Peter Jackson's King Kong Review

By Kristan Reed Published 18 November, 2005

How movie games should be done.

Version tested: Xbox

Reviews of game adaptations of blockbuster movies are full of self-righteous bile, forever ruing the fact that game companies evidently see it as an opportunity to make megalithic mountains of cash, as opposed to, you know, actually making a decent game along the way. As promising as the preview showings suggested, we couldn't help but feel that King Kong would suffer the same fate. Michel Ancel or not, there are a million unique ways to screw these things up. We should know: we've seen every single one over the past 25 years.

Well, guess what folks? Here's one that not only lives up to the momentous promise, but pretty much rewrites the rulebook for how movie-based games should be done. Here's a game that's not only startlingly enjoyable from start to finish in its own right, but makes you want to go out and see the movie immediately - surely a first.

Needless to say we haven't seen the film yet, but the premise seems like a nice fit - and a disarmingly simple one at that. Arriving washed-up on the shore of the mysterious Skull Island, it's pretty clear that it's not a place you'd want to go on your holidays.

Jack's back

'Peter Jackson's King Kong' Screenshot friends

Can't we just be friends?

Accompanied by obsessive film-maker Carl Denham (played by Jack Black in the movie), Ann Darrow and assorted extras, your role is as the fearless Jack Driscoll - a screenwriter by trade when he's not busy murdering hordes of giant crabs, millipedes, bats and assorted dinosaurs(!). Initially without any firearms, this first-person adventure forces you to be a little more resourceful that usual; grabbing discarded sticks and the bones of deceased animals and throwing them like spears at the hungry and relentlessly aggressive predators that stalk the mountainous isle.

Soon enough you gain limited access to pistols, shotguns, sniper rifles and Tommy-guns, but in a game where every bullet counts you soon learn to sharpen up on your javelin-throwing skills before you go and loose off a few rounds in anger. With so few means of dealing damage on your omnipresent foe, you can also take advantage of fire by poking a stick into a nearby flaming torch and turning it into a firey spear of death. As well as making for a more powerful weapon, it also enables you to set fire to the dry grass - a potential death-trap for unwary predators, not to mention the many wooden structures that block your pathway into the deadly innards of the fearsome Skull Island.

In another departure from the traditional FPS rule-set, there are no status bars whatsoever, meaning you have to manually check how much ammo's left in your chosen gun (yes, you can only carry one at a time) by tapping the B button, while your health status is also notable by its absence. Instead, the game gives you a host of visual cues when you're in trouble; the screen goes blood-red, your vision blurs, your breathing shallows, and your hearing dulls. It's a marvellously instinctive and immersive way of instilling fear and panic into the spectacle, and forces you to seek cover. A quick breather restores order, allowing you to continue your fight for survival. Sure, it's a little silly and unrealistic to suggest that 'resting' will heal the leg that's just been between the slavering jaws of a T-Rex, but it keeps the game flowing and never less than fun.

Too good to be true?

'Peter Jackson's King Kong' Screenshot mismatch

Something tells me this is a mismatch.

Freed up of the usual screen furniture, there's a real sense of being part of this foolhardy journey into the unknown. With some wonderful graphical techniques that stretch the Xbox to screaming point at time, slick animation and an admirable art style, the whole game lets you play tourist to some of the most picturesque scenes ever pulled off in a videogame, against some of the most fearsome-looking enemies. It's one of those games that looks too good to be true, but it really is the real deal. It really does look that glorious in action, and there must be at least 30 moments in the game when you can barely believe your eyes. These jaw-dropping sequences we're used to seeing in cut-scenes... but being able to control it all in real-time is something very special indeed. You'll cackle your face off, wide-eyed at the audaciousness of it all. It's pure, unadulterated popcorn gaming for the masses and we love it to death.

Yet all the while, your game brain is reminding you that the actual mechanics at work are very simple indeed - proving, perhaps, that games needn't be fearsomely complex in order to provide a ridiculous level of entertainment to even the most demanding and experienced gamers. For a good chunk of the seven, eight-hour first run-through, all you seem to do is engage in one bite-sized encounter after the other. Generally, these take the form of either a) killing a posse of very large enemies with pointy sticks, b) finding a missing handle in order to open a locked gate, c) defending one of your party from a posse of very large enemies while they scurry off and do something important or d) finding fire in order to burn down something blocking your path.

But when the game starts giving you the opportunity to play as Kong, it's like Spinal Tap dropped by Ubisoft's studios and cranked it up to eleven. Switching the viewpoint into third-person, suddenly you're more than a match for the giants that have been terrorising Jack and co. for hours. The giant bats are no more than irritating insects that you swat away, while the monstrous T-Rex becomes little more than a mildly troubling opponent. Given an entirely new move-set, you can grab, throw, pummel, fly into a rage and eventually grapple these deadly creatures, pulling their jaws open so wide that you snap their lizard features asunder. It's a sickening sight, but oh-so-satisfying. The sheer aggression that plays out on the screen is intensely primal, and with some incredibly subtle and well-judged lighting and audio, you'll be left a trembling wreck at the end of it all. In all probability, when Kong roars his victory cry and the screen fills with his leathery features, you'll want to punch the air in triumph. Most likely you'll just let a mild yelp out and wonder what the hell comes next.

Ape escape

'Peter Jackson's King Kong' Screenshot dino

Dino crisis: It's like he wanted it.

