Peter Jackson's King Kong (Xbox 360, 2005)

Most 'Official Games of the Movie' aren't very good. (I'm sure you can think of more than a few.) But this game is the exception to that rule. I was genuinely not expecting to find a fun, varied, and visually interesting game to be tied to a movie licensee. But what really makes this game, is it's low price and easy Gamer Points.

The graphics will not blow you away. In comparison to other Xbox 360 launch titles, this game is average. It doesn't look fantastically next generation, but its good at what it does. Maybe the developers haven't gotten used to making games for the Xbox 360 yet. Keep in mind that it does get very dark often, and if you own a standard TV, you may have trouble seeing the action in a few places. The game works best with HDTV.

As the other reviewer mentioned, you control either Jack (the character from the movie) or Kong (the huge ape from the movie [you can't miss him, he's on the cover of the game]). When playing as Jack, the game is a first person shooter. As Kong, you have 3rd person view as you run, smash and swing across the island. This gives the game some variety and change so it doesn't get dull or repetitive.

There is no sight, ammo or health bars... really, nothing is cluttering up your screen. It gives the game a very cinematic feel. Don't worry about aiming your gun. If you look in the general direction of whatever is attacking you, the game aims for you. Not a bad thing in my opinion, but I know that could frustrate some people who want more control. There are no life bars, and if you get hurt enough, the screen will pulse red and the action will slow down. If you give your character a breather, your heath will return and the screen will return to normal. I think this is the same as in Call of Duty 2. It's nice not to have to look for health packs all the time, and it keeps the player in that "I'm playing the movie" mindset.

Finally, there are two main reasons why I think this game is a best buy. Right now, the game is inexpensive. It may even be a better option than renting it. And for your money, you get something else that seals the deal. Gamer Points! Just for playing the game from start to finish (not very long) you will be rewarded with 1,000 Gamer Points that show next to your Xbox Live name. This was huge for me! Most games have you jump through impossible hoops for it's points. To find a game like this where the points are handed out so freely, it's a diamond in a stack of coal.

Nice coal mind you. The game is not bad at all! It's not long, but you won't feel cheated when it's over. The graphics look good and the gameplay is tight and interesting. If you're on a budget (or played everything else already), King Kong will hold your attention long enough to earn you 1,000 easy Gamer Points to pad your Xbox Live profile.

Instead of a long drawn out explanation, i will be blunt and to the point. The graphics in this game are very good to almost great. Gamplay is boring but when there is an action scene it's almost impossible to see cause the game is so damn dark. The controls are horrible.

Just pass this game right by, it stinks.

Fairly easy to get the hang of, one good thing I liked about this game is the restart level. Most games will rewind to the last known checkpoint about 2-gameplay-hours-ago but this game starts you off right where some island beastie drop kicked you. So its good, no restarting complete levels.
I was surprised at the achievement acquistion, this is one of the easiest to get, simply play the game through and thats it. This game was fairly easy, depending on what type of games you play, but to me this game was easy and short, a welcome change of pace from harder 360 games out there.
Despite being related to the Movie, this game doesnt try to emulate the movie, its one of the few games worth playing. Very good for a fixed storyline game.

This game is very fun but it's graphics are about the same as the xbox version. My saved game got deleted somehow but it's still a good game. You can spear raptors, shoot tarradactuls, and be king kong and swing through the island. This game is really fun but, like the movie, you have to get about halfway into it for king kong to have anything to do with it.

The graphics are phenomenal....but that's where it ends. The gameplay is too simple and overall the game is just too easy and too short.

Game play is good and not hard to play can beat game in a matter of a few days depending on how much you play it overall an easy 1,000 gamer points.

the game was not very good. I had some pretty good graphical points but other than tha it really is only for someone looking to get some quick achievement points.

I initially purchased this for my fourteen year old who loved the King Kong movie. I bought the xbox version through ebay. The transaction went very smoothly.

