Asking, "is this game good?" is the wrong question.
Asking, "is this game for me?" is closer to the right one.
I picked this up based on its looks, and it gave me a lot to look at.
Killer is Dead is a noir A24 arthouse movie disguised as a grindhouse character action game. Is there a plot? Technically, yes. Taking anything at face value will leave you confused. There are cyborgs, unicorns, aliens, ghosts, and lots of sexy women. If you want answers, you'll have to dig. Here is an excellent essay on the themes, gameplay symbolism, and visual motifs if you want an idea on how the game's operating. I would say its a spoiler, since it talks about the ending of the game, but I also did not discern many of the plot points from my playthrough of the game, so it almost feels more accurate to say the game is a spoiler for the analysis of itself.
Killer Is Dead is smaller in scope than other character action games around the same time, as it is made by a smaller studio. At times it can feel unpolished, with some screen tearing, and the visuals are extremely stylized in a way that hides how sparse some of the level designs are. Some of the game mechanics feel inconsistent, but combat isn't that difficult, so I never felt frustrated.
Surprisingly, I found the game easier and more fun to play on the Hard difficulty setting, as the increased enemy aggression gives you more opportunities to use the dodge-at-the-last-second-to-activate-bullet-time mechanic. There are unlockable new moves, abilities, and situationally useful toolsthat I didn't realize how to unlock until like my third playthrough and therefore never used that add some variety, so your first playthrough won't be indicative of the game's feel with a complete moveset.
An element of the game I was oblivious to going in was the wooing of sexy ladies. Defeating enemies in levels upgrades your character, but the reward money for completing levels is entirely used to buy presents for your girlfriends of expensive tastes. These "dates" consist of stealing looks at your lady's body, (when she's not looking, so you don't kill the mood), until you build up enough courage to give her a present. Give her enough presents she likes, and she'll let you stay the night. Succeed on three dates and you'll get to see more of how they spend the night together. This is how you unlock the three subweapons in the game.
Your two girlfriends will constantly call you throughout the gameto mask loading transitions pining for your attention, have literally zero plot relevance, and are there to remind you why the player character is doing any of this - to get laid. It is a very weird vibe when "this" consists of motorcycle racing tigers and beheading yakuza bosses. Even moreso if you're like me and never start dating the second girl because of the confusing mission menu layout, so I had no idea who Koharu was or why she was calling me to the point I felt gaslit into thinking she was introduced earlier in the game and I'd forgotten about her (she wasn't, I hadn't)
Giving a score on this game feels weird. I'm glad I played it. I'm giving it 2 stars, which for me is an average, C rank game, but that feels like a misnomer. Nothing about this game is normal. It is dripping in blood and style, taking graphical approaches so unconventional they often gave me a headache. But damn if it isn't memorable. For some people, its mix of gameplay, sexuality, and utter self-confidence to not explain itself even a little bit will make it exactly Their Thing. For others, I can see them immediately bouncing off the relatively simple combat, the eyebleeding graphics, the nonsensical story, or the overt sexualization of women.
I really would not describe myself as the type of person to seek out a game where you can tell women apart based on whether they prefer missionary, doggystyle, or cowgirl. But by the time I had platinum'd this game, it had earned my respect, even if I still didn't feel like I completely understood it. I'm glad it exists. (And cowgirl is best girl.)
Asking, "is this game for me?" is closer to the right one.
I picked this up based on its looks, and it gave me a lot to look at.
Killer is Dead is a noir A24 arthouse movie disguised as a grindhouse character action game. Is there a plot? Technically, yes. Taking anything at face value will leave you confused. There are cyborgs, unicorns, aliens, ghosts, and lots of sexy women. If you want answers, you'll have to dig. Here is an excellent essay on the themes, gameplay symbolism, and visual motifs if you want an idea on how the game's operating. I would say its a spoiler, since it talks about the ending of the game, but I also did not discern many of the plot points from my playthrough of the game, so it almost feels more accurate to say the game is a spoiler for the analysis of itself.
Killer Is Dead is smaller in scope than other character action games around the same time, as it is made by a smaller studio. At times it can feel unpolished, with some screen tearing, and the visuals are extremely stylized in a way that hides how sparse some of the level designs are. Some of the game mechanics feel inconsistent, but combat isn't that difficult, so I never felt frustrated.
Surprisingly, I found the game easier and more fun to play on the Hard difficulty setting, as the increased enemy aggression gives you more opportunities to use the dodge-at-the-last-second-to-activate-bullet-time mechanic. There are unlockable new moves, abilities, and situationally useful tools
An element of the game I was oblivious to going in was the wooing of sexy ladies. Defeating enemies in levels upgrades your character, but the reward money for completing levels is entirely used to buy presents for your girlfriends of expensive tastes. These "dates" consist of stealing looks at your lady's body, (when she's not looking, so you don't kill the mood), until you build up enough courage to give her a present. Give her enough presents she likes, and she'll let you stay the night. Succeed on three dates and you'll get to see more of how they spend the night together. This is how you unlock the three subweapons in the game.
Your two girlfriends will constantly call you throughout the game
Giving a score on this game feels weird. I'm glad I played it. I'm giving it 2 stars, which for me is an average, C rank game, but that feels like a misnomer. Nothing about this game is normal. It is dripping in blood and style, taking graphical approaches so unconventional they often gave me a headache. But damn if it isn't memorable. For some people, its mix of gameplay, sexuality, and utter self-confidence to not explain itself even a little bit will make it exactly Their Thing. For others, I can see them immediately bouncing off the relatively simple combat, the eyebleeding graphics, the nonsensical story, or the overt sexualization of women.
I really would not describe myself as the type of person to seek out a game where you can tell women apart based on whether they prefer missionary, doggystyle, or cowgirl. But by the time I had platinum'd this game, it had earned my respect, even if I still didn't feel like I completely understood it. I'm glad it exists. (And cowgirl is best girl.)