Whether you're playing as Kong or Jack, you'll also be quite astonished at how short some of the sections really are. In some cases you'll zip through a chapter in less than ten minutes, having performed a pretty perfunctory task. Whether it's Ubisoft's desire to make sure the pace and focus is always cranked up to the max we're not sure, but it works. You always want more, and even when you fail, some sensible checkpointing eradicates unnecessary backtracking almost entirely. If you're the sort of gamer who gets annoyed easily, then King Kong is your dream game - it's seemingly been designed to be entertaining from the first minute to the last, without needlessly bashing the player over the head. You'll want to finish it because it's fun; and then you'll play some of the key moments again to try and rack up the best score possible to unlock even more cool extras.

It's easy to glibly describe an impressive-looking game as 'cinematic', but when the approach is this close to delivering the same visceral intensity of a real-life movie, it's hard not to extend huge kudos to those involved. But it's more than just the scenery looking good and the characters looking convincing. Some of the unsung heroes of the King Kong 'experience' are the buddy AI characters. Not only do they look uncannily realistic in terms of their features, but they play a vital role in making you feel like you're part of an ongoing survival effort. The feeling of incessant terror and palpable fear is one thing, but the fact that you can see and hear it in your accomplices is another. Every step of the way they're busy giving you feedback, keeping you up to date with what you're supposed to be doing, and making non-repetitive remarks at what they've just seen or experienced.

You really feel like they're with you all the way, and not only do they provide that crucial narrative spur, they provide able support when the ante is upped, proving to be pretty handy with weapons themselves and bailing you out on the odd occasion. Most of the time, though, you're the one helping them out, and the sense of panic when it's all going wrong is communicated exceptionally well. You pals look scared to death when they're in the gaping maw of a fearsome beast, and hobble off injured, taking care to drag downed friends to safety when needed. Very rarely - if ever - do you see them doing stupid things like running into walls and suchlike. It's a game that's taken extreme care to not shatter the illusion, and as such it's all the more immersive because of it. Just about the only thing it really lacks is full lip-synching and dynamic expressions, but that's about it.

Single-minded

'Peter Jackson's King Kong' Screenshot encounter

Now, what are the chances of surviving this little encounter?

If we wanted to pick holes in what's on offer, it's that (on a few notable occasions) the technology can't quite keep up with the heady ambition on show. As Kong, you'll often be running along walls, swinging from branch to ledge and following very linear, pre-determined paths; that's fine in itself, but the frame-rate does tend to go south at this point. It barely detracts from the enjoyment, though, and we're really only talking about a few moments in among several hours, so it's definitely forgivable on this occasion.

Other niggles? Well, the fighting may feel a tad on the basic side for some tastes; not only does it lack variety and combo opportunities, it can feel sluggish when the frame rate dips. Despite its obvious lack of depth, it's still hugely entertaining to play, so you're likely to overlook such issues too. Also, on the whole, the entire game is perhaps a little too much of an on-rails experience to the point where there's precious little opportunity to do anything differently from the prescribed solution. Sure, you can often throw grubs as bait to lure away the predators and slip past them (as opposed to fighting them), but as far as real 'choice' goes, that's about the only example of where the game allows the player to deviate from the very rigid path. To be fair, though, the linear focus is one of the main reasons its such a relentlessly entertaining game; Ubi having made sure the action is tightly choreographed, leaving nothing to chance, and never leaving the player bored, frustrated or confused. For a game aimed squarely at the masses, you have to admire the fact that it has managed to do all of this and still make it an everyman's kind of game. It might not go down as the most challenging game ever, but honestly, if you can't feel the love for this game, you must be allergic to entertainment.

If we were really pushed, we'd also note the lack of a multiplayer mode, gripe that it's a little too short for some tastes, and maybe whinge that the New York levels are all-too brief. All fair points, but not enough to stop us from recommending it above all other adaptations of movies we've seen since, well, Riddick, actually.

The game that would be king

But by the end of King Kong there's still plenty to go back and see; and there are some standout moments that will probably stay with you forever. As a piece of gaming entertainment it's well worth buying regardless of what you might think of the movie - but assuming it's the action blockbuster it promises to be, it'll serve as the perfect accompaniment, fusing thrilling first-person combat with some of the most explosive hand to hand sequences you can imagine. If only all movie-based games were this entertaining.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (142) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • beep #1 6 years ago

    Wow. 9/10!

    Can this brash new game based on a movie license sway my extreme bias against anything movie related?

  • pollster #2 6 years ago

    hmmm, wonder what the 360 version will be like.

  • technos #3 6 years ago

    this game is crap

  • smelly #4 6 years ago

    Well this is the first positive review i've read of this game.. All others say it gets too samey waaaay to quickly.

    S'pose it's all a matter of opinion.

    "wonder what the 360 version will be like"

    Id guess Exactly the same, with prettier pixels.. like all 360 games will be.. In fact, I reacon - get the pc version, turn the detail up to max.. that's what it'll be like..

  • Tiiti #5 6 years ago

    The demo I played on the PC just made me want to try this on the X360. I then got my hands on the X360 demo and that just sealed the deal for me. It's already on my must have list on the 2nd Dec :)

  • krudster #6 6 years ago

    I'm fully aware the 'hardcore' gamer will probably queue up to dismiss this. It's easy to pick holes in it if you want to. As a piece of crafted mass-market film-based entertainment I loved every minute and scored it as such.

