Killer7 [GC]

The control is primitive in nature and a positive step backward. True analog precision is lost altogether, but worse: environments that appear to be in 3D cannot actually be explored in such a manner because the characters follow a set path. As a result, the setup feels archaic and unrefined by today's standards. On top of that, because the camera switches cinematically after a new pathway has been selected, simply moving through an environment can be jarring and disorienting. Only after gamers learn to use the compass and map features in the game will they always have a firm bearing on their direction and their place in any given level.

Gamers who therefore go into Killer 7 expecting traditional controls are going to be in for a whopper of a disappointment. However, readers who know what they are getting themselves into will probably be able to quickly adapt to the setup, as we did, at which point it becomes little more than a functioning means to an end, a way to drive the other gameplay types and -- perhaps more than anything else -- to connect the storyline pieces. Truth be told, the control configuration isn't particularly poor -- bad control would suggest that a game is difficult or clumsily played. Killer 7 plays just fine. The setup is just so radically different from the norm that it's hard to accept, especially for traditionalists.

Intertwined with the exploration aspects of Killer 7 are various puzzles, which revolve around both environments and the abilities of assassins. These challenges are for the most part original and engaging, with a few exceptions. During one level, the assassins must prove their allegiance to a religious figure. In order to do that, gamers need to closely examine a series of posters that show the man in various positions and then pass a quiz based on the entire display. It took us two times, but we got it and the puzzle proved both refreshingly different and satisfying. On the other hand, in another stage we spent more time than we should have trying to guess the password to gain entrance to a locked door. At our wit's end, we tried a word that was written seemingly in random on the t-shirt of a ghost we encountered earlier in the level -- and to our surprise, it worked. Sometimes, the puzzles -- as though ripped from a Resident Evil game -- can be frustratingly obscure. Still, even these rare illogical challenges are entertaining just because they are so far out there.

The other selection of challenges is every bit as enjoyable. Gamers will need to use the abilities of their assassins to advance. For instance, laser trip wires may prevent the Killer 7 from moving forward without triggering a door to be slammed shut. But by using Kevin Smith and turning invisible, the group is able to glide by the lasers unnoticed. Meanwhile, Coyote Smith, who is able to pick locks, can also jump extremely high, which makes him the perfect choice for scaling rooftops and soaring into ceiling holes. Part of the challenge in these tasks is figuring out which character to use and there is a chunky sense of accomplishment when the job is done.

The final gameplay type is every bit as important as the others. Gamers can tap the R button at any point to jump into a first-person view, where their selected assassin can target Heaven Smile characters and blast them to smithereens. Assassins cannot run around in first-person view -- they can only aim and shoot, which is more than enough to keep players busy, trust us. A tap of the L button brings up a scanner display, which reveals previously invisible Heaven Smile enemies. Afterward, gamers can go to work targeting specific body parts and shooting off limbs in a grizzly and frighteningly agreeable display of exaggerated gore. Sometimes, foes show off critical spots, which if shot will cause them to immediately explode.

There's more depth to this mode than initially perceived, too. There are two goals in first-person view: the primary is to simply destroy the Heaven Smile and the secondary is to collect their blood. After an enemy dies, its blood is automatically absorbed into an assassin's two blood vials. Thick and thin blood types are separated. Thick blood is transformed into serum, which can be used to enhance ability and secure upgrades for characters. The system is not exceptionally advanced, but nevertheless it adds an intriguing character-building element to the game. Players can upgrade the power, speed, waver and criticals of their assassins, which in turn enables each person's gunfire to be more powerful; their movement, firing and reloading speedier; their aim truer; and their critical hit point shots more accurate. Thin blood, on the other hand, can be used to immediately restore health to a killer who has taken heavy damage from the opposition. There's a welcomed level of strategy to managing both blood types.

Everything flows together nicely with only a few noticeable hitches. The so-called boss fights in the game aren't always overly demanding, which is sometimes a complaint. Many of the Heaven Smile creatures can be killed with a single bullet and oftentimes their weak spot is divulged before the encounters. Still, the game at least challenges players to figure out different methods of beating these bosses. In one level, the Killer 7 must face off against another assassin in a battle to see who can shoot the other more. At the end of a pre-determined time limit, hits are counted and the person with the most successful bullet wounds survives while the other dies. It's not exactly a groundbreaking approach to duels, but nevertheless the scenario is sure to stand out in the minds of players. In other situations, the assassins must figure out a boss's pattern and then select the right person to attack it. Kaede, who can snipe long distances, comes in very handy during these situations. In stark contrast, some of the boss matches are so obscure that it can be frustratingly difficult to figure them out. For example, we spent way too much time dueling with a headless businessman before we realized what we needed to do to finally beat him, and the game offered absolutely no hints or help whatsoever, which is unfortunate.