Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
Preview
Co-op and squad tactics
by Deis
previewed on PC
Weapons – could you ever go without them?
Rifles in the game are very powerful, and you will often come under fire from enemy snipers long before they come into view. Each bullet leaves a small white line tracing where it came from, but in melee fights, with bullets coming from every direction, these aren’t as helpful as they might first sound like. Lynch’s loose cannon attitude can be less than helpful at this point, with his own random bullets adding to the chaos. It’s not unknown for the character to take pot shots into a dead body just for the fun of it.
Another interesting feature is the way that a small window appears whenever you’re in a sniper’s sites, detailing his viewpoint. Considering the range of the snipers, this is something that could come in useful in a number of scenarios. Your own rifle features a handy little zoom lens.
Hire your own little army
In another area of combat, at certain points of the game, Kane will also have the ability to hire and control a squad of fighters. At first, with a fairly low reputation, Kane will only be able to hire low-lives, who may not always follow orders. As you progress through the game and become more respected, Kane will be able to hire more professional fighters. The player guides these squad teams through the use of simple commands, and it seems that, although they complain realistically, your little army is capable of interpreting orders according to changing situations. The basic commands are follow, stay and move to/attack, and the player can decide whether to address their remarks to an individual or to the group as a whole, in a way that isn’t entirely dissimilar to the .//hack games. Members of your team are also capable of reviving their fallen comrades, including Kane himself, assuming they’re close and quick enough.
Team tactics
You can also exchange weapons with nearby allies, by calling up your inventory wheel while close enough and selecting the weapon you want. Weapons dropped by enemies can be picked up, and as well as guns, these can also include such things as grenades and tear gas. Other parts of your surroundings can also be use to a tactical advantage; backing up against a pillar causes Kane to press himself against it, while the smoke from exploding vehicles can be used to the same purpose as a smoke bomb.
To fans of the genre
The graphics of the game aren’t really anything to write home about, and pale in comparison to some of their competitors. Levels take place over a number of varying environments, and some of these are nicely rendered, but that’s really all you can say. Pretty, but not amazingly so.
In summary, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men doesn’t seem amazingly innovative, but there are some neat little twists and tweaks to the gameplay that connoisseurs of the genre may find fascinating. If you enjoyed Freedom Fighters or the Hitman series, Kane & Lynch is worth a look.
