Killer 7
Release Information
US: 14 June 2005
Introduction
If Quentin Tarantino and the makers of the Silent Hill series were to get together and make a game, it would look something like Killer7. Killer7 is so unique it doesn’t fit into any genre and the gameplay is so bizarre, it is almost impossible to give a solid judgement on what this game will be like. Shinji Mikami, the producer of the entire Resident Evil series, has been keeping this game tightly under wraps for almost 3 years and has only recently let information slip about what Killer7 is really about. For someone with such an impressive history of producing games to be so secretive and protective, it really says something about the quality of game we can expect. Killer7 has received so much buzz that it is no longer only being released on the Gamecube, with Playstation securing rights to release the mysterious game as well.
You play as Harman Smith, a veteran assassin who has killed more people then you’ve had baked dinners. Bound by a wheelchair and possessing an angry attitude toward life, Harman isn’t what he appears to be. It seems all the bloodshed has led Harman to have a personality disorder that allows him to create 7 other personalities. Each personality is twisted and comes complete with individual strengths, weaknesses and abilities. Harman has the ability to literally shape-shift into any one of these 7 personalities if the job requires it. With the power of 7 people inside him, it’s pretty clear to see why Harman is such a bad ass. It’s this reason that he has been hired by the Government to take down the evil underworld king-pin, known as Kun Lan. It seems Kun Lan has unleased hoards of horrific monsters known as ‘Heaven Smiles’ onto the streets and the only person fit to clean up the mess is Harman Smith.
It is extremely difficult to throw Killer7 into any easily identifiable gaming genre. The intriguing game has the smell of a survival horror, but includes first-person action and elements of role-playing. Killer7 boasts an impressive graphics engine that uses Anime-like cell-shaded graphics to razzle and dazzle even the hardest critics. The game comes equipped with possibly the most original controller style ever. Gamers will use buttons to move the characters and the analog sticks to change direction. Even more interesting is the freaky and gruesome storyline that will either shock or amuse gamers. Read on to uncover more clues about this confusing upcoming release.
Preview
Let me introduce you to the Smith family. Garcian Smith is the leading personality that Harman employs to get the job done. Equipped with a sharp suit and slick haircut, Garcian is a deadly serious assassin that uses his telegnosis ability to see invisible enemies. His weapon is the Silenced Handgun, which he uses with perfect accuracy. Garcian is perhaps the most important personality in the game as he has the power to resurrect personalities that have died during battle. Killer7 is similar to ‘Obscure’ in the way of continuing the game, even after characters have fallen. If you choose a personality and then die during battle, this will not end the game. Simply equip Garcian and locate the body and your favourite personality can be re-born.
Dan Smith is the most aggressive character that Harman created. His attitude comes across as extremely violent and he will do almost anything to finish a kill. Most characters have the tendency to swear a fair bit, especially Dan, so if you don’t like profanity, stay well clear of this game. Dan is dressed to kill in a casual suit, with his most precious item always handy near his waist. Dan carries a custom Magnum that can unleash a devastating ‘Collateral Shot’ that kills anything in its path, including surrounding enemies. Perhaps the most important characteristic of Dan is his ability to slow down time, Matrix style. The graphics engine is stretched to the limits during these scenes and gamers are sure to gasp at how Killer7 completely makes use of the Gamecube’s impressive specifications. Killer7 will require you to use different personalities at different times to achieve objectives and get through obstacles, so bear this in mind if you happen to accidentally kill off a Smith.
Kevin Smith is the token mysterious guy. You could throw this guy in the same group as Wolverine. Kevin is an albino assassin that wears cool shades and prefers the use of knives to finish off his target. With the advantage of never reloading, Kevin can kill until his heart is content. His special ability lies within his sunglasses, if he takes them off he becomes totally invisible to the enemy. This character would be useful in avoiding tight situations or breaking through heavy secured areas. Killer7 looks to be a challenging game and choosing the right personality for the right situation will prove to be the most difficult area of gameplay. Using his knives to throw or as a melee weapon, Kevin can inflict a lot of damage.
