Summary

  • Killer Instinct Gold has been added to the N64 library for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers.
  • The game features modes like Arcade, Tournament, Practice, and even Team Mode, allowing players to enjoy this classic with friends.

Nintendo Switch Online has added yet another classic title, this time bringing Rare’s 2D fighting game Killer Instinct Gold to its collection of N64 games. This game is available for Nintendo Switch Online users who also pay for the Expansion Pack.

Nintendo Switch Online’s Expansion Pack tier includes access to a growing library of titles from different retro consoles like the Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy Advance, letting players revisit classics on modern hardware. The offering includes some all-time hits from the past, like Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, Banjo-Kazooie, among many others. In addition, the games come with features that allow players to pause and rewind, save at any point, enjoy multiplayer support—even if the original games were local-only—, and take advantage of enhanced aspect ratios or minor visual improvements for some titles. Nintendo continues to expand its library and is now adding yet another classic.

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Killer Instinct Gold has been added to the N64 library for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers, allowing players to jump back into these classic one-on-one battles. In case the details are a bit blurry for some, Killer Instinct Gold came out in 1996, featuring a six-button control scheme with three punches and three kicks—quite similar to Street Fighter 2—where players had to focus on performing different combos to deal significant damage and eventually end the fight with powerful finishing moves.

Killer Instinct Gold Trailer for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack

Killer Instinct also became popular for its defensive mechanics, which enabled players to execute "combo breakers" to interrupt opponents' combos. The game features a roster of 10 fighters and different game modes, including Arcade, Tournament, Practice, and even Team Mode, allowing players to enjoy this classic alongside friends. Despite being a 2D game, Killer Instinct Gold leveraged pre-rendered 3D backgrounds that created a sense of depth in a time when 3D was just breaking into the industry.

Nintendo continues to expand its Switch Online library. Earlier in the year, Ridge Racer 64 was added to the catalog of N64 titles, bringing what many regard as one of the best racing games on the console. Moreover, fans will be pleased to know that with the imminent release of the Switch 2, Nintendo 64 games on the new console will come with new features like a retro filter that allows players to set up the game in a way that resembles the original experience. While players keep exploring the N64 catalog on the Switch, they can now dive into Killer Instinct Gold's high-stakes fights.

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