killer7

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,702 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
killer7 Game Cover
Imaginative, beautiful, and utterly strange, but you’ll need to really love the story to endure its idiosyncratic combat.
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"Killer7" is a horror shoot single-player game with phenomenal graphics and a stunning soundtrack. As Harman Smith, you'll control his 7 distinct personalities, each with unique appearances, personalities, and weapons, to stop a sinister organization of suicide bombers and their leader. The game offers an intriguing story, outstanding atmosphere, and hilarious moments, but be prepared for lots of grinding and high emotional stakes.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Nintendo Gamecube
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,702 reviews
story208 positive mentions
grinding24 negative mentions
  • Killer7 is a unique and surreal experience that blends on-rails shooting with puzzle-solving elements, creating a gameplay style unlike any other.
  • The game's art style, music, and voice acting are exceptional, contributing to its captivating atmosphere and memorable characters.
  • The story, while complex and often confusing, is engaging and thought-provoking, encouraging players to piece together its deeper themes and messages.
  • The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to get accustomed to the gameplay mechanics.
  • Some puzzles are overly simplistic or frustrating, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and backtracking that can detract from the overall experience.
  • The recent update introduced AI upscaling for cutscenes and textures, which many players feel has negatively impacted the game's visual quality.
  • story772 mentions

    The story of *Killer7* is a complex and surreal narrative that intertwines themes of politics, identity, and morality, often leaving players puzzled yet intrigued. While many praise its depth and the unique storytelling style characteristic of Suda51, others find it convoluted and difficult to follow without external resources for clarification. Overall, the narrative is seen as a standout feature that, despite its challenges, offers a rich and thought-provoking experience that encourages multiple playthroughs for deeper understanding.

    • “Killer7 is one of the most unique games I've ever played; the plot and cutscenes are genuinely insane, and I can't recommend this game enough.”
    • “The dialogue and plot are compelling, and the tone moves between serious, satire, comedy, and even some surreal horror.”
    • “With a story that tackles religion, East and West relationships, politics, psychology, and the human condition, the story of Killer7 is one of the deepest seen in video games, even if it doesn't appear that way at first.”
    • “I have seriously not played such a constantly frustrating game in a long time, where it basically doesn't benefit the story at all with its jank, or lack of substance, and I just cannot recommend this to people.”
    • “The game is very story driven but I advise you not to try to understand the plot because it's really all over the place and it's really meant to be analyzed after you finish the game.”
    • “The story is convoluted beyond any resemblance of sanity, and the gameplay is a bizarre combination of shooting and puzzle shooting.”
  • gameplay557 mentions

    The gameplay of *Killer7* is a polarizing mix of on-rails shooting and light puzzle-solving, often described as simplistic yet unique. While some players appreciate its unconventional mechanics and engaging character abilities, others find it repetitive and frustrating, particularly due to its lack of clear instructions and clunky controls. Overall, the gameplay serves as a vehicle for the game's surreal narrative, making it a memorable experience for those willing to embrace its eccentricities.

    • “The way that both parts of the gameplay, those being the puzzles and the shooting, are handled is something I'd call unique.”
    • “The gameplay, despite the odd control scheme, is incredibly satisfying and engaging with the Smiths' unique abilities adding a nice cherry on top.”
    • “With its unconventional gameplay (involving puzzles and rail shooting) and unpredictable, strange story; Suda51's cult classic will be one of the most unique experiences you'll have in a video game.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly clunky, but the whole experience clicks in about halfway through the first mission and it'll start to feel like a game.”
    • “The gameplay is merely a vessel to get you to where you need to go.”
    • “The gameplay is hopelessly dated, and consists of running on predetermined on-rails paths, while doing some terrible, consolized shooting.”
  • graphics301 mentions

    The graphics of Killer7 are widely praised for their unique cel-shaded art style, which has aged remarkably well and continues to stand out in the gaming landscape. Many reviewers highlight the game's vibrant colors, atmospheric visuals, and distinct character designs, often comparing its aesthetic to comic books or anime. However, some criticism arose from a recent update that employed AI upscaling, which many felt detracted from the original art style, although options to revert to the original visuals have since been added. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a defining feature, contributing significantly to its cult status.