Killer7 includes dual-wielding FPS action, by utilising a character known as Mask De Smith. Mask is given his name due to the colourful masks he always dons, making him look strangely like ‘Rey Mysterio’ from the WWE. Looking down the barrels of his twin grenade launchers, it wouldn’t be easy to notice Mask’s kind nature. His years in wrestling have allowed him to perform a multitude of manoeuvres can literally crush approaching Heaven Smiles. If it’s hand-to-hand combat you crave, then equip Mask and go nuts. Killer7 looks to have an interesting line up of guns, with Mask being able to fire 3 different types of grenades from his twin launchers. Mask is also the strongest character that Harman creates and gamers would be wise to use him to smash walls or throw pillars, if necessary. Countering attacks also plays a role in Killer7, with Mask possessing the ability to emit flames from his body that effectively counter most enemy attacks.
A list of characters wouldn’t be complete without a hardcore thug. Coyote Smith is a South American street-smart assassin with a cold-blooded attitude. Coyote is a master of lock-picking and could break into just about anywhere. If the lock is too difficult, Coyote can even employ his jumping skill; landing him on the roof of any building you desire. This highlights the diversity of Killer7 in the different types of areas you will explore and also hints at the types of puzzles one might encounter during the game. Be sure to check out Coyote’s custom revolver if you really want to induce a blood bath or simply use his ‘Gang Kick’ to finish enemies in one blow.
Con Smith is perhaps the most unique member of the Killer 7. Con is totally blind and has the ability to visualise sound. Being a young boy, Con is quick off the mark and gamers can use Con to get anywhere at the speed of light. Con is so fast that he manages to leave an image of himself on the screen, which is a good example of the types of graphics that lay in store for us. For a small boy, he packs quite a punch. Mess with this whipper snapper and you will be facing twin automatics that have the ability to burst out with rapid fire. During Killer7 gamers will face multiple targets and sticky situations, that only Con can escape out of using a blitz of fire and a quick escape. Con’s enhanced hearing also allows him to hear invisible enemies that could be hiding anywhere.
Last, but not least is the sexy Kaede Smith. Kaede happens to be the only female character and she looks almost like a gothic Winona Ryder. Living like Catwoman, Kaede has a number of lives and will frequently escape near death situations with ease. She packs a custom automatic pistol that comes complete with a huge scope. Kaede utilises a double-zoom feature which allows her to get up close and personal with the Heaven Smiles. With her long sensuous legs, Kaede can kick the hell out of approaching Smiles. Her kicks are about as deadly as Mask’s wrestling moves, so melee gamers better get ready to flex their fingers for some serious fighting. Kaede’s final skill lies in her blood. She can perform a ‘Blood Shower’ which sees her cut her wrist, showering the environment in bright red blood. These showers show invisible barriers that can be broken, once identified. This is another example of Killer7’s complex and bizarre gameplay.
After meeting the Smith Family, it’s clear to see why the storyline of Killer7 is so interesting. Characters will interact differently to different situations and each has their own style and voice. The Heaven Smiles also come in many shapes and forms, with at least 12 varieties of Smiles to deal with. Each Smile has to be killed in a certain way and it is up to gamers to work out the best way to finish a target. Most of the Smiles have a body that can be targeted in different parts, exactly like Resident Evil 4. Shooting the legs may cause a Smile to fall and crawl towards you. As they appear, you will notice the twisted smile and chilling laugh of the Smiles. If this isn’t scary enough, the creatures must first be identified and located, before you can properly annihilate them, failing to do so may result in them running up and exploding right in front of you. These creatures almost look like something you would expect from the Silent Hill series.
Anticipation
Killer7 looks to have a creative storyline that will allow gamers to seek out and kill 10 different targets. Each target’s story takes about 2-3 hours to complete, so doing the math you can definitely tell that Killer7 is a massive title. The gameplay looks to be mostly third-person with a lot of first-person action and other gaming elements thrown in. The unique cell-shaded graphic style looks to showcase the beautiful environments and the controller scheme will complement that by forcing gamers to look at the backgrounds in certain ways, taking you on a journey.
From the previews it is clear that Killer7 is definitely not a kids oriented title. It will include lots of blood and violence and a whole heap of bad language, combined with a complex and mature storyline. The game will most certainly stand out and it’s bound to receive lots of publicity pending and after its release. If gamers go by Capcom’s outstanding list of games, then Killer7 is one title to look out for in upcoming months.
Preview by: REC
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