It's very hard to rate Killer 7.
Although I loved it, I just didn't understand absolutely anything about it!
The name of the game here is art style. Everything about Killer 7 oozes style over substance. The soundtrack is amazing, they nailed the atmosphere, level design is good looking, characters are very well designed and the story, although incomprehensible, looks... great??
The game just looks amazing. Even in 2022. It still feels modern and relevant.
When it comes to gameplay, style reigns supreme. At first, aiming and moving felt too stiff and, quite frankly, just very weird to my liking. Flash forward to halfway through the 2nd level and I just kept asking for more and more. As I gladly explored every nook and cranny of every single level, searching for clues, shooting Heaven Smiles and trying to figure out where to go next. Aside from the final level of the game, nothing felt actually boring, despite its clear limitations.
It almost works as an On-Rails Shooter. In fact, sometimes it felt like I was watching a good low budget indie movie. But it's even better than that. There's a feeling of "old Capcom DNA" that turns puzzle solving, shooting and exploring into something deep and enjoyable. It's still strange, for sure, but it works quite nicely, maintaining fun factor.
It actually surprises me how this game managed to work. Work so well, to the point of getting a re-release on PC. Despite how good the gameplay is, despite how well designed characters and levels are and despite how offbeat the writing goes, the game just works. Every character feels good to use. From the most useless ones to the ones that are clearly most important to the overall experience. Battle encounters are challenging and fresh. Exploration is limited, but well paced. And the story... although pure nonsense, has its moments.
Killer 7's flaws are almost all tied to the story. Gameplay is fine, even its quirky restraints, but when it comes to the story, it's just... ridiculous.
Now, to be honest, the writing, even though VERY cryptic, works. The atmosphere is very unique and managed to keep me interested until credits rolled. But, with all that said... DAMN! The whole story makes absolutely no sense! Dialogues are interesting, but mostly shallow. Nothing is explained and it gives you no room to think about things properly. It's basically freaky for the sake of being freaky. That just doesn't work. This game could've been SO MUCH better, but it decided not to give a shit.
I actually have a few gripes with other aspects. Like how some characters are way more useful than others. Or how some levels, despite inventive, look dulll and repetitive. Bosses are hideous, either being too easy or very unintiuitive. And the puzzles... my god, the puzzles are mostly bad. Add all of that to an artificial and pretentious story. You end up getting quite a missed opportunity of turning this game into a huge classic.
But... Killer 7 is a good game! Trust me! Definitely one of the most chill and unique experiences I've had in gaming. It's something necesary, regardless of how bonkers it is. In fact, being bonkers is half of the charm. That's the point (I guess)!
Hard to recommend, but easy to fall in love with. That is... if you are just as weird as this game requires you to be.
Although I loved it, I just didn't understand absolutely anything about it!
The name of the game here is art style. Everything about Killer 7 oozes style over substance. The soundtrack is amazing, they nailed the atmosphere, level design is good looking, characters are very well designed and the story, although incomprehensible, looks... great??
The game just looks amazing. Even in 2022. It still feels modern and relevant.
When it comes to gameplay, style reigns supreme. At first, aiming and moving felt too stiff and, quite frankly, just very weird to my liking. Flash forward to halfway through the 2nd level and I just kept asking for more and more. As I gladly explored every nook and cranny of every single level, searching for clues, shooting Heaven Smiles and trying to figure out where to go next. Aside from the final level of the game, nothing felt actually boring, despite its clear limitations.
It almost works as an On-Rails Shooter. In fact, sometimes it felt like I was watching a good low budget indie movie. But it's even better than that. There's a feeling of "old Capcom DNA" that turns puzzle solving, shooting and exploring into something deep and enjoyable. It's still strange, for sure, but it works quite nicely, maintaining fun factor.
It actually surprises me how this game managed to work. Work so well, to the point of getting a re-release on PC. Despite how good the gameplay is, despite how well designed characters and levels are and despite how offbeat the writing goes, the game just works. Every character feels good to use. From the most useless ones to the ones that are clearly most important to the overall experience. Battle encounters are challenging and fresh. Exploration is limited, but well paced. And the story... although pure nonsense, has its moments.
Killer 7's flaws are almost all tied to the story. Gameplay is fine, even its quirky restraints, but when it comes to the story, it's just... ridiculous.
Now, to be honest, the writing, even though VERY cryptic, works. The atmosphere is very unique and managed to keep me interested until credits rolled. But, with all that said... DAMN! The whole story makes absolutely no sense! Dialogues are interesting, but mostly shallow. Nothing is explained and it gives you no room to think about things properly. It's basically freaky for the sake of being freaky. That just doesn't work. This game could've been SO MUCH better, but it decided not to give a shit.
I actually have a few gripes with other aspects. Like how some characters are way more useful than others. Or how some levels, despite inventive, look dulll and repetitive. Bosses are hideous, either being too easy or very unintiuitive. And the puzzles... my god, the puzzles are mostly bad. Add all of that to an artificial and pretentious story. You end up getting quite a missed opportunity of turning this game into a huge classic.
But... Killer 7 is a good game! Trust me! Definitely one of the most chill and unique experiences I've had in gaming. It's something necesary, regardless of how bonkers it is. In fact, being bonkers is half of the charm. That's the point (I guess)!
Hard to recommend, but easy to fall in love with. That is... if you are just as weird as this game requires you to be.