History Trivia / KillerInstinct

* KillerApp: The SNES port of the original ''Killer Instinct'' helped push a lot of units thanks to the success the game found in the arcades. Additionally, the 2013 game is this for the UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and is generally considered to be one of the better exclusives for that specific console.

*** In the original pitch, Orchid was going to a blonde acrobat named Wanda. The roster also included a wizard named Midas and a BonusBoss, a Thunder God named Tremor.

* DuelingWorks: With {{Sega}}'s ''VideoGame/EternalChampions'' back in the 1990s. [=KI=] and [=EC=] were made as [[DarkerAndEdgier dark]] and [[BloodierAndGorier violent]] fighting games by the leading console manufacturers at the time as [[FollowTheLeader response]] to ''Franchise/MortalKombat'', with outlandish character designs and gallons of RuleOfCool.

* TheWikiRule: The [[http://killerinstinct.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page Killer Instinct Wiki]].

* TropeNamers: Say it with us, in 3, 2, 1... '''''[[ComboBreaker "C-C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!"]]'''''

* BeamMeUpScotty: In a ''very'' minor example, despite the insane MemeticMutation the "[[ComboBreaker COMBO BREAKER!]]" soundclip has reached (in no small part thanks to the LargeHamAnnouncer), most people recognize it with the letter C emphasized five times[[labelnote:*]]That is, "C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!"[[/labelnote]]. In reality, it's emphasized ''six'' times[[labelnote:*]]So, "C-C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!"[[/labelnote]].

* WorkingTitle: ''Killer Instinct'' originally went by the name of "Brute Force" when it was first pitched. A logo for the game called "Thriller Instinct" is also present in the game's files, which was possibly made just in case Nintendo's NeverSayDie rule applied (surprisingly, it didn't).

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The first arcade fell into this by advertising for the "Ultra 64" long before it released, especially when sprouting the game would be for it. This was when the Nintendo 64 was still in development, but ran into problems that delayed it, so Rare decided to make a [=SNES=] version instead. They eventually did do one on the system for the second game.

*** Many characters had their names changed during development. Cinder had the most changes, going from names like "Pyrotech", "Heat Shade" ,"Meltdown", "Magma", and "Afterburner". Sabrewulf had "Newton" and "Werewolf". Thunder was "King Thunder", Spinal was "[[Film/JasonAndTheArgonauts Argo]]", and Riptor was "Toxin". T.J. Combo's original name was the much more goofy "Mr. Fist" during production. It's referenced in Cinder's trailer in ''KI 2013'' and it's a fight title that you can unlock by playing Cinder enough.

** As the arcade version says when the game is beaten, Killer Instinct was originally going to be a Nintendo 64 exclusive, when it was still known as Nintendo Ultra 64.
** The game was originally meant to have a character customization feature, with players able to set their Power, Speed, and Defense stats, change their default color, and select finishers. A barcode would then be printed, which could be scanned by the machine to retrieve a player's custom character data.
** In the original pitch, Orchid was going to a blonde acrobat named Wanda. The roster also included a wizard named Midas and a BonusBoss, a Thunder God named Tremor.
** [[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry1 Funky's Flights']] theme was originally composed for ''Killer Instinct'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtTC1sRlB1c as shown on this video.]]
** Many characters had their names changed during development. Cinder had the most changes, going from names like "Pyrotech", "Heat Shade" ,"Meltdown", "Magma", and "Afterburner". Sabrewulf had "Newton" and "Werewolf". Thunder was "King Thunder", Spinal was "[[Film/JasonAndTheArgonauts Argo]]", and Riptor was "Toxin".
** T.J. Combo's original name was the much more goofy "Mr. Fist" during production. It's referenced in Cinder's trailer in ''KI 2013'' and it's a fight title that you can unlock by playing Cinder enough.
** [=KI2=] had a vampire character planned as one of its new entrants, but they were scrapped during development. The character's theme was salvaged and later used during the Count Batula sequence in ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay''. The series wouldn't get a vampire added to the roster until Mira's debut 17 years later.
** Allegedly, a fully complete version of Killer Instinct 2 was developed for the SNES but never released.

