Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days

Better than the first game, and an amazing technical achievement, but the shooting needs work to fully realise its potential.

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In "Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days," players control Lynch, a mercenary with a sociopathic personality, in a brutal and gritty journey through the criminal underworld of Shanghai. The game features a unique visual style, mimicking the look of recorded footage from a camera, and fast-paced, tactical gunplay. The story takes a fresh approach, presenting itself as a raw, realistic depiction of violence and crime, rather than a typical action-packed blockbuster.

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Reviews

59%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,978 reviews

story396 positive mentions

gameplay225 negative mentions

story
1,539 mentions
26 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The story of "Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days" is characterized as dark, gritty, and chaotic, following two morally ambiguous protagonists as they navigate a violent underworld in Shanghai. While some players appreciate its raw and immersive storytelling style, many criticize the plot for being thin, predictable, and lacking depth, with a campaign that is notably short, often completed in around 3-4 hours. The abrupt ending and disjointed narrative leave players feeling underwhelmed, though the game's unique aesthetic and intense atmosphere provide a compelling backdrop for its action.
- “Despite completing the story on solo in about 2 1/2 hours on my first run (that's including cutscenes and deaths), it was a serious adrenaline fest the entire time.”
- “It was groundbreaking and innovative then, and it is still one of the most unique aesthetics and storytelling experiences you are going to find.”
- “The real appeal of the game is both the story - which is gritty and violent as it gets in games and has themes worth discussing and thinking about; and the gameplay - very hard to get used to at first but feels exactly how it should - like a panic attack.”
- “The story ends abruptly, leaving many players feeling underwhelmed and disappointed with the lack of depth and development.”
- “The narrative feels disjointed and fails to capture the emotional stakes necessary to drive a plot centered around themes of betrayal and revenge.”
- “The characters have somehow become even more irredeemable and unlikable than the first game, the story is dull and the weapon sounds are just bland.”
gameplay
976 mentions
18 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days" has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its clunky mechanics, poor shooting accuracy, and repetitive cover-based combat. While some appreciate the game's unique visual style and atmosphere, others find the gameplay frustrating and lacking depth, often describing it as a generic third-person shooter experience. Technical issues, such as bugs and performance problems, further detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a consensus that the game is more about its artistic direction than delivering satisfying gameplay.
- “With its unique visual style reminiscent of shaky camera footage, gameplay is fast-paced and brutal, featuring weapons and cover mechanics to aid players in surviving the onslaught of enemies.”
- “The real appeal of the game is both the story—which is gritty and violent as it gets in games and has themes worth discussing and thinking about—and the gameplay—very hard to get used to at first but feels exactly how it should—like a panic attack.”
- “The cover-based shooting mechanics have been refined, allowing for more tactical gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is honestly subpar and highly repetitive with the main motivation for me being getting to the next narrative cutscene.”
- “The gameplay is just so bad because you're constantly being shot at and have to constantly stay in cover, you have zero awareness of where the enemies are because there's no minimap and when you do spot an enemy, there's not even a guarantee that you'll be able to kill them because the gunplay is so bad that shotguns are more accurate than assault rifles.”
- “Gameplay-wise, they took the first game's famously inaccurate weapons and amped it up to 11.”
graphics
728 mentions
27 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days" are characterized by a unique, divisive aesthetic that mimics shaky, handheld camera footage, creating a gritty and immersive atmosphere. While some players appreciate the innovative visual style and its alignment with the game's themes, others find the visuals disorienting and poorly executed, leading to discomfort during gameplay. Overall, the graphics are seen as a mix of commendable artistic ambition and technical shortcomings, with opinions varying widely on their effectiveness and appeal.
- “It was groundbreaking and innovative then, and it is still one of the most unique aesthetics and storytelling experiences you are going to find.”
- “Dog Days takes a unique approach to its graphics, presenting everything in a shaky, handheld-camera style that really immerses you in the action.”
- “The visuals, story, and characters are all top-notch, and while it's not a perfect game, it's definitely worth a shot.”
- “The game is just ugly to look at - whomever decided the 2009/2010 era YouTube aesthetic with over-exposed, washed out visuals needs their head examined.”
