Kane and Lynch: Dead Men

The game fares horribly on the visual front as well. While the two lead characters (Kane and Lynch) are decently detailed, the rest of the game looks like utter crap. Buildings and other structures lack any form of detail, character models look as bland and lifeless as humanly possible, and the whole game looks like a PS2 title at times. Add to that minuscule amounts of environmental destruction and downright embarrassing explosions that are as lifeless and dull as the game, and you’ll understand why Kane and Lynch could never be as visceral as Stranglehold or even F.E.A.R. for that matter.

Voice acting, on the other hand, is pretty wicked. Both Kane and Lynch seem to have been voiced by guys who know what they’re doing. The constant abusive banter these two share with each other at all times is reminiscent of certain Hollywood flicks and seems to have been pulled off pretty well. Your squad is voiced by some decent voice actors too, but the tremendous amount of abusive language (some of which feels a tad forced) may turn some people off.

If you think the game’s online component is strong enough to save it, you’re wrong. For one thing, the game’s co-op element can only be experienced via split screen. For another, the multiplayer aspect suffers from all the flaws that plague the single player campaign.

The game’s MP aspect is called 'Fragile Alliance' and at the start of every round all players on the server spawn as robbers who are tasked with robbing a bank or stealing diamonds and so on. To successfully obtain the bounty you have to make your way through AI controller guards and if you happen to die in the process you respawn not as a robber but as a guard. Once you manage to get your grubby little paws on the stash you have the option of eliminating your teammates to significantly increase your share; but be warned they can do the same to you. The more money you make, the better weapons you can purchase before the next round begins.

It’s an interesting concept marred by sloppy execution... and that’s how I feel about the entire game. Sadly, it had the potential of becoming a classic action game akin to the works of Michael Mann. If only Eidos had improved the visuals, the combat mechanics, the AI, and slapped on a killer cover system a la Gears of War or Rainbow Six Vegas, we could have had one of the finest action games of 2007. Instead we have something that’s barely worth a rental.