Killer Instinct 2

About Killer Instinct 2

Killer Instinct 2 (1996) is Rare's arcade sequel that reworked its combo-driven fighting to reward aggression, adding throws, a super bar and parries.

Killer Instinct 2 in Depth

As in the first Killer Instinct, fighters have two life bars, starting the second as soon as the first is emptied, and matches revolve around Quick, Medium and Fierce strengths and an automatic combo system. Pressing a strength button after an opener launches an auto-double and starts a combo, and openers are now safer, such as a close Fierce punch or kick. Combos can be extended with throws, super linkers, manual doubles and super end specials, and Super Moves can be placed inside combos, making them unbreakable and far more damaging. Normal moves lose priority and range and gain recovery time, characters are knocked down more easily, and throws are added to deal with blocking opponents.

Special moves no longer depend on priority but follow a three-way rock, paper, scissors system in which certain specials always beat others. A super bar fills as a fighter takes damage or has attacks blocked, enabling multi-hit Super Moves, usually extended versions of special moves. With combos more devastating, combo breakers became easier: punches now break kick doubles and kicks break punch doubles, rather than depending on strength. A new parry lets a defending player freeze an attacker and counter with a stunning technique or a three-hit special, and the finishing moves were reworked.

Making Killer Instinct 2

A small Rare team led by Lee Schneuman and Ken Lobb began work soon after the first game, using the same hardware. Lobb said eliminating excessive defensive play "was the absolute highest priority" because it hurt beginners: "We now reward the aggressor big time." Kevin Bayliss redesigned every character to reflect the story's events, and Robin Beanland composed most of the music after Graeme Norgate left for Blast Corps and GoldenEye. Not as acclaimed as the original, it was still a commercial success with positive reviews for its combo system, graphics and sound, though Next Generation felt it largely recycled the original at a slower, choppier pace. Brazil's SuperGamePower gave the arcade version full marks, and Complex later named it among the 25 best 2D fighters.