Killer7 – Review

It’s difficult to define Killer7 in modern gaming terms. This reviewer hasn’t played anything like it during the last 10 years. Killer7 doesn’t exist as a wholly original approach to videogames, its core gameplay mechanics have graced home formats for years, yet its presentation and execution reach beyond that which we ‘think’ we already know.

The first notable, and perhaps most influential, departure from current videogame expectations arises through the game’s exasperatingly convoluted plotline. For the sake of time, page space and sanity, the twisting multi-layered narrative will remain largely absent from this review. Suffice it to say that Smith—Killer7’s central protagonist—is a haunted one-man assassination specialist with 7 multi-gendered, interchangeable personalities and the future and past of the whole world on his mind. The fact that he’s embroiled amid a global political struggle that could threaten the planet is not something so readily available to the player upon the game’s outset. But then, by implementation, the storyline is all but absent from the Killer7’s opening missions as players follow events with cloudy ignorance and the first misty tendrils of confusion begin to wrap themselves around the ankles. The only apparent nugget of knowledge resides in the fact that the 7 Smiths, in reality, appear to be one man with a twisted history (which gradually unravels during the game), and that an evil organisation known only as Heaven Smile are intent on, well, cementing themselves as ‘top’ evil organisation—as is the way with nefarious evil organisations.

Each mission of assassination across Killer7’s steady destruction of Heaven Smile is peppered with ghostly spectres conveying confounding text through chillingly garbled audio. There’s a gimp-suited and oddly suspended gameplay assistant with his finger in a perpetual ‘shhh’ pose, a mask-wearing apparition that offers up puzzle tips in exchange for blood, there’s also a prior Smith victim who seems remarkably forgiving considering his afterlife limbo. In short, the game opens as a confusing mess. This is made all the more apparent by a twisted control system that mirrors the on-screen insanity. The controls are in no way clunky or poorly realised, but their pad placement in relationship to that which we ‘think’ we know from the majority of gaming releases is an initial cause for concern.

Or at least it would be if the game didn’t run so regimentally on a linear pathway. Rather than thumbing the directional pad or analogue stick for movement, the player merely presses the ‘X’ button, which subsequently triggers Smith into third-person action—on his predetermined route, which is captured through a variety of bizarrely twisted cinematic camera angles. Smith’s movement then automatically pauses when he reaches areas that require directional decision-making by the player. For example, upon arriving at a corridor junction, the screen fractures and displays offshoot angles leading to separate unexplored areas, or doors of accessible rooms, etc. The player then simply leans the analogue stick as necessary and hits ‘X’ again to send Smith onward, however, though a fresh approach to general gameplay interaction, the movement mechanics emerge as staccato, and the lack of genuine fluidity is also damaged by woeful load times. The controller’s awkward button design and transitional requirements certainly don’t help matters, either.

Killer7’s battle aspects see the game switching from a third to first-person viewpoint with a held press of the ‘R1’ shoulder button. This immediately brings your current weapon(s) to bear—depending on specified personality—plus yet another visual twist and an accompanying control departure in terms of frantically scanning for enemies, locking on, or aiming at highlighted critical areas. The maniacal ringing of Heaven Smile laughter so prevalent throughout the game—even through its opening credits—marks the onset of battle and the quick switch to first-person. Pressing the ‘L1’ button initiates a scan of the immediate area, and reveals any Heaven Smile operatives bent on your demise. Standard weapon ammunition is oddly infinite, so pumping away at shuffling suicide-bomber enemies is no great test, but later, more mobile or threatening foes will require the nimble use of special abilities assigned to each Killer7 persona. Also, dispatching Heaven Smile enemies by striking critical body areas leads to the collection of their blood, which can then be converted into a serum that boosts abilities as well as weapon effectiveness. Outside of progressive upgrades, the collected blood can also be used for health replenishment.

In terms of presentation, Killer7’s graphic and audio departments are effortlessly impressive, especially the graphics, which are obviously the game’s most substantial selling point. The comic strip inspired, cell shaded visuals are limited in surface detail, due to widespread colour saturation, but still successfully create a crafted aesthetic not often seen in videogames. It’s not all polish and gloss, though, as the game suffers from intermittent instances of extreme slowdown. The audio, both effects and soundtrack, is well suited to the visuals and offers up solid accompaniment without ever overloading the player with fluff. The hard-edged ‘colourful’ character dialogue makes the game hard to recommend regarding the younger consumer demographic, but then Killer7 does also have an 18 certificate. Indeed, the sheer amount of blood spill and cursing is enough to blink and burn the most accustomed of eyes and ears. Gamers constrained by hearing defects can follow the game’s narrative—as best they can considering its maddening delivery—thanks to complete subtitle inclusion throughout.

From a specific girl-gamer standpoint, of Killer7’s playable multiple personas only one of them is female, which is perhaps a little unfair as a wasted opportunity for gender diversity. Plus, as is the way with general stereotyping, she is waiflike in build, dressed in a one-piece, bloodstained mini-dress and carrying an oversized piece of phallic weaponry. Ah, well, at least she’s able to kick serious ass, and has the only scoped weapon available.

The foggy narrative combined with the seemingly pointless Heaven Smile clashes are likely to dissuade many players from persevering with the game, yet its eventual evolution does reveal a more defined sense of solidity, not least in engaging political overtones. However, the very uncovering of the game’s topical governmental leanings may also alienate those consumers who wish to play (and enjoy) a videogame without suffering preachy and undisguised political comment.

That said, though Killer7 frequently swings between the extremes of compelling and confusing, it’s certainly a brave addition to an otherwise stale genre. The mixture of third and first-person gameplay elements are well implemented throughout the game’s sumptuous environments, but the constantly railed and restrictive linear engine soon prompts genuine moments of exploratory frustration. The game’s puzzle aspects are never especially taxing upon the grey matter, and the Heaven Smiles skirmishes never truly stretch skills in terms of dexterity and adaptation. Killer7’s aesthetic, which is easily its primary strength, is beautifully realised in every department, yet somehow the game continually feels more like a fractured art piece than a defined gaming experience. In that artistic vein, shrouded style over direct substance is rarely an advantageous standpoint—regardless of how pretty the painting or thought provoking its hidden message.

Review by Stevie