    • “The art style and gameplay are quite unique, very different from other on-rail shooters.”
    • “Despite being somewhat simple compared to other games of its era, the art style of Killer7 is colorful and atmospheric, and still looks incredible nearly twenty years later.”
    • “The remastered graphics look stunning, while maintaining the aesthetic of the original.”
    • “Killer7 is one of my favorite games of all time, but the recent update is a real punch in the gut due to the fact that AI upscaling has been used to 'enhance' the visuals of the game yet looks objectively worse than the original, and this game's art style contributes a lot to why it's so beloved by many.”
    • “The recent update really butchered the aesthetics sadly and under the guise of an improvement with genuinely good ideas for quality of life improvements.”
    • “The recent update 'upscaled' the graphics and cutscenes through an AI upscaler and it looks absolutely atrocious with no way to turn it off back to what it was.”
  • music196 mentions

    The music in "Killer7" is widely praised for its eclectic and memorable soundtrack, composed by Masafumi Takada, which blends genres like jazz, electronic, and ambient sounds to enhance the game's surreal atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke strong emotions and fit seamlessly with the game's unique visual style and narrative, making it a standout feature that many consider one of the best in gaming. While some note that the music can be sparse during gameplay, its quality and impact leave a lasting impression, with many recommending the soundtrack for listening outside of the game.

    • “The soundtrack is really good and memorable; it has this mix of jazz, drum 'n' bass, and electronic music, and I'm listening to 'Sweet Relief' while writing this review.”
    • “Killer7 really does have it all; humor, unnerving stuff, and genuinely bizarre elements all scored to a brilliant soundtrack that, like the game itself, covers a wide range of sounds and emotions.”
    • “The music is fantastic, be sure to get the soundtrack because you'll hear some songs for such short moments in the game, but they can go on for several minutes!”
    • “The soundtrack is an eclectic mix that enhances the eerie, otherworldly vibe.”
    • “The OST in this game is kind of mixed for me as I think the best songs are really good and the bad songs are really bad.”
    • “While the art style, sound effects, and soundtrack (which is seldom used), are objectively fantastic, the 'gameplay' loop does not warrant trudging through in order to experience the intentionally cryptic & esoteric storyline.”
  • humor60 mentions

    The humor in "Killer7" is described as a unique blend of dark, absurd, and often surreal elements that create a memorable experience. Players appreciate the game's colorful characters, witty dialogue, and the juxtaposition of disturbing themes with comedic moments, making it both engaging and thought-provoking. While some find the humor to be edgy or confusing, many agree that it contributes significantly to the game's charm and overall impact.

    • “Killer7 really does have it all; humor, unnerving stuff, and genuinely bizarre elements all scored to a brilliant soundtrack that, like the game itself, covers a wide range of sounds and emotions.”
    • “The characters and humor give the game its own special charm.”
    • “The good: killer7 is incredibly funny; everything in it is funny.”
    • “Is this supposed to be funny?”
    • “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
    • “I expected more clever humor, but it just misses the mark.”
  • atmosphere52 mentions

    The atmosphere of Killer7 is widely praised for its unique, surreal, and immersive qualities, blending bizarre visuals, haunting sound design, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the game's striking art direction and the unsettling yet engaging mood it creates, making it a memorable journey that lingers long after playing. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and narrative clarity, the game's distinctive atmosphere remains a standout feature that resonates with players.

    • “Killer7 is a wonderful, unique, and deeply atmospheric game that is absolutely worth playing.”
    • “The art direction is bold and unconventional, contributing to a hauntingly memorable atmosphere that stays with you long after you’ve put the controller down.”
    • “Its surreal atmosphere, engaging action and puzzle gameplay, and a storyline that seems to predict the future, along with its exceptional music, are some of the many things that make it worth playing.”
    • “Being older and far more jaded now, I no longer find the plot and atmosphere anything like as intoxicating as I once did.”
    • “It's got on-rails navigation, kinda clunky first-person precision aiming, a stark cel-shaded geometric look dripping with harsh and inky black shadows threatening to swallow everything in negative space, abrasive sound design, eerie atmosphere, a cast of straight-up psycho killers, and incredibly dense and manic storytelling.”
    • “Everything from its gameplay, dark atmosphere and art direction is very unsettling yet interesting.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many criticizing the simplistic shooting mechanics and overly cryptic puzzles that require excessive backtracking and character switching. While some appreciate the opportunity to experiment with different playstyles through enemy farming, the experience is often marred by frustrating respawns and clunky controls, leading to a generally monotonous gameplay experience. Despite its unique visual style and story, the grinding elements detract significantly from the enjoyment for many players.

