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#BringBackKI

Gamer68

Gamer68

Fujin!
Just answering some questions, real quick:
  • Microsoft Store should have a free version of the game. Comes with Jago, plus a free rotating character every week. I believe you can unlock Orchid from the Shadow Lords mode as well.
  • Windows Store version is fully cross-play compatible with the Xbox version of the game.
  • Steam version is also cross-play, but not in Ranked mode. You should still be able to play Casuals and Lobby matches with people, though.
  • Steam version usually goes on sale for $10 every time there's a major steam sale. There should be another Steam sell in October around Halloween, and I wouldn't be surprised if KI will be $10 again. The game could also go on sale sooner if it happens to be apart of a random flash sale or something.
  • Steam version comes with all characters, skins, etc.
  • Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition is free with Xbox Game Pass.
  • The game also seems to be on sale on the Microsoft Store for $10, but only for TODAY. (like at @hatyr said)
Keep in-mind that the game lost a ton of players when support ended for the game, so most of the people playing online are super fans who still grind it out, and have become VERY good. Getting good enough to take on these players will probably take a while, and that's an understatement.

If you want to learn how to play the game, learn about the mechanics, characters, etc, I recommend this guide: https://ki.infil.net/

This is easily the best guide that has ever been made for a fighting game ever, in my opinion. Not everything on the site is 100% accurate (mainly the statistical comparisons and stuff), but it offers so much useful information very quickly. It also has guides on how to play as or against characters.
 
Juxtapose

Juxtapose

Master
Thanks for the info guys! For fighting games, I've really only ever played the Mortal Kombat franchise. I respect Street Fighter, but could never get into it, nor any other Japanese fighters. Nothing against them, I just never got their feel.

I wanted to get into Killer Instinct back in the '90's, but had begun moving on to first person shooters and even left Mortal Kombat behind for a time.

Perhaps a bit down the road, when I get tired of Mortal Kombat 11, I'll give Killer Instinct (2013) a go on PC.

Is there a major preference then between the Windows Store and Steam versions? The classic games were apparently available as part of a pre-order on Xbox One back in 2013. I take it they are not on PC?
 
xenogorgeous

xenogorgeous

.... they mostly come at night. Mostly.
Juxtapose said:
Thanks for the info guys! For fighting games, I've really only ever played the Mortal Kombat franchise. I respect Street Fighter, but could never get into it, nor any other Japanese fighters. Nothing against them, I just never got their feel.

I wanted to get into Killer Instinct back in the '90's, but had begun moving on to first person shooters and even left Mortal Kombat behind for a time.

Perhaps a bit down the road, when I get tired of Mortal Kombat 11, I'll give Killer Instinct (2013) a go on PC.

Is there a major preference then between the Windows Store and Steam versions? The classic games were apparently available as part of a pre-order on Xbox One back in 2013. I take it they are not on PC?
Click to expand...
same as me .... MK is my major fighting game franchises, and all the others, just secondary stuff to kill time , until come out a new Mk game, lol !

and for KI version, your choice : both versions, Steam and MS Store, are compatible with crossplay with Xbox One .... but the majority of players base are on Xbox, so, you decide !
 
Gamer68

Gamer68

Fujin!
Juxtapose said:
Thanks for the info guys! For fighting games, I've really only ever played the Mortal Kombat franchise. I respect Street Fighter, but could never get into it, nor any other Japanese fighters. Nothing against them, I just never got their feel.

I wanted to get into Killer Instinct back in the '90's, but had begun moving on to first person shooters and even left Mortal Kombat behind for a time.

Perhaps a bit down the road, when I get tired of Mortal Kombat 11, I'll give Killer Instinct (2013) a go on PC.

Is there a major preference then between the Windows Store and Steam versions? The classic games were apparently available as part of a pre-order on Xbox One back in 2013. I take it they are not on PC?
Click to expand...
The Windows 10 version has cross-play Ranked and I hear the preformance is a LITTLE better (not much) than the Steam version. But I really don't know if that last part is true.

I heard the Windows 10 version is a little better overall, but you should be fine with the Steam version if you want to play there instead.

As for KI classics, those games are NOT on PC at all. They are exclusive to the Xbox One version of the game.
 
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hatyr

hatyr

ball roll enjoyer.
Gamer68 said:
Keep in-mind that the game lost a ton of players when support ended for the game, so most of the people playing online are super fans who still grind it out, and have become VERY good. Getting good enough to take on these players will probably take a while, and that's an understatement.
Click to expand...
True. Though I did do some Exhibition matches yesterday (like MK Player Matches for those not in the know) and got paired with noobs like myself. The game has good filters though that allow you to search for players by their rank so you don't end up playing Killers unless ya wanna.

Gamer68 said:
If you want to learn how to play the game, learn about the mechanics, characters, etc, I recommend this guide: https://ki.infil.net/

This is easily the best guide that has ever been made for a fighting game ever, in my opinion.
Click to expand...
QFT. The character page is also super helpful at breaking down the roster by your preferred playstyle if you're having trouble deciding which character to try (rushdown, zoning, mix-ups, etc)
 
hatyr

hatyr

ball roll enjoyer.
I want to add that anyone interested but intimidated, I feel that for sure. I'm trying to just take baby steps and learn each mechanic piece by piece. Like MK, the more you play and learn is the more the game starts to slow down and make sense.

