Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: FPS, Action, Adventure
Format: Playstation 2, Gamecube (Reviewed)
Released: July 15th 2005
This game will give you a Killer smile when you play throughout. This is one of the most unique games you will ever see. I will try my best not to overuse that word but it’s going to be incredibly tough. The whole atmosphere to this game is something uni… um you aren’t used to. Laughter kills and so do smiles. The main enemies are slow moving budget clowns with glowy weak points. There are a few faster ones and some bizarre types eventually but the main ones are slow. Want to shoot a leg off to make them slower? Well jokes on you that actually speeds them up. What kind of twisted mind thinks this way? Then again this whole game is strange.
You have control over 7 characters each with unique weapons and skills. I said it again didn’t I? You can upgrade each character with the blood you collect, slam it into your TV and apply a serum to them. Each character not only has their own guns and abilities but health bars as well so be cautious when switching. Speaking of, it’s so easy to switch, either go to a TV in a specific room or just open up your menu a pick from there.
As you have seen this game has a cel shaded art style but still differs from the norm. It’s darker, grittier and full of insanity. The NPCs play a part in telling the story as well as giving you hints and tips. Try not to always read the subtitles by the way, they have different dialogue when speaking, sometimes it’s completely different to the subtitles and sometimes it’s close but no cigar. Nothing in this game is standard.
Even the controls aren’t safe, to move forwards you hold down a button and not the analog stick. The left stick is for aiming and the c or right stick is for reloading. Like I said, nothing is normal. The controls do a getting a little annoying being use to using the right stick for aiming but your past self will remember this from years gone by. When shooting you must scan your enemies first then either take them out straight away by hitting the weak point or shooting off limbs if you want to add some extra torture. If an enemy gets too close then shield your ears as they explode and laugh in your face at the same time. The double whammy.
Back to the 7 characters, while that’s a decent selection, you will easily get a couple of favourites and neglect the others, not too much of an issue but you got to feel bad for the ones left behind. You will need to use a specific character to progress or find hidden goodies so they aren’t useless.
There is a puzzle element as well to stop you just walking to the next point but it is mainly just find an item and backtrack to attach it to another item. Would have been better if the puzzles actually made you think instead of get annoyed because you keep going backwards and forwards everywhere. On the plus side the music is pretty incredible so that helps with the tedium a little.
To conclude Killer 7 gets a Killer 8/10. There a few issues mainly the outdated aiming controls and the backtracking but this is one of the most unique experiences you will have. I easily recommend it.
New record set for saying the word unique in 3 minutes - Mamushi
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