Rarely does a game have as much controversy surrounding it as this game does. The oddest thing is that the controversy has nothing really to do with the game itself, but everything to do with how it has been reviewed. Luckily I know that whenever I’m reviewing a game, I have nothing to worry about. The boss actually asks us to be hard on these games and I like it that way. While I don’t hold the contempt for the industry that our administrator does, it’s nice to know that my opinions can be stated without fear of being censored. So enough about that. Let’s get to developer IO Interactive’s latest game.
Kane and Lynch is an action based crime story that has players running around in the standard third-person run and gun style gameplay that litters the game industry. The stealth play that gamers may be accustomed to from IO is gone here. This game isn’t about finesse. It’s about flat out killing. The story is about a couple crazy psychopaths after all.
The game begins with Kane being freed from police transport by Lynch on his way to his own execution. To start the story off with a little intensity, Lynch pumps Kane full of adrenaline to get the escape underway. You’ll begin by being tasked to retrieve some stolen loot for your former gang, The7, if you ever want to see your wife and daughter alive again. Your savior Lynch by your side, and a task at hand, you’re off.
Variety is the spice of life, and Kane and Lynch has that when it comes to game environments. Locales vary and buildings, including restaurants, offices, and businesses, all feel different which really helps the story along by immersing you in it and not giving you the “same ‘ol, same ‘ol” feeling. The gameplay itself, however, isn’t really varied as the run and gun gameplay doesn’t evolve much throughout the game. Outside of a “meet this person” or use this rope to get down the building”, you’ll basically be shooting up everything you see. While that may sound fun, it does get old.
While you would think the game’s story focuses on two characters because of the title, you really only get to know about Kane. While Lynch’s role in the game isn’t diminished by this, the only information you get on Lynch are hints about his past based on his actions in the present. This was obviously intended to be a driving force in the sequel. Eidos hoped gamers would be anxious to jump on the next game to learn more about Lynch, but what do you need to know besides he’s one troubled guy with some serious issues. Cut-scenes do a good job of conveying the story behind Kane and Lynch’s relationship though; so that’s all you need to know to enjoy the story.
K & L tries to dabble in a bit of every shooter. Since Kane always has a partner by his side, you get a tiny dose of squad tactics as you’ll be dishing out commands to your criminal cohort. It’s not too complex and allows for some easy character management. You’ll also be taking cover during heavy gun fire sequences. This would be fun if executed properly, but the automatic cover system has a few glaring flaws that result in Kane being left vulnerable and easily shot. There were quite a few instances where I crept up to a walls edge and tried to blind fire (lean against the wall and hold the gun out blasting) where I didn’t lean against the wall and got lit up like a Christmas tree.
Sound-wise, Kane and Lynch bring it. The dark environments and situations are complimented quite well by soft and dark tunes that almost feel like a perfect fit to the situations. Dialog is another plus. Nothing is held back in K & L as characters curse randomly throughout the game. This not only fits the story, but does a good job of establishing the personalities of our two crazy stars and the messed up folks they meet along the way.
Graphically, IO has done a great job with character models and the aforementioned environments. Faces respond as one would expect at stressful times or when remembering one’s past. The lighting effects seemed to be the shining spot (pun intended) though. There were quite a few instances where the light engine cast the most realistic glares and soft auras seen in a game. While pretty lights don’t make a game, they did a good job of helping an average title look nice.
The most original aspect of Kane and Lynch is easily the online component of the game called Fragile Alliance. This online mode is almost substantial enough to be a bargain bin game on its own. Fragile Alliance is basically a bank heist game that sees you and a team of friends tackle various money storage facilities, but quickly the desire to get more of the cash can destroy any co-operation, and cause divides in your group. There are benefits to both teamwork and backstabbing, and the result is a multiplayer game packed with plenty of action, strategy and a great sense of tension.
While the story mode will last you about a good 8 hours, the game doesn’t feel like it offers that much variety. So while playing the story mode, you’ll quickly feel like you’ve played everything that needs to be played, only continuing on to find out more about our two crazy characters. This does say a lot for the story, but at the same time shows the glaring flaw of repetitive gameplay. If you play games for the story more than the gameplay, this title may be perfect for you. Kane and Lynch seems like a dynamite idea for a movie, but with gameplay mechanics that feel a little rushed and over-used, the game just doesn’t meet the standard the story sets. But if you live for online play, this game could be more than just a rental. Fragile Alliance offers hours of fun with players playing mind games while trying to rob banks. No matter your preference, you should at least rent.
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