When Nightdive Studios announces a new remaster for an old title, I get excited. It gives me -- and others -- a chance to check out antiquated or otherwise forgotten games that have slipped through the cracks of time. Such is the case with Killing Time: Resurrected, a shockingly refreshing and charismatic old-school shooter that originally launched on the 3DO, of all things.
Not all 3DO games are built the same, that much is certain after playing Po'ed: Definitive Edition earlier this year. Trade Po'ed's abstract and haphazard level design for the more deliberate open world of Killing Time: Resurrected, and you'll fall in love with both the Prohibition-era setting as well as its surprisingly engaging story, all told through real-life actors via full-motion video (FMV).
Killing Time: Resurrected's Novel Way of Storytelling
Killing Time: Resurrected captivated me right from the start. This title was originally released in 1995, and shooters from that era are plentiful, though they tend to gravitate toward fantasy or science fiction. In this stylish, art deco-inspired shooter set around the 1930s, an engrossing narrative unravels as players explore an estate and its surrounding grounds on an enigmatic isle.
We're quickly introduced to several characters through the use of FMV cutscenes. Walking up to certain points around the island play these scenes, and this is one aspect where Killing Time: Resurrected really sets itself apart from other shooters of the era. FMV was definitely more common in the 90s than now, but to use it aplenty in a shooter seems novel.
A deep story isn't exactly a mainstay of the genre, with few exceptions. Killing Time: Resurrected is one of those exceptions -- through its use of FMV, I was easily engaged with the story, and became very interested to see what twists and turns it had in store.
The owner of this island, Tess Conway, becomes increasingly intrigued by the occult, and she comes in possession of an Egyptian water clock. Through various machinations that you'll see unravel through FMV -- which are essentially glimpses into the past -- she ends up trapping the entire island in time.
Killing Time: Resurrected's Manor is Entrancing
That's the bare minimum of the story, but there are dozens of different scenes, and six or so characters that all interact with each other in one way or another. The acting is hit or miss, but the writing for the actual dialogue is quite good.
All of this takes place across the aforementioned isle. This is another aspect where Killing Time: Resurrected shines. Rather than being split into levels or episodes like your typical boomer shooter, the isle is one vast, explorable space full of enemies.
The mansion itself, right in the middle of this isle, is the star of the show. Outside it's almost like a castle, and inside it's a surprisingly massive complex with rooms aplenty. Killing Time: Resurrected feels like a super solid corridor shooter while inside the mansion. Each wing of this manse has its own theme and character to it, adding even more mystery and whimsy to the abode.
The prevailing theme here is art deco -- which looks absolutely stunning with Nightdive's enhanced visuals -- and you'll fight a myriad of strange enemies within. The East Wing is meant for entertainment, with a beautiful ballroom, dining area, and tons of space for partying. Fittingly so, it's also filled with killer clowns, as well as gangsters, undead chefs, and more.
The West Wing is for guests, and again this is bedazzled with beautiful, opulent flair. Portly housekeepers and demonic maids stand in our way, and upstairs even more madness ensues with the complex layout of this mansion. It's extraordinarily fun to explore, and plenty of surprises await players within.
There are various Egyptian-themed temples and other buildings scattered across the island as well; here, you need to grab keys and other items in order to progress. Killing Time: Resurrected is a blast when you know where you're going, but it's also a great big key and item hunt at the end of the day.
Fetch Me the Keys!
When you don't know where to go, well, Killing Time: Resurrected can feel monotonous. Enemies you kill stay dead, so there's nothing to entertain you while you retread your path looking for keys. What's more, these keys are color-based, and there are ten in total. As someone who is colorblind, it was difficult to tell which key went where, and as far as I know, there's no remedy to make this aspect more legible.
The wide open, outside areas of the grounds are also not nearly as exciting as the mansion itself, because you're mostly fighting the same handful of enemies in the woods. Though it should not be understated, this game came out in 1995 originally -- it was an ambitious concept to begin with, but it still ages well enough.
One aspect that didn't age quite so gracefully is Killing Time: Resurrected's weapons. Gunplay is serviceable, perhaps adequate, but gun variety is subpar. There are six weapons total, disregarding melee. The pistol becomes obsolete almost immediately as it shares ammo with the Thompson, and that does everything the pistol does, but better.
There's a shotgun, which will likely be your mainstay, a flamethrower (its ammo can be sparse), molotov cocktails, which are highly situational, and an ankh, essentially this game's BFG. You're mostly alternating between the shotgun and Thompson the entire time, so the variety leaves a lot to be desired. Even one or two more guns would have made gunplay more appealing.
Killing Time: Resurrected Review | Final Thoughts
Nightdive's work on this port is basically flawless. Compare images from the original game with this remaster, and you'll be amazed by the work they do. Visuals are crisp, and gameplay is smooth as smooth can be. At this point, I would be surprised if Nightdive botched a remaster, because each one I've played thus far has been just as good, if not better, than the last: Killing Time: Resurrected is no different in that regard.
What a pleasant surprise, Killing Time: Resurrected is. This once obscure shooter gains new life with a wonderful remaster. Indeed, it's become one of my favorite shooters of the era, and that's accredited to its unique identity and unconventional approach to storytelling. They really just don't make 'em like they used to, and Killing Time: Resurrected is proof of that.
Killing Time: Resurrected was reviewed on PC with a code provided by the publisher over roughly 6 hours of gameplay. All screenshots in this review were taken by the reviewer during gameplay.
Review Summary
Pros
- Fun FMV Storytelling
- Takes Place Within a Delightful and Vast Singular Level
- Different Parts of the Island All Feel Visually Distinct and Appealing
- Nightdive's Port is Impeccable
Cons
- Easy to Get Lost Hunting for Keys
- Gunplay and Gun Variety is Subpar