Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie

"A king among games based on films."

I love King Kong. I love the original film. I love Peter Jackson's film. I don't really care for games based on films. I really didn't want to play this game at first because I was afraid Kong was another bad game based on a film. My love for the character finally got me to give this game a chance and I'm glad I did. It is one of the best games based on film I've played so far.

Graphics: 8.75 / 10

Everything in the game looks great but the game is still an updated version of a game developed for last generation consoles. I'm a lot more forgiving of this than I am with other games seeing as this was one of the first titles to come out on the 360. They did polish the game though so the 360 is the best-looking version out of all of the games.

All of the characters are very well done representations of their film counterparts. Also they did a good job of having the environment react to Jack and Kong's interactions. Overall it's a very good-looking game and does a really good job of representing the amazing places from the film.

Controls: 8.75 / 10

The controls work very well for the most part. Everything is mapped out well and works comfortably.

The only problem I had is how difficult it can be at times to pick up items to use in battle. There are a few points in the game when you are facing multiple enemies and all you have is a pile of bones and a few spears. Picking up items, aiming, and throwing can become bothersome when you're trying to avoid attacks from many angles and counter attack. Luckily there aren't too many instances where this becomes a problem so it didn't hurt the controls too much.

Sound: 8 / 10

All of the actors from the film reprise their roles in the game, which adds an extra level of authenticity to the game. Also the game has some of the most realistic weather sounds I've heard in a game so far.

The only real problem I have is some of the creatures you face on the island don't really make any noise. At certain parts the music will cue to let you know they're around but you can't tell where they are. This lead to quite a few deaths where an enemy snuck up on me but I never knew because I didn't hear anything.

Gameplay: 8 / 10

One of the biggest aspects of the game is how your character interacts with
environment. You'll have to figure out how to get around obstacles and fire plays a big part in much of the game. It works well for the most part but there are a few times where the game really didn't give you a good indicator of where to go next. This often led to frustrating bouts of backtracking.

Also the game has a few points where if you miss a certain item you have to basically restart the level because you can't advance. It only happened twice while I was playing but it still bothered me.

Many people complain that Kong feels too clunky but I don't really see that as a problem since you're playing as a giant ape. I'm glad the Kong bits are kept to a minimum though because while it's fun to play as the titular King I don't think a whole game playing as just him would've been much fun.

Story: 9.25 / 10

The basic story from the film is kept the same with changes made to keep the flow of the game going. They did a great job of keeping characters around you at all times so as you progress you get to experience the story. You never really feel alone in the game and you shouldn't since there were only a few parts where certain characters were by themselves in the film.

It'd be perfect if the finale of the game didn't feel so anticlimactic. In the film it was an epic showdown on top of the Empire State Building between Kong and the planes. In the game it's just a quick rampage through the city, a quick climb up the building, and a boring showdown with the planes. Other than some of the impact being taken out of the final showdown the story really captures what the film was about.

Length: 5.25 / 10

The only real weak point of the game. My first time through only took about 6 hours. The games offers plenty of extras to go back and play to unlock but unless you're a real big fan of King Kong it isn't going to compel most people to play again. The game offers such a great experience though that it's at least worth playing through that one time.

Overall: 8 / 10

The game isn't perfect by far but as far as games based on films go, you can't do much better. Even if you don't like games based on films the game more than earns at least a rental from anyone. Fans of King Kong shouldn't hesitate to pick up the game, especially now that you can get a copy for around $20.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/20/07