[image:234 hspace=5 align=left size=medium]King Kong, the game based on Peter Jackson’s new film, is truly a wonder to behold. The game is split into two different scenarios, each with a different feel to it. In one of these scenarios, you play as Jack, the main character from the film, in a first person shooter mode that puts a new twist on the genre. What sets this portion of King Kong apart from all other FPS games is the lack of a health bar or an ammo count on the screen. All you see is your weapon and raw action unfolding in front of you. The game's clever audio, instead, keys you into how much health and ammo you have remaining. Jack will say something out loud like, "I have about 40 bullets left in this clip." This makes the game seem incredibly dramatic and adds an unprecendented level of realism to the game.
[image:233 hspace=5 align=left size=medium]In Jack’s half of King Kong, the AI is fantastic. In the demo I got to play, a T-Rex is chasing you and your two companions through ancient ruins. You must keep the T-Rex distracted while your friends open a gate. You have the option of shooting it and running or you could try to take it down with spears you find on the ground, or possibly you could use the flying pterodactyls as bait to lure the T-Rex away. Decisions like these, and the way the T-Rex responds are incredibly important, and make the game feel real.
The second half of the game reminds me of an old genesis game called "Primal Rage", where giant creatures fight to the death. If anybody remembers that old piece of junk, picture it, but factor in the fantastic new graphics engine and the exciting enviroments. You play as King Kong himself, and your objectives include kicking the bajeesus out of a T-Rex and saving a woman from said T-Rex. It adds a totally new aspect to what would ordinarily be a fantastic FPS. King Kong’s half of the game plays out like an arcade style fighting game with simple controls (move around, grab things, jump, and smash things). While the learning curve is low, the game play in intricate and fufilling. There are puzzles to solve in the midst of almost-too-fast-paced action, and climactic camera angles that truly capture the grandness of the moment. King Kong has to swing through and climb up ruins while trying to take out a T-Rex that equals him in size. Plus, he must protect a woman that is dwarfed by these massive creatures. It really is chaotic but absolutely fun to play. King Kong is out soon for most platforms and the movie hits theatres December 18th.
i like the idea of no health or ammo.....clever little stuff like that make a game different from others