Say whatever you want about the 3DO, but it earned its spot in gaming. At a time when it was still transitioning to something new, it set an interesting standard. A high-priced, mid-tech one, sure, but still. We enjoyed the thrills that Road Rash gave us; and BattleSport is never a bad game to play. But there were other quirky favorites among them – and Nightdive recognizes this. Following its efforts on PO’ed: Definitive Edition, it returns to the console realm once more with Killing Time: Resurrected.
For those unfamiliar, the original Killing Time came out in 1995, during the growth period of the first-person shooter. But rather than take the “let’s run forward like Doom did” approach, it went for something more in-depth. Exploration and story took center stage, making the game stand apart from others in the genre. Does that mean it was for everyone? Not particularly. But those who ventured its halls found its weight in gold.
Nightdive, a studio usually known for top-tier remasters, does great work with Killing Time. It still looks as cheesy as ever, but has options galore. And the team treats the original material with care, instead of messing with it to cater to an audience outside its zone. It’s still fun to play, and, yes, the FMV sequences are still intact. Those wonderful actors.
It’s still a niche game, and won’t win over critics that didn’t like it the first time around. But Killing Time: Resurrected is a gem regardless, and a reminder that some studios still embrace – and appreciate – the past. Nothing wrong with that.
The Story In Killing Time: Resurrected Is Weird, But That’s the Point
So apparently, there was a heiress by the name of Tess Conway that tasked you with something huge in her passing. It appears that a dangerous device called the Egyptian Water Clock has been wreaking havoc on her island. She wants you to stop it. The monsters and ghouls inhabiting the island, however, do not. So, as expected, the game follows your journey in an effort to do so.
It’s wild how much emphasis story takes up in Killing Time: Resurrected. There’s a good amount of backstory here, lovingly told by the team at Studio 3DO. As I mentioned, there are side characters that talk to you in FMV format. And it’s really well done, as they add a ghostly element to the otherwise ridiculous monster fest.
Just be aware, however, that it has an effect on gameplay. By that I mean this isn’t your typical run-and-gun shooter. There is shooting, of course, and you can find upgrades and other cool items. However, this is more based around exploration. So you’ll need to look around to solve puzzles and do other things within the game. This will likely turn off those that thrive on something like Doom Eternal.
However, if you stick with it, Killing Time is rewarding. You uncover more of the story and hilarious lore, and discover new monsters to take down. And there are hidden areas galore. In fact, the more you find around the mysterious island, the more enjoyable it gets.
Nightdive did a great job keeping the original game’s functionality intact. But it also added better features, including gyro support for Nintendo Switch, as well as other options to tweak. It’s still setting the standard for how to do remasters right – which it’s been doing since the Turok games. In fact, the more we get from them, the merrier. (How about more games in the 3DO library? I’d take a remaster of BattleSport!)
Again, if you try to go through Killing Time: Resurrected quickly, you will be let down. However, taking your time and seeing what it is all about pays off big time. It requires a bit of thinking, but Killing Time: Resurrectedreminds us why it stood out so much back then. And still kind of does now.
A Ghoulishly Good Presentation
It’s great to see that Nightdive not only respects the original Killing Time game, but also improves it in the right areas. The general release remains the same as the ’95 adventure. However, the visuals look a lot better. The environments are astounding, especially in the lower depths. And the FMV is treated with respect, while still mostly untouched in terms of performance. Oh, and did I mention how wonderful these enemy designs look? Cheesy, sure, but look at them!
On top of that, the audio is great, too. The weird music may not be for everyone, but it fits the ghostly mood. The voice acting, as cheeseballs as it is, works perfectly. And those sound effects fit the bill, right down to the last creepy groan.
So, yeah. If you can accept this is a game from the 90s, loving restored by a devoted team, you’ll have fun here. Just, again, don’t expect a next-gen push. A classic, this is.
Should You Kill Time With This Resurrection?
When Killing Time initially released, I wasn’t a huge fan. Granted, back then, I was a different kind of gamer, simply looking for thrills. But now that I’ve grown up (and old, sigh), I can see with Resurrected where its rewards lie.
Patience is the key here. You’ll still have lots to shoot at and a mystery to solve. But exploration and story really take the front seat approach. If you can accept that – and get into the goofy nature of the mystery – then Killing Time certainly won’t waste yours.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Ziggurat for providing a review code! You can get Killing Time: Resurrected now for Xbox,PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC!
Need more shooting action? Check out our reviews of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and PO’ed: Definitive Edition!
