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The Music of Killer Instinct... 3?

Is Rare's long-dormant fighting series planning a return? Some people are taking this new information to mean exactly that.

By Jeff Gerstmann  |  Sept. 3, 2008

We&squot;re holding out for "Jago&squot;s Lament," or "The TJ Combo Cha-Cha."
We're holding out for "Jago's Lament," or "The TJ Combo Cha-Cha."
I don't even know what to make of this one. MundoRare, a site devoted to the fandom of all things related to Rare, was apparently slipped a little something-something from someone at Microsoft. That something-something? Sheet music for the main title music for something called Killer Instinct 3.

I'll assume that most people don't really remember what the heck Rare's Killer Instinct even is, so here's how I remember it through my hate-tinted glasses.

KI was a pretty terrible fighting game with a ridiculous combo system that played itself somewhere around 25 percent of the time. The graphics were all pre-rendered, like Donkey Kong Country. It had finishing moves in it, which at the time seemed like a big ol' MK rip-off.

...


OK, fine, I'll leave my weird and probably irrational dislike of the KI series out of it. A lot of time has passed. The fighting genre isn't what it used to be. At this point, I'd be at least a little interested to see what's up with Jago, TJ Combo, and... uh... the robot dude? Or the wolf guy? Oh, hey, Orchid! That's the name of a character in that game, right?

Obviously, the existence of sheet music with "Killer Instinct 3" written at the top of it doesn't really prove anything. It could be entirely fake, it could be music from a game that's never coming out, or maybe they're actually going to follow through with a sequel. Which of these scenarios do you think is the most likely? We'll be watching our "time until someone who can read sheet music actually plays and records this" timer while you take all this in.

[UPDATE] In case you want to hear it,  ChrisTilton has thrown the sheet music into a violin synth. Listen! Thanks, Chris!

[UPDATE 2} Continuing the epic tear that only a legitimate game soundtrack composer can touch, Chris Tilton spent some more time with the track and fleshed out what he thinks the full song might song like. Neat!
Filed under: Killer Instinct, Xbox 360
41 Comments
MattBodega moderator on Sept. 3, 2008 at 2:05 p.m.
You should have titled this story Killer Cuts, like that amazing/horrible KI music CD.
Arrerson Sept. 3, 2008 at 2:09 p.m.
Wasn't killer instinct the game that someone rapped about in one of the giant bombcasts?
Chocobo_Blitzeron Sept. 3, 2008 at 2:09 p.m.
I remember having rented the game when I was in second grade and thinking about playing the game the entire day at class. Once and only time I ever played it.
MasterSplinteron Sept. 3, 2008 at 2:09 p.m.
I think I'll stick with Yaris, thank you very much.
Sparky_Buzzsawon Sept. 3, 2008 at 2:12 p.m.
I thought the original games were good rentals, but that's about it.  I suppose a new fighting game is a great prospect, but a little more originality would be appreciated.
Elkon Sept. 3, 2008 at 2:35 p.m.

That music looks pretty boring to me, all the same pitch until the end? Perhaps it is techno.. hmm

Oh and as for KI, I can only say this

B,F,6,B,1,F,6,B,1,F,6,B,1,F,D,DB,3,B,D,F,1 or replace F,D,DB,3,B,D,F,1 with F,2 for an ultra with Orchid

WOO! But that's about all I can remember.

EDIT: Actually who wouldn't want to see the inevitable horrible crossover that would come with a new KI game, Banjo Vs Chief Thunder!

ryanwhoon Sept. 3, 2008 at 2:39 p.m.
I will only play a new KI game if they fight Looney Toons.
Steve_Con Sept. 3, 2008 at 2:41 p.m.
I remember playing KI on the SNES round my cousins house back in the day, having fights against a few other relatives. I can totally remember that orchid person.

I remember enjoying it at the time, but i was way too young to really care about the quality of the game. It was a video game and to me that was all that mattered.
Kraznoron Sept. 3, 2008 at 2:42 p.m.
I played one of them in an arcade at some point. I do remember the wolf guy but thats about it. Not sure why anyone would bring back a dead fighting series like that, why not Bloody Roar and Clay Fighter while you're at it?
StaticFalconaron Sept. 3, 2008 at 2:57 p.m.
Hey man if you where like 10 when KI came out that combo system was gold. Too bad I found out how bad it was when i grew up.
HTTenraion Sept. 3, 2008 at 2:58 p.m.
To the poor fool who tries to play that sheet music, I have only this to say:

HUMILIATION!

...and yes, Jeff, I love you, bro, but your hate of Killer Instinct IS irrational. ^_^
ThomasPon Sept. 3, 2008 at 3:27 p.m.
Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. That is all I translated. :)
sirchodeon Sept. 3, 2008 at 3:32 p.m.
I got money on that being sheet music for a Rickroll
ChrisTiltonon Sept. 3, 2008 at 3:35 p.m.
The part doesn't say the instrument, but it's pretty apparent that it's the Violin I part, so I made a synth mockup for those interested. By itself it doesn't amount to much.

http://www.christilton.com/blogs/KI3_theme_violin.mp3
Popojijuon Sept. 3, 2008 at 3:35 p.m.
Lots of hate for KI it seems. Well, I don't share your feelings. Personally, I very much enjoyed the KI series. I spent numerous quarters in the bowling alley arcade (I worked at one and they had it, plus I bowled a lot). I was around 20 years old or so at the time. I bought the SNES version and got the Killer Cuts CD with it, and loved most of the music from the game. Jeez, I have such fond memories of this game and STILL play it on occasion in one format or another (favorite being the arcade roms). Hard to believe so many of you hated this game. It was quite popular then.
dQuarterson Sept. 3, 2008 at 3:44 p.m.
I think it's worth a shot. They'd obviously have to build an entirely new game, so for as little as I gave a shit about KI back then, I'm still interested in any new (or rehashed) developments in this suffering genre. Could be good. It will at least give us some eye-candy to enjoy/mock.
Who wants to bet Pinata island will be a hidden level in this game?

I'd still like to see someone new jump into the fighting game fray with some fresh perspective. Ubisoft or Epic, hop-to-it!
insanejedion Sept. 3, 2008 at 3:48 p.m.
B+F HK, B HK, MK, MK, MK, HCB HP, HP HP
KILLER COMBO!
KI is the shit Jeff, lets go play it!
TheGreatGueroon Sept. 3, 2008 at 4:17 p.m.
Jeff, dude. You just ripped my heart out. Even though I've been a life-long MK fan, I also really loved Killer Instinct (especially the first one). It's one of my favorite arcade games. I always really liked it's combo system, because it focused more on learning patterns than memorizing button combinations. I think fighting games in general force us to remember too many special moves these days, which kind of encourages us to use less fighters overall.
Joseppieon Sept. 3, 2008 at 4:54 p.m.
If this game comes out, I'll be surprised as hell. KI doesn't have the reputation of something like Tekken or Street Fighter, so I can't see how this could possibly be all that successful.
Druxkon Sept. 3, 2008 at 5:04 p.m.
7 million hit combos here I come!!!

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