King Kong

Wow. It was kind of hard to tell how it would hold up over how-many-hours from the PC demo. Dying to try it though I suppose I'll have to wait until after I see the movie. And I hope it's not entirely lacking in challenge.

It might a cool design philosophy to have a game that exists to move you seemlessly from cool moment to cool moment, like a linear sandbox approach with no frustrations to get in the way, rather than the more traditional model of presenting you with increasingly steeper challenges you have to work hard to overcome.

Most action movies are hardly 'challenging', so this might be a bold and excellent idea for mainstream movie adaptations.

Equally it could suck, playing like a 'dragon's lair' style 'interactive' movie, and finished in a couple of hours, but perhaps the criticism of it being to easy may be missng the point.

I guess we shall see.

Either the demo sells the game woefully short, or Kristan's lost his marbles.

It got a 9.0/10 from OXM.

So did cholera.

I'm digging it so far, about 16% in. I love the fact there's no HUD - it does a lot to help you think you're playing a proper story, although there are a few things that are a tad repetitive.

Finally gave this a spin.

On the plus side, I love how they've used the first-person perspective to pull you into the experience - very much like Half Life. As an interactive companion to the movie, I'm sure it'll be sweet.

On the negative side, as a game it's less successful. For one thing, the controls just aren't up to scratch for a FPS - especially when you're up against lightning fast dinos. The right thumb stick is so sluggish - especially while aiming - that battles become a chore. The linearity is also a problem - although you expect a certain degree of that in a movie adaptation, I would've preferred some Far Cry style open environments, rather than narrow corridors and pathways leading to open areas where you just know there'll be a big fight.

I've also found at least one game-ending bug, when you're with Carl (about 17% of the game) and those two raptors are eating the carcass. The second of the two climbed above the hideout and got stuck in an animation loop. Couldn't kill it, thus Carl wouldn't come and help me open the gate. Had to quit and start the section again.

It's smarter than most movie games, and much better than the demo made it seem, but it ain't a 9/10.

I finished this on the weekend. I'd probably give it a 7/10 overall, maybe more just for the Kong levels, especially final ones.

I've only played the first Kong level, when you chase the flying creature with Ann, and the V-Rex demo, but I thought they were pretty lousy. Horrible sluggish controls, slow reactions and a generally clumsy feel. They looked great, but I never felt like I was fully in control during the fights and there was never any choice in the chase - you just press X and leap to the next pre-determined handhold.

There were also far too many dumb bits where Kong was stymied by barriers and gaps that he should have been able to smash/jump - given that he'd just been doing that very same thing previously.

Top marks for presentation, but the gameplay lets it down by being too "videogamey". The spears, the bait, the fire - they always tip you off as to what's coming. If you find a sniper rifle, you can be sure there's a bit coming up when you'll need to snipe.

Kong's not the only game to fall victim to this, of course, but because the presentation does such a great job of making it an immersive experience, these throwbacks just take you out of it all the more, and remind you that you're playing a game on rails.

Didn't enjoy this much at all, way to chopped up feeling. Also very repetative (after the fifth door without a fucking handle you would think they would just start taking them along) and to easy. Maybe it's better on 360, but the regular version just doesn't work very well.

The 360 version is no better.

Very fun game. I agree with all of the previous complaints, but the "ohshitohshitohshit" factor of being chased by gigantic, hungry dinosaurs more than made up for its shortcomings. The V-Rex attacks are some of the most exciting game sequences I've played in recent memory.

A game where you actually die at the end. I love it.

If spoiled this for you...where have you been for the past 73 years?

My thoughts 100%.

Anyone play the alternate "Save Kong" ending yet? Pretty cool.