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Killing Time: Resurrected

Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Killing Time: Resurrected Game Cover
89%Game Brain Score
music, story
stability, grinding
93% User Score Based on 223 reviews
Critic Score 82%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Killing Time: Resurrected Game Cover

About

Killing Time: Resurrected is a single player shooter game. It was developed by Nightdive Studios and was released on October 17, 2024. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

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.

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93%
Audience ScoreBased on 223 reviews
music17 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions

  • Superb remaster that combines the best elements of the original 3DO and PC versions, making it accessible and enjoyable for both new players and nostalgic fans.
  • Unique atmosphere with a mix of horror and humor, featuring a variety of bizarre enemies and engaging gameplay that encourages exploration.
  • High-quality FMV cutscenes and improved graphics enhance the overall experience, making it visually appealing while retaining the charm of the original.
  • The game can be confusing due to its maze-like level design, leading to frequent backtracking and difficulty in knowing where to go next.
  • Combat can feel unchallenging, with an abundance of health and ammo, making it easy to progress without much risk.
  • Some players may find the humor and quirky enemy designs off-putting, as they can detract from the horror elements intended in the game.
  • music
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is a standout feature, praised for its eclectic mix of styles, including ambient, jazz, and 1920s-inspired pieces, which effectively enhance the atmosphere and gameplay experience. While many players find the soundtrack catchy and fitting for various in-game scenarios, some critiques mention that certain tracks can be grating or overly chaotic. Overall, the integration of music with the game's visuals and narrative is highly regarded, making it a memorable aspect for fans of retro gaming.

    • “The soundtrack is great and suits the area of the map you are in at the time.”
    • “The music is also 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 just...grating.”
    • “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.”
    • “One moment you'll have characters that fit the theme like the undead gangsters and demon dogs, accompanied by some really creepy Doom 64-esque ambient music, and then the next you'll be fighting clowns with silly upbeat music playing.”
  • story
    37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is presented through innovative FMV cutscenes featuring real actors, which seamlessly integrate into the gameplay and enhance the narrative experience. Players appreciate the intriguing plot that unfolds in a unique 1920s art-deco setting, though some find the storytelling can be confusing and non-linear, leading to moments of disorientation. Overall, the combination of engaging storytelling, atmospheric design, and a blend of horror and action elements makes it a standout title in the retro-shooter genre.

    • “The storytelling cutscenes have been made with real actors and fit well into the remake.”
    • “Where the game succeeds is in its storytelling, with FMV flashbacks of the characters playing as you progress through the mansion, slowly revealing how everything went wrong and who the villain of the story is.”
    • “The story is an interesting one, told through FMV scenes that play in real time in the game's environment.”
    • “It's fun to play if you like classic Doom style, but they won't tell you where to go or what to do. You are going to be lost millions of times, and even after I beat the game, the story is still not clear yet.”
    • “Your character, who aside from the intro and ending never speaks, is heading to this forgotten island to follow up on a mission his Egyptology professor undertook.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Killing Time" is a blend of classic first-person shooter mechanics reminiscent of Doom, featuring exploration, key-hunting, and a variety of enemies within a large open world. While the core gameplay is considered somewhat dated and average, the remastered version enhances controls, graphics, and frame rates, making it more enjoyable. The unique integration of FMV cutscenes and a distinct atmosphere adds personality, though some players feel the mechanics could be improved further for a modern audience.

    • “The gameplay shares similarities with Doom in terms of fast-paced action, with a variety of visually striking enemies, secrets, and puzzles to uncover.”
    • “I’m incredibly grateful to Night Dive for resurrecting this hidden gem, enhancing it with HD graphics, smoother gameplay, and an improved frame rate.”
    • “I'm mostly giving it a positive review because of how above-and-beyond Nightdive went here, the gameplay is just kind of below average.”
    • “But as a video game and shooter in 2024, this is pretty lackluster when it comes to mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is fast-paced, featuring a variety of visually striking enemies, secrets, and puzzles.”
  • graphics
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The remastered version of the game features significantly improved graphics that honor the original while making it accessible to modern players, with sharp and colorful visuals, enhanced FMV scenes, and a nostalgic art style reminiscent of the 90s. While some elements, like certain enemy designs, may not have seen the same level of improvement, the overall aesthetic and quality of the graphics have been praised for their clarity and attention to detail. Nightdive's remaster has successfully revitalized the game's visuals, gameplay, and frame rate, creating a definitive version that appeals to both new and returning players.

