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[b]Thread music below![/b]
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[quote=Info (Wikipedia)]Killer7 is an action-adventure video game for the Nintendo GameCube and PlayStation 2. It was developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and published by Capcom. The game was written and directed by Goichi Suda, also known by the nickname Suda51, and produced by Shinji Mikami. Killer7 features first-person shooter elements and a unique "on rails" control scheme, but the core adventure-style gameplay has been compared to Myst and Snatcher.
The game follows an elite group of assassins called the "killer7". The assassins, physical manifestations of one man Harman Smith, perform hits on behalf of the United States government. Through these missions, the killer7 uncover a deeper conspiracy regarding the role of Japan in US politics and secrets about the nature of their organization.
Killer7 was Suda51's first game released outside Japan. It received polarizing reviews due to its unconventional control scheme and complex noir plot. While some reviewers appreciated the stripped-down controls and stylized "arthouse" approach, others panned it as confusing and restricting. Jack Thompson, an outspoken video game activist, alleged that the game contains "full-blown sex sequences", but his claims were ultimately refuted. Despite these setbacks, Killer7's cult appeal led to remakes of Suda51's older works and the successful launch of No More Heroes.[/quote]
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[quote=Gameplay (Wikipedia)]The player controls the on-screen character, a member of the killer7 group, from a third-person view using the gamepad. The gameplay consists of elements of first-person shooter and action-adventure game with restricted movement (i.e., "on rails")—rather than allow free motion, the game limits the on-screen character to predetermined paths through the environment. The on-screen character moves forward by holding a button and reverses with another button press. At intersections, the player may choose which path to take. Progress is made by navigating the environment and solving puzzles. Some puzzles require the talents of a specific killer7 member. The player may switch between available members via a menu in the pause screen at any time. Other puzzles require magical rings or other items collected throughout the game.
Combat in Killer7 occurs when the player encounters enemies called "Heaven Smiles". Smiles announce their presence with a laughing sound effect and are initially invisible. The player must switch to a first-person viewpoint and scan the surroundings to reveal Smiles. While in first-person view, movement is disabled and the analog stick aims the character's gun. Targeting specific body parts will disable them; for example, shooting off a leg will cause a Smile to fall to the ground and crawl toward the player. The player may aim for a "critical point" that instantly destroys the Smile.
Defeated Smiles yield "thick blood" and "thin blood". Thick blood functions similarly to experience points, and players gain more by shooting Smiles' critical points. The player may redeem thick blood for "serum" while in "Harman's Room", checkpoints that appear throughout the game. Serum is used to improve the attributes of the characters such as "power" and "speed". This also unlocks special abilities for the characters. Players may save their game to a memory card in designated Harman's Rooms. Thin blood is used to recover the characters' stamina and fuel special abilities.[/quote]
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[quote=Setting (Wikipedia)]Killer7 takes place in an alternate version of Earth in the early 21st century. After a treaty ends all international conflict, the world powers destroy all nuclear weapons by firing them into the upper atmosphere and intercepting them with other missiles. This event becomes known as "Fireworks" and symbolizes world peace to the general populace. In an effort to combat terrorism, pandemic disease, and cyberterrorism, the International Ethics Committee (IEC) shuts down all air travel and public use of the Internet. Air transportation is replaced by a system of intercontinental expressways. However, a new terrorist group called "Heaven Smile" appears, targeting the United Nations (UN) and IEC. The members of Heaven Smile are humans who have been infected with a virus that evokes a desire to kill. Factory-produced Smiles are given a "bomb-organ" that allows them to explode at will, their principal means of attack.
In this Earth, Japanese politics are dominated by two parties: the UN Party and the Liberal Party. The UN Party is more powerful and moves to end the Asian Security Treaty and sever ties with the United States (US). The UN Party seized control of the Japanese government through the wisdom of the "Yakumo Cabinet Policy", a secret document which details how to run the "ideal nation". It was written by the Union 7, young members of the Liberal Party who went on to found the UN Party. The US government is also eager to sever relations with Japan, seeing the country as a hindrance and of little economic value. The interaction between Japan and the US is a central source of conflict in Killer7.[/quote]
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[quote=Characters (Wikipedia)]The player controls the members of a group of assassins called the "killer7". The group is led by an elderly wheelchair-bound man named Harman Smith, who exhibits "Multifoliate Personae Phenomenon". This condition allows him to physically transform into one of his seven assassin personae: African American Garcian Smith, aggressive Irish American Dan Smith, barefoot Japanese American female KAEDE Smith, albino Briton Kevin Smith, Puerto Rican Coyote Smith, young Chinese American Con Smith, and Mexican American luchador MASK de Smith. These people were gifted killers in life and Harman absorbed their souls through his condition after their deaths. The killer7 were temporarily incapacitated in an incident 50 years ago, in which the members of the group were systematically tracked and killed while performing a job at the Union Hotel in Pennsylvania. Garcian, whose power is to revive fallen personae, became the dominant personality as a result. In this capacity, he receives orders from the frail Harman when his consciousness is "awake" and accepts jobs from Christopher Mills, who hires the killer7 on behalf of the US government. Multifoliate Personae Phenomenon also causes Harman and his personae to see "remnant psyches"—ghosts of their past victims. Iwazaru, a man in a bondage suit, and Travis Bell, the killer7's first target, are the main remnant psyches who aid them throughout the game. The primary antagonist is an old friend of Harman's named Kun Lan. He has the "Hand of God", a power that produces the Heaven Smile virus.[/quote]
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[quote=Development (Wikipedia)]Development for Killer7 began in mid-2002 as part of the Capcom Five, a set of games produced by Shinji Mikami intended to be exclusives for the Nintendo GameCube. Killer7's gameplay mechanics were finalized late in development because most resources went to story and visual work. Director Suda51 decided on the unconventional control scheme as a deconstruction of how gamers play and to "create new expression". The long development process culminated in several delays, the last of which was due to an artistic desire to release the game on July 7 (7/7).
