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An Art House Game?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 42 / 47
Date: July 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

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 involves collecting blood from fallen enemies. 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.

The game can be difficult in places both for your brain and for your trigger finger. There are some enemies, the giant Heaven Smiles for one, who are difficult to kill. Other enemies have to be shot in specific places or its exploding time. Remembering the various enemy types and how to confront them adds an exciting and sometimes difficult strategy to the game. When one of the personalities die, their head is left at the scene. You then have to play as Garcian Smith to collect the head to bring it back to life. This makes the game pretty "easy" in that it's hard to truly have a game over. However, this adds to the backtracking/repetitiveness as you have to watch a cutscene of your character's head, then you're back in Harman's Room, you choose Garcian, run back to the body, another cutscene, then you're back at Harman's room again to choose your personality and then you're free to go play again.

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 become invisible and invincible. Coyote Smith can jump to high areas and open any lock. Did I mention Kaede who slits her wrists?

If the last paragraph didn't clue you in, this is a rated M game. Which means 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 to a rainstorm of blood. 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.

An experience than a game but what one it is

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: July 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

There's an interview floating with Suda 51, the main man behind one of 4 formally Gamecube Capcom games(the other 3 being PN.03 which is only Gamecube so far, Viewtiful Joe which is multisystem now and Resident Evil 4 which has a PS2 version soon). The game was called Killer 7 and Suda answered a question about the gameplay: "I don't know yet". It was built from the ground up with the story/presentation and the gameplay came last, which is a big no-no in game development. May not be a typical game but boy is it something to be seen.

Story: This is near Evangelion confusing, people(maybe less so). Basically in the year 2003, nuclear energy is banned, missiles destroyed and radioactive materials are disposed of. It's a time of peace but a group called the Heaven's Smiles are here to stop it. Freaky looking monsters roam the cities and they actually explode, making kamikaze-like soldiers. In comes Harlan Smith, a man in a wheelchair who has the ability to physically conjure up his 7 personalities(think the movie Identity) who have special abilities. So Harlan must battle the Heaven's Smiles and it's leader.

Graphics: Outside of the game's great anime cutscenes, the graphics almost look poor compared to Capcom's Resident Evil 4. Hell even Viewtiful Joe. But it has a look on its own, going for a cel-shaded look but a bit less polished. Best way to describe them is stylish, not stunning on a "wow" scale but more on a unique one.

Sound/Music: The music in the game is basically ambience-like with some more ambitious ones thrown in. The voice acting is really superb, on par with the Metal Gear Solid games, it's just the repetitiveness might drive you nuts. Every critical hit(details on that below) and the character does a catch phrase. While it's cool to hear them going "hurts, doesn't it?" or the soon-to-be fan favorite "you're ****ed", they say EVERY time you get a hit. Also the laughter has the creepiness to it but not in a flesh crawling way, more in an impending doom way.

Gameplay: The gameplay in this game, among other things, is going to have some big debate soon. Best way to describe it is an exploration rail shooter. Basically you have a map and you walk around this map, however only on predetermined paths. Meaning you can't go anywhere, only certain areas. You press A to walk forward, if you hit a junction where you can go left or right, click which way you want and you go that way. Pressing B turns you around.

While advancing, you might hear laughter. That's your cue to stop, press R to go into first-person and press L which'll "scan" in front of you, revealing the enemy(ies). Some have distinct ways on killing them. For example you have to shoot one in the arms so he'll turn and his back'll have the weak point allowing you to kill it. Others have heavy armor requiring the big character. They all have certain areas which'll net instant kills, giving you blood which comes in thick or thin, thin being more for health recovery and special move meter while thick is a "levelling up" method.

All this talk and I don't mention the 7 characters, how silly of me. There's Garcian Smith, who can resurrect your dead party members but beware, if he dies, game over. Dan Smith can use powered up bullets for that extra kick. Kaede Smith, the only female, probably has the weirdest ability. She slits her wrists and can break down barriers or reveal secrets. She comes in handy as her gun as a scope, allowing for snipe kills. Con Smith is incredibly fast and can fit in areas the others can't, also he's blind but he has a Daredevil-like ability to find proper and hidden paths.

Coyote Smith is a former thief so he's great at picking locks. Not to mention he's an incredible jumper, reaching incredibly high areas. Kevin Smith(no, not the Mallrats director) can turn invisible and throws knives. And finally Mask de Smith, a big pro wrestler who wields grenade launchers and break down walls and obstacles.