    • “All the flaws from the original versions have been ironed out, and what you are left with is a game that honors the old title while making it accessible to younger gamers with modern conveniences like being able to play with a controller and improved graphics.”
    • “The upscaling of the videos, the graphics, the HD support, I mean, this is top-notch work worthy of the highest accolades in the industry.”
    • “I’m incredibly grateful to Nightdive for resurrecting this hidden gem, enhancing it with HD graphics, smoother gameplay, and an improved frame rate.”
    • “It had a PC version back in the day with fairly inferior graphics and cut content, e.g. power-ups and a few enemies.”
    • “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.”
    • “While updated, KTR retains that 1995 core gameplay, graphical sprites, video, and game artwork.”
  • atmosphere
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Killing Time" is a standout feature, blending a creepy yet whimsical vibe with a mix of unsettling enemies and retro music, creating a unique and haunting experience. While the game offers a mesmerizing ambiance with its art and sound design, some players noted inconsistencies in the atmosphere and level design. Overall, it successfully evokes a tense and intriguing environment that keeps players engaged.

    • “Killing Time's primary strengths lie in the live action cutscenes, large variety of enemies and locales, and constant switching between genuinely creepy atmosphere and very goofy monsters (e.g., clowns, cooks, and gargoyle maids) with 1920's swing playing in the background.”
    • “Alongside the game’s overall atmosphere, it creates an experience that’s as tense as it is mesmerizing.”
    • “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.”
    • “Level design is decent, but a bit too maze-like, and the game's atmosphere is really inconsistent.”
    • “The silly mixed with the genuinely tense atmosphere and every single other aspect in-between.”
    • “I kept coming back because the atmosphere and that '90s boutique console FMV were appealing, but the controls were rough.”
  • humor
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Killing Time" is characterized by its cheesy, dark, and absurd elements, offering a tongue-in-cheek take on the FPS genre of its era. Players find the game's quirky scenarios, such as encounters with housekeeper ladies and clowns, to be both hilarious and bizarre, complemented by a soundtrack that adds to its comedic charm. Overall, the game is noted for its unique blend of style, humor, and over-the-top violence.

    • “Killing Time is a cheesy little game originally developed and published in 1995 that presents a humorous view of other FPS games within the same era.”
    • “Killing Time is a pretty unique open-world old-school shooter game with pretty dark humor.”
    • “I swear, getting smacked around by housekeeper ladies hasn't been this funny, or god forbid being grabbed by clowns.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the optimization of the game is generally well-received, with many users reporting smooth performance at high resolutions and refresh rates, such as 1440p at 180Hz. However, some players experience random stuttering, particularly during loading areas, indicating that while the optimization is strong, there are still occasional issues that may affect gameplay.

    • “The performance and upscaled textures are great.”
    • “The optimization is flawless at 1440p 180hz with zero issues.”
    • “Optimized performance up to 120fps.”
    • “I have no idea how to describe this phenomenon correctly; I'm sure there is a term for it, maybe input delay stacking, but obviously the game's configuration and/or optimization didn't agree with my PC for whatever reason.”
    • “- Random stuttering (mostly loading areas)”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with users noting that it runs smoothly and visually impressively. While there are minor glitches reported, they are infrequent and do not significantly hinder gameplay, allowing for a generally reliable 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.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is criticized for its tedious map design and key-hunting mechanics, which can lead to frustrating backtracking and a lack of clear direction. While it attempts to introduce unique elements, the overall experience is marred by the repetitive and cumbersome nature of exploration.

    • “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.”
    • “This one bypassed me, but I can say with authority that while it does attempt some interesting things that set it apart from others of its ilk, it remains wedged in the pile of ugly, tedious, blocky key-hunts around mazelike levels that formed the vast majority of the mediocre efforts of the time.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 fresh due to the diverse choices and paths available.”
    • “The random events and character interactions keep you coming back for more.”
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82%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Killing Time: Resurrected is a shooter game.

Killing Time: Resurrected is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Killing Time: Resurrected was released on October 17, 2024.

Killing Time: Resurrected was developed by Nightdive Studios.

Killing Time: Resurrected has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its stability.

Killing Time: Resurrected is a single player game.

Similar games include Star Wars: Dark Forces, Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster, Strife: Veteran Edition, Doom 64, Chasm: The Rift and others.