    If something entertains you this much, you have to hold you hands up and say 'well done'.

  • therev #7 6 years ago

    Played the Xbox demo and loved it. A lot.

    I've decided to hold out for the 360 version. It's going to be along couple of weeks...

  • ses #8 6 years ago

    I dunno. I played the PC demo and the Kong part was actually quite fun...for about 30 seconds. After that I realized that the actual game involved little more than buttonmashing and fighting with the semi-broken camera. The FPS part did nothing for me, since it seemed only to involve running around in circles for a minute or two while some NPCs fiddled with a door.

  • squaylor #9 6 years ago

    It certainly looks nice - I'll give this one a go, I think

  • DDevil #10 6 years ago

    Only 9? I'm sick of the $ony bias on Eurogamer, if this was reviewed on the PS2 it would have got 10!

    (only joking of course)

  • technos #11 6 years ago

    "If something entertains you this much, you have to hold you hands up and say 'well done'."

    The game holds your hand TO THE EXTREME, you mean to say.

  • All_Action_Hero #12 6 years ago

    having played this quite a bit my thoughts are that it gets very repetitive incredibly quickly.

    granted, it is very cinematic, but it has no replay value at all, and is horribly linear to boot.

    9/10 is just ridiculous, i think someone's been sucked into the hype surrounding the movie...

  • krudster #13 6 years ago

    Sure it does, but so what if it keeps the whole thing fun the whole way through?

  • krudster #14 6 years ago

    /let the rabid backlash begin!

  • lennon #15 6 years ago

    Well its just made it onto my 360 list of second round buys. All reviews should be based on how much fun you have with the game not on how linear they are or how pretty they look. Most FPS titles are linear doesnt stop them being great fun.

  • lennon #16 6 years ago

    I should qualify that not all FPS games are great fun but many are.

  • technos #17 6 years ago

    "All reviews should be based on how much fun you have with the game"

    I agree with this news.

  • petebritish #18 6 years ago

    I picked tis game up today and am finding it very enjoyable. If the film is just as good we are in for a treat. Great review.

  • lennon #19 6 years ago

    Are you being sarcastic technos?

  • krudster #20 6 years ago

    You're quite correct. This game could easily score 7 to 9 and no-one would be wrong. Everyone's entitled to not enjoy this as much as I *did* enjoy it.

    I would point out, though, that I'd probably come to similar conclusions as some of the people here if I'd only played the demo or the first third of the game. It really cranks it up as it goes along. The latter half is just demented. I was whooping like a Yank at an NBA game.

  • krudster #21 6 years ago

    Also, I disagree about the lack of replay value: you unlock a score attack mode and can play through 31 of the 41 chapters again to clock up a score and unlock more stuff. Pretty good idea, as it goes.

    Oh, and there's a different ending you can unlock too.
    Edited by 1 at 17/11/05 @ 08:52

  • Tejstar #22 6 years ago

    Interesting review. Will make me give that demo I've got a whirl for the xbox...

  • technos #23 6 years ago

    "Are you being sarcastic technos?"

    nope

  • Kiigan #24 6 years ago

    The demo was poor, but demos usually are - despite their ability to present years of hard work in a really piss-poor light, usually no one puts any time into doing a decent one.

    Is the game really called "Peter Jackson's King Kong" though? If so, it's a fucking shame.

  • Mike69_2004 #25 6 years ago

    repetitive? remember what Bungie said: "30 seconds of fun over and over" thats exactly what this game does and it works.

  • Ceatlan #26 6 years ago

    Glad to see your comment about thinking you would have thought the same after playing the demo krudster, as I was seriously underwhelmed by the demo on the cover of last months official XBox Mag. Mainly because I didn't read any instructions and couldn't work out how to do anything, including picking up spears, and found the first person perspective very difficult to get to grips with in such a frantic environment where you constantly need to be able to see all around you for items and dangers. So I think the demo may have done more harm than good, as I have no intention of picking up a game where I didn't enjoy the demo, just because of some good reviews.

    Loved your review though, and I have no doubt that for some people it will be astounding, but until I can personally get some evidence that I'm one of them, I'll be holding off purchasing it.

    Ceatlan.

  • BraveArse #27 6 years ago

    Sounds really good... is it as innovative as, say, Chronicles of Riddick when it comes to movie licenses though ( I know that's hard to quantify ) ? I've often thought developers should take note of that one when working with a movie license.

    As for getting samey quickly, I have to say that doesn't have to be a bad thing. You could argue that God of War did exactly that, but imo it was one the standout games of the last few years.

  • krudster #28 6 years ago

    What Kiigan said; demos are usually awful. Shadow of the Colossus, one recent example.

  • Bezzy #29 6 years ago

    Okay, first, if you want, just label me 'hardcore' and ignore me. However, I hope I have a better point coming than "IT IS NOT L33T ENUFF!!"

    The impression I got from the demo (and just the demo, so I could be wrong!) was that this was a dumb blonde: highly accessible, very shallow, not worth a return visit.

    The fallacy many work under when targeting "mainstream" demographics with "casual" games is not that a game must be accessible - that's a good thing, virtually always*. It's that accessibility cancels out depth. It does not. we only have to look at games like Tetris to see that.

