User Reviews (1 - 11 of 13)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

An Art House Game?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 21 / 23
Date: July 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

NOTE: I own the Gamecube version of the game. However, based on what I've seen, there isn't much difference in terms of graphics etc between the two. And my review is mostly based on the concepts and gameplay which won't change between the consoles. Also since the reviews out on the PS2 side aren't the most detailed about why they hate/like it I thought i would post in hopes that people can decide whether they want to play it or not. :)

Games have been described as art in the past. A game that comes immediately to mind is Ico, which oozed personality and landscapes that were both etheral and were just like a painting. Not until this game have I ever played a game that was almost like interactive art.

As far as I can see, if there was ever a game that was pretending to be an art house film, Killer 7 would be it. From the stylized, psuedo-noir/comic book/anime inspired graphics to the dark, brooding, and sex-laden story and the weird gameplay, you have the makings of an art house video game, as strange as that sounds. But does it work? In a word, mostly.

Going back to the art comment, each level in this game and each presentation of idea screams art. It's like passing surreal paintings in a museum. You pass one and go "whoa, that's weird." And you might pass another one that makes you want to tilt your head so you can maybe understand it better. And yet, you come up with a hint but nothing concrete. This game is like that, except that each level, each character each piece of dialogue is connected in a way a wall full of paintings usually isn't.

Normally, when a game puts style and story over gameplay, bad juju occurs. For instance, Xenosaga II was a great movie, but as a game it was horrible. In this case, I've known from the beginning that the gameplay would be as equally weird as the storyline. Suda 51, the game's creator, had been asked when Killer 7 was first introduced via some strange cut scenes how it would play. His answer was he didn't know. They had spent so much time and effort getting the feel and story of the game down, that they had no clue how it would ultimately play like.

Truthfully, I shouldn't like this game. And yet, somehow I do. So, how does it play? In a move that is a throw back to some of the early Sega CD games I played, you push the A button to move forward. If you want to turn around, you push B to do a 180. When you get to a specific junction that allows you do something other than move (i.e. an object or different hallways or rooms), you tilt the controller in the direction you want to go and push A. When you hear the satanic laughter of the Heaven's Smiles, you pull the R trigger and enter a FPS mode when you aim and shoot at the approaching time bombs. Hitting them in a yellow weak area is an instant kill that gives you the most blood.

Yes, blood. In fact, an interesting strategy system for leveling up is involve in how much blood you get from the baddies. As you kill enemies, you collect blood which can be used to level up each of your personalities in areas of power, aim control, speed, criticals etc. So, you want to hit the yellow areas for an instant kill and for the most blood.

Basically, that's the gameplay in a nutshell. You move around incredibly linear levels, on a rail, set path and blast any and all enemies you find. Along the way, you'll come across various puzzles that require you to use your brain and sometimes a lot of luck to figure out. Since this is a Capcom game, expect some Resident Evil (the earlier ones, not the new one) type puzzles.

Honestly, though, the gameplay is just there to differentiate this from being a movie. The best part is the incredibly bizarre and truly disturbing story. In a (dis?)Utopian society where the world has reached peace and missles are shot off into the sky at each other in a sort of celebration that missles are no longer shot at each other, a new terrorist organization has taken hold. The Heaven's Smile has members who seem perfectly normal until they explode. Only the group Killer 7 can truly see them for the evil they are and annihilate them.

What is the Killer 7? They are the personalities of a Mr. Harman Smith, a wheelchair bound guy who seems to enjoy rough sex. Each of the 7 personalities have their own strengths, weaknesses and special abilities that make them absolutely invaluable to the missions. For instance, Kaede (the sole female) slits her wrists and baths barracades in blood in order to destroy them. Mask De Smith performs wrestling moves on plywood blocking a door. Kevin Smith can jump to high areas and open any lock. Did I mention Kaede who slits her wrists?

Yes this is a rated M game. And it was created for those over 17. Unlike games like Conker (a game I love by the way) that use their M rating for South Park style humor, Killer 7 has many disturbing moments. Running into talking heads in dryers and other assorted places is just the beginning. As the game progresses, you will see and hear many weird things, from the nurse/sex slave? Samantha and her sexcapades with Harman to a blinded kid to the head that tells of its former, death filled life involving the cutting off of certain body parts. And then there's the cursing, the countless uses of the F word and various other four letter words. This is not a game for children.