One last thing before I close, this is NOT a game for kids. Violence and gore, sexual themes and swearing are very prevalent in this.

After Grand Theft Auto came out, there was a lot of free-roam games that came out like Destroy All Humans. Halo came out and all of a sudden we're getting those commando-like games where you're with your own army/group. Killer 7 is probably the most unique game I've seen in quite awhile. Don't let the weirdness fool you. You have to try this. At least.

Brilliance. Pure Brilliance.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: January 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

When I first saw this game on a gaming televsision program, I knew it was for me. The graphics are completely stylized. It's all pure cel-shading and Sin City style black and white. Like a western comic or graphic novel. The sound is haunting and blends perfectly with the eerie feeling of the atmosphere. The seven Smiths are all unique and free of game cliches. There's knife mastering albino, a magnum toting guy in a black suit, a blind man with duala fully-automatic pistols, a masachist girl with a powerful handgun, a masked wrestler with dual grenade-launcher handguns, a South American thief, and the man in the white suit with the silenced handgun. All the characters are fun to use and everyone will be able to find a favorite. Note that the game IS graphic and isn't for the kiddies. Wether or not a parent would buy it for their child is what they think of the child's maturity and ability to understand and handle these things. The story is rich with interesting plot twists and a great political feel. The thinkers will love this game. The "kill-everything-that-moves-without-any-thought" gamers will hate it. The rail system may seem to limit freedom, but it is easy to get used to it with a bit of playing. The true artistic minds and innovation lovers will adore this. Casual gamers may find it a bit unplayable. Still this is a wonderful game. As the tittle says, one word describes this game: Brilliance.

Simply Ama7ing

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 7
Date: July 08, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is God (yes, that says ama7ing). It is unique in every manor possible to the human mind. It was well worth the wait, as the previous reviewer said. Violent to the extreme, gory, sexy, unique, long, hard, and full of fun!!!! Get this game. Although some people may not like it because they won't get swepped into the experience as did I. Give this game time to soak into you, and I promise you won't be disapppointed. yeah, pretty much.

Totally amazing

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: July 22, 2005
Author: Amazon User

When I bought the game a week ago, I had my doubts. I red some reviews and They were telling that the game was good but the control......, The control? Let me tell you that it was absolutely GOOD. It was the first game that I ever played with this kind of control and I learnt to deal with it in just five minutes. The game is very good, a lot of scary moments for me at least, challenging puzzles but easy, lots of entertaining nights and a story that to this day I don't know what the hell with it. Forget about the story, the game is 5 stars to me and A and 10 and 100 in every grading aspect.

Unbelievable

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: November 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I am into weird movies like Quentin Tarantino's films, and when I heard what this game was like I wanted to play it badly. I bought it at EB Games for 40$ and it's WELL worth it. The game and controls and storyline and very different from anything you've played before, but it's very unique. The characters you can control are some of the coolest ever, and it seems almost like a graphic novel/film. To sum that up, it reminds you of Sin City, as the colors are mostly black and white with the splashes of red for blood and some yellow for the enemies weak spots.

The enemies are odd creatures that either stagger slowly towards you like zombies or run quickly like the ones from "28 Days Later". You have to press R to bring up your weapon and press L to scan them, as they are invisible. Scanning also displays their weak spots with a yellow dotted sparkle, and you quickly have to shoot at the spot to kill them in one shot. Killing them gives you blood, which you use to upgrade character skills, replentish health, etc.

You press A to walk, and the games guides you along rails, and you reach junctions, which lead you in opposite paths. Some players don't like this control, as it takes away the roaming aspect, but I personally think it's cool.

Killer 7 is a game a lot of people will hate, I had a friend borrow mine and give it back, saying it was gay and too strange.
I thought it was even too bizarre for me at first, but I instantly got hooked to it and did not want to stop playing, even after long periods of playing where usually you would get sick of the game you were playing.

A warning to some players: this game is gory, disturbing, graphic, has bad language and some sexual content.