- “The grainy, choppy visuals are intended to enhance the game's raw and gritty atmosphere but often result in discomfort and difficulty in tracking action during gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is terrible with some poor weapons and cheap cover design, the visuals are vomit-inducing as the whole found footage aesthetic can make you ill especially the camera wobbling when you run.”
atmosphere
208 mentions
49 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days" is widely praised for its gritty, immersive quality, enhanced by a unique handheld camera style and a haunting soundtrack that captures the chaotic essence of its Shanghai setting. Reviewers note that while the gameplay may be basic, the game's ability to evoke feelings of panic and desperation through its visuals and sound design creates a memorable experience that stands out in the genre. Despite some criticisms regarding motion sickness and gameplay simplicity, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is the game's strongest asset, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a dark and intense narrative.
- “The atmosphere, visual style, that feeling of being in a desperate firefight... let's just say that Kane & Lynch 2 is still a unique, unmatched game!”
- “This game is absolutely drenched in atmosphere and the gameplay matches the rough aesthetics by feeling like a constant scramble to grasp any type of control on an increasingly worsening situation.”
- “The game takes place in China and every level is packed with detail, neon, and a world that is so atmospheric it makes you want to actually take a trip to China.”
- “The grainy, choppy visuals are intended to enhance the game's raw and gritty atmosphere but often result in discomfort and difficulty in tracking action during gameplay.”
- “The moment the CIA shows up, I was just left with a feeling of exhaustive boredom instead of being engaged with its atmosphere.”
- “The shaky camera feels like a live leak video, and the dirty looking visuals convey this grimy unsettling atmosphere.”
music
198 mentions
28 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a striking blend of unsettling ambient sounds and upbeat Chinese pop, creating a dissonant atmosphere that enhances the overall horror experience. While some players appreciate the haunting and immersive quality of the soundtrack, others find it overshadowed by the game's chaotic action and sound effects. Overall, the unique musical choices contribute significantly to the game's dark and gritty aesthetic, making it memorable despite mixed opinions on its execution.
- “The eerie soundtrack is this uneven, unearthly mix of upbeat, catchy Chinese pop songs, more traditional Chinese music, and harrowing industrial ambience straight from a horror game.”
- “To complete the atmosphere, Mona Mur's haunting soundtrack almost seems to reflect Kane & Lynch's states of mind, with its overbearing mix of eerie, suspenseful, and depressing ambient drones - almost as if the game's visuals had been turned into music.”
- “The ambience and soundtrack, when it's not playing happy-sounding Chinese pop music on speakers to create a level of dissonance, is genuinely rather unsettling, feeling straight out of a horror game.”
- “The ambient music in this game is extremely dark and industrial and makes you feel more like you are playing a horror game than an action shooter with how disturbing and uncomfortable it sounds reflecting the psyche of the two mains during gameplay.”
- “The soundtrack is never more than ominous droning with very faint echoes of Chinese pop songs.”
humor
130 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in "Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days" is characterized by its dark, absurd, and often chaotic nature, with players finding amusement in the cartoonishly unlikeable protagonists and their ridiculous misadventures. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to elicit laughter through its glitches, outrageous dialogue, and the sheer absurdity of its mechanics, particularly in co-op play. While the game is often described as a "hilarious disaster," it is recommended for those who enjoy a blend of dark humor and chaotic gameplay, especially when played with friends.
- “The game is hilarious in that you constantly laugh at the unsympathetic protagonists and their stupidity and shortsightedness.”
- “It's basically about two piece of shit criminals who mess up hilariously and bury themselves into even deeper amounts of trouble over the course of the game's events.”
- “Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is a hilarious action game that includes crazy shootouts full of violence and foul language.”
- “It's not even a game, it's a parody of it, just a bad one, and not funny.”
stability
126 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience. Players have noted issues with gameplay mechanics, such as erratic AI behavior and unreliable shooting accuracy, which contribute to a frustrating experience. While some find enjoyment in the co-op mode despite these problems, the consensus is that the game is a "buggy mess" that requires patience to navigate.
- “Broken, buggy mess with frequent crashes, etc.”
- “As it currently stands however, it's a clunky, buggy mess that crashes as soon as you boot it up for the first time, because it can't handle connecting to the internet and you need to either disconnect from your Wi-Fi or block the game in your firewall (yes, I'm 100% serious).”
- “Mediocre third person cover shooting, awful camera, boring gunplay, voice audio sounds like it was recorded with a potato half of the time, game constantly freezes and crashes.”
emotional
46 mentions