    If "casual" gamers come to this game, and are able to play it, then that is good. However, I get the feeling that they'll come away feeling like "wow, games aren't all that different from movies. So what's the point?".

    Depth may not be the only thing that gives joy in games, but it's certainly one of the things that differentiates games from film. If developers want to get people to understand the joy of games, rather than wondering what all the fuss is about, then depth is a key ingredient.

    *Although it is apparantly possible to find pleasure in overcoming a terrible interface.
    Edited by 3 at 17/11/05 @ 09:26

  • octo #30 6 years ago

    Yowser.

    Well that was unexpected. It just goes to show that if you put the effort in (Chronicles of Riddick and now this) you can do wonderful things in this genre. Or you could release from Russia with Love...

  • Dr_Actually #31 6 years ago

    Another leadign male character called Jack....

    Jack Bauer
    Jack from Lost

    etc...

    (although to be fair maybe this was the guys name in the original Kong?)

  • Dougs #32 6 years ago

    10 Day Game rental at some point beckons I reckon....

  • Furbs #33 6 years ago

    Didnt we cover this in the Star Wars Battlefront 2 comments? If you buy in to the atmosphere generated by the movie licence, it becomes a better game than it maybe is - which is a good thing and means it used the licence well. If you're going to look at it in isolation, it may not be quite the game it first seems, but then you arent doing it justice. It'd be like saying PES5 is repitetive since its the same game over and over again.

  • BraveArse #34 6 years ago

    /brave apologises in advance, having had to many coffees to resist hitting that Speak Your Brain button :)

    Have to say I disagree with one key point there Bezzy. Lack of depth is not a defining factor of film. I still haven't seen a game that has anywhere near the depth of City of God, or even Pitch Black - ( although then i haven't seen ANYTHING with less depth than XXX in any entertainment format ).

    Although perhaps it could turn out to be a semantic difference we have here ( eg are we talking about depth of storyline, depth of emotional involvement, depth of interaction...?). For me the difference is whether you are active or passive. And in games there still further levels of active and passive involvement. Just depends how on rails the game is I suppose as to how much it feels like film... for me anyway.

    Edited by 1 at 17/11/05 @ 09:38

  • space_ace #35 6 years ago

    it does well what it tries to do and it's different, but i don't like it. during this totally braindead experience i thought, hmm i'd rather be a shadow of the colossus.

  • BlackSentoki #36 6 years ago

    Any idea what the PC version of this is like? Am tempted, but would rather play the FPS bits with a mouse and keyboard I think.

  • Bezzy #37 6 years ago

    I meant depth of interaction, which encourages (but is not required by) the other forms of depth you mention.

    Personally, I think interaction itself evokes a different range of emotion than storytelling does. I think interative emotion is an indervalued, and underdiscussed. Many games seem to chase after the "movie style thrill", which tends to rely on the passive arts. I get why you'd want to do that. I just wouldn't want to myself.

  • krudster #38 6 years ago

    No idea, but I'd never consider playing a game like this on PC.

  • Carlo #39 6 years ago

    I FUCKING TOLD YOU LOT IT WAS GOING TO BE GOOD!

  • AgentCooper #40 6 years ago

    "I would point out, though, that I'd probably come to similar conclusions as some of the people here if I'd only played the demo or the first third of the game. It really cranks it up as it goes along. The latter half is just demented. I was whooping like a Yank at an NBA game."

    That explains why, after playing the demo, I thought "Whats the big deal ??", really wasn't impressed, but I do try not to make final judgements based on demos alone.....

  • krudster #41 6 years ago

    It's *so* not five hours long, more like 7 or 8 unless you're on speed or something.

  • myiagros #42 6 years ago

    most of this game looks like turok, far to much average first person sections. The bit where you get to play as kong are quite good fun but its only really worth a 7/10.

  • krudster #43 6 years ago

    Haha Turok indeed. Someone should show off the two games side by side.

  • Fixxxer #44 6 years ago

    Are you suggesting I'd be a better gamer if I took recreational drugs?

    /phones Daily Mail

  • MrAtheist #45 6 years ago

    5 hours long with little/no replay value!? Man, I was getting pissed with stuff like HL2/Splinter Cell lasting less than 15 hours.

    I remember buying Full Throttle and finishing it it less than 6 hours. I was so angry I nearly punched my hand through a wall. I aint buying this, I need my right hand.

  • UncleLou #46 6 years ago

    No idea, but I'd never consider playing a game like this on PC.

    Hm, I thought it's an FPS, first and foremost?

    /confused

  • BlackSentoki #47 6 years ago

    Me too. It's this or the XB360 version, and there's nearly a £15 price difference between the two!

  • BremXJones #48 6 years ago

    There's nothing recreational about MY drug use.

    KG

  • krudster #49 6 years ago

    I suspect you're just elite, disc ;)

    For mortals, think 7-8 hours.

  • patlike #50 6 years ago

    drUGz r 4 MuGz, Kieron. I expected more from you, to be honest.

    *paternal tut*

  • Aga #51 6 years ago

    PES5 is repitetive, its the same game over and over again

  • Tricky #52 6 years ago

    Well no wonder you've got a problem with drugs if you take them in mug-sized quantities Pat. Everything in moderation, young man!

