Arcade1Up Killer Instinct Pro Series Review! Is It Worth The Pro Price?

#arcade1up #killerinstinct #proseries
Arcade1Up Killer Instinct Pro Series Review! Is It Worth The Pro Price? Arcade1Up has released their first ever Pro Series cabinet Killer Instinct and the question is does it live up to it's distinction? Are the "Pro" features really enough to justify that $1000 US price tag? Well with early reviews online saying the Suzo Happ sticks weren't as good as people hope and some other noticeable quality issues is this a buy or a pass?
Arcade1Up Killer Instinct Pro Series: arcade1up.com/...
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Welcome to my channel. I have been playing and collecting games since 1987 and I use this channel to share my passion and memories of gaming. I review games that I believe are under appreciated or wrongfully dismissed on Game Genie Reviews. Video Game Nostalgia is a fun series where I take a look at a topic from my gaming past and share games that come to mind from it. I also do Top 10 lists, of course I do...what else is on youtube right? Well I like to think I put my own spin on them because they are based on my life in gaming. Hope you enjoy the channel and always looking forward to hearing from you.
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[@MichaelBtheGameGenie]

Hi Everyone! Thank you so much for watching and let me know in the comments what you think of the review and the Killer Instinct Pro Series from Arcade1Up

[@tzgliczynski]

I love mine. I owed the 3/4 beforehand. The sound, the screen, the feel. It’s great. $1000 great, probably not, but I’m happy I have it. I remember walking into the arcades and hearing that theme music blasting. Now I have that.

[@SimpCity2000]

Buying the 3/4 and giving up on the release of the PRO was a blessing in disguise. The money I saved I was able to put into a new marquee, upgraded sound and REAL Happ controls.

[@ky7518]

But you don't have the size and space of the pro

[@halfadozen6]

You forgot the screwhole cap covers😂Honestly I once I upgrade to Lorenzo joysticks ($30) this thing was easily the closest thing I have to a real arcade in my minicade. I left the buttons in because they functioned great. I don’t use hdmi out so I don’t mind that. The sound is far superior to my other cabs. This game… Out of all the fighters needed the bigger monitor & it’s wonderful! I love this damn thing personally! Although I really want to upgrade the marquee too. It’s not too bad, but I would like one with the Nintendo logo etc.

[@tommyvillegas5122]

Really enjoying my KI Pro! Never played it back in the day and am enjoying getting better at it. Even printed up old Game Pro archives and bought physical strategy guides from Amazon lol. Reminds me of being in the arcade trying to get good at MK3. You could have the same experience with the 3/4 but the Pro makes me feel like I’m playing a real arcade. Joysticks were an easy swap. No need to drill new holes. Now I just hope they come out with an MK pro and have Code Mystics work on it so I can have the same experience with my favorite arcade game. I know they probably won’t do that though.

[@skateurbutt]

They have MK Deluxe now for cheap

[@flipflop8989]

What joy sticks did you swap it with

[@grgmj1980]

The machine look great! But can’t justify the $1000 price tag. I bought the KI 3/4 for only $249 so I can’t complain

[@dariusq8894]

You can still do 'fatalities' in KI2, the game just doesn't stop for you to do them. Once the opponent's life bar starts blinking red they are immediately open to be finished. 'Fatalities' can then be performed as part of a combo or like any other special move. The downside is that the opponent has the opportunity to block/avoid them.

[@kburns2406]

I wonder why this was changed at all?

[@dariusq8894]

@@kburns2406 From interviews, it's my understanding that all the changes in KI2 were implemented to increase pressure on the defending/turtling players. The idea was to encourage offensive maneuvers over blocking because that's more dynamic. Now instead of waiting for the opponent's life bar to empty completely you can finish them off 3/4 of the way down, you just have to work for it a little more. There are other games which use this same approach of early finishers too (eg. Waku Waku 7, Time Killers).

[@kburns2406]

@@dariusq8894 interesting! Not necessarily opposed to that, but I would have just assumed it stayed true to the rom. At least there's a reason behind the change though.

[@dariusq8894]

@@kburns2406 You misunderstand, these were changes Rare made from KI1 to KI2 at the design level. All versions are like this so it is true to the ROM.

[@nerdloftgaming]

Great timing, I just snagged the 3/4 version at the RC Willey sale price. The Pro version is a stunner for sure, enjoy the cab bro!

[@MichaelBtheGameGenie]

Pro version is really great looking but the 3/4 is still awesome too

[@rogerdjs]

Very accurate review. I purchased one and I can definitely say that is not worth $1000 dollars. I'm tempted to run it over with my Dodge Ram pickup, but I'd rather post it on offer up and sell it at a loss.

