Underplayed Gems

Killer Instinct Gold (1996)

Killer Instinct Gold cover
Developer
Rare
Publisher
Nintendo, Playtronic
Platforms
Nintendo 64
Genres
Fighting
Rating
3.5 of 5, 28 player ratings

More by Microsoft

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

More games like this

How it feels

A slick, combo-heavy fighting game with sci-fi flair and brutal speed, serving as Nintendo 64's answer to Mortal Kombat.

intensefast-pacedcompetitivesci-ficombo-drivenarcade-styledark

About

Rare was a prominent second-party developer for Nintendo, and produced the Killer Instinct series exclusively for the company as their response to Mortal Kombat. Following the success of the 1995 Killer Instinct port for the Super Nintendo home console, Rare began a sequel for the same console. They transitioned development to the Nintendo 64 upon its announcement. Gold was scheduled as a launch title for the new console but was delayed until its North American release in November 1996. It received a wider release in May 1997. It was also included in Rare's 2015 Xbox One retrospective compilation, Rare Replay.

Screenshots

Killer Instinct Gold screenshot 1Killer Instinct Gold screenshot 2Killer Instinct Gold screenshot 3Killer Instinct Gold screenshot 4Killer Instinct Gold screenshot 5

More games like this

More by Microsoft

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.