I absolutely love the the defensive options in this game (breakers, counters, etc) that let you feel like you are ALWAYS playing, even when you get opened up by the game's ridiculous offense. So much less salt to be had.
 
Swindle

Swindle

Philanthropist & Asshole
Jynks said:
could never get into KI. It just missed all the marks for me somehow. I find it not only boring to play but absolutely unwatchable as a spectator. I hope they can fix it if they ever make a sequal.
Click to expand...
I love you, but you’re crazy.
 
wired

wired

Noob
I actually bought KI recently on PC and the game seemed not to automatically recognize my stick. I could have searched for a solution, but instead just went back to playing MK. While I'm mentioning it, does anyone know a solution or where I should look to find one?
 
Evantabes

Evantabes

Mortal
It makes me pretty happy that people are talking about KI again. IMO, the game is one of the best when it comes to character diversity and playstyle expression. For anyone trying to learn KI, I have to recommend this site
This guide is actually incredible and definitely one of the best pieces of content in the entire FGC. Anyone who ever wants to play can add me, my GT is the same name as here. I play on PC and still try to play every once in a while.
 
appo

appo

º°˜¨EU¨˜°º
wouldnt mind a new one even tho i am not sure if the old team is even still around.
 
Gooberking

Gooberking

FGC Cannon Fodder
KI is so cool. I wanted to play it for so long. I grabbed it as soon as it hit pc steam hoping to be hyper casual at it.

I can't play it though. The combo system just makes my brain melt. Maybe if I went full main game on it, but it's too late and there are too many great games I already don't have time for.

I am rocking the ost while playing other games. And it's my favorite to watch.
 
hatyr

hatyr

ball roll enjoyer.
Gamer68 said:
@hatyr @Juxtapose

Last I heard, the Steam version is cross-play but not in Ranked mode. Should still be able to play Casuals and Lobby matches with Xbox players.
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Edited my prior responses to reflect this. Played a buddy of mine last night who was on Steam. Could not directly invite due to usernames across platforms so it was a little clunky, but we were pretty easily able to find each other in a custom lobby.
 
Juxtapose

Juxtapose

Master
I downloaded the free-to-play version off the Windows Store and gave the game a whirl yesterday. I mostly focused on the basic tutorials and did a Versus AI on Easy.

The game feels very, very different than Mortal Kombat, that's for sure. Getting used to six buttons and back to block will, well, take a lot of getting used to for me. The combo system also seems very complex, though I know it's actually not and will just take practice.

In the single Versus AI match I did, I essentially button mashed my way to victory :oops:. The free character right now is Rash, who I have no interest in at all. I was able to play as Jago in the tutorials. He seems like a Ryu-rip, more or less.

I plan on toying a bit more, but might indeed pick the game up when it's on sale. There's no way to set up the Windows Store to notify you of a sale, is there?
 
T

trufenix

bye felicia
Ig did their best to turn the game into Guilty Gear, robbing it of its casual appeal, but I will always love the universe. If someone wants to do a crossover or release it on a real platform, I'm in.
 
Juxtapose

Juxtapose

Master
HeavyNorse said:
Playstation, obviously.
If he says Switch though, he's lying.
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That's what I figured. I've never understood platform elitism, which is what that is. Video games are fun, and I have been enjoying them for longer than many posters on this board have been alive on everything under the sun: PC platforms, Sony platforms, Microsoft platforms, Nintendo platforms, SEGA platforms, etc.

A PC and an Xbox One respectively are "real platforms." Killer Instinct even features crossplay between them, apparently.
 
Trustful_Whale

Trustful_Whale

Warrior
Marlow said:
I've given it a try, I think it's a great game. However, I really struggle with the combo breaker mechanic. I like it, but I'm just terrible at it, so it's been hard for me to get too much into the game.
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That's a pretty common starter issue with the game. I promise if you keep playing you'll start seeing the opponent's patterns and breaking their combos.
It's too good of a fighting game to let slip.

I cannot stress enough how good Killer Instinct is. Anyone who loves fighting games owes it to themselves to give this game a real shot. IMO KI does one thing above and beyond other fighters, and that thing is agency.
Because of how the combo system works, both players are always engaged and thinking at all times even during combos. The agency of the defending player is still intact despite taking damage; only when you mess up several times in a row does this agency get taken away for the big big damage. This aspect of fighting games is super important, especially when it comes to attracting new blood.

For anyone else: I haven't played this game in a long time but this is the exact kind of thread I needed. I'll be pretty rusty but if anyone has questions about the game, or particularly Thunder and Tusk, I can help.

Edit: I'm only just now realizing how old this thread is and how behind I am. lol.
 
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Trustful_Whale

Trustful_Whale

Warrior
haketh said:
Anyone saying the game was more unique when DH was in charge & better please I want you to go back & watch S1. I enjoyed the game then but wooooo boy do people have rose tinted glasses. Remember how Sabrewulf Dash through Shadow Eclipse was legit unblockable for the longest time.
Click to expand...
Only things I liked better about S1 was the original shadow attack vfx (before the purple) and Fulgore.
 
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