    /tuts paternally

    ;-)

  • alimokrane #53 6 years ago

    QUOTE : "PES5 is repitetive, its the same game over and over again " Exactly and racing games are too. why dont they get blamed for being repetitive. I think King Kong absolutely deserves a 9. I played the demo with surround sound on my PC and IT WAS FANTASTIC !! Looking forward to this. It plays out quite well on the PC by the way.
    Edited by 1 at 17/11/05 @ 10:51

  • Aurifex. #54 6 years ago

    Just played the demo on my aging PC and it runs bloody great. Quite enjoyable too. Loved the Kong fight with the Trex's as well as swinging a big tree arround like a club. Maybe take it as it is, just a bit of fun.

  • kincaide #55 6 years ago

    How come this is out today (and not tomorrow) - I thought Fridays were meant to be release day

  • krudster #56 6 years ago

    Maybe to co-incide with the movie?

  • Wrobel #57 6 years ago

    Movie is not out till Dec 18th

  • krudster #58 6 years ago

    Heh, entirely off topic, but no. It's one of my all-time favourite GBA puzzle games, so shoot me!

  • Wrobel #59 6 years ago

    Also off topic. When do you guys get your 360s?

  • thegamesthething #60 6 years ago

    on the subject of GBA games, any chance of a Rebelstar review?

  • Hicksy #61 6 years ago

    I'm pretty sure I'll go for the pc version but just waiting for a review or 2 to surface to guarantee it's been well converted and the controls of keyboard/mouse work well :)

  • alimokrane #62 6 years ago

    QUOTE : I'm pretty sure I'll go for the pc version but just waiting for a review or 2 to surface to guarantee it's been well converted and the controls of keyboard/mouse work well :)
    ----
    After playing the demo, It works quite well actually. I didnt have problems at all.

  • krudster #63 6 years ago

    360 arrives today...

  • Pac #64 6 years ago

    "360 arrives today... "

    Games as well?

    I look forward to the reviews.

    /runs excitedly around the room

  • krudster #65 6 years ago

    Not sure what games exactly, but we have a handful of third party stuff already.

  • Furbs #66 6 years ago

    Is arnie coming round for a bash?

  • Dizzy #67 6 years ago

    Impressive... will get it for 360 I guess.

  • Yazoo #68 6 years ago

    "hmmm, wonder what the 360 version will be like."

    The 360 version plays much the same, but feels really at home on the new pad. What you're essentially looking at is the same game but so much prettier - in widescreen with no borders, and bump mapped so well that you spend time looking at the scenery rather than the action. As with all the 360 games Ive got to play so far I came out with the "its like..a top end pc..on my tv!" mindset. In general although King Kong is simply very easy and fun to play. On 360 the polygon count (simply look at the ingame human models compared to the PS2/Xbox equivelent) is much much larger, although the dinosaurs do look a tad plasticy, bringing back thoughts of the Doom 3 engine.

  • foamy #69 6 years ago

    I've loved it since I played the demo.. And I played it at 600x480 on a GF4 MX440, so it might not be the best way to test it, but the feel, the cinematic experience really is something extraordinary. Might buy it for christmas ^^

  • byron_hinson #70 6 years ago

    the prices are always that high before the console actually gets released, they are basically taking money from those who decide to pre-order them as the prices drop the day they hit the shops

  • firefly #71 6 years ago

    Jack from Stargate too.

  • afray #72 6 years ago

    The new Wallace and Gromit movie game is an excellent example of a good tie-in. He says.

  • Hicksy #73 6 years ago

    Or SE PC edition from Play for £30 - not bad!

  • wizbob #74 6 years ago

    I really want to get this but I'm worried that the cube version will either look shit or have an unusable framerate if the Xbox is struggling - has anyone played the cube version?

  • Hicksy #75 6 years ago

    /orders PC SE edition from Play

  • Pac #76 6 years ago

    I know the Xbox 360 prices looks pretty steep from a consumer point of view. But new formats will always command a premium price.

    If they started off at £35 how much would they be charging two years down the line, £25? It's the price you pay for early adoption I'm afraid.

    If the games are up to scratch then I don't mind shelling out the dosh.

    /phone rings

    If that's my bank manager tell him I'm out.

  • Mashum #77 6 years ago

    @yazoo

    I'm still unsure of buying a 360 as I have a resonably well spec'd PC so it's interesting to read your comments about the 360 - ta.

  • pollster #78 6 years ago

    360 arrives today...

    Is it a NTSC or PAL model?

  • BremXJones #79 6 years ago

    Furbs: "Didnt we cover this in the Star Wars Battlefront 2 comments? If you buy in to the atmosphere generated by the movie licence, it becomes a better game than it maybe is - which is a good thing and means it used the licence well. If you're going to look at it in isolation, it may not be quite the game it first seems, but then you arent doing it justice."

    I take your point, but I take issue with this in this specific example. This isn't buying into the movie licence and so loving the game - this is a game which convinces you to love your movie licence. Battlefront 2 is entirely reliant on sticking Bobba Fett's hats over a multiplayer shooter to appeal. In actual fact, it bears very little resemblance to what the films are about at are, bar bits of aesthetics. King Kong is a game for a film none of us have seen yet - so it's actually convincing us of the atmosphere *first hand*. It isn't reminding us of how much we loved the film when we were kids and are finally getting a chance to be Han Solo, it's convincing us as as a whole cloth.

    All of this side-steps the obvious fact that King Kong is based around one of the most important films of the 20th century. If it feeds off anything, it's the original, not the remake.