Suda51 drew influence from film noir, particularly the theme of multiple personality disorder, and called Killer7 a "hardboiled action-adventure". Hiro Sugiyama, Peter Saville, and American comic book artists, such as Adrian Tomine, inspired the artistic design and aesthetic. Suda51 noted the inclusion of cel animation in Western and Japanese anime styles was meant to legitimize games as an art form by competing with traditional art forms in their stage. He also drew from yakuza film Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Hiroshima Deathmatch. His experience as an undertaker had a powerful effect on the portrayal of death in his games. The game also reflects his interest in professional wrestling; Suda51 included a luchador character, MASK de Smith, and conducted interviews and attended promotional events while wearing a lucha libre mask. Reflecting on his work, Suda51 considers Killer7 his proudest achievement.[/quote]
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[quote=Reception (Wikipedia)]Killer7 received divisive reviews and sparked debates about depictions of sex and violence in video games and the status of video games as art. James Mielke of 1UP.com likened the game's high-contrast art style to noir and neo-noir film such as Se7en. He found that despite poor pacing and stilted gameplay, the "quirky scripting and edgy plot" were strong draws, and called Killer7 one of "most artfully designed footnotes in gaming history". Edge magazine's reviewers echoed this sentiment and predicted that the game would "[pave the way] for future creative leeway", crediting the director with an unwavering artistic vision. Eurogamer's Kristan Reed was keenly aware of the game's limited appeal, calling it "a concept game, an arthouse game, a simple game, an often beautiful game, but most certainly never an everyman's game".
Virtually all aspects of the game had their proponents and detractors. Greg Kasavin of GameSpot praised the unity of "great-looking camera work with simple controls" and compared its "thought-provoking" storyline to Metal Gear Solid, while a GamePro reviewer criticized those features, calling the controls limited, the cell-shading dull, and the story incoherent. Kasavin complimented the game's eclectic soundtrack, excellent voice acting, and distinctive sound effects, while the GamePro reviewer panned them as minimalist and irritating. IGN's Matt Casamassina likened the control scheme to "old-school adventure games like Myst and Snatcher" and commended Suda51 for making a "cult hit", "erupting with style, mood and undiluted craziness". Casamassina was also impressed by the quality of the anime-style cutscenes featured in the latter half of the game.
The IGN, GameSpot, and GameSpy reviews noted the GameCube version features superior graphics, substantially faster loading times, and more responsive controls than the PlayStation 2 version, resulting in lower scores for the latter. Nintendo Power claimed that Killer7 is a "highly rewarding" experience for dedicated gamers. Nintendo World Report writer Karl Castaneda also remarked that, despite repetitive gameplay, it was "still fun". Charles Herold of The New York Times was less forgiving and commented that the lack of new features beyond the first hour made the remaining experience boring and annoying.
Despite its mixed reception, a number of video game publications recognized Killer7's unconventional gameplay and innovative style. At GameSpot's "Best and Worst of 2005" awards, the game was nominated for Best Story, Best GameCube Game, Most Outrageous Game, Most Gratuitous Use of F------ Swearing, and won Best New Character (Harman Smith) and Most Innovative Game. IGN GameCube similarly nominated it for Game of the Year, Most Innovative Design, and Best Artistic Design and awarded it Best Adventure Game, Best Story, and Best Game No One Played. IGN later named Killer7 the 20th best GameCube game of all time. The game had a large presence at the 2005 Nintendo Power Awards, winning Best New Character (Harman Smith).
