Killing Floor Review and Rating

It’s kind of sad in a way that Tripwire Interactive’s Killing Floor is actually considered a standalone game.  It began its life nearly five years ago as an Unreal Tournament 2004 mod and really hasn’t changed all that much since.  However, you can now download this mindless killing spree on Steam for just $20!  However, to call it a game really glosses over the fact that there’s no real storyline, characters, or even an overall sense of achievement.
In spite of all that, Killing Floor is a boatload of fun and if you just can’t get enough “zombie” slaughter, this might actually be right up your alley.

Gameplay

What passes for a story in Killing Floor is weak, very weak.  Zombie-like “specimens” have escaped from a laboratory and rampaging around London eating anyone foolish enough to get in their way.  You play as one of six survivors in a kill or be killed death match against the hordes of nasties using a varied array of excellently detailed weapons to chop, chunder, and burn the test subjects into quivering piles of giblets. 

The enemies come in waves and in between each you’re given the opportunity to reload and purchase new weapons from the annoying arms vendor with the cash you’ve apparently earned by killing the “specimens.” 
Rinse and repeat until you end up in the final boss battle which pits you against a ludicrously overpowered enemy who is equipped with a rocket launcher and the ability to become invisible!
That’s really all there is. 
Really.
And they call it a game.

Killing Floor amounts to wasted time and players can easily plug and frag some baddies without having to be burdened by plot, pacing, or back-story.  It’s kind of like Frogger with guns!
There are six character classes which depend on specialized perks (which are upgradable and make it easier to survive the ever-deadlier waves of enemies) but there’s no real incentive to choose one over the other.  In fact, you can earn perk points with any character by using specific weapons or completing certain actions like headshots.  So if you’re shooting for the commando class (which specializes in using the bullpup assault rifle) you can also earn firebug points by frying “zombies” with the flamethrower.

While you can play the game single player, the experience will surely leave you wanting more as there aren’t even any AI controlled bots to help you out.  It’s just you against a seemingly unending tide of grotesque monstrosities.
Indeed, you can’t even boost your character if you choose to pursue the field medic specialization because gaining medic perk points is dependent on healing other players.
In addition to the derivative and mechanical gameplay, there are a host of bugs and connection problems that will annoy the crap out of anyone looking for more than homicidal cathartic release.  The most prevalent are the clipping issues.  Enemies often spawn directly on top of players, get hung up on invisible barriers, or stuck in walls.  Having to hunt through an entire level (the maps really are quite large with all sorts of corners and hiding spots) to find the last surviving bad guy only to find him 20 minutes later half in/half out of a wall somewhere is . . . frustrating.

Also, you’ll probably have a great deal of difficulty even connecting to games.  In addition to continuing server issues (even the dedicated servers seem rather snobbish and unfriendly) the game seems to dislike firewalls.  You’ll probably have to open up a few ports (and find the correct ports on a game forum somewhere) before you’ll ever be able to play.

Graphics

The game is very recognizable as an Unreal Mod and definitely shows its age.  The models are stiff and not well articulated.  The textures are poor to middling.  The lighting is less than spectacular.  In fact, the only thing that’s pretty about the game are the weapons.  An immense amount of attention has been paid to the varied instruments of death you’ll be using and the gun models are really great.  Rack the shotgun and watch the spent shell fly, rip off a string of rounds with the bullpup and the brass twinkles through the air like Tinkerbell, sink your fire axe into some nasty and watch the blood fly. 
Unfortunately, the bad guys you’ll be turning into chowder look like cardboard cutouts comparatively. 

Sound

The sound is just awful.  It’s kind of sad really.  The pounding metal soundtrack is clichéd and doesn’t really provide any sort of context.  It’s the same stuff shooter fiends have been listening to for years and really doesn’t hold water anymore.  In addition, the voice acting is horrid.  The delivery falls flat and the dialog is extremely poorly constructed. 
It would almost be worth playing with the sound muted if the gun effects weren’t so pretty to the ears. 

Value

As for value, Killing Floor is really a mixed bag.  While the game offers no incentive for single players, multiplayer users will find it fun to plug in and slaughter enemies with friends or strangers.  However, the gameplay does get stale after a while as the enemies never really change and the frenetic pace never gives players a chance to recoup. 
There are only five maps, which is a bummer, and though they are all quite large and provide an excellent environment in which to create murderous mayhem, how long can anyone stomach playing the same level over and over?
On the other hand, the game is only twenty bucks.  You’d be hard pressed to find anything better for that price and you’ll never find anything cheaper. 
With a little more polish and some more attention to certain aspects (especially the audio) this $20 piece of software could have been a true steal.  However, as is the true value will depend on individual players’ opinions.

Final Verdict

Killing Floor is really not a standalone game.  It’s missing key aspects such as storyline, back-story, plot development, and any sense of pacing making it more of an arcade quarter magnet than anything else. 

Pros:  Mindless fun, “zombies,” blood and gore.

Cons:  Weak story, bad voice acting, poor graphics, built on a 5 year old engine.


Overall Score: 7.5/10