** Many characters had their names changed during development. Cinder had the most changes, going from names like "Pyrotech", "Heat Shade" ,"Meltdown", "Magma", and "Afterburner". Sabrewulf had "Newton" and "Werewolf". Thunder was "King Thunder", Spinal was "[[Film/JasonAndTheArgonauts Argo]]", and Riptor was "Toxin". In [=KI 2013=], Kan-Ra's prototype name was "Gauze".

** [=KI2=] had a vampire character planned as one of its new entrants, but they were scrapped during development. The character's theme was salvaged, however, and later used during the Count Batula sequence in ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay''. The series wouldn't get a vampire added to the roster until Mira's debut 20 years later.

* CreatorCameo: Several of the people who worked on ''[=KI1=]'' slipped their names into different places in the game. For example, programmer Martin Hollis gets a nod in Sabrewulf's stage in the form of a stone with "M. Hollis was 'ere" scrawled into it. Similarly, Chris Seavor gets a bar named after him on the streets below Orchid's skyscraper stage.
** All the characters in ''[=KI1=]'' and ''[=KI2=]'', along with some of the cast of ''[=KI2013=]'', are voiced by the game's developers. Designer/supervisor Ken Lobb, for example, has been the voice of Thunder in every appearance.

* ShoutOut:
** Eyedol's arcade mode ending is a reference to Blanka's own ending in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII''. Except it ends a little differently...
** Going back in time, the highest setting of the Speed modifier in ''KI Gold'' is labeled "[[Film/{{Spaceballs}} Ludicrous]]".

* TheWikiRule: The [[http://killerinstinct.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page Killer Instinct Wiki]].

** Cinder in the ''2013'' reboot was originally completely alien in origin and appearance, and was meant to be a more "real" rival to Glacius in terms of backstory. While the team went with the character's original story (a convict turned into a ManOnFire by Ultratech's experiments), some of the alien pitch still remains in his new design.

* WorkingTitle: KI originally went by the name of "Brute Force" when it was first pitched.

* ShoutOut: Eyedol's arcade mode ending is a reference to Blanka's own ending in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII''. Except it ends a little differently...