There are some genuine problems with the game, however. Yet again, Nintendo hasn't supported those of us who have High Def, a wide screen or surround sound. The game isn't presented in HD or in Wide Screen format. It isn't even Dobly Pro Logic II like some Nintendo games released. And it shows. If you have a receiver, it will be odd hearing sounds coming out of far spaced left and right speakers. The quality of the sound isn't too great. The voice acting is genuinely good, but sometimes it's set at a tone that is much quieter than the music. Add to the fact that there aren't any subtitle options (except the scene specific ones where the characters speak in semi-gibberish) and you have a problem; especially since it's such a story heavy game. Speaking of dialogue, another sore spot is the fact that some of the characters constantly repeat things. There are three main characters you see in every mission, a red dressed thing (can't remember it's name), Travis and the information seller. Each time you talk to them, they start off with the same dialogue. For instance, the red dressed thing always says "Master. We're in Trouble. Big Trouble." or "Master. We're in a tight spot. A very tight spot. I don't want to say what type of tight spot." Dialogue like that. The first few times, it's okay but when you're done with the 15 hour game you will really wish you could hit A or something to skip through some of the dialogue. As is, you can hit start and skip ALL of the dialogue but since puzzle pieces, story and boss strategies are given, it's not recommended.

There are only 3 options in the Options menu, rumble, invert aiming and stereo/mono (do people even play games in Mono any more??). The problem is, everytime I continue the game, I have to change the invert aiming for some reason. Mighty annoying.

Overall, I'm having a hard time explaining this game. I hope I gave enough to give readers an idea of what to expect if they decide to rent/purchase this unique game. It's hard to qualify it as anything but an artistic expression. One does not play art usually. One views it, tries to gather some meaning from it, and moves on either changed or unchanged. This game is like that. It's very difficult (impossible?) to fully explain in any lucid way what this is. Besides what I've written above, my best recommendation is to play it. You can't get a feeling for it without trying it. This isn't Halo nor Final Fantasy where I can say it's this or it's that. This is something completely and utterly different, comprehensible and yet totally the opposite.

This is a game that will go down as a love it or hate it experiment. If the mainstream video game audience even hear about the game, I will be surprised. The Electronics Boutique I got mine from only ordered two copies, both preordered. And, those who actually do play it will either love it for the chances it takes, or will hate it for having the stiff gameplay. I happen to love it and I can't tell you exactly why. The story is interesting and very post-modern which is partly why I like it. And, for some reason, the gameplay that is so stiff is also an addictive situation. Either way you look at it, though, Kudos to Capcom for taking the chance and creating this dark masterpiece and experiment. In an environment filled with sequels and movie to game licenses, I have to applaud Capcom for releasing such a different, yet enthralling piece of art. Yes, art.

Killer 7 is a must have if you own a PS2 or a Gamecube.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 7
Date: July 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Interesting graphics and a sick-and-twisted-yet-cool story make this one of the best games that Capcom ever developed. As 1 of the 7 "Smith Alliance", you have to run around, and killing monsters known as "Heaven Smiles". The controls are confusing at the beginning, but after a while, you should be able to get used to it. The fact that this game is railed means you will never get lost. Though some of you may find this to be boring. The puzzles are a little more interesting than the ones in RE. The ability to switch characters on the spot is a nice touch. I just wish that this game was longer.

Killer 7 = A Change From The Ordinary

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is by far going to be the most debated game of the year. Killer 7 revolves around Harman Smith, a hitman, and his split personalities. But your not reading this review for the storyline, lets get to the game itself. First thing you will notice about this game are the controls. When i first started playing this game, the controls made me want to bring it back to blockbuster and cram it down someones throat (that soon changed of course). The third person controls for this game are very linear, the characters them selves run on a rail, which may be strange for some. First person view is a whole other story. When you go into first person view, you must first scan for previously hidden heaven smiles (the zombie-like beings you kill in the game) and then shoot the crap out of them. Voice actiang is overall good, and some of the cut scenes are visually STUNNING. That gets me to the graphics. They are beautiful cel-shaded graphics that perfectly fit in with the out of the ordinary storyline (and what a storyline it is, did i mention this game should not be sold to children, or anyone under 16...?) This game is out for PS2 and Gamecube, if you have a gamecube, i reccomend buying Killer 7 for it, there isnt any story difference, but the load screens are a bit shorterfor Gamecube. Overall, this is a great game, for someone who is a die hard conventional controls fan, you will hate it, anyone who plays it may hate it when they begin, due to the strange controls, but after you get deep into the storyline, you cant put it down. I reccomend Killer 7 to anyone (16 OR OLDER!!!) who is in the mood for a break from the ordinary.