    KG

  • BartonFink #80 6 years ago

    So when is the 360 review EG ;)

    Surely you have a 360 by now...

  • lennon #81 6 years ago

    You can get Kong for £39.99 on 360 if you know where to shop!

  • spidermanalf #82 6 years ago

    I'd give it 8/10, I thought it was great well worth a rental if nothing else!

  • alimokrane #83 6 years ago

    Quote : ***Yes lennon but at the same place you can get Kong for PS2 for £29.99.***

    yeah and if you have a good PC you can get it for £24.99 !

  • tengu #84 6 years ago

    Played the 360 version earlier, seemed like a laugh. Might buy it seeing as Tales of Eternia is delayed again.

  • lennon #85 6 years ago

    Isnt that always the way? I seem to remember paying 39.99 for SSX and Timesplitters on the ps2. I kind of see what your saying but its never been any different.

  • Furbs #86 6 years ago

    Kieron, sorry, that wasnt actually directed at you or rather, the review. More at those who insist on breaking it down to its basics ("oh its just an FPS with a monster bit tagged on";). Sounds like a great game, I'm now tempted...

    Edit: Bah confusing me with who wrote it :p
    Edited by 2 at 17/11/05 @ 13:16

  • Artemus #87 6 years ago

    I ordered it for £25 on GC two weeks ago on that Tesco offer. Gits haven't delivered despite the fact I payed £2 for postage.

  • kangarootoo #88 6 years ago

    On the whole, this is a pretty interesting thread. I have nothing to add myself, but have actually enjoyed reading it for the most part. Hurray to everyone :)

  • Teeth #89 6 years ago

    Does anyone else think that Michel Ansel's eyes are too big for his head? They kind of pop out a bit. He has a really huge gob too. Weird looking fellow.

  • marilena #90 6 years ago

    He looks more normal than most game developers, I'd say :).

    Anyway, I just had a thought. I wonder if Peter Jackson declaring that he loved Beyond Good & Evil could get some new sales for the game. I still kind of wished there was a sequel.

  • Xerx3s #91 6 years ago

    OMFG! EG IS ANTI MS!!!! THIS SHOULD GET A 9.5!!!!! ............

    ^_^

  • Burton2000 #92 6 years ago

    Nom gave it 56% because it aparently only lasts 6 hours and is just all the same ie. run from dinosaur

  • kangarootoo #93 6 years ago

    "I still kind of wished there was a sequel"

    Ancel said as much himself. Maybe good sales of KK will help that become more of a possibility. Of course, the majority of the game buying public won't know who he is, but it may carry some sway in the Ubisoft board room.

  • kangarootoo #94 6 years ago

    " Nom gave it 56% because it aparently only lasts 6 hours and is just all the same ie. run from dinosaur"

    But is it fun? I disagree with whoever posted earlier that a game being fun in not the most important. Not a personal attack whoever you are, I'll expand on what I mean. I consider "fun" to the over arcing effect of many factors coming together. I would suggest that good GFX, audio, storyline etc all contribute to the sense of fun and so they cannot be measured alongside it. Some magazine calls fun "tilt" in their reviews I believe. If they are simply referring to the effect of reviewer preference then all is well.

    Sure its an issue if a game is short, but 6 hours of edge of your seat joy is better than 12 of relatively indifferent amusement surely?

  • Artemus #95 6 years ago

    NOM = Nintendo Official Magazine

  • Sud0g #96 6 years ago

    I have been playing a promo of this game on the PS2 today....nice little touches but I was bored after the first 20 minutes.

  • Feanor #97 6 years ago

    9/10, just as I thought.

    "and then you'll play some of the key moments again to try and rack up the best score possible to unlock even more cool extras."

    How is the game scored, exactly?

  • Feanor #98 6 years ago

    "I'd say its more 'fun' than Resident Evil 4.

    But that is because Resident Evil is so much of a classical game that it bores me. Shops, Inventory, Bosses etc."

    How can you not like the Merchant?? :)

    Hehehehe, thaank you.

  • krudster #99 6 years ago

    Essentially you get positive points (such as killing enemies) and negative points for unnecessary damage, something like that.

  • Vin #100 6 years ago

    Yeah, it rocks, this.

    Go buy.

  • Pho-Zoon #101 6 years ago

    mmmmmmm....

    I have this on order with my 360- pleased it's turned out to be 9/10 material.
    At the mo' I only take Eurogamer reviews (and the vast majority of the comments section at the end) seriously, as I don't generally agree with other sites/mags scores. Plus the written part of EG's reviews are always finely crafted and entertaining.

    With regards to NOM and its 50% or something, that's just what I expect from a single-minded set of reviewers like them. You should read the opening paragraph of their Killer 7 review (they slag off abstract art, new game mechanics and innovation as a whole, despite writing FOR NINTENDO). They really are teh suXXXorz.

  • ImGameCube #102 6 years ago

    As I cant afford a 360 (I'm about about 400 euros short), I would love it if an Xbox bundle was produced with this game.

    I'd buy that for a dollar (euro).

  • urban #103 6 years ago

    cool :)

  • ImGameCube #104 6 years ago

    /downloading King Kong demo for PC

    Just realised that those that are talking about Live stopping them from having to buy official mags are over looking the fact that it takes a bloody long time to download a demo.

    2 choices. Put the demo disc from the magazine in the drive OR wait two hours to download the demo.

