King Kong

Guest Reviewers :Jeff4507  Gundam21

I bought myself King Kong for Christmas, although after hearing many bad things about it from numerous friends online was fairly dubious about even playing the game.

I started the game and in minutes I was in rage, not believing what one of my favourite game developers had come up with. Burning bushes, running out of ammo, running for 10 seconds (each time I might add) before finding a new crate of ammo that has just enough ammo to see you through the next stage before being left dry for 10 seconds and then finding more. Burning more bushes, finding gate posts, and sometimes even a combination of burning bushes AND finding gate posts.

I had to put the controller down carefully several times before running outside to run through some bushes just to prove they don't need to be burnt before moving!

HOWEVER.

When you play as Kong, the game starts to become enjoyable, and you wonder why you've had to run around in the pitch black letting the most extreme auto aim created kill off all enemies for about 2 hours before playing as the beast and having some destructive fun. But that lasts all of one level, I suppose to get you used to the controls, which actually, if you hold forward and tap X repetitively, you will complete with your eyes closed, before returning to the mundane Jack, but the balance between Kong and Man start to become more equal, and that's when the game is actually fun, nay, EXCITING. Some of the sequences where you must helplessly distract a "V"-Rex from tearing your friends to pieces is riveting and using Kong for the short bursts also keeps you from realising that the controls really are rubbish, none the less, you start to grow attached to Kong and get a feel for the game.

Needless to say, I doubt there's a soul on this site that would enjoy the first half of the game, but they really have done a fair job with the story when it gets going, I recommend you rent it, and have someone you hate play it for you for about 2 hours, then tell them it's your turn, and play the rest (yes it is a rather short game with no replay value). An experience none the less. I'm still returning it tomorrow though.

Rating  65%

Average

Needless to say, King Kong isn’t exactly the cream of the crop when it comes to next generation gaming. The major flaw, for those who have seen either of the movies, is that the game goes off on a tangent making up the plot as it goes along. The same basic story is observed but extra little features such as a plane dropping in supplies add to the game play experience’ as this is your only means of weaponry other than spears, handily dotted around the island by the locals.

 As there are already a number of negative King Kong reviews, I am going to focus on the positives which revolve mainly around the last 15% of the game. The exciting part of the game begins as Jack has rescued Ann from the clutches of Kong and, in the game, she is grateful for this although, again, not in keeping with the idea that Ann and Kong bonded. Each area of the game is revisited as Jack and Ann run back through the jungle heading for the main gate. Kong eventually catches up with them as they reach the gate, switching back to 3^rd person mode as Kong. The object is to destroy the village in which the locals live, resulting in some smash-tastic action. Once the villagers are defeated, Kong continues to the shore to take back Ann only to be gassed and knocked out. The game then cuts to New York and Kong must break free from his shackles and rampage through the city. This is the most fun part of the game as Kong picks up police cars and taxis which are used to wipe out enemies in abundance as well as military marksman launching grenades at Kong. The finale comes in the classic Empire State Building scene where you can grab planes and swing them to your hearts content. The last hour or so of an otherwise poor game makes it worth playing, just for the final few levels. Disappointing but enjoyable in places.

Member Rating– 73%