Impressive "more than a game"

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I don't know why,but sometimes Capcom shows its care to pure art in videogame world!from another side,japanese(capcom)do not like to take any risks(as a publisher) with unknown products,or extravagant ideas!whats the secret?maybee,Killer 7 deeply impressed some company bosses ?it doesnt matter anyway,because we have one pretty strange,but beautiful masterpiece!it's all about CRAZZYY atmosphere,mindbreaking grafics,gorgeous soundtrack and...you MUST play to find out what else is there!!!!and I'm glad,cause Killer 7 isnt mainstream game.take my advice:give it a try..

Killer 7

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Killer 7 is a game that some will love and some will hate. It's so divisive that it's rare to find someone who just finds it "ok", and perhaps this was Goichi Suda's, the game's creator, goal. In Killer 7 you go into the mind of an assassin and his multiple personalities. From the get-go, however, you realize how irrational and utterly overwhelming your world is. It's not purely fantasy as the locations are based in real life geographic locations of the country. But at the same time, the game is anything but realistic.

The art style follows the same cel-shaded technique that several other games have during this past gen. Unlike many cel-shaded games, however, its done in a way that makes it unique and elevates it from the mundane. The cel shading is on par with the type found in the Jet Set Radio series which is saying quite a bit in terms of quality. Instead of attempting to make the environments realistic, often times Suda will seemingly paint an entire hallway using just the gradiant tool. To those looking for a photorealistic experience found in games like Ghost Recon or even Max Payne, look somewhere else. Killer 7 is a piece of art first and foremost with Suda even admitting that the gameplay wasn't actually finalized until the art was. To some gamers, such an approach will either be met with disdain or with cheers. I happen to fall into the latter simply because of how well the art style has been crafted.

The story is so dense and layered that I'm convinced that it could easily fill the space of a 50 hour RPG or be dissected into a semester long college class. There are political themes, pop culture references aplenty, psychological constructs, moral dilemmas, etc. Each of the missions is so dense and esoteric that you'll "complete" it feeling as in the dark as you were when it began. Surprisingly, though, this isn't as bad of a feeling as one would imaging because of its memorable experience throughout. Each character is dynamic and unique and even with limited lines of dialogue spoken by most of them, they still have their own individual personality that oozes with style. There are no cliché videogame hand-me-downs to be found here which is a refreshing feature.

The game is on-rails, meaning that you have a limited ability to move around your surroundings. You can only run forward or backwards which is meant to simplify the gameplay so you can take in the art style. This allows for execution of certain camera angles that wouldn't work well if you had to fully control your characters. The levelling up system is basic but still solid. As you progress through each level, you pick up vials of blood which then get converted for the purpose of levelling up certain characteristics of each of the Killer 7 assassins. The Heaven Smile can be haunting at times with their psychopathic laugh. When initially playing the game, you'll be weary of moving because of the impending laugh that you'll hear, causing you to scan the environment to enable you to see the walking timebombs. Each level's final boss is also a real treat. Some are extremely difficult to beat while others are unusually easy. The game isn't concerned with building the reps of hardcore gamers or stroking their ego although the hard difficulty is just that.

The PS2 version is identical to the Game Cube version with the exception of slower loading times. While they're very annoying at first, they become tolerable as you proceed throughout the game. To anyone undecided about this game, I suggest you rent it first and then decide to purchase it later depending on your experiences with it. Anyone saying that it's mindless probably didn't get past the first level. To some it may be pretentious, gratuitous, esoteric - but definitely not mindless despite its confusing and disorienting story.

Great Game!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 12, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I was recommended to this game by my best friend and I have never looked back. This is a game for those who want to play a very interesting game with a story that is unlike any other. And the game play is strange but can be adapted to. A must buy too have in a collection.

Killer 7: a stylish action game, or an interactive movie?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: August 03, 2005
Author: Amazon User

To explain or even review Killer7 is tough to do. There are so many confusing elements, so much of the story to explain, I don't know where to start. So let's start with the story...

