Killing Time: Resurrected (XSX) Review

Is that a duck??

Boy, I didn’t expect to ever see this game again. Killing Time is a game that had the misfortune to release on a console that nobody bought, while also suffering from horrible technical issues. Underneath it all though was a game that truly felt ahead of its time. Now with the wonders of licensing and technology we can finally see the true vision of what the developers had in mind. Nightdive is truly my spirit animal, I feel like they somehow remaster every game that I grew up loving in one form or fashion. Killing Time is no exception. I have always wanted to play this game as it was meant to be, and now, I finally can.

MSRP: $24.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $24.99

Killing Time puts players into the shoes of a young student who is looking to expand their knowledge of Egyptology. Sounds good right? Well they stumble into the estate of a wealthy heiress who has attempted to make herself immortal through an ancient Egyptian ritual. As per usual, things go wrong and she summons a bunch of supernatural beings onto her estate. The game takes place in the 1930s, which is a great setting for just about any game.

What made this game stand out when it came to the storytelling is that it was designed during the height of FMV cutscenes. So the developers took it a step further by adding these sequences into the world in specific places, that would serve as sort of memories the player could stumble across to get more backstory as to what happened. It was a great idea and works really well. Sure, the performances are pretty cheesy, but I love it. Nothing else at the time had tried this, and it makes this game stand out amongst its peers.

Nightdive being well, Nightdive, they have taken both versions of the game to make one ultimate version. The PC version had a redone map system, which is in this version. It also has better direction and improved level design. What is super cool is that they had access to photos of the original actors, so they painstakingly rebuilt all of this from scratch. No one would ever do that, but Nightdive did, and I love them for it. You can also now look all around and save anywhere. All of the normal KEX Engine upgrades are here for a game that nobody remembers. I love it.

Killing Time is one giant level. The concept is cool and it works in this sense. The design of the world means there aren’t levels exactly, instead I roamed around the estate solving puzzles, killing enemies, and unlocking new areas. This was really ambitious for its time, and one of the reasons I am so thrilled this game is getting a second chance. It really is unlike a lot from that era, in multiple ways. There are so many unique ideas packed in.

Nightdive always delivers with their remakes, but Killing Time is special. This is a game that was largely ignored and eventually forgotten. Now it gets a second lease on life with a personal touch and care that it deserves. I highly recommend giving this game a chance. It feels familiar to classic shooters, while also delivering some of the most unique ideas of the time. I am so happy to see this game return and cannot wait for what other obscure FPS titles this team continues to deliver. Corridor 7 anyone?

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • All the love and care from a Nightdive release
  • Unique and interesting concept
  • Game gets a second chance
Bad
  • Wish I could swap between versions
9
Excellent
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.