    Not a massive amount of time, but it does detract from the excitment of rushing home from the shop with your demo disc...

    /goes back to website to check spec required for King Kong demo.

  • ImGameCube #105 6 years ago

    just thought of the solution to my own problem.

    Have demos available preloaded on your hard disc in a Steam-stylee.

  • Talha #106 6 years ago

    I am convinced that by selecting the XBox version of this game and giving it a 9, EG are showing just what rotten, biased bunch of freaks they really are. First they went all out in support of PS over X360 and now they are reversing the trend, perhaps getting more moolah from MS.

    ;-)

  • Talha #107 6 years ago

    @LeDilettante: II think it is the whole question of expectations vs results. The game already looks quite good on PC, but you would expect a whole lot more for the 360. So stellar graphics alone won't be enough - they should be sufficiently advanced compared to the excellent current gen versions.

    Head over to GameSpot and IGN - hopefully they will post a review shortly, having reviewed a slew of 360 games.

  • JonFE #108 6 years ago

    Has anyone here tried the digital download only gamer's edition sold at UBI's online shop ???

    * edited to sort out the link and some silly typo's *
    Edited by 3 at 18/11/05 @ 10:30

  • Talha #109 6 years ago

    @JonFE: My God that is the highest requirements I have EVER seen for a game. How does it run?

  • BlackSentoki #110 6 years ago

    I have to admit I'm tempted - but I'm not paying £30 for something that might run like a dog without being able to try a demo first. You could just get the XBox 360 version for £40 after all.

  • Aurifex. #111 6 years ago

    The demo plays good on my old Athlon XP 1900+9800 Pro+ 1gig of pc2100 ram.

  • BlackSentoki #112 6 years ago

    I don't think the demo is of the fancy "Gamer's Edition" though, or is it? Is there a demo of this version?

  • gamesb*tch #113 6 years ago

    /\ what technos said many posts ago

  • Talha #114 6 years ago

    The demo plays fine - but that is of the NORMAL game. I think the Gamer's Edition is the 360 version ported to PC - doesn't make sense otherwise.

    Good idea though.

  • JonFE #115 6 years ago

    @Talha: I know what you mean about the system req... My jaw literally hit the desk when I read them... My PC would not touch it tho' (I'm 1 GB short and 6800-less :)

    I also guessed that it's the 360 ported to hi-spec PC's version also, that's why I asked if anyone has played that, as an indication of what to expect Dec 2nd...

  • byron_hinson #116 6 years ago

    Anyone know when the "Gamer" version is coming out that has the better graphics on the PC? UBI have stated the following.


    - We have the normal version sold on CD-ROM, of course with a box and a manual, and you also get a 20cm King Kong plush if you preorder it. All this for 49,99€.
    - The Collector's Edition, you get all of the above (though the game is on DVD) together with a bonus DVD and artwork signed by Michel Ancel. All this for 52,99 €.
    - Then we have the downloadable normal version , you get no box and no manual and you have to download a couple of Gb. Also, because of the copy-protection you are probably unable to make a backup of the game on a CD/DVD. This will cost you 49,99€, meaning the exact same price as the normal version, which means this version offers you less than the normal retail version for the same price, except for the fact that you don't have to switch CD's.
    - And last but not least we have the Gamer's edition, available for download only. It's the same as the normal downloadable version, except that it offers you much better graphics, but only if you have a system that's capable of running it. You can get it for 49,99€.

  • JonFE #117 6 years ago

    Byron, the Gamer's Edition should already be available to download. Check out my link a couple of comments up. It will take you to UBI's online shop...

  • byron_hinson #118 6 years ago

    ah soddit - won't bother then as it doesnt support X800 cards

  • BlackSentoki #119 6 years ago

    I think it's very risky to go for this with no idea of the performance you'll be able to get, sadly. Would love to see it in action though.

  • Talha #120 6 years ago

    I have a 6800 GT and a P4 3.0, but I am 1 GB short on RAM. Then again, I think it is a huge risk to download it since it will take days on my connection and who knows what happens if it gets interrupted.

    Though I am dying to try it out.

  • byron_hinson #121 6 years ago

    yeah agreed - just can't understand why they have not released a DVD version with both "Gamer" and normal editions on it

  • UncleLou #122 6 years ago

    You can download the Gamer's edition from a German paysite, there's a link somewhere on Ubisoft.de, not sure about other countries (although the version is allegedly multi-langual).

    And yes, it's incredibly silly that they didn't simply include both on a single DVD. Nothing better than upgrading the PC and playing an older game in tis full glory.

  • JonFE #123 6 years ago

    I'd guess that the two versions together would not fit one DVD and that they also felt that for 2 in 1 they should charge more than the normal version alone.

    As for why not a DVD version of the Gamer's Edition also, well three versions of the same game (normal, collector's and gamer's) would be too much. A soultion would be to include (as an addition, not replacement of the normal) the Gamer's version to the Collector's one, but apparently they passed...

    Maybe they thought that this way they could get some extra sales at a minimum investement (no extra manufacturer costs apart from bandwidth) and also gather some statistics on high end users.

  • Talha #124 6 years ago

    Actually in common parlance it is called "Milking', but also appears as 'shafting', 'redundant sales', 'creating perceived value', 'beating a dead horse', ''two for the price of three" etc etc etc.