** KI originally went by the name of "Brute Force" when it was first pitched.

* ShoutOut
** Aria's retro skin turns her into Maria from the silent film Film/{{Metropolis}}.
** Aria also has an alternate skin which gives her the distinctive head design and chrome finish of a [[SexBot Hajime Sorayama drawing]].
** Certain Fulgore colors in [=KI2013=] have a logo hidden somewhere on his body, such as the Double Helix logo, the Rareware logo, and the original Xbox logo.
** T.J. Combo's "Kick Boxing" accessory set lets him dress up as Kick from VideoGame/{{Divekick}}.
** T.J. Combo also gets an outfit, haircut, and entirely cosmetic back-weapon to turn him into Franchise/{{Blade}}.
** Cinder's line when performing the Shadow version of Inferno is "[[Franchise/MortalKombat Toasty!]]" His crouching Heavy Punch is also an ''MK''-esque uppercut.
** One of Fulgore's ultimate attacks is called [[VideoGame/BlastCorps Blast Core]].
** There are a couple of shout-outs to ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'' in Kim Wu's trailer. First there's a moment where she fights Kan-Ra wearing a similar costume and mustache as the villain Lo Pan. Second, there's the big-rig truck that smashes into Kim Wu's stage when an Ultra Combo is performed, similar to the big-rig driven by Jack Burton.
** Rash's "Rarewear" accessories give him apparel inspired by ''[[VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay Conker]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/BanjoKazooie Banjo-Kazooie]]''. His tongue lash and wrecking ball special moves are also similar to moves used by [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 Spencer and Spider-Man]].
** Almost all of Tusk's unlockable profile taunts are references to Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger films.
** Mira, while wearing her "Phantom" accessories, strongly resembles the [[Characters/FableI Jack of Blades]].
** Maya's "Fashionable" accessories are Freya's outfit and sunglasses from VideoGame/PhantomDust.
** Gargos in the 2013 game is a walking reference to several infamous boss characters in fighting games. His intro quote is similar to [[VideoGame/StreetFighterIII Gill's]] winquote. One of his special moves is [[VideoGame/StreetFighterII M. Bison's]] Psycho Crusher and he also has ''SFV'' Bison's default stance, walk speed, and a few normals. The Heavy version of said move involves him teleporting up into a portal and coming down on the opponent like [[Franchise/MortalKombat Goro]]. He has the ability to punch his opponent through portals from long distance, similar to [[Franchise/MortalKombat Quan Chi's]] Warlock variation in ''X'', except the punches are a combo starter and have several different variations like [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Nu-13's]] swords.
** When you craft an item in Shadow Lords, Kan-Ra will sometimes say "[[SlicesDicesAndMakesJulienneFries It slices! It dices!]] ...Just kidding."
** Going back in time, the highest setting of the Speed modifier in ''KI Gold'' is labeled "[[Film/{{Spaceballs}} Ludicrous]]".
* TalkingToHimself: Any Cinder vs. Arbiter, Kan-Ra vs. Gargos, or Riptor/Aganos/Eyedol match in KI 2013. Bonus points for any time the new announcer commentates over Jago or Shadow Jago.

** T.J. Combo's original name was the much more goofy "Mr. Fist" when Killer Instinct was originally being made. It's referenced in Cinder's trailer in KI 2013 and it's a fight title that you can unlock by playing Cinder enough.