In August 2005, Jack Thompson, an activist who campaigns against video games, demanded that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) change its rating for Killer7 from "M" (for Mature, ages 17 and up) to "AO" (for Adults Only, ages 18 and up). He cited Casamassina's review of the game at IGN, claiming that "full-blown sex sequences" present in the game would be harmful to minors. Casamassina rebutted that the scene in question involved two fully-clothed adults and that a similar scene in a film would garner "only a PG-13 or, worst, R-rating".[/quote]
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[quote=Legacy and related media (Wikipedia)]Reviewers quickly identified Killer7 as a cult game with limited appeal. IGN lamented that its experimental style was not conducive to high sales, naming it GameCube's Best Game No One Played in their 2005 awards. IGN's Casamassina later placed it fourth in his Top 10 Tuesday: Underrated and Underappreciated Games feature. Despite modest sales, Killer7's cult success prompted the worldwide release of remakes of Suda51's older Japan-only games, The Silver Case and Flower, Sun, and Rain. In 2007, Grasshopper Manufacture released No More Heroes to critical and commercial success. In addition to an original soundtrack and comic book adaptation, Capcom published Hand in killer7, a companion book that explains the plot in more depth. Kinetic Underground, the company that handled the comic book, also released a number of figurines depicting characters from the game.[/quote]
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[b]Trailer[/b]
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First of all, whilst my own opinions of the game which follow below may be vague, it's done in the interest of being as spoiler-free as possible, regarding everything from the gameplay mechanics to the game's themes and the plot itself. Carry on now.
Killer7 isn't a videogame as much as it is an experience.
One of those games which always pop up in "are videogames art?" discussions, Killer7 is one of the most complex, unusual and intelligent videogames ever made, which in turn means that it's far from a game that anybody can just pick up, play, and enjoy.
From the visual side, Killer7 oozes style.
As you can see from the screenshots, it's using the cel-shaded animation as its type of rendering, which alongside superbly designed characters and levels make it one of the most beautiful games of all time, not in terms of eye candy but in terms of artistic direction. The audio side of the game is fantastic as well, with its soundtrack being one of my personal favorites and the voice-acting being top notch. The sound effects themselves are decent as well, but arguably one of the game's weak points. A notable feature of the game are its cutscenes, which are often split between standard in-engine 3D cutscenes and more conventional anime-style cutscenes.
Examples below, but beware, both contain spoilers and both are as NSFW as it gets.
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Killer7 isn't your 12-year old cousin's kind of game. Alongside the already mentioned incredibly complex main plot and a whole lot of subplots, the game is chock full of large amounts of extremely bloody violence and sexually explicit content, meaning that a certain dose of maturity is required to properly enjoy the game, or even understand it to a degree(which is a task in itself).
As you probably noticed by now, we're talking about a game which is completely unconventional in everything it does. From the control scheme, combat and visuals, to the story(which delves deeply into questions regarding politics and philosophy, which in turn makes it hard to keep up and may give the impression of incomprehensibleness on first glance), characters and overall feel, it's the definition of uniqueness, unmatched as far as I'm concerned. And whilst once the finishing credits end you're bound to ask yourself "What the fuck did I just play?", it's ultimately bound to make you think, not necessarily about the game itself.
Discuss.
I rented this way back in the day having been really excited for it but the control scheme really threw me off. I wish I still had a Playstation because I really want to give this another go.
This game is -amazing. Hell, it's godlike! I'd give 60$ just for a new PC release or xbox 360 (PS3 if you got that or both)
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Probably my favourite song from the game.
Ah, I remember this. If I can find my old playstation I might play it again.
Wow, I'm actually not one of these graphic flamers, but damn, that's some ugly graphic. :colbert:
[QUOTE=Skunky;25402831]Wow, I'm actually not one of these graphic flamers, but damn, that's some ugly graphic. :colbert:[/QUOTE]
Get the fuck out.
I absolutely love this game. If there's ever an HD remake in 1080p I can die happy.
I remember playing this a lot when I first got my PS2, awesomely trippy and fun as hell.
Never played it, but I watched the LP. "What the [U]fuck[/U]" explains it pretty well, this game is crazy on a level that makes MGS look like a kid's book.
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this game could look that good
too bad you can't play through the emulated version and there's bugs and shit
[QUOTE=backfoggen;25403288]this game could look that good
too bad you can't play through the emulated version and there's bugs and shit[/QUOTE]
You can't? The site for that PS2 emulator says it's 100% playable.
Or are you talking about the gamecube one?
yea gamecube. the ps2 version has worse graphics and low-res pre-rendered cutscenes
Worked fine when I emulated it a while ago. Too bad I suck at it and didn't get very far, but still an awesome game
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it doesn't go past the first boss
[QUOTE=backfoggen;25403853]it doesn't go past the first boss[/QUOTE]
The weird [sp]anime girl thing?[/sp] I beat that and it worked fine
ps2 or gamecube version
PS2 version
Maybe you played it before the most recent update roughly a year ago or something, it fixed a ton of stuff and made all games run faster.
This game looks interesting, i might look for it on eBay :>
I love this game, the art style is great and the story is trippy as hell (supposedly, I still haven't finished yet, but being halfway through, I'd be inclined to believe so)
Also, favorite personalities? I think Con is a beast, too bad he's made of glass. Either him or Kevin, for me
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