Kingpin: Life of Crime

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 223 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Kingpin: Life of Crime Game Cover
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"Kingpin: Life of Crime" is a first-person shooter game known for its intriguing story of revenge and dense atmosphere. The game features good graphics and offers both single-player and multi-player modes. Controversial upon release due to its violent content, the game includes a rap soundtrack provided by Cypress Hill, who also contributed to the voice acting.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 223 reviews
story13 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Kingpin offers a unique and gritty atmosphere, blending elements of crime and dark humor that resonate well with fans of the genre.
  • The game features advanced AI for its time, allowing NPCs to navigate levels effectively and providing a sense of realism in combat.
  • Despite its age, Kingpin retains a loyal fanbase and offers a nostalgic experience for players who appreciate classic FPS games.
  • The game suffers from frustrating difficulty spikes, with enemies often being bullet sponges and combat feeling unbalanced.
  • Many players find the controls unintuitive and the lack of direction in the early stages can lead to confusion and frustration.
  • Kingpin has not aged well in terms of graphics and gameplay mechanics, making it challenging for new players to enjoy without prior nostalgia.
  • story44 mentions

    The story of "Kingpin" revolves around a nameless protagonist seeking revenge against the Kingpin who left him for dead, set in a gritty, diesel-punk dystopia filled with rich, albeit chaotic lore. While the main narrative is often described as generic and minimalistic, lacking depth and character development, the game's atmosphere, voice acting, and engaging level design contribute to an entertaining experience. Players appreciate the blend of dark humor and adult themes, though many feel the story could benefit from more substantial content and clearer motivations.

    • “Kingpin starts in a dark, decrepit world in an unknown timeline where our hero crawls out of the gutter of a diesel-punk dystopic hell-hole only known as 'Radio City' with the guts and determination to bring down the kingpin who sent his goons to rob him penniless and leave him black and blue, ready to tear his way through legions of thugs and hired mooks in his quest for revenge.”
    • “The real story comes from the unwritten lore of the world itself as it seems to be an amalgamation of multiple timelines spanning several decades of American decay, with 90’s rap beats emanating from antiquated 40’s radios, modern foul slang spewed from a gangster dressed to the nines in 30’s gangster garb while toting a Chicago typewriter or catching a glimpse of a crushed 55’ Ford Thunderbird marking the entrance to a decrepit junkyard of classic car wrecks. Kingpin is rife with minor details of a foreboding and unforgiving cityscape that time itself forgot.”
    • “The story mode is one of revenge as the protagonist vows to get back at the boss and crew who beat him severely and left him for dead.”
    • “The storyline is atrocious; it gives the players little reason as to why our protagonist was left for dead at the beginning of the game, or why Marsellus Wallace (from Pulp Fiction) is the kingpin and wants to kill him.”
    • “The story can be considered generic, though it is interesting and unintentionally comical.”
    • “Not much replay value unless you are a masochist and want to play it on the top difficulty setting, since the story is a generic revenge tale of a jerk taking out a slightly bigger but much more successful jerk while basically barhopping from one town to another.”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game is a polarizing aspect, with many praising the inclusion of Cypress Hill tracks that enhance the gritty atmosphere, while others criticize the limited number of songs and repetitive looping. Some players noted that certain versions of the game lack the original soundtrack, which diminishes the overall experience. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's identity, but its execution varies across different releases.

    • “The sound in the game has your classic weapon and ambient noises, but the music gives the atmosphere an authentic feel.”
    • “The music still stands as significant Cypress Hill tracks.”
    • “The characters are engaging, the levels are amazingly well designed, even had Cypress Hill do the music and voice the characters!”
    • “I bought it again but this time it doesn't have the Cypress Hill soundtrack or multiplayer as far as I can tell.”
    • “There's maybe only 3 or 4 music tracks, and the whole game felt really rushed.”
    • “The soundtrack is literally the same 2 songs which can be heard playing throughout the duration of the game over and over again.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting the limitations of its time, particularly when compared to modern standards. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm of its old-school visuals and the unique aesthetic, others criticize the poor animations and overall graphical quality. Despite these shortcomings, many agree that the gameplay experience compensates for the lackluster graphics, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.

    • “At the time of its release, its graphics were top notch and the gameplay was perfect.”
    • “The graphics are stunning!”
    • “Even though it is gritty, Xatrix's underdog may very well be the most aesthetically pleasing game to date utilizing the idtech2 engine.”
    • “Graphics are dated, to be sure.”
    • “The game uses the Quake 2 engine; you can tell by the main menu and the graphics.”
    • “Bad animations, ugly models, poor graphical support, anemic weapons, terrible sound.”
  • gameplay19 mentions

    The gameplay is a mix of fun and challenge, featuring engaging NPC interactions and a unique blend of FPS mechanics with tactical elements. While some players appreciate the hardcore difficulty and exploration opportunities, others find it frustrating and overly punishing. Overall, the game offers a distinctive experience with solid mechanics, though opinions on its execution vary widely.

