Killing Time: Resurrected

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 152 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • story
Killing Time: Resurrected Game Cover
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In Killing Time: Resurrected, players explore the Conway Estate while battling supernatural enemies, solving puzzles, and uncovering a mystical Egyptian artifact's dark secrets. This remastered edition boasts high-resolution character artwork and upscaled environmental textures from the original 3DO and PC versions. With a blend of gunplay, strategy, and paranormal graphics, players must put an end to the curse and restore order.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 152 reviews
music13 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • The remaster combines the best elements of both the original 3DO and PC versions, enhancing gameplay and visuals significantly.
  • The game features a unique blend of FMV storytelling and engaging gunplay, creating a nostalgic yet fresh experience.
  • Nightdive Studios has done an excellent job preserving the charm and quirks of the original while improving quality of life features.
  • The map design can be confusing, leading to instances of getting lost and requiring backtracking.
  • Some players have reported issues with hit detection and collision, particularly with certain enemies and objects.
  • The game may feel short for some, with a playtime of around 5-6 hours, which could lead to a perception of it being overpriced.
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its eclectic mix of nostalgic ambiance, upbeat jazz, and 1920s-inspired pieces, creating a unique and engaging atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the catchy and sometimes bizarre soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience, although some find certain tracks to be jarring. Despite the lack of an official soundtrack release, many fans express a desire to access the music outside the game, highlighting its standout quality as a key element of the gameplay.

    • “The music has a certain retro gaming atmospheric feeling to it.”
    • “The music is all over the place in the best way possible; you could have some legitimately ominous and creepy ambience but then walk into a different room and get hit in the face with the most upbeat jazz tunes you've ever heard.”
    • “The unique atmosphere, combined with distinctive visuals and music, creates a haunting experience.”
    • “The music is alright until some squizo music starts playing non-stop.”
    • “The rest of the music is obnoxious and has me questioning if whoever the hell the composer is was either doing crack or just rubbing his ass over a synthesizer.”
    • “Back on sound, the music also varies from 'yeah, that's alright', like the music in the intro docks, the forest ambience, that's all fine and well, but that's like 3 songs.”
  • gameplay29 mentions

    The gameplay of "Killing Time" is a nostalgic blend of early FPS mechanics reminiscent of Doom, featuring open-world exploration, key-hunting, and a variety of enemies. While the core gameplay is considered basic and somewhat dated, the remastered version enhances controls, graphics, and frame rate, making it a more enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the unique atmosphere, cheesy FMVs, and improved level design, though some feel the mechanics may not hold up as well in a modern context.

    • “The gameplay is fast-paced, featuring a variety of visually striking enemies, secrets, and puzzles.”
    • “Combined with the proto survival-horror gameplay where all enemies and items are finite, and the usual run-and-gun doom-style action, this is one hell of a sleeper I'm glad more people will now get to experience.”
    • “I’m incredibly grateful to Night Dive for resurrecting this hidden gem, enhancing it with HD graphics, smoother gameplay, and an improved frame rate.”
    • “The gameplay is very much of its era, but the game itself is dripping with personality.”
    • “But as a video game and shooter in 2024, this is pretty lackluster when it comes to mechanics.”
    • “The main gameplay loop of the game is exploring around the mansion's grounds looking for keys to unlock more areas to explore.”
  • story26 mentions

    The game's story is notable for its innovative use of full-motion video (FMV) storytelling, featuring professional actors and a rich 1930s art-deco aesthetic that enhances the creepy atmosphere. Set on a mysterious island, players uncover an intriguing narrative through in-game FMV sequences and interactions with ghostly apparitions, blending horror and humor in a unique way. While the gameplay may not be groundbreaking, the detailed storytelling and immersive environment make it a standout experience for fans of action-horror FPS games.

    • “The FMV storytelling, done by professional actors, and the 1930s art-deco setting are very noteworthy, even now.”
    • “First of all, awesome FMV cutscenes unravel a fun and interesting story behind the estate and its inhabitants.”
    • “Your character, who aside from the intro and ending never speaks, is heading to this forgotten by time island to follow up on a mission his Egyptology professor did.”
    • “The way it used FMV sequences placed into the game as sprites is something I don't remember ever seeing, and the emphasis on storytelling in what is basically an otherwise mindless shooter was cool.”
    • “However, if you're looking for complex maze & mission hints, don't play it.”
  • graphics20 mentions

    The remastered graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their sharpness, color vibrancy, and significant improvements, particularly in humanoid enemy designs. While some users feel that certain enemy types did not benefit from the upgrade, the overall aesthetic, including the hand-remastered FMV scenes, successfully captures the nostalgic charm of 90s gaming. The enhancements have resulted in a unique atmosphere that combines distinctive visuals and music, making it a standout experience in the retro shooter genre.