[@videogamevegasYeOldeAccount]

Michael B, Great review! I'm not sure why you'd think us guys would think you were overly critical. I know I'm not in that camp. In fact, in your early cabinet reviews, I thought you might have been too nice. HOWEVER... It just shows how your thoughts about these products have evolved over time. This is what keeps me coming back :) You paid a grand for the machine, so preach on brotha'! Have a fantastic day! vgv

[@chrisscruggs2545]

Funny that you say it’s about 75% the size of a real cab. Isn’t that what a 3/4 scale cab is, haha (or at least supposed to be)

[@chrismccloy6539]

I agree Mike, I’m glad I have the KI pro despite it’s shortcomings. I hope they do much better on the pro line in the future. KI is my favorite childhood fighting game, I had to have it. Thanks Michael B for the great review, you’re awesome brother.

[@tamara_kama]

I felt compelled to chip in my 2 cents as a KI Pro owner. I feel like it suffered from those sales of the smaller KI machine you mentioned and also bad word of mouth especially when certain prominent home arcade KZbinrs gave it scathing reviews when they likely just got defective or damaged in shipping parts. I never had as much problems with the stock suzo happ sticks that they did and I can pull off all the combos pretty much just as well as I've always have growing up having played KI since 1994 in the arcade. I just don't like how less customizable suzo happ style sticks are like I can't just change to the bubble tops that I like. It pretty much works like I expect suzo happ sticks to work having owned them for decades like with the home made MK stick a friend once made me that I still have. I may still replace the sticks ultimately so I can have more customizable ones TBH.. the suzo happ buttons are okay I don't care what anyone says I love my KI pro and I'm glad I opted to pay more for it rather than get the other one which isn't as accurate. It mainly needs some cosmetic mods which I'm doing and I'm getting rid of all that chrome trim which is distracting. I for example prefer blue t-molding for it. I do think they should have made the control panel deeper though it's weird how shallow it is making the control panel seem higher than it should be and giving less space for resting your palms. But that's not something I can't live with. Out of the three designs for home KI machines the KI Pro is my favorite especially once I've modded it.. I don't like the atgames one at all because it strays too far from the original arcade and the 3/4 A1up looks dorky to me. I'm actually glad it didn't sell out because it hung around long enough for me to save up and buy one for my little arcade.. I don't regret it for a second! BTW, I don't know if I did something wrong or what but my sound system on it doesn't thump at all and even my old MK 30th has noticeably more bass than it... hmmm.. My Street Fighter II dynamo deluxe also has a similar problem.

[@BiggggyD]

They should've included double dragon/battletoads with this one.

[@MichaelBtheGameGenie]

Something extra would have def helped

[@Papa5murf1]

Charging a grand and then skimping on arguably the most important piece of hardware - the joystick - is typical shortsightedness from Arcade 1UP...🤬

[@shawnp4155]

Hopefully this is the first and last of these "Pro" cabs. It's really getting silly for the 1up community to keep pushing for these. Stick with the 3/4 scale(even with riser) economy models or start getting into the real machines.

[@rstout1152]

I am not happy that you cannot simply add a subwoofer like the Logitech Z313, the audio plug from the speakers has a 5 pole , and if you try to hook a normal 3.5mm splitter the cab will not come on, I am still searching for a way to add a sub for BASS , sound is good but all treble .

[@stevenewsome5306]

Can you plug in a sound bar with the 3/4 scale version? I haven’t opened mine yet.

[@chrisgrossnickle1479]

Any luck of adding sub for bass?

[@darkempire2022]

Killer review, brother!

[@MichaelBtheGameGenie]

Thanks man!

[@JeffMercedesC]

The more reviews I see for this arcade cabinet, the happier I am I purchased the 3/4 arcade cabinet and not the pro.

[@1UpJohn]

Wow! Thanks for the review! It was very in-depth! I don't understand how they were not provided with high-resolution art to use. I find that so odd.

[@jabotheclown617]

Have I been mispronouncing Yamaha wrong all this time? You and Console Kits say it like a sweet potato just had an epiphany... 🤣 Nice vid Mike 👍

[@MichaelBtheGameGenie]

Thank you! I'm not sure that is just always the way i have pronounced it

[@DetroitLove]

Great review. Where are those screw-hole covers!?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Great review buddy!

[@larshiggs2514]

The most I’d pay for this is $500.