91 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from feelings of disgust and vulnerability to moments of genuine sadness and connection with the characters. While some players find the narrative disjointed and lacking in emotional stakes, others appreciate the depth and complexity of the protagonists, leading to an emotionally exhausting experience that is both impactful and memorable. Overall, the game provokes strong feelings, whether through its gritty storytelling or the intense situations players find themselves in.
- “This unapologetic masterpiece is a wild ride, taking you on a rollercoaster of emotions, reminiscent of the heartwarming cinematic classic, 'Free Willy' (where a whale's tale intertwines with the human spirit).”
- “Never have I ever played a third-person shooter before that made me feel as vulnerable and as exhausted as the two main characters by the end of the game.”
- “It's emotionally exhausting and so in your face, but it never for once feels like edgy nonsense.”
- “Boring story”
- “A boring story about Kane, Lynch, and their cameraman”
- “A boring story about Kane, Lynch, and their cameraman”
optimization
34 mentions
24 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
24 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant technical issues such as bugs, poor frame rates, and long loading times, leading to an overall negative perception of performance. While some users noted smooth gameplay on specific systems, others experienced severe stuttering and crashes, indicating that the game is generally considered poorly optimized. Despite these issues, a few players praised certain aspects, such as graphics and voice acting, suggesting that the game's potential is overshadowed by its optimization shortcomings.
- “Optimization: 10/10”
- “It was optimized.”
- “Runs smoothly, don't remember a single crash.”
- “It is still having performance issues and the gameplay/story overall is pretty bad.”
- “Also crashes a lot and is so unoptimized.”
- “Terrible optimization.”
replayability
26 mentions
38 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly engaging with modes like arcade and multiplayer offering extended play, others criticize the lack of additional content and short campaign length, which limits replay value. Overall, opinions vary significantly, with some claiming infinite replayability and others rating it as low as 6/10 due to repetitive gameplay and minimal incentives to return.
- “After playing this game for 700 hours and completing it 233 times, I can say that this game has infinite replayability.”
- “While the storyline is a tad short, the single player and multiplayer fragile alliance mode will undoubtedly serve you a good 4 - 6 weeks of replayability.”
- “I also feel the game is very replayable, as there are no skill trees or anything to worry about.”
- “Beyond the main campaign, there is little additional content to keep players engaged, severely limiting the game's replay value.”
- “Constant action, a variety of guns to choose from, a short but quite nice story, but sadly no replay value.”
- “Janky and buggy, the Kane and Lynch games are worth at most $5 a pop... but if you can get past the lack of replay value and the unacceptably short single-player campaigns (around 4 hours), they're worth playing.”
grinding
16 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days" is frequently criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with players noting that it requires an excessive time investment, particularly in the competitive arcade and PvP modes. While some appreciate the game's originality, many find the combat repetitive and the overall experience lacking in replayability and variety, leading to a generally negative perception of the grinding mechanics.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Combat can get tedious and frustrating at times.”
- “Starts as a semi-interesting art experiment, ends up as just a bad game with tedious design choices.”
character development
8 mentions
13 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Character development in "Kane & Lynch 2" is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with the titular characters failing to evolve or present compelling motivations. Despite some potential for growth, the narrative does not capitalize on it, leaving both characters feeling flat and underdeveloped. Overall, the game struggles to provide meaningful character arcs, resulting in a thin and unsatisfying story.
- “Character development is minimal here, such as Lynch’s psychotic episodes are long gone from the previous game, and Kane has his daughter, hoping that this heist will be his last one, and with that, will be enough to take care of them.”
- “The story of 'Kane & Lynch 2' is thin and fails to properly develop its titular characters, both of whom lack depth and compelling motivations.”
- “There was potential for real character development, plot, and gameplay, but it just didn't happen.”
- “Character development is minimal here; Lynch’s psychotic episodes are long gone from the previous game, and Kane has his daughter, hoping that this heist will be his last one and will be enough to take care of them.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a strong dissatisfaction with the game's monetization strategy, labeling it as a cash grab by the developers. Some users suggest that pirating the game offers a comparable experience to purchasing it, highlighting their frustration with the perceived exploitation by the company.
- “Get a cracked version of the game; you'll have the same experience as purchasing, except the added bonus of financially punishing the lazy cash-grabbing accountants at Square Enix.”