If you do not know how xbox works - It tracks how many saves to a game you have. As well as how many accomplishments, unlocks, and super secrets you found. King Kong had nine unlocks. Which meant that for the same price as other games out there that have forty and fifty unlocks and levels, this one had NINE. It took my son less than three hours to complete the entire game. And, that was with struggling with one particular part as well.

He's not allowed to use cheats or anything until 'after' he's completely finished a game. Then, I allow him to go look up the cheats and such found online for the super secret stuff in the games. My point in telling you this is so that you don't think he's just some kid that is great with these types of things. While he is good at them, this wasn't even hard. It was even easy for me to figure out and I had never touched an xbox.

I'd turn around and sell the game to someone else. But, heck... I don't want to charge anyone thirty dollars for a game they'll enjoy for about a day at most. That's just sad.

I am upset that this game cost just as much as the other games that are out there that have a 'Lot' more unlocks, surprises, and tricks to be figured out. It had a third of the game play, it should cost a third of the price. If they wanted to charge more for it, they should have put more into it.

Just my dime.
Mata

The graphics in this game are awesome. Light and fire effects look motion captured, and the Kong "rage" sequences are crisp and sharp. There is no HUD as in other first person shooters, giving King Kong a more retro, less futuristic feel. In other words, you feel as if you are in the jungle with only a spear and a pistol to survive.

The storyline follows the movie vaguely, but does a good job of steering away from any spoilers. However, the game stays more to the jungle element than the city aspect. Anyone who has seen the movie will notice that only 4 levels out of 30+ have to do with the New York City sequence, which in most people's opinion, was the best and longer parts of he movie.

Regardless, the various "throw a burning spear here to light the grass" maneuvers are very repetitive and almost make this one a renter. Gameplay wise, the action is fast paced, but doing the same thing over and over and over definitely kills any likelihood of replay value.

I give this a 4 out of 5 on graphics and "Kong" only. Peter Jackson brought some new elements to gameplay that we can enjoy, but storywise, he should stick to movies.

Game stinks only playing it for easy 1000 Gamerscore. Don't buy this game unless to get it for less than $4.00.

real sound effects when they breathe and attack-good first person. Last Mission-unable to get undercover when two are attacking at once.

This Game is a definite for any gamerscore acheiver. Easy one k for only one playthrough even on the easy setting. Game has decent graphics for being a launch 360 game and the controls are simply to use. The game gives a good story feel, but is fairly short.

horrible game. only got it for the acheivments....................................................................................................................................................

This game is OK. The graphics are fair, and the controls OK. Overall the gameplay is very easy and the achievements are very easy to get as well.

it is fun and easy i bought it for the achevements achevements achevements
achevements achevements achevements

Very Fun and Very Easy, Great for King Kong lovers and for Acheivement Whorz like me! :)Highly recommended game 9/10 easily.

I like this game because it has easy achievements. i love the story mode! I dont like the lame grafics, and i bought this becuz i wanted to boast my achievement score!

The product came in perfectly. No scratche, no nothing. It was as if it was brand new. Pleasure doing business. Its great...................

This game has amazing graphics, very good gameplay, and to top it off it has a good storyline. I recommend this game if you like fun, exciting, and action-packed games.

Its a horrible game!! People, you can get it at gamestop for $9.99 y pay over? i dont under stand. I sold mine for $15 i made money haha

this game does not work. I am very disapointed and so was my son. It was shipped out fast. It will load up just not able to do any moves.

This game is easy, you can cheat, fly through the game and still get all 1000 achievement points. I believe it was a launch title game so that could be the reason. It's not a bad game, but not worth over $9.99. It will give you from around 6-10 hours of game play.

I feel I the seller was very honest and loyal to his customers. Would buy againwith no hesitaion. My grandson was thrilled!!! Thanks.

My grandchildren really like to play this game. would buy again from this seller It was shipped in time for Xmas as it was a gift.