[@SteveVsManCaveArcade]

Great review Mike! Always very detailed. Appreciate the time and effort you put into your reviews 👍

[@3rdFloorArcade]

Great review brother! I hope they use better sticks on the next Pro machine 👍

[@veronatragedy7016]

Is there any other companys like this releasing these types of older games from 80s & 90s that are making better reproductions???? I am new to this and just found this, never knew this even existed.

[@MichaelBtheGameGenie]

Yes and no. Ina large scale right now not really unless you want to play on a Multicade and don’t care about the art being on the cab of the game you are playing. There are Quarter Arcades and New Wave Toys that are doing awesome recreations but in the 1/4 and 1/6 scale and they are really mean to be played at a desk or something

[@veronatragedy7016]

@@MichaelBtheGameGenie Thanks! The few original KI arcades I'm seeing seem to be going for around 4k to 6k.... that is sort of a lot of money for such a old arcade that who knows may have issues that require repair. I have never owned one but always wanted one. I used to live in Phoenix/Mesa Arizona and they had the most awesome arcades there, one is Starfighter Arcade, and now I live in a small town and there's not any good arcades near me, so I'd really like to get a machine. Looks like the Pro version you have despite all it's flaws & short-comings you mentioned in your video may be the best thing available without spending an average of 5k for the original machine and then deal with reliabilty/repairs too/parts etc. I mean, for 5 or 6 thousand, I'd rather buy an original pinball machine like Medieval Madness or Black KNight, I can't get into digital pinball, I gotta have a real ball flippers etc. But yeah I'd like to eventually have a game room, at least 2 original pinballs and a few arcades. Looks like these might be the best option for arcade. I just wish they were full size, or at least all as tall as the pro, I mean I am 6'4" myself. Those mame machines all in ones, those seem kinda boring to me like I should just stick to console rather than get one of those. I am 49 years old so I grew up with Arcades, I prefer Arcades over consoles.

[@zackdreamcast]

Quick Answer to is it worth it …. no, no it’s not

[@TheDastard]

Ah, Killer Instinct at Peter Piper Pizza across the street from my high school. Good times, good times.

[@Pitbull0669]

Love you Mikey But Deff NOT a Pro. as it rocks back and forth in the intro vid lol :P Even Dmac said they dont really know how to make a pro cab lol and you righty SHOULD have been a XL no doubt 799 tops

[@MichaelBtheGameGenie]

Agree, the word Pro brings certain connotations and this cab doesn't meet that criteria IMO

[@sicjake]

I just wish they'd release a cab with a 20+ inch screen. Also I wonder how easy it'd be to swap in IL sticks instead, they used to be suppliers to Happ before they sold to suzo.

[@boboifiii1289]

Love your content man. Thank you.

[@braveladder1682]

If they can't even give you perfectly adequate controls, they don't deserve a dime. I have a full 8 button fightstick DIY kit that came with a perfectly usable joystick with downright good diagonals, and it cost $15.

[@farmerstephen6080]

Great review Mike! Lots to like about this cab, however, it seems to wobble even more than 3/4 scale cabs. Could that be because there’s no riser? I am not an arcade snob, and realize these are HOME arcades but it’s very hard for me to see the wobble and see this as a pro cab. I guess weight can be added to it. Do you think you will throw some addition weight in it? Thanks for your very detailed, “pro level” review!!!!!

[@carlo1132]

Thanks for the review. I wonder why they didnt use black screws for the sides, those chrome screws really stick out, someone needs to make if they havent already the plastic covers. I've asked this on another review, what are the size of these speakers and what is the amps watts per channel? If anyone knows, please chime in.

[@SavedByZero]

Not including screw caps as part of the package is pretty cringeworthy. A number of sources offer the caps on ebay and Etsy, so I would think that they wouldn't be too hard to find.

[@atomicshroom]

That's weird, mine had black screw caps included in the box. Maybe the bag was just missing from Michael's box or he missed it?

[@carlo1132]

@@atomicshroom Thats good to hear, seemed like an oversight, do you know what size the speakers are in inches?

[@SavedByZero]

@@carlo1132 sooner or later someone will surely be able to answer that one! I would expect them to be 4" but one never knows with A1up.

[@rstout1152]

I have #326 which one did you get ? and I love it , but I did change the controllers and the buttons , controllers cause I wanted to try a set I saw another video on and the buttons cause I wanted eclipse buttons which cherry switches. Industrious Lorenzo's are the brand of joysticks and they are SO much better.

[@Anonymous25491]

I can build something for under $1000 that will perform and look 1000x better. I stopped with A1up years ago , came to see the new hype and same o same o

[@mychorrizae45]

This expensive toy is all herky-jerky when playing.

