From the developers of the stunning Hitman series, Io Interactive, comes this crime based action thriller. Dispensing with the stealthy sneak 'em up gameplay that they're normally associated with, Kane and Lynch is pure action all the way.
Unlike most action based romps however, Kane and Lynch packs a detailed story. It may not be Tolstoy, but this tale of a heist gone wrong certainly makes for a more appealing game subject than the story of a sneaker clad hedgehog. In theory anyway.
But with simple shooters ten a penny at the moment, it'll take a lot to place this at the foot of your tree.
They say:
Official Xbox Magazine: "Kane and Lynch is not for the impatient, perfection demanding gamer. But if you have some tolerance to spare, the eye popping missions are really the big payoff here and they make this crime easily worth the time."
1UP: "There are problems that prevent Kane and Lynch from fully realizing its potential, but its concept and execution are strong enough to survive them."
Gamespot: "If you've been waiting patiently for a game to really dive into the whole 'crew based heist tale' concept, you might be able to look past some of the story flaws."
We say:
There's something a little Gears of War in the way Kane and Lynch plays. It's all about ducking behind cover and popping out to blast at a few enemy heads before getting back to safety.
Sad to say then that Gears of War fans should avoid this one. The gameplay may be similar, but the quality never manages to hit the dizzy heights that Microsoft's sublime shooter achieved.
Kane and Lynch is blatantly geared towards action, but there's a few extra elements tossed in for good measure. When you get hit, you don't simply die. Instead one of your team mates wanders over with a shot of adrenalin to get you back on your feet.
You've got to watch their backs too. If they hit the deck, you'd better get them revived pretty sharpish otherwise it's game over. It sounds quite exciting in theory and has no doubt worked well in many other actioners, but there's too much wrong with this title to make it worth your money.
First, the sheer idiocy of your compadres. As hardcore criminals, you'd at least expect a little intelligence and awareness when it comes to keeping their health intact. Instead, they'll wander out of cover and get picked off with absolute ease, forcing you to risk life and limb reviving them yet again.
Next is the ridiculous lack of aiming accuracy. Even carefully lining up your sights sees bullets flying every which way - the only place they don't seem to go is towards your target. As you can imagine, this is no fun when your team's pinned down to a single spot and you need a sharp exit.
The story is about as enthralling as the latest Katie Price novel too. It's your typical action based fare with a few twists and turns along the way, but these aren't the kind of 'cool' bad guys you cheer for. Instead you'll find yourself not giving a stuff as the tale spins this way and that. You'll soon be clicking past every cut scene.
Kane and Lynch can't compete with Gears of War on the looks front either. Though there's a variety of settings, they're all drab, colourless and lacking in any real detail. Plus your characters and enemies move with an obscene lack of grace. They look fairly detailed, but the animation feels ten years out of date.
There's also a hell of a lot of swearing. We're as broadminded as the next man, but a torrent of effing and blinding does not a game make. You'll find yourself longing for a character with a vocabulary of more than a few dozen words.
If it's action you want, you can do a hell of a lot better - and cheaper - than Kane and Lynch.
Like this? Try these:
Gears of War - Xbox 360
Stranglehold - Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - PS2, Xbox, PC
FORMAT REVIEWED
Xbox 360
OTHER FORMATS
PS3, PC
POSTED...
Wed 28 Nov 2007 at 12:47pm
