OpEd - Not So Killer Reviews
- July 14, 2005 19:02 PM PST
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Capcom's Killer 7 may be getting trashed, but it's better than you think.
In a marketplace dominated by sequels, prequels, Xs and beyond, Capcom's Killer 7 is a revitalizing bit of service to the current console generation. So why the harsh review scores? Perhaps these vocal critics are the very reason why publishers are so reluctant to take chances on new IPs like Killer 7.
Down in the Dregs
Game journalists are a hypocritical bunch. They're constantly demanding originality, yet they wouldn't recognize an original product if it up and bit them in the ass. Okay...that may be a drastic generalization, but the inconsistent industry reviews scores for Execute Producer Shinji Mikami's (Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe) latest, Killer 7, have been boiling my blood. Reviews have ranged from 1.5/5.0 (our very own GamePro) to 2.5 /5.0 (OPM), all the way up to 8.3/10 (Gamespot). Just for comparison, other scores at the 1.5 Fun Factor level include Backyard Wrestling 2, Batman: Dark Tomorrow, and The Simpsons Wrestling. Yikes.
So what is it about game reviews that agitate both myself and other game journalists so often? Is a review score more than just personal opinion? Yes! Critics have the responsibility of recommending games based on certain standards. Of course, part of it boils down to personal judgment, but a game with bugs and crashes must score lower than a smooth-running game of similar quality. Killer 7 is not another Viewtiful Joe, but it resides in a completely different league than, say, Backyard Wrestling 2. It's no wonder game publishers are still riding the sequel train when new, original ideas are being dumped on time and time again.
Now, I admit to harboring my own personal review biases in the past, but I do know that a game of Killer 7's caliber, even taken at face value solely for its production values, deserves a second chance.
Another Look
Originality doesn't make a great game. Case in point: Destroy all Humans!. It's media concept candy and by no means a bad game, but it's definitely not GTA "sandbox" worthy. Killer 7 is of a similar vein (uniqueness, that is) where a schizophrenic hitman runs ramped through bloody manga-inspired, cell-shaded enviros slathered with American and Japanese pop culture references and political strife.
Clearly Capcom
Like many Capcom games, surviving through your first Killer 7 experience is the biggest challenge. In other words, Killer 7 definitely requires patience. Once you power through the inherent jankiness (which includes unorthodox face button movement system, as well as the static camera and the sense of overall disorientation), you'll uncover some classic Resident Evil-style moments. It's tempting to put down the controller once and for all, but don't give in! Some of the best games in existence (System Shock 2, Deus Ex) call for some hard work and a lot of persistence, and Killer 7 is a perfect example of that.
Choosing the most appropriate persona (there are seven in all--get it?) is crucial. Helpful map icons indicate which Smith's special abilities (such as lock picking and high jumping) will come in handy in specific situations. Gunplay is also deeper than it appears; areas riddled with the Heaven's Smile goons are best suited for Con Smith's dual automatic pistols, while tough individual monsters are the perfect fodder for Mask De Smith's devastating grenade launcher. The actual mechanics of shooting are definitely flawed--holding the R1 button enters a first-person aiming mode whereby simultaneously holding the L1 button scans and reveals hidden enemies-- and there is no option to invert the y-axis, which is just plain silly.
It's All About the Blood Baby
The lifeblood of the Killer 7 crew is...well...blood. Enemies have weak spots that, if hit, result in instant kills and increase your blood supply, which can in turn be used in health serums and character upgrades. Leveling up becomes a bit of a chore because it must be done in one of Harman's special rooms and takes entirely too long. And on that note, there are loading screens in and out of every room, which, for an end-of-generation cell-shaded game, is downright sloppy. So, yeah, there's definitely evidence to suggest that the designers made a few sloppy mistakes. But does that mean the game sucks? Hell no.
Killer 7 is like a cold shower. Though it's almost intolerable at first, you'll gradually get used to the discomfort and ultimately emerge refreshed, even if it does cause hyperventilation and some shrinkage in the process.
If you've cast this game out based on lowly reviews, you're making a terrible, terrible mistake. As long as you give it an honest chance, Killer 7 won't disappoint.
Fun Factor: 3.0
