 ng Kong should make one thing abundantly clear: Ubisoft’s Michel Ancel is one of the industry’s most gifted game creators. A vast majority of this game is a seminar on how to create a world that is intense and dramatic, as well as providing gameplay that’s both deep enough for hardcore gamers and intuitive enough for even the most casual movie fan. In terms of truly capturing the spirit of the film on which it’s based, Kong is probably the most accomplished movie-to-game translation to date, due in part to the close partnership between Ancel and director Peter Jackson.
In making Kong, Ancel gambled on a game that emphasizes the human characters instead of the giant of the title. This was a stroke of genius, as it succeeds in putting you in the shoes of an adventurer facing a mysterious island filled with creatures that are large and fearsome beyond imagination. These portions of the game, which make up a bulk of the experience, are simply brilliant.
Breaking with FPS conventions, Kong’s unique mechanics stress realism, eschewing traditional HUD displays like ammo meters or even an aiming reticle. While this might sound annoying in practice, it actually helps make every moment of gameplay absolutely harrowing. You must depress the L trigger or shoulder to raise your weapons, at which time you can only walk slowly, forcing you to constantly retreat, find shelter, and desperately take aim. Of course, many of the giant beasts can’t be taken down by one (or even dozens) of bullets, meaning that you’ll often just be trying to slow them down until you can take refuge. Weapons and ammo are at a premium, so every shot you take must be on target, or else you’ll soon be using the many spears strewn through the world. Spear throwing is actually surprisingly satisfying, as you quickly learn to launch one through a giant bat’s skull, grab the spear out of its falling body, then quickly throw it at another oncoming foe.
The enemy AI is well done, as they relentlessly pursue you across Skull Island. No part of the game feels contrived; solutions to puzzles are always organic to the environment, like burning away brush or finding a stray bit of wood to operate a gate. You’ll also have to care for your fellow NPCs, often defending them from afar as they try to accomplish a level goal.
Graphically, it’s a masterpiece. It’s definitely one of the most gorgeous current-gen games I’ve played, and of course it looks even better on Xbox 360. Nowhere is this visual splendor more evident than in the sections where you get to play as Kong, combating huge creatures and effortlessly swinging through the lush jungle canopy. After completing a hectic on-foot section, it’s a sheer joy to lay waste to your foes as the giant ape. Jackson and Ancel also manage to make the titular simian a genuinely affecting character, by cleverly showing many key plot points from the perspective of both Kong and the humans.
As much as I love this game, it’s also a bit of a disappointment. Quite literally, Ubisoft Montpellier has created half a masterpiece here. Most people will plough through the game in between five and six hours, and there is no multiplayer to extend the play experience further. Even worse, once the game reaches New York City, what could be an epic climax quickly fizzles out in little more than 20 minutes. Sure, you’ll get to knock a few cop cars and planes around, but honestly after all the memorable moments on Skull Island, it feels anticlimactic and tacked-on, especially given all the potential inherent in letting Kong loose in an open-city environment. I will say that the alternate ending is well worth unlocking, but even that isn’t enough to satisfy my urge for a really compelling conclusion. Still, despite its brevity and the somewhat shoddy ending, there are many moments in this game that I will remember for a lifetime, and I commend the developers for creating an amazing experience. I just wish there were more of it.
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With tangled vines clenched tightly in my hands, I kicked off of the canyon wall with my mighty legs and dropped all of my weight onto an unsuspecting raptor. I curled my hand under its lifeless body and hurled it 70 feet into the air directly into a human-made structure that housed a squadron of archers. Needless to say, the chest pounding that followed was justified. In video games, Kong is king. The power that he puts into your hands is like nothing that you’ve experienced before. You feel unstoppable. And you are. Controlling the eighth wonder of the world is only a small portion of what makes this game truly shine. Surprisingly, Jack is the real star. His fight for survival is what legends are made of. It’s man versus beast captured in astonishing gameplay, creating one great memory after another. It’s too bad it only clocks in at six hours. The final scene in NY is a letdown, as well. Regardless, this shouldn’t steer you away from one of the most intense adventures to date.
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8.5 |
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| CONCEPT: |
| A collaboration between Rayman creator Michel Ancel and director Peter Jackson melds gripping first-person gameplay with epic monster battles |
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| GRAPHICS: |
| On any system, this is a graphical powerhouse, due in large part to fantastic art direction and a dramatic sense of scale |
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| SOUND: |
| The all-new score (different from the film’s) is rousing, containing some of the best compositions I’ve heard in gaming |
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| PLAYABILITY: |
| The first-person mechanics are unique and inspired, and playing as Kong is a visceral treat |
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| ENTERTAINMENT: |
| It’s too short, and the climax is a major letdown, but I’ll remember moments from this game forever |
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While the Xbox 360 version of King Kong is clearly the best looking, featuring dramatically improved textures and fire effects, the good news for gamers of all stripes is that this is a gorgeous game on any system. Even the PS2 version is awe-inspiring, and a tribute to the care Ubisoft has taken with this game. The 360 version does also feature some Live (non-multiplayer) features, like accomplishments that appear on your Gamer Card. |
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