Revisiting King Kong: The Official Game of The Movie (PS2,2005)

Let’s face it: licensed movie games used to always get a bad rap. We were so optimistic about them, eager to slot them into our consoles and enter the exciting world of the latest blockbuster. The reality, however, usually saw our fantasies crumble into a dust of ropey graphics, repetitive gameplay, and “celebrity” voice acting that sounded like it was recorded in a train station toilet. These tie-ins barely did more than slap a recognisable brand/vague movie reference onto an existing gaming genre, and shove them onto shelves just in time for the premiere. This uninspired tactic led to many classic abominations such as 2004’s pervy Catwoman and the horrendously misinterpreted Fight Club. Needless to say, these titles (and more) left a sour taste in the mouths of fans, forever tarnishing the already bad reputation of licensed movie games. Whilst much of the Noughties dreck has filtered away through the sewers of time, remaining only as morbid Youtube curiosities, one title remains both a good movie tie-in and a great game in its own right.

Fresh off the world conquering success of The Lord of The Rings trilogy, many expected Peter Jackson to sit down quietly with a nice cup of tea. Instead, he embarked on perhaps an even bigger and more ambitious project: a remake of the 1933 classic, King Kong. As a young LOTR obsessive, I was of course thrilled at the news. My eleven year old expectations for the movie were high, and Jackson didn’t disappoint, crafting another epic fantasy adventure that still remains one of my favourites to this day.When Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of The Movie  was released on basically every platform, most thought the only accolade it would win would be “The Longest Title” award. Instead, against all expectations, the game turned out to be very good. A creative collaboration between Jackson and game designer Michel Ancel, the tone of the film was successfully transported into a unique FPS/survival action game. Instead of just plastering some monkey fur over an assault rifle, Ubisoft instead crafted a solid shooter that dripped with atmosphere, tension, and moments of genuine, pant-wetting terror. Nowadays, licensed blockbuster games are a dying breed, with most blockbuster studios wisely looking to the Lego brand to adapt their franchises. With new film “Kong: Skull Island” arriving in 2017, now is as good a time as any to venture back to the giant gorillas’ primal kingdom.

King Kong (which is what I’ll call it for the sake of my word count) places you in the shoes of actor Jack Driscoll (played in the film by Adrian Brody). Driscoll, along with other members of Denham’s film crew, set sail for the dangerous Skull Island. After a quick initial cutscene, where the crew are stranded after a nearly fatal lifeboat crash, it’s clear that this is not your average shooter. Taking a cue from the events of the film, the main enemies you’ll face are slathering prehistoric creatures. As you trek from the rocky coastline, through ancient ruins and into the depths of the jungle, you’ll encounter giant crabs, colossal centipedes, swooping pterodactyls, and some of the most deadly raptors ever. They’re terrifying creations that coming hissing and screeching at you out of the darkness, wanting to do nothing more than rip you limb from limb.

To help combat these primal monstrosities, Jack is of course, packing heat. You’ll be able to wield a variety of 1930’s firearms, from Luger pistols, to Tommy guns and bolt action rifles Whilst these weapons really pack a punch, they are pretty rare. In a great twist that takes some liberties with the source material, the ships’ captain Englehorn will carry out supply drops in his seaplane, and you’ll quickly become excited when you hear the drone of a propeller, or catch sight of a weapon crate descending on a parachute. In true survival horror style, ammo is scarce, and, in a move which I’m surprised hasn’t been endlessly copied, health and ammo counters are absent. Instead, players can press a button to make Jack describe how many bullets he has left.Teamwork with other characters is encouraged, as you’ll rescue them when they’re grabbed, or swap weapons when your ammo runs dry. Although it sounds annoying, it really helps you connect with the NPC’s (well voiced by the movie cast). Due to the limited ammo, you’ll have to make use of the natural environment in order to survive. This is where King Kong displays its’ most unique systems. Spears can be scavenged, either makeshift bone fragments or ready-made, and used as stabbing or throwing weapons. Although they can be retrieved from skewered foes, spears will eventually break. They can be set alight and used to create bushfires to flush out and kill predators. There’s also a food chain at work on Skull Island. Small harmless creatures like newts and worms can be skewered with a spear stab, and thrown to create a tasty distraction/fatal trap for a hungry raptor. Predators will also consume other dead animals, so killing a dinosaur may cause a pesky pterodactyl to fly down for a feast.

There’s one dinosaur that scares them all, however, and that’s the V-Rex. This apex predator is unkillable, and so you’ll have to dodge and weave their deadly bites, annoying them with spears and bullets whilst the NPCs open escape routes. These cat and mouse chases are fantastic, constantly reinforcing the notion that on this island, you’re at the bottom of the food chain. Apart from these deadly lizards, there’s really only one king of this jungle. In certain sequences, you’re finally able to take control of Kong himself. A great pallet cleanser from the tense survival action, the titular gorilla is a powerhouse of strength and ferocity. Kong swings and climbs through the forest canopy, stopping occasionally to swat at irritating little raptors. But the undeniable highlight of these levels are the V-Rex fights. Playing out like humongous prehistoric wrestling matches, Kong punches, grapples and bites the ravenous reptiles into submission, before performing a fatal jaw-break or body slam to finish them off. These one-on-one bouts are as intense as they are satisfying, letting you experience what it’s like to be the true king of this jungle, rather than a pesky two-legged morsel.

Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of The Movie is that rarest of things: a great licensed video game. Not only does it adapt the atmosphere of the film accurately, it also peppers the solid FPS gameplay with enough original ideas to stand out from the crowd. It’s a perfect example of a movie tie-in done right, and since there’s so few of those in existence, it really holds its’ own in a sub-genre overcrowded by crappy cash-ins.