Banjo designer defends Rare, disappoints Killer Instinct fans
by Christopher Grant 
{ Sep 25th 2008 at 10:33PM }
As long as a Banjo-Kazooie update is on the table, Multiplayer asked about the possibility of another Killer Instinct installment. Without saying "no" Mayles handily shot down the speculation, explaining, "... what we're not gonna do is just say 'okay, there's this kind of vocal, fairly small vocal minority of real die-hard fans out there that want to see [Killer Instinct], so therefore, we should be doing [Killer Instinct].'" Hear that, small vocal minority? You can keep screaming but Rare can't hear you. Maybe with Banjo coming to Xbox Live Arcade, you guys could start asking for a similar treatment for fellow Nintendo 64-alumnus Killer Instinct. That's better than nothing, right?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Obie @ Sep 25th 2008 10:46PM
R-R-R-RUMOR BREAKER!
I still want KI3.
:(
Ranus Studios @ Sep 25th 2008 10:50PM
COME ON YOU GUYS IT IS OBVIOUS HE IS LYING
I said with tears in my eyes.
Obie @ Sep 25th 2008 11:15PM
Ok, if no KI3, how about the original Killer Instinct from the arcade, with a full HD/XBL upgrade?
I would buy it in a second.
The3rdNuisance @ Sep 25th 2008 11:54PM
Honestly, you'd be better off trying the demo first even if they did that. The game would be amazing unless they make a bunch of pointless changes. However, its not designed for a 360 pad at all.
Main issue being, 6 attack types in the game, 4 face buttons on the 360 controller.
Obie @ Sep 25th 2008 11:58PM
True, the Rare that made KI back in the day is not the same Rare that exists now. But how could they possibly mess this up? :(
Mr.Ironic @ Sep 26th 2008 12:26AM
Famous. Last. Words.
juju187 @ Sep 25th 2008 11:27PM
kotaku has different take on this story, i like their version it gives hope of KI still coming...
Roto13 @ Sep 26th 2008 12:16AM
"We've always been seen as a bit, I don't know, willing to take a chance on doing something different and trying to come up with new experience."
I'm trying to place my finger on exactly when that happened. Goldeneye is the closest I can think of. Pretty much everything else they've ever made can accurately be described as a ripoff of another game. Killer Instinct = Mortal Kombat ripoff. Banjo-Kazooie = Mario 64 ripoff. Diddy Kong Racing = Mario Kart ripoff. Hell, they even managed to rip off THEMSELVES with Donkey Kong 64.
Vidikron @ Sep 26th 2008 10:22AM
Viva Pinata?
Roto13 @ Sep 26th 2008 11:36AM
Alright, I suppose that's something.
NoHitHair @ Sep 26th 2008 12:51AM
"...willing to take a chance on doing something different and trying to come up with new experience."
You succeeded Mr. Mayles. Rare's games nowadays are certainly nothing like they used to be (filled with quality, attention and care) - it's definitely a "new experience".
Snowblind @ Sep 26th 2008 6:47AM
I'm going to be shot for this, but Killer Instinct was essentially a bad version of Mortal Kombat, Rare themselves have said they don't even like it, which is why they refuse to port, remake or bring back the franchise in any way, and I think that's a good move.
There's enough people who claim they're not as good as they once were, and re-releasing KI would only damage their reputation further.
Play Kameo, or Viva Pinata people, these games are easily as good as the titles they've worked on in the past.
Maverick Saturn @ Sep 26th 2008 8:11AM
What? That exciting game where the girl turns into various biological disasters? I'll go out and buy that now :O
Xoviet chiK @ Sep 26th 2008 8:35AM
If Killer Instinct was a bad version of Mortal Kombat, what gold-plated-turd inspired Mortal Kombat? Is it just a bad version of "video game"?
Also, yes. Kameo is brilliant and, dare I say it, Grabbed by the Ghoulies was too. Rare's still got the golden touch, can't wait for Nuts & Bolts.
Vidikron @ Sep 26th 2008 10:25AM
I actually agree with you. I've never understood the following for KI, nor MK for that matter. Both are substandard fighters with gimmicks to make them interesting.
Dracula Jones @ Sep 26th 2008 11:30AM
I played a lot of KI Gold because it was one of what, 5 games out at the time? I agree, KI is a relatively bad fighting game. It rests somewhere between Primal Rage and Mortal Kombat. It's closest comparison is Clay Fighters. It's just one of those games that people gloss over for the sake of nostalgia.
Kameo, however, is an underappreciated gem. It's just tops.
kaneda @ Sep 26th 2008 1:50PM
I hesitate to defend KI to the above repliers as I do not expect that I could change their minds on this issue. However, as an avid 2d fighter player, I, personally, would rate Killer Instinct higher than Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter 2 in terms of fighting mechanics and game play.
KI's unique combo system was, at the time, the most elaborate fighting mechanic contained in any of the 3 games. The only real comparison was SSFII's 'figure out which button will add to the combo' method, which MK3 copied the year after KI. KI had had an actual system with depth, a methodolgy to chain combos, auto-doubles, combo breakers, and the lesser known shadow moves and slowmo combos.
If you liked the game or not is subjective, a matter of tastes. But at least rate the game objectively. Compared to SFII and MK, what was worse about KI? The graphics? The character design? The gameplay? Specifically what didn't appeal to you?
Maverick Saturn @ Sep 26th 2008 8:09AM
See this right here Rare? It's my killer instinct coming on >:(
Jfk Aok @ Sep 26th 2008 10:07AM
That picture is absolutely hysterical! The joke doesn't slap you across your face like 99% of the gags on the internet do. Clever and subtle.
Thanks for brightening my morning!
Sephiroth X @ Sep 26th 2008 10:36AM
Last I checked KI was more popular than Banjo...
M @ Sep 26th 2008 10:55AM
After Tekken and Street Fighter, Killer Instinct is my next favorite fighting franchise. I was looking forward to Fulgore's eye laser too. Oh well.
Batzarro @ Sep 26th 2008 11:35AM
NOOOOOOO! DO MAKE IT! DAAAAAAAAMMMNNN YOOUUUUUUU!!!
Stupid Rare.
kaneda @ Sep 26th 2008 1:52PM
They should release the series on psn, live arcade, or wiiware (at least Virtual Console) and judge by the sales whether a new game is merited.
cacaman @ Sep 26th 2008 2:21PM
KI? I'm still waiting for a proper remake of RC Pro AM.
fini @ Sep 26th 2008 8:59PM
first of all who cares about banjo, KI is wat we really want. Capcomr caved & is gonna be releasing SF4 next year. So why can't Rare listen to the majority because KI fans are a majortiy, they the same people who love SF4 & MK. Don't call us the minority. The game developer companies are very forgetful, if it wasn't for the hardcore gamers they wouldn't have casual gamers to sell too.