(You can skip all this and scroll down to the gameplay part)

You play as 65 year old assassin Harman Smith, who is the leader of the Smith Syndicate, or the Killer7. He wields a large armour-piercing sniper rifle. But there's more to it than that...

Harman has the supernatural ability to change into any one of the seven personalities of the Smith family, each of them with their own signature moves and weapons. How he is able to do this; no one knows.

Anyway, you start the game on Assignment #33. In this assignment, mysterious beings, called Heaven Smiles, have appeared in a multipurpose building. It's your job to destroy these beings and capture their chief alive. After this assignment, the whole game unfolds into this grand story and adventure.
I don't want to give too much away, so let's now look at the Smith personas...

Dan Smith
Weapon: Modified Magnum
Special Ability: Demon Shell firing
Comments: You wouldn't want to be on Dan's hit list! He may not be able to fire many rounds at a time, but he reloads fast. His special ability is firing Demon Shells. When enough blood is collected from your enemies, Dan is able to fire a giant energy ball from his gun (kinda like Dragonball Z).

Kaede Smith
Weapon: Handgun w/ scope
Special Ability: Barrier breaking
Comments: Kaede may be the only female Smith, but she is not to be underestimated. She carries a large handgun with a scope attached, enabling here to hit enemies from afar. Also, by slitting here wrists (ouch!) and letting her blood flow all over the place (disturbing) she is able to break large barriers and walls blocking her way.

Kevin Smith
Weapon: Throwing knives
Special Ability: Invisibility
Comments: Kevin is the one Smith that doesn't talk. His weapon of choice is throwing knives, which means that Kevin will never need to reload. When he takes off his sunglasses, Kevin will turn invisible, making it easy to run by enemies and security systems unnoticed.

Coyote Smith
Weapon: Magnum
Special Ability: Picking padlocks & Jumping (really high!)
Comments: Coyote is a petty thief, which would explain how he can pick any lock that gets in his way. His other special ability is jumping at very great heights, whether it's onto the roof of a building or onto high ledges.

Con Smith
Weapon: Dual automatics
Special Ability: Sprinting & Sonar
Comments: Con is the smallest and youngest member of the Smith family. Since he was born blind he has superhuman hearing, which enables him to use bat-like sonar to find his way through mazes and secret tunnels. He is also able to run at very fast speeds, just in case he gets in trouble. Due to his small stature he can go in small places where no other Smith can go.

Mask de Smith
Weapon: Dual mini grenade launchers
Special Ability: Wrestling moves
Comments: Mask de Smith used to be a pro wrestler, and he was quite good at it. If there is a heavy obstacle in the way, Mask can simply headbutt it to pieces or toss it to the side. His weapons are two grenade launchers capable of doing very heavy damage.

Garcian Smith
Weapon: Silenced pistol
Special Ability: Resurrection
Comments: Last but not least is Garcian. Garcian is the leader of the Killer 7 organization (aside from Harman). He collects and carries out the missions for Harman. He is also the most important Smith; he is able to bring any dead persona back to life. So the game is only over if Garcian dies.

Now that that's outta the way, let's get on to the important part of this review; the gameplay (PS2 version).

Right away you'll notice that this game is way more different from most action games. Basically, you're on rails. You hold down either X or the Up Directional Button to move forward and press Triangle to turn around. When you come to a junction and you have to pick where to go, you can either move the left analog stick to the place you want to go or you can scroll the rooms with the directional buttons.
When you hear evil laughter, that means there's an enemy nearby. You have to hold R1 to switch into first person and aim. Press L1 to scan for enemies (the Heaven Smile have urban camouflage). When you've spotted the enemy, you can either lock on with Triangle and make them bleed to death or you can manually shoot at their yellow weakpoint and watch them explode into tiny pieces. However, if a Heaven Smile manages to reach you, they'll scream and self-destruct, causing severe damage.
Freaky, huh?
Of course, as you progress, you'll encounter new and more challenging Smiles (some you have to hit a certain spot, some you have to kill really fast, etc.).

Rest assured, this is one weird game!

You collect two different types of blood from your enemies:
Thick blood: used to upgrade your personas and buy information.
Pure blood: recover health and use special abilities.