In the name of Harman... this game is great!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: July 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I'm not new to writing reviews. I've done quite a few, on Amazon and elsewhere. Usually it's pretty easy, but this Killer 7 review was actually very difficult, and took me a great deal of time to complete. There are NO WORDS that can adequately describe the Killer7 experience, and any real attempt to do so is doomed to become a rambling stream of metaphors and descriptions.
I can't in good conscience say "Buy this game right now", only in part because of the intense content. Most people I've talked to are pretty polarized about Killer7: they either love it to death or hate it intensely. I'm one of the former, so of course they're the correct group.

Killer7 is one of the strangest, darkest, most controversial (or it would be, if more people knew about it) and overall great games I've ever played.

STORY: Wow. Just... wow. Where do I begin? What can I possibly say? I can't pretend to even understand half of the story, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's incomprehensible. It's like Neon Genesis Evangelion, in that way; you sort of have to find your own meaning. What starts as the Smiths on just another mission to wipe out some Heaven Smile takes a turn for the (even more) bizarre, and... well, I'd have to start going into tedious details to elaborate any further. As you play through various missions, you realize that there is much more going on than simple terrorism. God-like beings, political scandals of global proportions, child organ trafficking and the true nature of the United States all have places in the story, as well as the twisted past of the Killer 7 and their entourage of Remnant Psyches (ghosts, for lack of a better description, who show up and talk to/aid/abuse you every so often.)
Though only two of the main characters have much of their pasts revealed, you will quickly come to know each of the 7 like family, albeit really scary and abusive family. Even the minor characters are unforgettable, though not necessarily in good ways. From the bipolar nurse Samantha to postal-worker-turned-cult-leader Ulmeyda to ever-present bungie-lovin' bondage fan Iwazaru, whose repetitive and eventually annoying monologues read quite a lot like those from the King of All Cosmos in Katamari Damacy. Except, you know, twisted and evil.

GRAPHICS: Stylin!
You might think that cel-shading would ruin the depth and seriousness of this game, but you'd be quite mistaken. These aren't disproportionate cartoon killers. The cel-shading simply helps add to the surreal feeling of the game. Sometimes it's a little hard to tell exactly what something's supposed to be, but that's not always a bad thing. Are you walking up a stairway in a narrow corridor, or over an empty space illuminated by a reddish-brown glow? Is there a difference? Does it matter?
And honestly, if this game were more realistic, it would cause vomiting. See "VIOLENCE"

MUSIC: Awesome!
I got the soundtrack. Need I say more? It's mostly techno, though there are some slower beats and jazz tunes thrown in.

GAMEPLAY: Also weird.
Killer7 combines elements of rail shooters, 3rd-person shooters and First-person shooters. Normally, your character runs at a set speed along a fixed path, you only determine the direction he runs in (forward or back) and whether or not he's actually running. Every so often you'll hit a junction where you get to choose a path. When you want to shoot something, you hold down R to ready your weapon and go into 1st-person mode. Hitting L "scans" for enemies, making them visible and vulnerable.
While the variety of characters and enemies spices things up, the gameplay can get rather repetitive at times. Run, listen for an evil laugh, scan, kill, repeat. It doesn't help that each character has a single line they say when hitting an enemy's weak point, so you'll probably hear Con Smith say "F*** you!" about a thousand times before you're done. There's a scattering of puzzles, but most are extremely easy and consist largely of having the right Smith active or item equipped.

Throughout most of the game, you'll have six characters available at all times. The seventh, Garcian, is the most important and can only be called from certain places. You won't want to use him much anyway; his weapon's a joke and if he dies, it's Game Over. Why? He's the only one who can bring the others back to life. Sometimes annoying if a Smith dies immediately after a tough foe that Garcian can't possibly beat.

Two other minor issues: Loading screens are frequent and about three seconds long each, and you can't fast-forward through conversations (though you can skip them.)

VIOLENCE: EXTREME
I know I probably don't have to say this, but Killer 7 is NOT FOR KIDS. I'm no Jack Thompson - indeed, I loathe the man - but the simple fact remains that this game is probably the most violent and twisted one I have ever played.
I don't think this game warrants an AO rating, but it's about as close as you can get.
Blood is a central part of the game. You collect it, use it, trade it. It leaks from monsters in far-flying ribbons and bursts from their bodies. You can shoot off heads, arms, legs, whatever. Worst of all are the cutscenes. Samantha abuses Harman in some pretty serious ways, people are blown to pieces, everybody cusses out everybody else. You may have heard of a "full-blown sex scene" in the game. That's actually a bit of an exaggeration; the scene in question contains no nudity or explicit depictions of sex, though it's fairly obvious what's going on, and I'm not sure I would really call the event in question sex.
The above "F*** you!" was only censored because this is a public site; nothing gets bleeped out in Killer 7.
Besides, the story is deep and complicated, politically charged, and not the kind of thing children are likely to comprehend or appreciate anyway.
If you DO buy this game for your preteen, that's either one freakishly smart, mature kid or someone needs to call the Smiths on YOU.

