FIRST off I must declare that I didn’t play Kane & Lynch’s first outing on Playstation 3, although if the reviews were to be believed, that was probably a good thing.
The first game certainly got a kicking from the gaming press, blasted for it’s dated appearance, lack of ideas and shallow characters.
This time round IO Interactive have gone some way to cure those problems, although it would be a lie to say they’ve actually managed to eradicate them.
Dog Days sees you take control of the self medicated psychopath, Lynch, as he attempts to rebuild his life with his daughter in Shanghai.
Inevitably this is not all it seems as Lynch and his old pal Kane embark on an attempt to conclude a lucrative business deal.
That leads you into the dirty underworld (somewhere where Kane & Lynch seem pretty comfortable), and a lot of shooting.
Visually it’s no-where near where it should be despite the relatively pleasing neon skylines that open the game.
The character models are clunky and lack detail, as do your enemies, who lack the basics of smooth movement and generally look like they belong on a Playstation 2.
The combat mechanism is another that struggles. Unlike the big mistake with the most recent Transformers title, IO interactive have decided to include a cover system, although this is the very least that could be expected, and doesn’t work as well it has on other titles.
There are nice touches such as throwing gas canisters and shooting them in mid air but that’s been done before, and better.
The shooting feels erratic and never precise, something that’s pretty vital if your game is going to include a lot of gunfighting.
The violent themes of the game may put some off but I didn’t have a problem with that, it was just that when the cut scenes stopped and you start playing there is very little originality or enjoyment to keep you going.
Sadly Kane & Lynch suffers because of the absolute basics. The game isn’t good enough. Especially when set against hits like Unchartered, God of War and Bayonetta.
It’s just dated and it’s difficult to see how you can recommend it. Yes the plot is interesting at points and yes the characters have potential but all that is destroyed if you feel like you’re playing a bad Playstation 2 game.
It’s not the worst effort you’ll see (if you’re interested in that I’d direct you the way of The Saboteur) but it completely fails to live up to the promise and, if anything is a waste of what could have been a fine game.
County Times rating **