Monday 16-Feb-2004 2:00 PM A flurry of new factoids on Capcom's ever-stylish schizoid adventure At Capcom's press event in Las Vegas a couple of weeks back, as well mind-blowing Resident Evil 4 code a few new details were also dished on Killer 7, a GameCube and PS2 title that centres around the exploits of a sixty year old, wheelchair-bound assassin called Harmon Smith. And while the game might look cooler than The Stone Roses in their '89 heyday, it sounds like it was put together by a member of The Manson Family.
Despite his age, see, Harmon is a hitman of some repute, who has been hired to take care of a terrorist named Kun Lan. Lan is somehow connected to the "Heaven's Smile" affliction; basically, otherwise normal people develop a crazed grin and then go berserk and start killing other unfortunates indiscriminately.
So anyway, we're told the game features six scenarios, each of which will take up to two hours to complete and which will contain real-time cut scenes. So far, so functional, but Harmon can draw upon various different personalities which somehow manifest themselves as actual people. These personalities are apparently selected via changing channels on the TV. Hmmm.
The game is said to use a linear structure, though players can return to previous levels if they so desire. Heaven's Smile sufferers need to be scanned to be recognised; once you catch one, zoom in with the left analogue stick to find his weak spot which can apparently be identified by "the atoms falling out of it". Hit this and the Heaven's Smile will be grinning no longer. Because he'll be dead.
Hey, it looks fantastic, who needs it to make sense? We've also got some additional info on the different Smith personalities.
Garcian Smith, age 33, has the power of clairvoyance, which can be used to observe enemies weak spots and their habits. His silenced handgun is comparatively weak and so he is therefore not used often in battle, but has the ability to resurrect fallen characters.
Dan Smith, also 33, can deflect bullets with the power of his mind. He only trusts Garcian, apparently, which rather bewilderingly sidesteps the fact that, uh, they're all the same person. Oh, he's evil too, and if given the opportunity, he'll kill Harmon Smith. i.e. himself.
Go figure. Dan is a "trained killer" with a hidden power that no one else is aware of, while his weapon of choice is a modified Colt Python.
Next up is 38-year-old Mask De Smith, who uses a mask to hide both his identity and his unsightly burnt face. Mask uses twin grenade launchers, which can be used to blow down doors as well as, you know, kill people.
Coyote Smith is 28 and can move through physical matter a la Sprite in the X-men. Decidedly not a la Sprite, however, Coyote is a sickeningly violent man who doesn't get along with anyone and uses a "Modified Enfield" to attack people with. Yes.
Kevin Smith is 30, and is ultra sensitive to light so sticks to shadows and relies on stealth kills. He uses a throwing knife rather than a gun, and also boasts infrared vision.
Kaede Smith, 20 is the only female "personality", and is in love with both Coyote and Dan. She packs a scope on her weapon, an "AMT Hardballer", that lets her snipe from a distance, but regrettably has a very slow reload time.
That just leaves the blind, 14-year-old Con Smith who uses his hearing to find his way around - god knows how that'll work. Con is notable for his speed, and can operate two firearms at once.
In summing up then, Capcom appears to have concocted a needlessly convoluted story that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. And who cares? Killer 7 still looks very cool, even if it's sounding a little shorter than we'd prefer. Out on PS2 and GameCube in 2005, if we learn more practical info on this one we'll pass it on. Don't hold your breath though...
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