Peter Jackson's King Kong
Developed by Gameloft
Review date: 23/12/2005
Well, you couldnt have failed to notice a bit of hype surrounding the latest movie blockbuster remake King Kong at your local cinema. The game and movie follow the story of a band of film makers and a down and out actress called Annie who travel to a secret and mysterious lost island, but they dont quite bargain on what they discover there. Here is where we pick up the game and have a play.
Initial impressions are very favourable, a nice cinematic title sequence as well as the usual bumf of options, sadly minus a skill setting, which as youll soon learn is a bit of a downer. The game follows the story accurately as you'd expect from a movie licence and this is told as you progress through each of the games 7 stages.
Cleverly, the game puts you in the roll of both Jack Driscoll (hero to Annie) and King Kong himself, levels alternating between the 2 characters as you battle through the hostile jungle and then on to New York City. This choice of gameplay will lead you from out and out platform jumping and bashing with Kong to the more laid back puzzle platform action with jack. Each style of play being very easy to control and master.
The colour and detail of the characters are extremely pleasing to the eye. Kong thumps his chest as he enters battle and leaps across the platforms true to the film. Jack and Annie are nicely detailed and add a little extra character to the game. Platform action is simple, Kong must leap and bound his way to find Annie as she runs away from the ferocious beast whilst jack must manoeuvre giant rocks to unlock doors, also aided by a trusty blowpipe to fend of any natives that get in their way. Variety in the levels really do add to the games charm and make a change from the same old repetitive nature of almost any game you can think of.
Ok, then so wheres the catch in all this i hear you mutter. Well, despite having nicely designed levels, good sound effects and good graphics, the game simply doesn't last long at all. This fact is made even worse when you consider the film is a mighty 3 and a quarter hours long! Really, that's it. Each level has a limited amount skill attached to it and before you know it you'll find yourself at the end credits. It really is one of the most simple and easy to beat games i have ever played.
I struggled to find some extra bits that i might have missed, thinking i was on training mode or something, i could not believe i had this game wrapped up inside 1 hour, incredible! I dont know if the designers intended this or whether i just managed to fluke my way through the levels, either way i did find it ironic that a long film could spawn such a short game! The average gamer should have no problem in reaching the Empire State building for the final scene let alone someone who is a hardened platform gaming fanatic. Its a real shame, what there is in this title is superbly put together but there simply isn't enough of it.
Graphics - 8/10
Sound - 7/10
Gameplay - 7/10
Longevity - 3/10
Overall - 6/10 |
