Peter Jacksons King Kong Review

Platform: Xbox 360

Publisher: Ubisoft

Rating: Teen (T)

Peter Jackson’s King Kong for the Xbox 360 is an action-packed first-person shooter game based on the new blockbuster film. Carl Denham, an ambitious movie director with something to prove, decides to create an exciting film in an exotic location unlike anything ever created. He obtains a mysterious map to Skull Island, an uncharted location only known in stories. Accompanying him on this dangerous adventure are a struggling actress (Ann), a scriptwriter (Jack) and a couple of sailors. They go to a place where vicious prehistoric dinosaurs, primitive islanders and a 25-foot tall King Kong live, in the wild jungles of the island.

Peter Jackson's King Kong - Inside Scoop

After a brief movie clip giving you a background on the story, the game begins. Your character, Jack Driscoll is on a small boat along with your other companions. The sea is rough, and the weather is stormy. Giant rocks almost hit the small craft as it moves towards Skull Island. The storm overtakes the boat, and it crashes to the shore. Knocked unconscious, you wake up to discover that a shipmate has died, and the boat is smashed to pieces. And this is only the beginning…

Weapon of Choice

Temporarily away from any kind of rescue, Jack and his companions explore the dense jungle where you will encounter many giant reptiles attempting to kill you. To defend yourself, you have limited access to guns, but the most of the time, you will be fighting with spears and animal bones. Since guns and ammo are limited, use them wisely. The tricky part is trying to get used to throwing spears, but once you get the gist of it, they are very effective weapons. Sometimes you will have access to fire, which can be useful in getting rid of dry brush that is blocking your path, or it can be thrown at creatures to take them out easier.

Open the Door

There is one thing that is frustrating about this game. During your adventuring, you always seem to encounter a barrier door that is missing a lever to open it. Since the jungle terrain is so dense, it is not always easy to find. Sometimes the lever blends in and looks like a tree branch or spear.

Split Personality

Along with playing Jack Driscoll, in some parts of the game you get to play King Kong. He has great strength and can take on any of the creatures on the island, including the V-Rex. His special ability is a rage mode that gives Kong added strength to his attacks. You will have fun swinging through trees and climbing cliffs. Another thing to note about Kong is that he has a big crush on Ann Darrow (the actress) and will capture her a few times during the game. You will also have to save her occasionally.

Peter Jackson’s King Kong – Basic Game Info

Difficulty Levels

• There is only level to play, and once the game is completed, you can only replay different chapters to improve your score.

Game Controls and Combos

• Controls in King Kong are easy to learn, with no fancy button pushing.
• To fire a gun or shoot a spear press the left trigger button, then the RB button.
• To break through a barrier, use a spear or butt of you gun and press the right trigger button
• To zoom in or talk to one of your companions, press the A button.
• To check your gun ammo status, press the B button

Bonus Items

• Bonus items like artwork and video interviews with the creators of the King Kong movie are unlocked upon completion of levels and number of points scored

Graphics and Sound

The graphics in Peter Jackson's King Kong are breathtaking. The Xbox 360 gives so much detail, sometimes you can look at it so intensely that your eyes will begin to water. Character motion is very fluid, and you can zoom in on other characters or hostile enemies during play.

As for audio dialog, the voices are played by the actors in the movie, which add to the richness of the game – Carl Denham (Jack Black ), Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts ), Jack Driscoll (Adrien Brody ), and Jimmy (Jaime Bell ). The music soundtrack varies from subtle to dramatic (depending on how intense the situation is) and is also taken directly from the film.

Wrapping it up

Peter Jackson’s King Kong game will take you on an adventure to Skull Island, where your main weapon is a primitive spear, and fierce opponents like King Kong along with multiple dinosaurs that attack you at every turn. Play as Jack Driscoll and King Kong. This first-person game will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is worth checking out.