As someone who’s spent countless hours delving into the depths of retro gaming, I must admit that Killing Time: Resurrected has managed to scratch an itch I didn’t know existed. Nightdive Studios have truly outdone themselves with this remaster, breathing new life into a game that hails from the golden age of FMV gimmicks and 90s shooters on obscure hardware.
Among the many exciting moments while playing Killing Time: Resurrected, one instance that stands out occurred after I spent quite some time navigating a labyrinthine hedge maze filled with zombie gardeners. To gain access to the mansion’s ghastly butler, I had to deliver an invitation. In a wooded area that initially appeared deserted, I heard a distinct quacking sound. Thinking it was just a harmless duck, I continued walking, dismissing it as a silly sight. However, upon closer inspection, the duck looked larger than usual, which piqued my curiosity since I was playing an old 3DO game. The duck didn’t display signs of aggression like the zombies, so I walked by. To my surprise, the duck noticed me and began screeching loudly.
It was like someone recorded a normal quack, stretched the effect out in a video editor then looped it over itself a few times. After sacrificing a goat in their home office, of course. The screeching duck turned and its eyes were bright red, beak wide open as it stared and screamed. Its chest was also wide open, showing me a protruded ribcage and a mass of red duck goop barely staying in place. I stared at this thing quietly as it stared at me and screamed, my brain needing time to process the absurd display. No nearby enemies seemed to be alerted, and the duck never attacked, just screamed its miserable scream until I fed it a single bullet from my pistol. My next thought was, “that was weird.”
Killing Time is a game that fits this description: It’s reminiscent of the Boomer Shooter genre, similar to DOOM-inspired games from the 90s. This particular title was launched on the unlucky 3DO system, and it’s often recalled fondly by those who were part of that gaming era. The game is an eccentric blend of spooky haunted house themes, campy Egyptian mysticism, and over-the-top American Prohibition-era elements, making it like a low-budget horror film adaptation of The Great Gatsby. The unique feature that sets Killing Time apart from its contemporaries while also marking it as a 3DO game is the use of FMV assets, which incorporate live action, blue-screened footage for most of the human elements in the game.
This one’s a doozy!
“Echoes of Eternity
I’ve been enjoying Killing Time since Nightdive Studio, the 2023 Shacknews award recipient, selected it as their seasonal project for release around Halloween. Although Killing Time isn’t a heavy horror game, it does have a strong adventure feel to it. There are numerous gory, undead characters that fit the Halloween theme well. Initially, some of the Full Motion Video (FMV) characters seem a bit hazy and ordinary, but as you progress through the game, you encounter delightful B-movie character designs such as an overweight chef whose torso is filled with knives and sausages oozing from… peculiar places. Clowns and certain boss characters become increasingly creative as the game advances, so while the early zombies and mafia thugs don’t add much to Killing Time’s unique character, by the end, there’s a fun sense of immersion in this world and setting.
You’ve done this all before
In simpler terms, if you’ve played Boomer Shooters before, you’ll find the gameplay quite simple. Nightdive Studio has adjusted the controls to give it a modern shooter feel. Looking at the original game’s reviews on Steam makes it clear that this control update was essential. The weapons in the game are typical for this genre, and the intense gunplay where you dodge a lot resembles DOOM. However, the real appeal lies more in the visual tricks and unique settings rather than the gameplay itself.
Talking about visual effects, Nightdive Studios did a commendable job with the Full Motion Video (FMV) elements in Killing Time: Resurrected. A large number of the characters you engage with are spirits, and the game initiates by applying a blue tint to these characters. This not only makes them appear more ghostly but also hides potential flaws from low-budget FMV footage that’s been upscaled to contemporary resolution. It’s simple to state this, but one of the most fascinating aspects of Killing Time: Resurrected is how Nightdive subtly showcases their craftsmanship.
Nightdive knows how to show its work
Hello there! Let’s dive into an intriguing aspect of a remastered review – similar to the Museum sections found in classic collections by gaming giants like Capcom and Konami. The game, Killing Time: Resurrection, features something comparable called the Vault menu. This area houses various aspects taken from the original game that the Nightdive Studio team wants to showcase for the audience, offering a clear understanding of the game’s past and its transformation after their intervention. Additionally, it includes intriguing historical tidbits about game development to enlighten players on how games like this are created.
The best part is the inclusion of a sort of “meeting minutes” document, a transcription of the takeaways after a team meeting on a specific part of the game. It includes the conclusions the team came to, the reasoning behind their decisions, and a few requests for additional work or things that would be cool if the relevant team members had time. It’s super neat to see something like this included, and gives insight into a non-technical discussion players can read and understand.
Besides the main attractions, there’s a wealth of additional intriguing content available, including unused resources, artistic concepts, and even some peculiar remnants from an old CES exhibition. Additionally, you can view both the original game’s FMV animations and the updated ones, which allows you to watch all the cutscenes in succession without needing to replay the game multiple times. This type of material is particularly valuable for remasters, as it honors the original work while acknowledging that the new version doesn’t necessarily replace it.
This game, “Killing Time: Resurrected,” is another one of those classic remasters from the old school era. The enjoyment comes largely from experiencing it if you haven’t played it before. “Killing Time” isn’t going to make it onto any lists of all-time greats; it’s more of a niche title. It’s a bit rough around the edges, veering towards the cheesy side, and navigating its large maps can be overwhelming. However, as a game for the 3DO console that fully embraces the FMV gimmicks typical of its era and the unique atmosphere only a ’90s shooter on obscure hardware can offer, it’s an intriguing piece for enthusiasts of digital archaeology. “Killing Time” may not be a standout hit, but “Killing Time: Resurrected” certainly is.
On October 17, 2024, you can get your hands on ‘Killing Time: Resurrected’ across multiple platforms including PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, 5, Xbox One, and Series X|S. For this review, I received a PC code from the publisher.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-10-17 15:27