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Yes, that’s right, we’re publishing reader reviews here on Kotaku. This is your chance to deliver sensible game purchasing advice to the rest of the Kotaku community.
And thanks to the very kind chaps at Madman Entertainment, purveyor of all kinds of cool, indie and esoteric film, the best reader review we publish each month will win a prize pack containing ten of the latest Madman DVD releases.
This review was submitted by Andrew Leong. If you’ve played Kane & Lynch 2, or just want to ask Andrew more about it, leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days (PS3)
The second installment of the Kane and Lynch (K&L) series, set in Shang Hai three years after the ending of the first. Jenny still hasn’t talked to Kane, and Lynch is still a mad dog.
Loved
The Ambience: The game reeks of Shang Hai-awesome. The police/’baddies’ speak Mandarin, and I actually understood most of it. (Meaning it wasn’t gibberish, like Borat speaking ‘German’). The loading screens are dynamic, and the localities are inspired. Be it a dark back alley, or a lavish office tower, IO Interactive have definitely done their research in creating an authentic Shang Hai feel.
Multiplayer: This is where the game shines. The Multiplayer modes really bring the game full circle. Fragile Alliance is where you team with up to 7 players to loot a target, then try to escape. You could betray them after looting to get their share but be marked as a traitor and risk revenge from everyone else, or just try to play it straight all the way and risk being betrayed yourself. This does change things around and makes things interesting each time you play with a different set of people. There were two other modes as well, Undercover Cop and Cops and Robbers, each with their own special premise.
Hated
Gameplay: I always got confused when my partner would say “Keep it down!” I’d crouch, try to be stealthy, and he’d just start shooting. Which is pretty much all there is to this game. It is really just a bland mix of running, shooting, running, shooting, running, taking cover, and shooting. There’s only 1 level which is different when you shoot from outside a helicopter, but other than that it’s EXACTLY THE SAME.
One could even argue that it’s the same level over and over again. Just with different backgrounds.
Variety: There are only so many ways you can kill a man. There was a wide variety of guns, but nothing to the depth of Uncharted’s M90 Hammer, or Bazooka. There were really only 4 guns, a handgun, shotgun, assault rifle, submachine gun. And the occasional red tank to throw/blow up.
Screenplay: The script was excellent, and the banter between K&L was pretty funny. The downside is that they would be talking, but on screen they would be just sitting there. Not moving their mouths, not doing anything. No reaction whatsoever on screen. Which kind of detracts from the great script.
From the makers of the Hitman series, where there are literally over 9000 ways to kill someone, I expected a game deeper than this. All I got was: “Get from A to B shooting guns.” No stealth, no variety, and it felt like I was just grinding through levels to reach the final one. But if you’re really into multiplayer, I suggest you give this one a shot. For the solo players out there, give this a miss, it won’t be a loss.
Reviewed by: Andrew Leong
You can have your Reader Review published on Kotaku. Send your review to us at the usual address. Make sure it’s written in the same format as above and in under 500 words – yes, we’ve upped the word limit. We’ll publish the best ones we get and the best of the month will win a Madman DVD prize pack.
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