Killer is Dead is the latest game from the crazy mind of Suda 51 who is known for his off the wall games like Killer7, No More Heroes, and most recently Lollipop Chainsaw. While Killer is Dead has much in common with Lollipop in the gameplay department, it borrows a lot from Killer7 for its art direction and narrative. Oh, and the story is totally out there, just like you would expect.
Killer is Dead is, one paper, a typical 3d person hack n slash with one attack button, one dodge button, and the addition of a guard break button to mix things up. It all flows well and feels great to slash around at enemies and use QTE finishers that are very violent and satisfying. The action can get intense and I had to really mess with the camera to make sure no enemies were sneaking up on me. It has that typical Suda charm where the gameplay can be a little wonky but there just isn’t anything else like it.
The other weapons you get to use are different guns that are attached to your arm. There is the standard gun, a rapid machine gun type, drill arm, shots that slow down enemies, and a charge explosion thing that I got to check out. They all were pretty different and had their uses in combat. However, using the gun arm slows your movement so it isn’t great for up close encounters.
Overall, the combat was fast, fun, and bloody. If you have played No More Heroes or Lollipop it is pretty similar but even crazier. Here there is an ‘adrenaline burst’ mode to dispatch weaker enemies or to finish off stronger enemies after weakening them. Attacks in the mode usually split enemies into pieces, leaving Kill Bill levels of blood spraying everywhere.
The boss battle in the demo was a highlight, just like they were in No More Heroes. This one had several stages that had the boss using different skills and it encouraged frequent dodging over blindly attacking.
In an attempt to outdo itself, there is also ‘gigolo’ mode. This mode has you sneaking looks at a woman in an attempt to win her affection and therefore get new weapons. There are also special glasses that let you see her in her underwear. Stare just enough and you get the courage to offer her an affection winning gift. Stare too long and she rightfully slaps you and you lose. It’s a pretty awkward mode– especially when you are playing it in a crowd of people.
Killer is Dead looks to be exactly what I want from Suda: a bloody violent time that is also a solid action game wrapped in a crazy assassin plotline. Killer is Dead launches August 27th for PS3 and Xbox 360.
