Killer 7

[Johnny Undaunted]

I didn't criticize the puzzles for being oddball--they're just not very good. Shoot five candles in the order they're numbered? Press a button to roll a dice repeatedly until it tells you that the door is unlocked? The majority of the puzzles are too simple and can be solved without even understanding what's going on. At least half of the puzzles have the solution labeled on the map. Some are pretty clever (like Travis' "HUSTLE" shirt clue), but the good ones are few and far between.

Actually, when you play the game in Deadly or Bloodbath mode, the candles aren't quite numbered and solutions aren't mapped out. I found the Normal difficulty to be a bit too easy. I found the Normal difficulty to be a bit too easy. The Deadly setting was really much closer to being a normal difficulty setting than the actual Normal setting.

I'm currently playing Bloodbath (Killer8) mode, although I'm taking a break from the game.

The story was quite good in my opinion. Didn't really expect the twist at the end. The rail-based system didn't really bother me as much as I thought it would, although I can understand why it would bother anyone else. I kinda look forward to GHM's other titles.

[Rtificial]

I rented this and currently running through it. It reminds me a lot of one of my favorite manga's MPD psycho. Between it reminding of that and the creepy atmosphere graphics is what keeps me playing the game.

[dakidski]

Impressions:

First of all it has a 60hz PAL option, thanks Capcom.

The voices used on the characters are some horrible garble, which sound highly unpleasant. I have to play with the remote-control ready to mute those horrible character interactions. The info passed out from the characters is almost always useless babble which quickly tire you until you simply start ignoring them altogether. It would have been nice with text-only or an option to turn off speech. Its ruining my game experience. Is the same on the JAP and US version of the game?

The puzzles are quite silly and remind me of early Resident Evil game's puzzles; 'find fire-ring', 'go to sprinkler', 'use fire-ring'. Useless stuff like that.
Most puzzles (so far) go like this;

1. 'find puzzle area, be clueless'.
2. 'progress deep into the game, find new object, run back and test it on all the old puzzle areas'.

The user interface is equally akward, clunky and remniscent of RE. It took me quite a while to find out how to select objects as there was no clear indicators.

I didn't follow the story much, but the conversations you have with other characters in the game reek of teen-angst. If you think; death, mental-disorders, curse-words, offensive violence and oscene gestures are hip, then you might not be annoyed by this. I generally think this type of game might appeal more to the younger audience than us aged gamers.

The graphics are good and the style is tight. I dont like Anime, but this is quite well done.

So far, the gameplay is fun once you learn the new type of controls. The slow turning is a leftover from the RE4 engine I suppose.

The sound and music does the job good, but is not award winning material.

just my rant.

ps. let us see if I ever finish this game, but I somehow doubt it. I already started browsing cheatcodes in order to progress faster into the game. A bad sign indeed.

[animegirl]

The voices used on the characters are some horrible garble, which sound highly unpleasant. I have to play with the remote-control ready to mute those horrible character interactions.

I have been doing the same thing! I cannot stand Iwazaru's voice it drives me nuts. I muted it when I was reading all the advice he gives in the Save room, it is so ear grating. I just got past the first chapter and I still have no idea what the hell is going on. I dig it for some odd reason though, it compels me to keep playing, to figure out what the deal is. I think I am going to finish this game, but it will be one of those games I only play once.

[dakidski]

I dig it for some odd reason though, it compels me to keep playing, to figure out what the deal is. I think I am going to finish this game, but it will be one of those games I only play once.

Yeah, besides my criticism I dig it too. I don't think there is a reason to try to figure out the story behind the game. I gave up hoping there would be some secret coolness hidden in story after a few encounters with in-game characters. If I progress further it will be merely to enjoy the graphics, music and general gameplay, besides the story and the puzzles.

[Shapermc]

Hmm, well I mean if that stuff bugs you this game is probably not for you at all. The game is not really just for playing to finish either as you will be left with one of the most sour tastes in your mouth you can imagine.

The art style is more similar to comics than anime as well.

Actually, when you play the game in Deadly or Bloodbath mode, the candles aren't quite numbered and solutions aren't mapped out.

I was going to point this out as well. I think that normal should have been called Novice mode or something... or Puzzle Lite.

[Dolemite]

Is the reason the story is hard to understand is because it's poorly-written, full of childish mumbo-jumbo and loads of stupid bullshit, or is it actually complex, multi-layered, and intelligent?

[Shapermc]

Is the reason the story is hard to understand is because it's poorly-written, full of childish mumbo-jumbo and loads of stupid bullshit, or is it actually complex, multi-layered, and intelligent?

More of the later, but a bit of the former. If you like Lynch films for story this is about the closest game equivelant.

That aside, there is also much missing from the story. If you look at early screen shots you will see many things that did not make it into the game. Also there are some interviews with the producer who said Suda 51 had way too many things that he wanted to put into the game, much of which ended up just being lost. So what was already a bit of a confusing plot becomes moreso.

[Dolemite]

If you like Lynch films for story this is about the closest game equivelant.

This comment worries me- I'm not a Lynch fan.

More of the later, but a bit of the former.

This makes me feel better. Thanks for the info.

[dakidski]

Is the reason the story is hard to understand is because it's poorly-written, full of childish mumbo-jumbo and loads of stupid bullshit, or is it actually complex, multi-layered, and intelligent?

def @ the first.