    • “Way more tedious than it needed to be.”
    • “A strong majority of that is not at all fun as it gets pretty mindless shooting the same enemies at their weak spots over and over again in the same manner despite there being 6-8 characters to use, and the puzzles are just a matter of remembering what you read, remembering what items you have, using common sense, a lot of backtracking, and tediously switching between the correct characters just so you can bypass a wall or door.”
    • “You move along predefined paths within open levels, where you solve tedious puzzles and fend off persistently respawning enemies.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often citing moments of intense feelings ranging from joy and laughter to sadness and fear. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to provoke thought and reflection, with some even shedding tears during or after gameplay. The unique storytelling and art style, combined with its exploration of heavy themes, leave a lasting impact, making it a memorable experience that resonates on multiple emotional levels.

    • “I cried when it ended, which is really not something I do often.”
    • “My life is now a meaningless pursuit to feel again the way Killer7 made me feel on that first playthrough.”
    • “The ending of the game has been stuck in my mind after all these years; it was truly heart-wrenching and powerful.”
  • optimization13 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received positive feedback, with many users praising the smooth performance and stability, particularly on PC where it runs well at 60fps. However, some players noted issues with certain animations feeling sped up or locked at 30fps due to the original design. Despite these minor drawbacks, the port is generally considered well-optimized and visually appealing.

    • “This PC port is also really well done; it runs super well and is very well optimized.”
    • “Bottom line, the game is very well optimized.”
    • “Performance is okay-ish (framerate is between 30 and 60fps).”
    • “Pretty solid PC port performance-wise.”
    • “This game is a real masterpiece, played it on GC years ago and I couldn't keep from buying it again a second time now on PC, the port is amazing, truly fixed those bothering lines and it was really optimized.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, primarily offering an alternate ending and a killer 8 mode, but it lacks significant incentives for multiple playthroughs due to predictable boss strategies. Despite this, many players find the game's charm, style, and story compelling enough to revisit, even if the gameplay experience itself does not encourage repeated plays.

    • “Has replay value in the Killer 8 mode.”
    • “It's a game that you will always think about and will always be in the back of your mind. Even with not much replay value, I can replay this game a million times because of how fantastic the charm, style, and story are.”
    • “The game is fairly average in length and does offer slight replayability with an alternate ending, but mainly this is a one-time experience.”
    • “Also, replayability is considerably low other than to experience the story again.”
    • “It has little to no replay value, and yet I want to keep playing it.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted as a mixed aspect; while the character designs are unique and memorable, with some characters receiving significant depth, many players feel that the development of the supporting cast is lacking. The narrative intertwines violent social commentary with complex character arcs, particularly for the main characters, but leaves players wanting more exploration of the broader crew. Overall, the game is praised for its innovative approach to character design and development, despite some limitations.

    • “The character design is memorable and well, unusual.”
    • “All the character designs are unique and fun, and each character plays completely differently.”
    • “The only thing I'd say was lacking was the character development for anyone but Garcian and Dan. I wish we got to know most of the crew more, and the ending is really mind-bending for those who love that sort of thing.”
    • “Mixing violent social commentary with complex character development.”
  • stability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with most players reporting minimal glitches and smooth performance. However, recent updates have introduced some visual issues, particularly with AI upscaling, leading to artifacts and minor framerate drops. The developers are actively addressing concerns, providing timely support through community channels.

    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
    • “I haven't experienced any stability issues; everything works as it should.”
    • “Overall, the game is very stable and provides a seamless experience.”
    • “Still one of my favorite games even almost 20 years removed, but the most recent update included ghoulishly poor AI upscaling for most textures and videos that ruins the aesthetic and adds in a ton of visual glitches and artifacts.”
    • “I experienced some small framerate glitches with reloading guns outside of aiming mode, and the cutscenes seem to cut off a few milliseconds earlier than on GameCube.”
    • “I did notice one or two minor glitches in cutscenes regarding things not meant to be seen in the original resolution, but even those are few and far between.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized for relying heavily on advertisements, which some users feel detracts from the overall experience of the game.

    • “The monetization strategy feels more like a cash grab than a fair system for players.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
    • “The constant ads and in-game purchases really detract from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
5-16hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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