Game Name: Peter Jackson's King Kong
	Systems: Microsoft X-Box/X-Box 360 & Playstation 2
	Release Date: November 22, 2005
	Players: 1
	Playable Characters: Jack Driscoll & King Kong
	Non-Playable Characters: Ann Darrow, Carl Denham, Hayes, Jimmy, Captin Englehorn, V-Rex, Venatosaurus, Megapede, Giant Crab, and more
	My Rating: 8 out of 10
Synopsis
The synopsis of the game is right out of Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong and even includes some cinematic scenes from the film at the beginning of the game setting up the plot. Director Carl Denham takes down-on-her-luck actress Ann Darrow, famous play writer Jack Driscoll, and the crew of the ship “Venture” from the streets of New York City to the uncharted Skull Island, a land that time has basically forgotten. The island, which is inhabited by giant dinosaur-like creatures, giant insects, and other horrible creatures, is ruled by a 25-foot ape known as Kong, who is the last of his kind. Once they arrive, the ship crash lands on the island and must explore it in order to escape. At first you play as Jack Driscoll in first-person shooter mode, accompanied by Carl Denham, Ann Darrow, Hayes, and Jimmy with Captain Englehorn flying over from time to time dropping supplies. You play as Jack Driscoll for approximately 75% of the game, exploring Skull Island and attempting to rescue Ann Darrow once Kong takes her, battling dinosaurs, giant bats, giant insects, and other nasty creatures along the way. At certain points of the game you get to play as Kong in a third-person perspective (the other 25% of the game) defending Ann against whatever threatens her, particularly the V-Rexs. The game continues to follow the movie as you play, although loosely at times and the majority of the game takes place on Skull Island. The game does this up until Kong is captured and taken to New York, when he breaks free and roams the city streets until climbing the Empire State Building where you battle biplanes until you, of course, are killed.
Controls
The controls for this game are very simplistic, but can be difficult to use at times due to situations you can get into (particularly when playing as Jack Driscoll). In first-person shooter mode with Jack, you can move, crouch, aim your weapon, shoot/take/use/repel objects, reload your weapon, check your reserve bullets, and call your companions. In third-person perspective mode with Kong, you are even more limited. You can of course move Kong, but you can also hit your opponents and just a jaw break finisher, grab/throw objects, pick up and drop Ann Darrow, use a throw finisher, climb/dodge/swing, repel objects, bite, and get into a fury mode where Kong is ultra-powerful and can kill smaller enemies with one blow. All this with the push of just a few buttons!
My Opinion
I really enjoyed playing this game, probably because I am a big fan of first-person shooter games as well as a kaiju fan. Although, I wish there would have been more Kong levels to even out the playing a little, instead of running around as Jack Driscoll all the time. Overall the game is pretty short and I completed it in only a few days (about six to seven hours of game-play). Aside from that the game is incredible, the level design, presentation, and audio are all great. The controls are pretty simple, yet intelligent, and you really do get the sense of vulnerability when you are being stalked by creatures like the V-Rex. Another interesting feature of this game is the ability to use fire against your enemies and the ability to use smaller animals as bait for the larger ones. So in the end I give Peter Jackson's King Kong an 8 out of 10 and would definately recommend this game to others.
Screenshots