Killer 7

Publisher: Capcom

Platform: GC

Category: Shooter

Rating Info

Release Date: 15/07/2005

Member Rating:

Number of Players: 1

Killer 7 Description

The name Killer 7 first surfaced back in the early days of the GameCube when Capcom famously pledged its 'Big Five' games. The announcement was instrumental in promoting belief in the new Nintendo console throughout the industry. The GameCube's architecture differs fundamentally from that of the Xbox and PS2, and many feared that misgivings amongst third parties about the machine's power would send the newborn console following in the Dreamcast's tragic footsteps. Capcom later redressed the widespread assumption that these five games would be 'Cube exclusives, asserting that it had never explicitly said any such thing, but by this time many publishers had already followed suit and the small purple box's future started to look a lot rosier. The Viewtiful Joe games, which eventually did indeed find their way onto PS2, are the most celebrated legacy of this series of events. Now perhaps the most eagerly awaited Capcom title finally finds its way onto Gamecube and PS2 towards the end of both systems' lifespans. The game follows the adventures of Harman Smith, a schizophrenic hitman with seven split personalities. An evil criminal mastermind, Kun Lan, has unleashed the dreadful 'Heaven's Smile' on an unsuspecting world. The violent and indiscriminately murderous beings come in several different forms and are characterised by their grisly grinning, rictus-like smiles. Harman acts as the go between for the so-called 'Smith Alliance', and the seven alternate personae within him each have differing skills and abilities, which the player will need to make full use of if they are to put a stop to Kun Lan. Garcian Smith is the psychic leader of the alliance, whose abilities include invisibility. Brute force is provided courtesy of Dan and Coyote, whilst Mask De Smith wears a mask and carries a grenade launcher. A girl, Kaede, rather terrifyingly spurts poisonous sprays of blood at her foes, Kevin's speciality is the knife and Con Smith makes a superb scout, with sharp eyes and ears providing reconnaisance. The game is directed by Gouichi Suda, of Grasshopper Manufacture fame, and has an extremely stylish and seductive look. Using cel-shaded graphics and environments, the game seems inspired in equal part by the traditions of film noire, western graphic novels, demonic anime and myriad horror films that feature some dark, alien monster. A shoot-em-up, the game is that increasingly rare thing: an all new, innovative IP with masterpiece aspirations, and as such is one of the more interesting gameplay experiences on offer in summer 2005.

Screenshots

Click to view larger image:

Write a review of Killer 7

Reviewed by: Astrales	Date: 04/06/2006	Rating:
I have no idea as to how this game can become "dull" at ANY point, anyway... if this was a movie, it just wouldn't work. as a game its frikkin' awesome. but that's it. it's an interactive movie. if you are looking for fast action(or just dont have any imagination) there's plenty of other games full of mindless violence out there. if you want mindFUL violence, a freakishly weird storyline that will leave you thinking about it for weeks and something altogether different(without losing your precious reputation) rent this. rent it and dont stop till youve beaten it. and first reviewer? you stoped playing seconds into it 'cos of the movement system? cos it wasn't like gta?! look if you want gta, newsflash: play gta. no wonder nobody can come up whith new ideas whith people likOK IM DONE.

Reviewed by: JNMGibbs	Date: 02/09/2006	Rating:
If you're looking for something different, then definitely try this game. The controls, while slightly annoying (a free roaming system would have been much easier) gives you a feeling of chlostrophobia as you navigate the different corridors. It's one of those 'easy to learn, difficult to master' games, as you cover the basics instantly, but it takes a while to learn each character's abilities and special weapons. The game is hevily plot driven and the story is what keeps the thing together. Freaky and complex. The graphics are good considering the style they are using. It gives off a comic book/70's feel to it (think A Scanner Darkly meets Starsky and Hutch). The character design is quite detailed, but the levels themselves are very simplistic, so there's not much to look at when you're running around. The sound, at times, can be downright annoying. While it's necessary to have the sound on (invisible enemies reveal their presence by giggling) and some parts of the soundtrack are good, the annoying language of the 'ghosts' (accompanied by subtitles so you have to look away from the character anyway) lowers the appeal of having the volume up. It is a very innovative game, however. While there have been games where you play different characters and switch between them at will, this is a relitively new idea that you ARE all the characters you play. The multiple personality idea, as well as the ability to 'scan' a room for enemies makes this game score high for innvation. If you want this game, rent before you buy. You'll either love it or hate it. I'd get it again just to get a bit further and try to figure out the plot!

Reviewed by: hobbesthetiger	Date: 11/04/2006	Rating:
The makers should be applauded for trying to do something a bit different with a game. The dark comic book style works very well as does the 'split personalities' element. However, in a lot of ways it's a case of style over substance. The gameplay doesn't quite live up to the idea. I found it became slightly dull not too far into the game. Having said that, if you are looking for something a little different from your shooters this is as good a place as any to start. It's the sort of game I'm very glad I got from swapgame. It's worth a play for a week or two and worth renting, but I would have been dissapointed if I had paid full price and bought the game.

Reviewed by: worryior	Date: 19/05/2006	Rating:
the personailties like with the film indenity is a great idea but it just doesn't work ,they've mad eit comic style ,that's ok . but its the 3D side scrolling and the having to hold a button to be in first person thats crap so i turned it off within seconds. it could of been good if had GTA controls and free roaming and could change personaility at will but it doesn't work the way they've done it

Features

From the twisted imagination of Shinji Mikami, creator of Resident Evil, Devil May Cry and Dino Crisis.

Seven killers each bring their own bloody retribution. Different skills, weapons and secret abilities.

Step inside the mind of Killer 7. Hardboiled comic book imagery, red-raw combat, synapse-sizzling puzzles.

Kill or be killed in tense, quick-draw action. Target weak points and strike before Heaven's Smile reach you.

Back