If I were a cynical man, I’d think that new ideas for games are becoming scarce. It seems like every other release is a remake of a classic. In fact, the creators of today’s review, Nightdive Studios, seem to specialise in nothing else!
Alongside 3DO and Ziggurat Interactive, they have resurrected the classic Killing Time with a new version called Killing Time: Resurrected. The original was a standout title on the 3DO platform back in the ’90s, dating back to 1996. This remake promises to include enemies and weapons from both the 3DO and PC versions, which apparently differed. The question is: can a game from nearly 30 years ago still excite today, or are we better off seeking a more modern experience?
One thing that was often better in the old days was the storytelling in games. Killing Time is no exception. We’re transported to the 1930s, to an island shrouded in mystery. We play as a student of Egyptology, summoned to assist an heiress named Tess Conway in her quest for immortality using a mystical Egyptian water clock. As expected, something goes awry, the experiment backfires, and Tess and her high-society friends vanish, leaving us as the sole survivor.
To make matters worse, everyone else has been transformed into ghosts, zombies, or simply driven mad. We’re left to fight our way through the island, unravelling the mystery and seeking a solution. With a dash of dark humour, the story is surprisingly engaging.
The presentation is a curious mix of old and new. The island itself has a slightly pixelated look, typical of its era. However, the enemies are where things get interesting. Many are rendered using full-motion video (FMV), which creates a jarring effect as you shoot them. The sprites are also paper-thin, lacking any 3D depth when viewed from the side, reminiscent of Paper Mario enemies. While this adds a unique visual flair, the island’s population of seemingly identical twins (all enemies of the same type look alike) can be distracting.
Dive in though and you’ll find that the environments are non-linear, allowing for freedom of exploration. Certain areas are locked behind traditional coloured key doors, but a comprehensive map helps you navigate the island. And you can toggle between the original 3DO graphics and the updated PC version. I preferred the classic visuals, with their delightful clunkiness and cheesy charm, but for a game with a horror theme, the graphics lean more towards amusement than terror.
The sound design is decent as well, with good voice acting preserved from the original and passable gun sounds. The music, however, is a mixed bag, ranging from effective atmospheric tunes to jarring synth-heavy tracks.
Gameplay involves exploration, simple puzzle-solving, and shooting anything that moves. The weapon selection is standard: a pistol, dual pistols, a shotgun, a machine gun, and a flamethrower that seems largely ineffective. A crowbar serves as your melee weapon, and with limited ammo, you’ll often rely on it for survival. The shooting mechanics are functional but lack impact, and the same can be said for the damage feedback. There’s no sense of imminent danger, unlike in games like Doom, and the abundance of health packs diminishes the threat.
Exploration is key to uncovering the story of Killing Time: Resurrected, which is revealed through FMV cutscenes. You’ll also find essential items, such as keys for locked doors. For instance, you need a red key for a red door, and an invitation to enter the mansion at the heart of the story. The island is vast and features seamless transitions between areas, with only minor pauses as you cross into new zones, which is impressive for a game of its time.
In conclusion, Killing Time: Resurrected is a competent remake of a classic game. Even without prior knowledge of the original, the story is engaging and the gameplay offers a decent amount of exploration and puzzle-solving. The FMV enemies are unintentionally amusing, and the gunplay lacks a certain punch, but the overall experience is enjoyable.
If you’re looking for a retro blast from the past, Killing Time: Resurrected might be worth your time.
Killing Time: Resurrected Returns to Unleash Supernatural Horror – https://www.thexboxhub.com/killing-time-resurrected-returns-to-unleash-supernatural-horror/
Killing Time: Resurrected comes to PC and console later in 2024 – https://www.thexboxhub.com/killing-time-resurrected-comes-to-pc-and-console-later-in-2024/
Buy Killing Time: Resurrected on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/killing-time-resurrected/9pbvfggxzv24