  • JonFE #125 6 years ago

    @Talha - I agree this all of these terms :)

  • BlackSentoki #126 6 years ago

    I have a 6800 ultra, 2gb ram - I make the system requirements. But perhaps only just, and I don't want to waste £30 and a 6gb download on something that runs poorly.

    It would have been infinitely more sensible to include both versions in the PC Collector's Edition.

  • marilena #127 6 years ago

    As far as I have heard, the special edition requires a monster rig. Basically, it doesn't run smoothly on any PC at the moment.

    Take that with a pinch of salt though, it's hear say, not actual hands on experience.

  • byron_hinson #128 6 years ago

    Strange thing there though (about there not being enough space on a DVD edition) is that there is for both Normal (1.5gb) and the Gamer one (5gb).

  • ImGameCube #129 6 years ago

    Just played the PC demo.

    Will I enjoy the Gamecube full version more, do you think?

    Frankly found the PC demo good fun, but ultimately found the king kong part just a hell of a lot of left click action....

    Looks good though, even low-res on my poverty spec PC.

  • admir #130 6 years ago

    i belive the review when i play the game

  • byron_hinson #131 6 years ago

    My US counterpart has just got the Xbox 360 version in the post a few hours ago so I'll post his views on it when I can.

  • kaosridder #132 6 years ago

    a warning. Just spoke to my mate who bought it yesterday. He finished it in 5 hours!!! He is very disappointed and told me that it seems like one long commercial and nothing more. Make it a rental seems to be the sound advice.

  • tengu #133 6 years ago

    I've been playing it for six hours now, and it doesn't seem like I'm anywhere near the end yet.

    Awesome game, well worth a look.

  • kangarootoo #134 6 years ago

    Is there much in the way of side missions or exploration? I am just wondering what is beihind the disparity in gameplay hours.

    Does it have difficulty settings? If so, what are people setting them to on their play throughs?

  • tengu #135 6 years ago

    No difficulty settings, no side quests, minimal exploration. But don't let that put you off, it's a great game. Though I did just finish it, took about seven and a half hours I think.

    The end seemed a bit sudden, and the final level was a bit of a mess to control.

    This isn't worth a 9 though, not a chance. 7 from me.

  • byron_hinson #136 6 years ago

    Agree with you, 7 at best, not that much to do during the game, its also really short and quite easy considering there are no difficulty settings. Good game, but not as good as reviews are saying.

  • Bumbuliuz #137 6 years ago

    I liked both the Pc and Xbox demo's, but I'll think I will pick up the Xbox 360 version for the best graphics. My pc is good but my vid card cant handle pixel shader 3.0. But Im guessing the 360 will. But I will pick it ut after the new year. Give me some more time with the launch Titles im picking up. Also I want to see the film first before playing the game :)

  • DaveTheHutt #138 6 years ago

    9/10? Played this for about six hours this weekend - and finished it - and have to say I was very underwhelmed.

    There are a few nice moments in the first-person bits, despite the simplistic and repetitive 'find fire, burn undergrowth, find lever' puzzles and the way all the characters keep yakking on about "Let's get out of this nightmare!", "This is a nightmare!", "Will this nightmare ever end?" - okay, okay, we get the idea, it's a frikkin' NIGHTMARE!

    But the Kong bits are very disappointing - just tedious button-mashing that's so simplistic you can finish the levels without ever once engaging the brain.

    There are loads of glitches too - sometimes the frame rate in the Kong levels dropped so low I though I was flicking through a screenshot gallery. And as for the New York levels - oi!!! Talk about unfinished!!!

    Overall, moderately entertaining and a solid 6/10, but definitely not worth £30-40 of anyone's money.

    Hutt out

  • tengu #139 6 years ago

    Both are fun games, what's the problem? One scoring highly takes nothing away from the other.

  • Mashum #140 6 years ago

    No left handed/'southpaw' control style made this game a real slog for me. I've given up on it for the time being which is a pity because there are some nice ideas in it. Also it takes aaages to turn 180 degrees.

    The only controller settings are for inverting the look stick... lazy and the ruination (!) of what might have been a great game.

    Booo.

  • Mashum #141 6 years ago

    After another 30 mins on the game there is a serious bug with the controls - looking up/down or left/right is OK (albeit a little slow) but looking in any diagonal direction is dog slow and I mean doooooog sloooow.... its a real pain. Max Payne on the xbox had the same problem, the bit of maths that calculates the controller position does not deal well with diagonals.

    The reviews here are great and the site in general is in a class of it's own - but I think this review is a bit blinded to some of this games problems.

    Thanks god it's only a rental! I'll certainly be getting the PC version.

  • Glitch #142 6 years ago

    "Sure, it's a little silly and unrealistic to suggest that 'resting' will heal the leg that's just been between the slavering jaws of a T-Rex, but it keeps the game flowing and never less than fun."

    What next? when you get bitten by a dinosaur you have medically reattach your leg?

    Its like saying Fifa05 is unrealistic! course it is, its a game, want it to be real? go kick a football round outside!

    I think sometimes the EG staff think consoles can do far more than what they are actually capable of! I mean this game pushes the Xbox to its limit!

    btw, this game is #1 of the year so far! they have hit the nail on the head!

    ubisoft #1!

  • ChocNut #143 6 years ago

    The framerate was so bad I had to give up on this or face a seizure.

    7/10