"Much better than its ultra-cheap predecessor"

Unlike the unbeleivably cheap and unplayable Killer Instinct, KI2 actually manages to blend fast paced and good gameplay with great graphics and design rather fluently.

The only characters that don't return from the first game are Cinder and Riptor. The new characters include Conan the Barbarian rip-off Tusk, Mayan queen 'Maya', and a female ninja Kim Wu. Tusk is a great character, but Maya and Kim Wu are pretty cheesy. The ultra combos are much more extravagant, but the fatalities in this game suck compared to KI. The ring-out death moves are also pretty lame...though there are many more than in the first one, they all involve the same exact thing: spiraling down and down and down into blackness until you hear them splatter. Sabrewulf's pit death is a well, which apparently goes pretty deep. Some of the better ones include Jago's and Tusk's.

Combos are easier to perform, as the controls have been simplified. Unlike KI, which had utterly ridiculous controller movements somewhat like street fighter, with diagnol and bizarre control motions that couldn't possibly be done by a human hand, KI2 is simple and fast. The combos are also much bigger than before and do more damage, though the same principle still applies: the more hits in the combo, the less damage it does. Hence, you have 15 hit combos doing a small amount of damage, and pathetic 3 hit combos nearly depleting a full life bar. The game has serious balance issues.

Some cool new additions include mini-ultras, which can be done at the end of the first round. There are also super meters, which are a chore to fill up, since they only fill if you get hit or if an opponent blocks. There are super moves in the game that can sometimes be chained into your Ultra combo to make it that much cooler. There are even alternate, multiple endings for every character. Depending on who you kill, either with an Ultra Combo, ring out, or Fatality(Ultimate Combo), or who you spare, those characters may have a direct impact on your ending.

Don't be tricked though...the game still has its problems, and it IS still moderately cheap. The control is unresponsive, and many times a combo will be left unfinished, or a death move will not be done, just because the controls are so unresponsive. Try to do a jumping attack, ALWAYS knocked out. Characters like Orchird and Spinal always have some sort of answer to whatever move you do. Sabrewulf, just like in the first KI, is the textbook definition of a 'turtle' in that he does NOTHING but block the entire match. Of course, even though there ARE block breakers, you can't break his blocks, and he always retaliates with a tiny combo that does tremendous damage, hence some of the ultra cheap aspects and characters of the first KI still remain.

The boss is challenging, and not overly cheap like that that stupid 2 headed alien from the first KI. It is actually a pleasure to fight him, since the battle is so challenging and intense. He is a gargoyle type creature, whose moves are a combination of Cinder and Riptor. However, he can do some of the things that the boss from KI did, which includes gaining life back very quickly.

Overall this game is a massive improvement over the first one and is a pleasure to play, but it has its issues.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/05/04