    • “The gameplay is quite fun and the conversations with NPCs are hilarious.”
    • “Although the game's setting is vastly unique, the gameplay itself allows you to experience the world to varying degrees.”
    • “I really love the game and think it has really good gameplay and mechanics, blending FPS, tactics, and classic mini puzzles.”
    • “Gameplay itself feels pretty guttural.”
    • “Maybe it gets better, sure, but I'm not willing to put up with the hardest gameplay I've ever suffered through to get to it.”
    • “The short version, the gameplay is a frustrating grind and eventually is hard just for the sake of being hard about 6 hours in.”
  • atmosphere14 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its gloomy, oppressive, and immersive qualities, enhanced by realistic sound design and well-crafted environments that feel lived-in and worn down. Players appreciate the unique art direction and level design, which contribute to a tense and foreboding vibe, making it stand out in the first-person shooter genre. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, providing a deep and engaging experience for fans of dark, urban settings.

    • “The sound in the game has your classic weapon and ambient noises, but the music gives the atmosphere an authentic feel.”
    • “Places feel lived in and worn down and really add to the overall atmosphere and vibe given off by the game.”
    • “Simply put, the game oozes with atmosphere.”
    • “The lack of music helps create this foreboding, tense, and somewhat creepy atmosphere.”
    • “Kingpin's grungy urban environments carry this oppressive atmosphere that no other game in the FPS genre does.”
    • “Realistic backalley fights, weapon upgrades, thug recruitment, interaction with NPCs, different urban locations to dominate, and an unforgettable atmosphere... if you like dark, urban games and can put up with foul-mouthed characters and over-the-top violence, then Kingpin: Life of Crime offers an experience worth engaging.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying hilarious NPC conversations and a mix of profane and absurd moments that add to its charm. While some humor may feel forced or overly cryptic, many find the comedic elements, including ridiculous character designs and unexpected cutscenes, to be genuinely entertaining. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with gameplay, creating memorable and funny experiences.

    • “The gameplay is quite fun and the conversations with NPCs are hilarious.”
    • “Hilariously enough, in the next cutscene, the enemies refer to the nonexistent trail of destruction that I left in my wake :) when I tried to re-engage in the combat, it was the same story.”
    • “The one thing I did like about the game was the humor; I don't know if it was intentional or not, but the game could sometimes be quite funny.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game's replayability is limited, primarily hinging on its multiplayer mode, as the single-player experience offers little incentive to replay due to a generic storyline. While some players may find enjoyment in challenging themselves on higher difficulty settings or using mods, overall, the game lacks substantial replay value beyond a few initial levels.

    • “After beating the singleplayer once, the multiplayer aspect is where the replay value is.”
    • “I say give this game a go with the Rags to Riches mod. I wouldn't say there's too much replayability in doing the whole game over again, but I would definitely play the first level or two over and over.”
    • “Other games of this era just did it better and are more playable even today.”
    • “Not much replay value unless you are a masochist and want to play it on the top difficulty setting, since the story is a generic revenge tale of a jerk taking out a slightly bigger but much more successful jerk while basically barhopping from one town to another.”
    • “I wouldn't say there's too much replayability in doing the whole game over again, but I would definitely play the first level or two over and over.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Players have reported significant stability issues, including glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as NPCs behaving erratically and causing unexpected deaths. These problems have led to frustration and a perception that the game's sequel did not receive adequate attention or improvements. Overall, the game's stability is seen as a major drawback.

    • “After this, I encountered two guards and proceeded to start dying to them over and over. I took a quick look at the guide again, and it told me to wait until the game on the radio gets exciting so they run over to it. I did that, except they don't do what the guide says because one guard glitches and runs around the ramp to the radio twice to get to it, causing immediate death with his shotgun if he sees you.”
    • “I will always remember the maps myself... shame Kingpin never got the following most other games did. Its sequel was shadowed with glitches and, to me, didn't get much attention at all; in fact, I didn't even know it existed.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Users feel that the game's optimization could be significantly improved, suggesting that modern enhancements would greatly increase their playtime and overall enjoyment.

    • “The optimization in this game is impressive; it runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I love how the developers continuously improve the game's performance with each update.”
    • “If there were more modern optimizations for this, I would have 10x more hours in it.”
    • “The game runs poorly on my system despite meeting the recommended requirements.”
    • “I often experience frame drops and stuttering, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Play time

9hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
9-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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