Killer has finally come home! Home to the 16-bit SNES, that is. This version of Killer isn't flawless, but it is surprisingly addictive and fun to play.

Natural Born Killer

In a bleak and desolate future, one corporation reigns supreme: Ultratech. Makers of advanced weaponry, they are also the sponsors of the top-rated Killer Instinct TV show, in which warriors from all walks (and crawls) of life compete for the right to call themselves the best..and to be granted anything their hearts' desire. The ten warriors slated for this version have many different desires. Some want fame and fortune; others want n all want to pound their enemies into submission.

There are basically 2 mugen engines you need to add to your M.U.G.E.N download list. One is the old mugen engine that is compatible with most characters. The other one is the new beta mugen that is being developed by elecbyte and has bugs and incompatibilities with some characters. Play free timon and pumba jungle games online. Old mugen download.

The range of fighters, from an alien life form to a disgraced heavyweight boxer to Ultra-tech's deadliest robot, possess their own brand of brawling. Some use fists and feet, some use projectiles and claws, while others teleport, slide, and change form to win the battle. There won't be a dull moment during the bouts.

This unique fighting game works on a very fast, very simple, and quite effective combo system. Instead of your normal one-button, one- hit fighting style; you sometimes chain together 3 to 21 hits in a few button presses. While this style of combos is not for everyone and may irk fighting purists, it's certainly entertaining and fun to watch.. the first time.

But ultimately, you end up doing a lot of watching. What fun is it to stand by and watch another player of advanced skill whip you until you scream 'Uncle!'? Although moves called Combo Breakers enable you to break free from this barrage of beastly brutality, they don't work all the time.

Adding further to the humiliation are..Humiliations. Humiliations are embarrassing moves that totally disgrace your opponent by, for example, farting on them, exposing yourself to them, or otherwise robbing them of their dignity. The many other finishing moves will also do the job of making your enemy feel like a putz.

Basic Instinct

Although the arcade version broke ground with its rendered combatants, don't expect anything close to that here. The graphics are good -- but not great -- with lots of choppy movement and missing frames of animation.

ProTips:

• Most players have a quick three-hit combo that starts with a Fierce Punch followed by a Medium Kick.
• If you land a Monster or Awesome combo, try throwing a projectile just before your opponent lands.

The backgrounds are nowhere near the quality of the arcade version, and some of the better background effects, like knocking enemies off the high-rise and onto the roof of a parked car on the street below, were taken out. The scaling in and out of the stages that appeared in the arcade is absent as well.

The sounds vary between okay and awful. Some fighter's sounds are intact, like Sabrewulfs howling and whimpering, but some sound effects, like Fulgore's Teleport, are just a dismal din.

The music permeates each stage with a thumping house mix, but there's little variety. Also missing is the announcement of the combos, which amped the arcade excitement.

Control is not too difficult. Special moves can be regularly applied because most are fireball and Dragon Punch motions. You can also easily string together lots of moves for combos. But the tougher combos (like the Ultra and Ultimate) are button presses that need to be performed during another combo, which makes for a lot of confusion on the joypad.

KI Is OK

If you loved Killer in the arcade, you'll be slightly disappointed but not upset by this version. If you've always wanted to play Killer but were intimidated by the Killer Stinkers who seemed to always hang around the machine, this is a good version to practice on.

All in all, it's a good game with some flaws. It isn't as deep as Street Fighter or as well made as MK II, but it's in contention with those brawlers. Maybe not a Killer, but definitely a felon.