Peter Jackson’s King Kong was the most innovative game of its console generation

One of the most influential, enjoyable, and important games of the seventh console generation is a licensed adaptation of Peter Jackson’s version of King Kong, designed by the creator of Rayman.

[CrimsonWing69]

...um, is this the only game you played last gen?

I mean, parts were fun, parts were tedious, but ultimately it was a one and done game for me that was fairly forgettable. I didn't notice any innovation in its design, whatsoever. Like, Resident Evil 4 redefined third person shooting with applying first person mechanics into aiming, that's innovation to me. Hell, Dark Souls was innovative in its design, much more than anything King Kong pulled off.

[Master of Unlocking]

It wasn't innovative at all but repetitive, you were always looking for those wooden javelins and fire and those mechanisms to open gates to fight against more velociraptors in the FPS part, and the part where you were playing King Kong in third-person had confusing level layouts yet it was too directing and often with time limits. I wanted to like Michel Ancel's game as much as I loved Peter Jackson's movie, but I just couldn't.

[VenomUK]

Polygon is chasing clicks! It has to be controversial to attract strong reactions because its writers relentless attacking of its own audience has diminished its credibility.

King Kong was a generic action game that launched on Xbox 360 with HD graphics, but it had gameplay that wouldn't have looked out of place on the PlayStation 2 and original Xbox - in fact it WAS released on PS2!

A reviewer is allowed to have a subjective opinion that's not based on facts, such as he loved the game. However to say 'innovative' when all the gameplay mechanisms had been done before is something that can be categorically identified as false. Polygon must try to avoid the temptation to produce more 'controversial' takes to attract clicks. Earning the audience's trust is the best thing to pursue.

[Potnoodle999]

Worst headline I’ve read in a while.... why in God’s name would I give them the clicks. Polycrap at it again. They really are the most awful collection of wannabe journalists ive ever seen.

[spicelicka]

RE4 wasn't from that generation though. In that generation Gears of war was the first innovative game that literally changed third person shooters. I'm going to get blind fanboy disagrees because some people can't handle positive comments about another piece of plastic, but I'm really speaking objectively. Before people get their panties twisted, innovative doesn't mean you invent something, it's taking existing or new features and making a combination that lends itself to a smooth undeniable experience. Gears took things from RE4 and Killswitch, and added it's own features that really revolutionized the genre, hence why it worked for both single player and multiplayer and its gameplay is still extremely strong to this day without a need for change.

The proof is really in multiplayer. There have been plenty of great games with Gears style gameplay but none have been as good or persistent in the multiplayer space.

I'd say COD4 was the next one in the following year.

[CrimsonWing69]

I was using that as an example of "innovation".

[AspiringProGenji]

Gears ''Redefined'' third person cover shooters, not innovated. Kill Switch already did that which was one of Gear's Inspirations

[spicelicka]

@AspiringProGenji

"Innovation: make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products."

It's the same thing, no need to argue over semantics.

[spicelicka]

Ah yes I agree in that case. King Kong was a good graphical showcase though, but not innovative.

[TheSocietalAnomaly]

Defined third person shooting with first person mechanics??? So we just gonna act like Metal Gear Solid never existed. Which is, by the way, leagues better than RE4.

[CrimsonWing69]

I’m not sure I’m following what you’re saying? You have third person and first person view in MGS...

What an I missing here?

[monkey602]

I loved the King Kong game and I remember it trying to seriously go for immersion at the time with removing the HUD

[sander9702]

The ending bit blew my f-ing mind back then I was only like 12 but still, that game had a bunch of love put into it.

[mijayire]

It was a pretty great game.

[Father__Merrin]

This blew u away back in the early 360 days. The Kong sections were spectacular wish 2006 happened all over again

[XBManiac]

1 hour -> 1.000G. Yes... good.

[lellkay]

What.

[Skuletor]

I only played the demo on a PS2 demo disc, which was fun. Not sure how different the Xbox 360 version was, besides better graphics.

[adonisisfree]

Lol, innovative and mediocre

[ApexWolf22]

I personally loved the game, felt it was too short tho, like 5-6hours I believe.

[Petebloodyonion]

I remember that this game won some awards back them
If I remember correctly it was the longest and stupidest name for a game award: " Peter Jackson's King Kong, the official game of the movie"

I agree that's an innovative name.

[Iceball2000]

Polygon... nuff said... move on.

[Gaming4Life1981]

Lmao.

[Blu3_Berry]

I honestly quite loved this game. I was about 10 years old when I played this, and certain levels with the V-rex and especially those Venatosaurus terrified me as a kid. The game offered two very different gameplay styles and it worked for the most part. The game was not perfect by any means, but in my opinion it certainly was one of the top 5 movie-based games I played. I wish I could play it again but sadly there is no current version that is easily accessible.

[micdagoat19]

I only played this for the easy achievements

[The_Sage]

Yeah... It was so "influential" that I never even knew it existed until this article. Silly.

[winter_hill]

Ann? You hangin' in there?
I'm fine, thanks Jack.
Ann? You hangin' in there?
I'm FINE, thanks Jack.
Ann? You hangin' in...
I SAID I'M FINE FFS!!!!

[traumadisaster]

I liked the game, it helped that I liked the movie more though. Later I got on pc and pretty sure I had this thing either at 1080p 60 FPS or 4k30, I can’t remember which back in like 2013, before x1 was even revealed. So for the time it was rocking on pc.