    • “The graphics are sharp and colorful.”
    • “Upscaled digitally and remastered by hand, FMV graphics have never looked better, and easily make the game stand out because of this art direction.”
    • “I’m incredibly grateful to Night Dive for resurrecting this hidden gem, enhancing it with HD graphics, smoother gameplay, and an improved frame rate.”
    • “Graphics have been sharpened and generally improved, most notably with the humanoid enemies; however, the pest and ghostly enemies are, in my opinion, not improved. The old PC version of them was better, but I guess that's a matter of taste.”
    • “The rest of the changes made to Killing Time via this remaster are aesthetic and gameplay tweaks to address flaws with the original game's execution, not technical hangups from being a PC game from 30 years ago.”
    • “I love the cheesy aesthetics, the so-bad-they're-good FMVs, and the surprisingly big 'open' world map, but the gameplay and weapons are just fine.”
  • atmosphere11 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its retro gaming feel, blending creepy and tense elements with surreal visuals and haunting music. Reviewers highlight its intriguing and mesmerizing qualities, creating a unique experience that captivates players despite some gameplay drawbacks. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The atmosphere in this game is just top notch; it has an ominous vibe throughout pretty much every part of it, and a lot of areas look surreal.”
    • “The unique atmosphere, combined with distinctive visuals and music, creates a haunting experience.”
    • “The silly mixed with the genuinely tense atmosphere and every single other aspect in-between.”
    • “Alongside the game’s overall atmosphere, it creates an experience that’s as tense as it is mesmerizing.”
    • “I kept coming back because the atmosphere and that '90s boutique console FMV were appealing, but the controls were rough.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, delivering excellent performance with upscaled textures and smooth gameplay at 1440p and 180Hz. However, some users report occasional random stuttering, particularly during loading areas, despite the game being capable of maintaining up to 120fps.

    • “The performance and upscaled textures are great.”
    • “The optimization is flawless at 1440p 180Hz with zero issues.”
    • “Random stuttering, mostly in loading areas.”
    • “Optimized performance up to 120fps.”
    • “Optimized performance up to 120fps.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in "Killing Time" is characterized by its dark and absurd elements, blending tongue-in-cheek jokes with a unique style that includes hilarious soundtracks and outrageous scenarios, such as being attacked by housekeepers and clowns. Players appreciate the game's ability to combine fun and violence in a way that keeps the experience entertaining and memorable.

    • “Looking on the Steam page, I expected tongue-in-cheek humor, silly and fun.”
    • “Killing Time is a pretty unique open-world old-school shooter game with pretty dark humor.”
    • “Game is dripping with style, humor, and blood.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting minimal bugs and smooth performance. While a few minor glitches were noted, they did not significantly impact gameplay, allowing for a generally enjoyable experience.

    • “The game really does hold up great both visually, and it plays and runs smoothly.”
    • “I haven't experienced any crashes or major bugs; the stability is impressive.”
    • “The performance is consistent, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
    • “Killing Time isn't an especially buggy game, but I did have the aforementioned scenario happen to me precisely once (thankfully, pretty early on).”
    • “A stable way to play this game without music cutting out, jank, and glitches that soft lock you from completing the game.”
    • “Just a couple of minor glitches, but I appreciate the crypt section and the extras.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to unclear map design that can lead to frustrating backtracking in search of missed items. This can detract from the overall experience, as revisiting large areas becomes a chore.

    • “The main downside is that the map design can be tedious as it can be hard to know where to go at times.”
    • “I missed a small area and had to revisit the entire island at the end of the game just to find one last key item, which turned into a tedious process.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game features multiple endings, which significantly enhances its replayability by encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes.

    • “The game also offers multiple endings, enhancing its replay value.”
    • “Each playthrough feels unique due to the diverse choices and paths available.”
    • “The random events and character interactions keep the experience fresh every time.”
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