VERDICT: YES... Maybe?
I know this line is clichéd, but Killer7 really is more of an experience than a game. If you've got the brains to follow the story, the stomach to handle the violence and the right level of aesthetic sense and/or psychosis, you will adore this game to all kinds of pieces. You'll spend hours picking apart the nuances of the complex story and going over especially awesome scenes in your head.
If not? Well, I've done everything I can for you.

Worth the wait

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 07, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Killer 7 is one of those unique games that comes around every few years. One of those game that turns heads, and even pulls a few fresh faces into the video games scene. The kind of game that people talk about for hours. In short, a masterpiece. Mind you, i've only had the game for a few hours, but what I have played, I think is fantastic. The graphics are crisp and very stylish, and set the mood of a classic Noir film with a David Lynch type twist. The backrounds are full of color, and subtle little details that make you feel like you are in a sort of crazy comic book reality. The plot seems interesting enough: Mixing modern day politics with a science fiction edge, it holds some valid points and opinions, and seems to put a new perspective on modern day rulings. The action is fast paced and swift, and unless you get really stuck, you won't find yourself getting bored. And as i'm sure you've heard, this is NOT a game for kids! It may even disurb some adults. The content is graphic, the language is harsh, and the gore and creepiness hold a pretty strong postion as well. The game requires stradegy, and guts and brains to play, so...keep it above 16, like the rating says. All in all, a very solid game from what i've played. I can't wait to see what happens, so, check it out, and see what you think.

Sweet Christmas, this thing owns.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: July 11, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I could do this whole review by just saying "buy it", but that wouldn't be fitting. This game is unique, beautiful, emotionally touching, and a little creepy. And VERY fun. This is a must buy for any GCN or PS2 owner.

For fans of this, I also recommend Resident Evil 4, Motion City Soundtrack's "Commit" album, GoldenEye for the DS, and the show "Invader Zim".

Hurts, doesn't it?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

As other reviewers have mentioned, playing Killer 7 isn't really like playing your average video game. There are puzzles to solve, but they're spelled out for you. There are areas to explore, but you can only move on a set path. There's a storyline to follow, but you might turn blue before you figure out what it all means. There are seven characters, but actually eight, though most of the time you only play as six. If it weren't for the game's first-person shooter mechanics (which again defy the norm by giving you unlimited ammo), you'd be hard-pressed to call this a video game at all.

Killer 7 is an experience. Sometimes bizzare, other times violent, always a tad frustrating. The distinct blend of cel-shaded graphics and anime-styled cutscenes is consistently impressive. Strong voice-acting gives life to all sorts of memorable characters, and the enemies come in all shapes, sizes, and colours. The controls, if very simplified, respond well and work to the game's advantage. Ever get tired of checking every door in an area to find the one that actually leads somewhere? Killer 7 only leads you to the areas you need to visit. Combine this with your character's fixed running speed, and Killer 7 controls your pace. You can't finish this title any faster than it allows you to. It's a fully controlled experience.

Where Killer 7 will likely frustrate many gamers is not the simplified controls; if you're old enough to play this title, you've probably played older games like Myst on which Killer 7 draws influence. It's the constant enemy respawning that bogs things down, because they come back after you leave a room. Most have to be killed over and over again as they're directly in your path. Should you die, the process of recovering your character's head is slow and tedious. And eventually the constant character switching, to solve puzzles and kill specific enemies, grows old.

Despite these gameplay flaws Killer 7 still manages to suck you into its world. It's a completely fresh experience that's never really been attempted before. There's a lot of profanity, violence and sexual elements going on here, but they serve the experience instead of pandering to the masses. This isnt a game little kids buy to show off to their friends, and even most of the target demographic will probably feel confused. But please give Killer 7 a shot, it's one of the strongest Gamecube/PS2 titles ever created.

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