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The Hitman guys go from solo to co-op.
The game begins with Kane. It turns out that Kane is about to be executed for a gruesome crime committed for The7, his former gang. Before you know it, a guy named Lynch comes around to bust you out but only because Lynch is part of The7, which is convinced that you stole something and want to get it back. It doesn’t take long for both Kane and Lynch to realize that something is wrong here. The game’s story is pretty good though not amazing, but compelling enough to keep you playing.
The basic gameplay in Kane & Lunch is fairly standard stuff. You can play the game solo or with a friend. The game includes some cover elements and very light squad mechanics. You’re able to shoot while running around but it’s more accurate to aim then shoot. The game also lets you take cover behind certain items and shoot blindly or pop out for certain shots. The cover system is as innovative as it is in Uncharted or Gears, where you press a button to latch on to things but works well enough. The game doesn’t have a health meter although, like Gears, your teammate can revive you once you die if they’re fast enough. However, too much reviving (done with adrenaline shots) will mean an overdose, and death. There are some team orders you can do (attack someone, go somewhere) to either a particular team member or the entire group. Generally speaking, your best bet is to move the whole team to a certain location since they aren’t too smart.
Kane & Lynch’s multiplayer component, Fragile Alliance, is quite clever. Essentially, the game has you working with other players, trying to rob a bank and escaping. The twist is that at any time, you can turn on the other players, allowing you to get a disproportionate large percentage of the winnings. The flip is that other players are aware of this, too, and have incentive to turn on you. The key is to talk to other players, convince them that you’re trustworthy and then go for it all. If you die, you’ll respawn as a cop trying to stop these players. The mode is very interesting and fun to play, but since it’s the game only mode, it serves as a complement to the main singleplayer campaign.
Visually, Kane & Lynch gets the job done but it doesn’t set the bar. The developers have thrown in a variety of environments, which is a pleasant surprise since you would think that a heist game focuses on banks. The character models are all solid with good animation, although they are sometimes a little stilted. You’ll see the occasional low-resolution texture, as well, but on the whole the game looks fine.
The game’s audio, though, is great. The voice acting is fitting for a game like this, although be warned that IO Interactive did not show any restraint with their use of the “F word.” The soundtrack is also fitting, delivering some anxious music when appropriate.
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is a solid heist game and a solid co-op game. The premise is very interesting but some of the core gameplay isn’t as polished as some of the other shooters you’ll find this holiday season. Thus, while the game is solid, it’s competing against a flood of amazing games. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Nov 26, 2007
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