Pros: Fun, Save your stats, Orchid is hot, COMBOS
Cons: Graphics could have been better. Needs more balance
The bottom line: 2D Fighter with Hot Babes, and Anus-Kicking moves! What else could you ask for?
This was the reason I bought a Nintendo 64. This is one of the few reasons why I still own my Nintendo 64. The Game Came out in 1995, and Yet the graphics are not as dated as many other games that came out in 1998!

I was first introduced to this game in the arcades when the original Killer Instinct came out. I popped in a quarter and some kid beat the heck out of me. Man did that kid make me feel stupid. Then I realized how cool he must have felt, being able to pull off a 100 hit combo in front of all those kids. So I decided I was going to master this game. I did. Then Killer Instinct 2 came out for the Arcade. The game was promoted as being available for the Nintendo 64 when the system launches and that's was set me on getting the Nintendo 64. I did, and the game was delayed a few months. But when I got it it blew me away.

It was a close adaptation to Killer Instinct 2, with a few modifications to make it more balanced. The graphics are half 3D and half picture sprites. The Arcade is almost all Sprites. This was obviously done due to lack of cartridge space. I noticed the characters and objects in the backgrounds were not as large, detailed and crisp as in the arcade. Luckily the fast action and wonderful game play has earned this game a permanent spot in my library.

Graphics.
Like I said, very good for the time this game came out. Developer Rare, spend a while on this game and it shows. It is lacking the CGI movies from the arcade. these are replaced by cheesy looking stills, which are very ugly. Also, many frames of character animation are missing, making the movements less fluid. Rating: 8

Sound.
Awesome. The music is wonderful. A mix of techno, hip hop, and many other styles, will make you hum them and get into the fight. I like to punch my opponent to the beat of the music. It really annoys them and that helps me win. Da DA dadada SMACK da doo doo doo SMACK KICK KICK SMACK! I really do wish that the combos were announced every time you pull one off (like in Killer Instinct 1). M..mm..mmmoooonster coooombooo! Rating: 9

Gameplay.
Wonderful. There are so many moves you can do in this game, Rare included an extra cheat card to list some of them. Combos can be created by you, special moves each have a counter, combos can be countered.... which keeps a balance in the gameplay. If someone repeats a move over and over again, just counter it and let them taste pain. One this that I don't like is that there are just too many moves. If I stop playing the game for a month, I forget how to pull of all those great combos, and I have to learn again. Also I have a friend who doesn't own the game and he always beats me. Why? because he found a batch of moves that seem to have no way of countering. Jump...stab to the back of the neck...kick to the face... jump back... repeat. I can't counter it for the life of me. And since I pride myself on my ability to kick butt in this game it ticks me off that he wins all the time. Oh well, there's still a lot I have to learn. Rating: 9

Final Rating: A solid fighting game from the HitMakers at Rare. This Game Rocks!

UPdated***
Even though I don't put in nearly as much time into this game five years after it was released, I still break it out, blow off the dust and open up a can on my friends. It's the multiplayer aspect and the stats tracking that stands the test of time. If you can get this game used or new for a decent price, and you should because the Nintendo 64 is old, then pick it up. It's a worthy purchase.