[@scottboehmer1975]

It's really unfortunate to hear about the joysticks, although that should be pretty easy and relatively cheap to correct. Although hearing this has HDMI output makes me even more annoyed at AtGames for leaving it off the pinball and arcade upgrade boards.

[@davidprodigy5833]

It seems the sticks are a major bummer & a deal breaker.

[@indangerdogg637]

Looks Awesome 😎👍👍🏁🏁

[@MichaelBtheGameGenie]

Thanks 👍

[@smg4reblooperd182]

With the high price it should have at least had the newest battletoads game

[@MichaelBtheGameGenie]

Or maybe the new Killer Instinct game too, I don't know maybe some extra value would have helped

[@smg4reblooperd182]

@MichaelBtheGameGenie that would be Awesome 👌 How they would need a pcb least ad strong as the deck for that to happen

[@GamerSyx]

Im like you, from Canada. It cost 1400$ canadian dollars but i wanna know how much the custom charges and finally what is the big total? That gonna impact on my decision of ordering or not...waiting for your respond...and thank you for your great review.

[@marcomcgann2522]

Honestly, I just want a mortal kombat xl with this cabinet shape and size

[@HappyFunnyGaming]

Did you try the headphone jack. The sound seems low for me. Like lower than MVC2 when I put headphones on. Trying to check if it’s normal for the KI pro

[@all.day.day-dreamer]

I have a serious question. Why doesn't this guy not just build his own arcade machines? That way he controls the quality. I built my 1st bar top in 2009 using a licensed jamma boards with just a handful of games. Arcade perfect. quality buttons, track ball, joy stick, duel 15watt stereo speakers, lighted marquee and t-moldings. I had that machine 3 weeks before a friend gave me $1500 for it. I literally made $900 profit. I made a 2nd one, sold it, a 3rd one, sold it and here I am 13+ years later and I sell very high quality fully licensed bar tops. It doesn't take a lot of room or does it take a lot of money. I've repaired a lot of Atgames cabs and they are just built very cheaply. In fact, there is so much trash on the market, its just sad.

[@BJPriceMusic]

What the hell they removed the fatalities??? I know they were cheesy but still odd choice.

[@jamesc8259]

They did not remove fatalities in KI2. The fatalities in KI2 are done like Ultimates in KI1. During a combo. I’m not sure he knows that. I even forgot and had to look it up

[@BJPriceMusic]

@James C ok good I was like what the hell what a stupid thing to do lol.

[@jamesc8259]

@@BJPriceMusic yeah it didn’t sound right to me either lol.

[@jtbrunick]

Does the cabinet have a rumble feature? That thing was rocking back and forth like a boat.

[@ConStormENT]

At best, this is an overpriced XL Cab..

[@MichaelBtheGameGenie]

That is a completely fair assessment

[@FunkyBandana]

After 6 months did the audio issue was fixed?

[@heczperez9146]

I dont have this arcade in front of me but from your video playing 2 player looks uncomfortable unless is two very skinny people. So no this is not the size it always should have been, at least not wide wise.

[@jupiterapollo4985]

"Pro Series" and yet you don't even put quality arcade parts in there like Happ, or Sanwa? I just don't understand these people...

[@102Lawdog]

Does the audio pop come from the left or right speaker or both?

[@donkique956]

Is there a good screen replacement for the Pac-Mania from Arcade 1up?

[@mbf6160]

It’s not worth the price none of those cabinets are 🤨

[@dragongamer2670]

Michael really you didn't cover the screw holes?!

[@madastra]

It does look really good.

[@Superdimensional]

Why wouldn’t you install the screw hole caps?

[@MichaelBtheGameGenie]

Haha good question, I have never really cared about the screw holes honestly, plus I ended up missing some screws when i built it and only noticed when i filmed the review so good thing i didn't

[@sade281]

Hahahaha 1000 who they kidding man!! What clowns buy this crap!! Really that game is wack nothing exciting about this game u could give it to me and I don’t want it

[@reagandow850]

Why would the fatality sections after the second round fight be removed????

[@IanMartinScreenwriter]

Too expensive and too many corners cut. Pass.

[@stepsgaming]

You basically own every cabinet so we know you can do a legit review! Michael B is one of my favs!

[@robwaade2903]

cheap over priced quality

[@retror.d.1630]

So I’m other words, it’s a junk! Don’t waste your money.

[@jakesmith5278]

1,000 bucks for this cheap nock-off? Wow.

[@flipflop8989]

I’m about to get one but other then no riser a 2 inch bigger screen what’s the difference Is the picture more clear or graphics better I’m trying to figure out which one to get. I’m ok with a riser attached to it. Also if I change the stick what would be a better one to go with