Wow! This is turning out to be pretty long, so I'll make this short:

Pros:
-Cel shading makes this game look really cool
-Watching the Heaven Smiles bleed is satisfying
-Has Japanese manga clips
-Suspenseful and compelling story
-Environments and characters are really stylish
-Boss battles are all different (gameplay-wise)
-Has moments that will make you say 'Cool!'
-Framerate hardly drops
-Each of the special abilities are cool to watch
-Lots of hints on Normal mode

Cons:
-Some people won't like the fact that you're on rails
-Loading screens may not be that long, but there's a lot of them!
-Hard mode is REALLY HARD!
-One or two boss battles are frustrating
-Some enemies are almost impossible to kill
-Sometimes using a special ability is a waste of blood
-Could've used more gameplay depth
-The story (especially near the end) can get very confusing (I'm still not sure of what's going on!)

Despite these cons, however, I really liked Killer7, and I think any FPS fan would enjoy this game as much as I did. I really believe that all the pros outweigh the cons.

Please note that this is my personal opinion. You can choose whether or not to listen to me or decide whether this review was helpful or not. It's your call...

Stylish and unique, but definitely not for everyone

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

It's not every day that a game like Capcom's Killer 7 comes along. Unique in both it's story and delivery, Killer 7 allows you to assume the role(s) of a multiple personality assassin. Each of the seven personalities has their own unique specialty: resurrection, invisibility, and even slitting their own wrists to uncover secret areas. The storyline is strikingly mature in it's tone, with a thought provoking (if not always coherent) plot filled with twists and political intrigue, and it well deserves it's Mature rating. The game isn't a free-roaming actioner which are everywhere today, but rather the character moves on designed "rails"; you only having control of which direction they go and not being able to explore the areas. Now this is the game's biggest flaw and will definitely be a turn off for many, but since Killer 7 relies on rails, the game's cinematic look saved, and boy does this game look great. The graphics aren't as sharp as they were on the original Gamecube release, but they still look great for a PS2 title. The controls can be tricky, but once you get the hang of it, Killer 7 is a breeze. All in all, Killer 7 is a stylish and unique gaming experience that is worth checking out, but be warned, it's not for everyone, and you'll either love it or hate it.

Lacks freedom of movement.

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: July 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I got this game hoping for a great story as all the reviews were raving about it. But i got bored with the gameplay. This game is so linear that all your caracter can do is move forward, turn back, and shoot at first person view.

Most of the time you'll find your character walking forward until you see some sort of 'crossroad' which gives you options to manipulate objects, talk to people, or take corners and go into rooms. You cannot turn left or right in between, just turn back. When you come across an enemy, you must turn to 1st person view and shoot it (but you can't move while shooting). This game lacks the freedom of movement of most games. Even 2D games have more freedom of movement. This makes the repetitive comment of your assistant quite appropriate... "We are in a TIGHT spot." Gameplay feels old school (when comptuers aren't that powerful).

Anyway, kudos for CAPCOM for coming up with such a creative game. You don't see games that go away from the mainstream these days.

Not art-house, more like 1st year film student

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 07, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If you're here, it's probably because you've heard how great and underrated this game is. Perhaps you heard how arty and revolutionary it is. All you need to know, really, is this: it's only just barely a game.

The art direction is fantastic; it has an awe-inspiring look that is fully unified. The cutscenes and the gameplay are all very interesting to watch. Unfortunately, the look, it seems, was the most important aspect to the designers, and everything else suffers.

The gameplay is this: hold a button. Got it? Just hold that button, and you walk in the one direction you are allowed to. Then, when you hear a laugh track, stop holding it, and push another button. Then look around for an enemy, and shoot them. Then just hold that button again.

The only times you are able to change direction are at crossroads, which unnecessarily slows down moving around the game's endless hallway. The hallway is dressed up as all sorts of things, even the outdoors, but you might as well be in a 3' wide hall for all the movement you are allowed. Had the character had freedom of motion, this might have actually been a fun game, but as it is, it's a chore.

Finally, to get any information from your dead assistant who appears every few minutes, you have to click through him saying "Master", then "We're in a tight spot." After that, you can read what he has to say. This doesn't sound like a problem, but the 5th time you've had to do it in the space of 3 minutes, you'll do what I did - take the game out of the console, put it away, and never go back.

There have been games that had fantastic art direction and told a memorable tale, but they are remembered because they were fun to play as well. Play those games, not Killer 7.

Review Page: 1 2 Next 

Actions