With the odds stacked against Microsoft, it was nice to know that there was something to look forward to on Xbox One, something fans have been anxiously clamoring for. I myself pounded the buttons on my fight stick like a madman and managed to pull off a 20-hit combo, resulting in a satisfying “Monster” grade.īut you opponent can also flip the script and bring your combo to an abrupt end with a classic “C-C-C-Combo Breaker”! Again, I couldn’t hear the game thanks to the noise in the room, but I’m assuming the announcer has returned to chant out your awe-inspiring combo accomplishments. Once the combo is finished, you will be ranked for your performance - “Basic” on the low end to “Awesome” in the mid range. When you start raining blows on your enemy, a combo meter appears on the screen, gradually increasing as you string together successive blows. It’s a straight-up battle to the end.Ĭombos are as important as ever. The timer will not reset and your opponent’s health won’t be refilled. Your fighter possesses two life bars, and there is a momentary pause from when one bar gets whittled down before your character hops back up on his feet. And as in the originals, battles are not broken down into rounds. The graphics have been upgraded to a beefier Street Fighter IV-esque style, and I couldn’t hear the music in the hustle and bustle of the event, but the combos were back in full force.įor the demo, we only had access to Jago and Sabrewulf. I had only played Killer Instinct on sporadic occasions back in the day, but I remembered the pre-rendered Silicon Graphics tech that also powered Donkey Kong Country, the infectious dance numbers, and the unreal combo system. And until a few minutes ago, I was prepared to type a glowing piece about how much stupid fun it was to mash buttons and execute mind-numbing combos. ĭouble Helix Games may have taken over development duties from Rare, but I was still excited to see how well the series had been adapted for a new generation. The game I was most looking forward to putting through its paces was Killer Instinct, the revival of the fan-favorite Rare fighting game. I’ve just returned from a special Microsoft event where select members of the press could sample Xbox One titles before the E3 show floor opens. When does it all end, Microsoft? When does it all end?

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