** All the characters in ''[=KI1=]'' and ''[=KI2=]'', along with most of the cast of ''[=KI2013=]'', are voiced by the game's developers. Designer/supervisor Ken Lobb, for example, has been the voice of Thunder in every appearance.
* FanNickname:
** "Hype Beam" for Fulgore's laser super in the 2013 game, courtesy of [[LetsPlay/TheOnlineWarrior Maximilian Dood]]. When Fulgore's Ultimate was revealed, the developers themselves christened it "Ultimate Hype Beam".
** Before their names were officially revealed, Kan-Ra was called "[=#NotAMummy=]" due to his mummy-like silhouette, Aganos was called "Broccoli Man" due to the shape of his silhouette, and Hisako was called "Ghost Girl" for [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin obvious reasons]].
** Shadow Jago is often contracted to "Shago" by many players, and even by members of the dev team. One of his profile taunts even says "Don't call me Shago."
** Rash's ''Big Bad Boot'' special has been affectionately named "Das Boot".
** Cinder in the new game is often called "[[ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} Cinderpool]]".
** Tusk in the ''2013'' game is often called "[[LetsPlay/TheOnlineWarrior Maximilian]]", because of the uncanny similarities between the two.
*** In the same vein, Sabrewulf is called "Benny" after Maximilian's dog, in part due to the skin mentioned above in BigNameFan.
*** Tusk is also occasionally referred to as "Tush" due to how the font makes the "K' in his name look like a "H".
** Gargos's minion summons, Izzik and Dretch, are often referred to instead as "Jerry and Larry" for the sake of convenience and being easier to pronounce.
** With the revelation of Kilgore, fans immediately started calling it "[[VideoGame/{{Overwatch}} Bastion]]" because it has machine gun turrets for arms and a vertical slit for an eye, exactly like Bastion.
* GodDoesNotOwnThisWorld: The 2013 game was developed by Double Helix Games rather than original developer Creator/{{Rare}}. Further development of the game is being handled by Creator/IronGalaxyStudios after Double Helix's purchase by Amazon. However, some of the old ''[=KI=]'' team, including Ken Lobb, Robin Beanland, Kevin Bayliss, and Chris Sutherland, have contributed to the new game. Rare also acts as executive producers for the game with each new build being shown to them for feedback and approval.
* LyingCreator: For about a year, Iron Galaxy repeatedly said they weren't going to bring Eyedol into ''[=KI2013=]'', because they didn't like his design, they had no good ideas for him, et cetera. After Eyedol was revealed as the last character in season 3, they revealed [[https://twitter.com/zq_audio/status/754549044844781568 they were lying the whole time]].
* MythologyGag: The first trailer for KI 2013 had the announcer shouting "Coming to your home in 2013, only on Xbox One!", a nod to the attract mode in the original game. [[HilariousInHindsight And they STILL lied, since it got Windows 10 and Steam ports in following years...]]
** The Pinnacle's Stage Ultra in KI 2013 has the hapless victim knocked off of the edge of the penthouse into an exploding Ultratech skylight similar to the rooftop-based RingOut animations in the first game, and to add to it, the announcer bellows out "KNOCKOFF!", the same phrase he'd bellow for ''KI 2'''s RingOut animations.
* PromotedFanboy: [[LetsPlay/TheOnlineWarrior Maximilian Dood]] got to play with the developers, has a Sabrewulf skin based on his dog Benny, made a vocal cameo in Glacius' theme, and ending up working on the story mode and promotional trailers in Season 2 and 3.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The idea of representing the Arbiter as a LegacyCharacter rather than using ''the'' Arbiter from ''VideoGame/Halo2'' and ''VideoGame/Halo3'' came about because Creator/KeithDavid either wasn't available to voice him or was out of budget, thus justifying Creator/RayChase taking over.
* RoleReprise:
** Chris Sutherland, the voice of the announcer in the first two ''KI'' games, returns as an optional announcer in ''[=KI2013=]'' nearly 20 years later.
** Thunder is the only member of the roster to have the same voice actor in the reboot as in the originals, with Ken Lobb providing his voice in both ''[=KI1=]'' and ''[=KI2013=]''.
* SequelGap: The last KI game to be released before the 2013 installment was in 1996, a ''seventeen-year'' gap between the two games.
* SerendipityWritesThePlot: Mira was originally planned to use red, human blood in her fighting style. However, they couldn't get away with doing this without raising the game's rating. Instead, they changed her blood into a liquid metal similar to mercury.

* CreatorBacklash: Chris Seavor, one of the original designers of the previous games, isn't fond of the ''KI'' game for the Xbox One.

** All the characters in ''[=KI1=]'' and ''[=KI2=]'', along with most of the cast of ''[=KI2013=]'', are voiced by the game's developers. Designer/supervisor Ken Lobb, for example, has been the voice of Thunder in every appearance, and sound designer Zachary Quarles provides the voices of Riptor, Aganos, and Eyedol in ''[=KI2013=]''.
** Gargos's two minion summons, Izzik and Dretch, are named after Iron Galaxy developer Issac "Delriatch" Torres.
* ChristmasRushed: [[WordOfGod Double Helix]] admitted that Microsoft wanted ''[=KI=]'' 2013 to be a launch title for the UsefulNotes/XBoxOne, and they had to release it after barely a year of development with only six characters and no story mode. Fortunately, unlike most examples of this trope, ''[=KI=]'' 2013 still ended up very playable and polished, with a minimum of bugs - just not very much content. Double Helix and later Iron Galaxy have been supporting the game with DLC, including more characters, multiplayer lobbies and Arcade Mode.

* RetroactiveRecognition: For the OST, singer Ali Edwards contributed vocals to a few songs years before getting wider attention from her performance on [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry5 Devil Trigger]].

** Before their names were officially revealed, Kan-Ra was called "[=#NotAMummy=]" due to his mummy-like silhouette, Aganos was called "Broccoli" due to the shape of his silhouette, and Hisako was called "Ghost Girl" for [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin obvious reasons]].