters ever IMO.

  • hiruu #45 3 years ago

    Wonder if this will be an exclusive?

  • davisorle #46 3 years ago

    They better fucking do it. The best beat em up that existed. That shit was amazing. The only game on 64 that I would play daily. I just took my lil cousin's console and the game and instead for a try out i was making my own gameguide for all of it's moves etc. I mean that shitt needed speed. and not just a specific kick on a random time of period on the opponents movements.

    Yeah I love DoA for the realism but KI Gold was the fucking shit for reals. Dunno why but i NEVER ever was into a beat em up before that much. I really hope they do it and i know it will be amazing. Good luck with it.

  • brommers #47 3 years ago

    @dog2_99

    Killer cuts.....downloaded. Sweet memories.

  • neonemesis #48 3 years ago

    @Razz

    Quoted from Wikipedia regarding the chick in that link:

    She has two No Mercy moves, the first in which she gives her opponent a heart attack by unzipping her uniform and flashing her breasts at them

    o_O

  • kinky_mong #49 3 years ago

    I. F**KING. LOVED. KILLER. INSTINCT.

    The Snes version still rates as my favourite beat 'em up of all time. It was incredibly deep for its time and I was constantly finding new stuff years after I first got it. The N64 version was pretty guff though, but if they manage to recapture the magic of the first one I will be exstatic.


    . . . although I would still rather see an XBLA version of Blast Corps first.

    That was another great from Rare and a favourite of mine. I'd prefer to see a new sequel though because the original would look very dated now.

  • M.Dot-C #50 1 year ago

    Iv'e recently Bought a Snes just for the sole purpose of Killer Instinct lol. I have a X-Box 360 Elite too mind lol

    But that game is a Legend nuff said