Killing Time (Classic)

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 108 reviews
  • music
  • story
  • graphics
Killing Time (Classic) Game Cover
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"Killing Time" is a fast-paced, action-packed shooter game that transports players to a variety of unique and exotic locations. As a time-traveling assassin, players must use their skills and weapons to eliminate targets across different eras while avoiding detection. With a wide range of enemies, challenges, and customizable loadouts, "Killing Time" offers a thrilling and engaging experience for fans of the genre.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 108 reviews
music22 positive mentions
gameplay4 negative mentions
  • Killing Time features a unique open-world design that allows for exploration without loading screens, providing a seamless experience.
  • The game has a captivating soundtrack and interesting character development, enhancing the overall atmosphere and engagement.
  • It offers a variety of unique enemies and weapons, making combat enjoyable despite some dated mechanics.
  • The controls are clunky and can be frustrating, especially with the lack of mouse support and awkward jumping mechanics.
  • Level design is often confusing and maze-like, leading to excessive backtracking and aimless wandering.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and poor optimization on modern systems, requiring community patches to improve functionality.
  • music50 mentions

    The game's soundtrack is widely praised for its catchy and unique blend of jazz, ragtime, and moody horror synthesizers, creating an atmospheric experience that enhances the gameplay. While some players find the music occasionally mismatched with the game's tone, many consider it the standout feature, contributing to the game's charm and retro appeal. However, issues such as music cutting out during combat detract from the overall experience for some players.

    • “The game's puzzling choice of live studio music covering jazz and ragtime standards, mixed with the usual moody horror synthesizer fare is pretty unique, if not downright goofy at times, but it's all coated in a glaze of faux-Egyptian vibes meant to fit the aesthetic of a story about a cursed island and Egyptian water-clock, so it's all part-and-parcel.”
    • “The soundtrack is probably my favorite aspect of the game (besides the shooty, shooty, bang, bang of course) as most of the tracks are tense or creepy while some others feel like party music and fit the different areas.”
    • “Truly upon revisiting this game over and over again, I stand by that it is a hidden gem of retro shooters, the best part is without a doubt the soundtrack, sound design and very unique visuals.”
    • “Music rarely fits the mood unless it's ambient.”
    • “At one point I was in the arboretum and topiary region on my way to snag one of the vessels when out of nowhere some ragtime jazz music started playing completely with saxophone and piano.”
    • “It was the kind of music I'd expect to hear while playing Chip's Quest, not a horror game, especially when I'm climbing a rock path up to an altar to retrieve some ancient vessel.”
  • story24 mentions

    The game's story is described as convoluted yet intriguing, utilizing innovative full-motion video (FMV) techniques to convey its narrative through ghostly apparitions. Set on an interconnected island, players explore the Conway estate and encounter a mix of bizarre characters and optional lore, with moments of humor and exaggerated performances from real actors. While the storytelling approach is unique, the complexity of the plot may challenge some players.

    • “The game features a novel use of ghost apparitions appearing as transparent full-motion videos that playback as a means of storytelling, and it would be years before we saw similar storytelling techniques in games like Doom 3 or BioShock.”
    • “The game takes place on an island where you investigate the Conway estate and the Water Clock of Thoth, with each part of the island connected like a huge hub, allowing you to collect story items, ammo, and engage in combat.”
    • “There are also goofy moments of exposition and storytelling, with real actors really hamming it up, adding a unique charm to the narrative.”
    • “The story behind this game is about as convoluted as the gameplay itself, so bear with me.”
    • “Zombie bootleggers fit with the story, but then vampire maids, overgrown beetles, flying Anubis masks, zombie clowns, among other things.”
    • “There are also these goofy moments of exposition and storytelling, with real actors really hamming it up.”
  • graphics18 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players noting dated and clunky visuals that detract from the experience, while others appreciate the unique art style that blends art nouveau and art deco elements. Improvements in the graphics for modern systems have been acknowledged, making the game more accessible, though some still find certain aspects, like weapon graphics, to be lacking. Overall, the visuals are seen as a blend of charm and frustration, with a nostalgic appeal for retro enthusiasts.

    • “If all the technical innovation isn't enough, the art style is a blend of art nouveau and art deco that feels like la belle epoque meets the great gatsby, which was novel then, and still a rare sight now.”
    • “Truly upon revisiting this game over and over again, I stand by that it is a hidden gem of retro shooters, the best part is without a doubt the soundtrack, sound design and very unique visuals.”
    • “It has greatly improved graphics, the same beautiful soundtrack, and runs very solidly on modern systems thanks to some wizardry on the porters' part.”
    • “Its clunky controls, dated graphics, and lack of originality make for a frustrating and forgettable experience.”
    • “Ugly and lazy graphics for the weapons.”
    • “This game took me years to get up and running simply because it does not run well on modern systems out of the box; going from garbled graphics one year, no sound the next and then just refuses to boot after that - I had given up hope trying to get it up and running.”
  • gameplay14 mentions

    The gameplay is criticized for being uninspired and lacking innovation, with awkward mechanics such as poor jumping physics and slow movement near objects. Players receive all weapons early on, which diminishes the sense of progression, and the vessel powers are merely combat enhancements rather than engaging puzzle-solving tools. Overall, the game feels convoluted and in need of a significant overhaul to improve its design and mechanics.

    • “You get all the weapons in the first hour of gameplay (the game is quite long).”
    • “The jump animation is a bit weird, same for crawling, and like another review says, if you get too close to any object, you become very slow; I guess it's a game mechanic for further into the game.”
    • “Vessel powers are just combat buffs and aren't used in interesting ways to solve puzzles; the game also doesn't tell you this mechanic exists, even in the controls.”
    • “With uninspired gameplay and a lack of innovation, it's a title best avoided unless you can approach it with fond memories (nostalgia) or you're a glutton for punishment.”
    • “The story behind this game is about as convoluted as the gameplay itself, so bear with me.”
    • “- jumping mechanics and physics are awful, often requiring strafe running to get enough speed to jump small gaps.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The game is praised for its unique blend of camp and creepiness, creating a dark and engaging atmosphere that keeps players on edge. The ambient music and diverse array of enemies enhance the overall experience, making it a standout in its time. With the addition of fan patches and guides, players find it both fun and immersive.

    • “With a fan patch and a guide when you get lost, it is a lot of fun to play and has a dark atmosphere that keeps you on edge with the music and strange monsters.”
    • “It has great atmospheric ambience and music, and a ton of different enemies.”
    • “Crazy good atmosphere for a game of its time.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing significant issues such as being limited to a 640 x 480 resolution and encountering stuttering at 20fps when using original hardware settings. While a few users report smooth performance, others face problems like audio stuttering and music interruptions, indicating inconsistent optimization across different systems.

    • “Yeah, you're still stuck in 640 x 480 mode, and will be stuck with a stuttering 20fps if you select to play the game at its original hardware speed.”
    • “Lots of people in reviews seem to have trouble running the game, but it's run perfectly fine for me aside from FMV audio stuttering and music suddenly stopping sometimes.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game features strong character development, enhancing its straightforward narrative and engaging plot. Players appreciate the depth and uniqueness of the characters, which contribute significantly to the overall experience.

    • “Similar to its remastered version, aka Killing Time: Resurrected, it is a very straightforward game with an interesting plot, unique enemies, strong character development, reliable weapons, and a very catchy soundtrack.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users report experiencing sound glitches, indicating stability issues within the game. These audio problems may detract from the overall gaming experience.

    • “There are frequent sound glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
    • “The game suffers from persistent sound glitches that make it hard to enjoy.”
    • “I encountered multiple sound glitches that really affected my immersion.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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