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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Peter Jackson's King Kong
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 57 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 32 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Genre(s): Action, Adventure
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: November 21, 2005
Summary
Embark on an epic adventure created in collaboration with Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson and based on the Universal Pictures' film. Survive as Jack in a world crawling with predators and live the legend as Kong. Use weapons, traps, and your team wisely to survive in first-person as Jack. Break jaws, slam enemies, and throw massive objects in Kong's colossal third-person battles. [Ubisoft]
Also On Metacritic
FILM: King Kong
Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
PGNx Media
The production values are amazing with top-notch graphics and sound found nearly everywhere. Though the game runs a little short – we played a little over six hours – you’ll have a blast every step of the way.
Read Full Review >Gamezilla!
This game is like having a good burger. It might not be quite a meal in and of itself, but done well, it is truly one of the best things you could have.
Read Full Review >Game Chronicles
By far the best movie-licensed game to ever be made. Not only does it outshine all other movie-inspired titles, it even surpasses the movie that inspired it. It’s a totally immersive experience with the no-HUD interface, amazing sounds, inspiring music, and a visionary artistic style that is totally unique to the genre.
Read Full Review >XboxAddict
Jungle sounds were all so realistic, it was wild! The sounds you would expect while traipsing through a jungle are all present as well. Wildlife and human noises, both from up close or far in the distance have credibility to them.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
It's a fun romp though and definitely a welcome companion to the upcoming movie. There are countless tense moments playing as Jack and my only complaint is not playing as the featured star more than we were given the opportunity.
Read Full Review >Official Xbox Magazine
Playing through Kong is one of the freshest gaming experiences we've had all year. [Holiday 2005, p.34]
AceGamez
One of the most classy, authentic, atmospheric, faithful and exciting games of a movie ever to be released.
Read Full Review >Jolt Online Gaming UK
One of the most enjoyable if short-lived gameplay experiences. The game is practically a work of art, but that may not be enough for everyone.
Read Full Review >Firing Squad
What makes King Kong so good is the polish that the game brings. It takes a classic storyline and a classic gaming genre and delivers it to the gamer in a new and refreshing manner.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
The most impressive element of the game, though, is Skull Island itself. Grand and gorgeous, the environments never repeat, and the adventure never slackens.
Read Full Review >1UP
It's a great example of a movie tie-in that is easy to play, it's a successful combination of a first-person adventure and a third-person beat-'em-up, and at times it even feels like a dungeon crawler. But at its core, it's an extremely good (and extremely simple) survival horror game.
Read Full Review >Play Magazine
The sounds that move all around you are also wonderfully implemented. [Jan 2006, p.42]
GameZone
It is a shining example that sometimes games based on movies can be just as good as the movie but still be able to show us a different and interesting take on a story we’re already familiar with in the first place.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
Graphically, it's a masterpiece. [Jan 2006, p.136]
Deeko
King Kong himself may be billed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World", but his video game exploits, while certainly a stunning visual wonder, is far too short and too shallow to be touted as anything but simple entertainment.
Read Full Review >Gamer's Hell
A terrifying and deeply cinematic experience from start to finish. However, it is short, running around 8 hours, and offers little in way of replayability, aside from unlockable concept art and trailers.
Read Full Review >eToychest
On its own merits it’s a fantastic cinematic achievement and exceptional precedent for license-based games.
Read Full Review >ZTGameDomain
The main story only lasts about 10 hours, but it is 10 hours you will not soon forget.
Read Full Review >WHAM! Gaming
One of the most grandiose, atmospheric, movie-like experiences in a video game ever. This is a standout on all the home consoles, but it hits even bigger heights if you snag it on the Xbox 360 along with a high-definition television.
Read Full Review >Talk Xbox
The expository sections of Kong really do feel like a playable movie, and there are scenes in King Kong that will make you stop in your tracks and stare at the utter beauty the developers have crafted.
Read Full Review >GameShark
King Kong offers solid gameplay and production values that will appeal to almost every gamer.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
By movie-to-game standards, King Kong is an instant classic. Just don't hold it to any greater standard.
Read Full Review >GameBrink
A great, if not short, game that anyone who liked the movie and who owns a 360, or any other console for that matter, will certainly enjoy.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
Each step he takes causes a vicious rumble and together with his war cry, you know you're just one mistep away from certain death.
Read Full Review >AtomicGamer
It's the perfect rental game, and the really dedicated fans will surely enjoy the purchase.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
It won't take you long to blow through King Kong, but its sometimes thrilling, often tense, and always entertaining adventure is absolutely worth checking out.
Read Full Review >Gamers' Temple
If the environments were more open, if there was more variety to the puzzles, if the game lasted longer, if ..., then you could have had the best game of the year here.
Read Full Review >Xbox Evolved
The game is too short but for how much you put into it, you'll get a lot out of the experience.
Read Full Review >Gamer 2.0
A wondrous game. There is little to be upset about except its short length and no extra content, but the rest of the game is fantastic.
Read Full Review >Electric Playground
Beautiful, fun, and very easy for anyone to pick up and play.
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
But while laudable in many senses, ultimately King Kong is as Carl Denham - fascinatingly single-minded and full of wonder, but ultimately shallow, and too caught up in its initial achievement to really think the rest of it through.
Read Full Review >GamePro
Flawed though it may be, the chance to fight as a giant ape is something gamers have dreamed of since the 2D days of "Rampage."
Read Full Review >Loaded Inc
The sound in King Kong is fantastic. From the music to the ambient background to the massively intimidating roar of Kong, there is nothing bad here. If immersion is what you are looking for, look no further.
Read Full Review >Kombo
An atmospheric first-person adventure that is plagued by its length and sometimes rigid flow.
Read Full Review >Boomtown
In spite of the odd struggle with the controls, this is a good adventure through and through, and that’s what makes the game worth playing.
Read Full Review >Gamenikki
By tying the graphics in so closely with the gameplay, King Kong actually makes strong visuals an integral part of the cinematic experience, and naturally the Xbox 360 port gets the edge over the other platforms.
Read Full Review >TeamXbox
A definite thrill ride from beginning to end that relies heavily on its Hollywood-style presentation more than true gameplay. Hindered ever so slightly by repetitive enemies and puzzles.
Read Full Review >Da Gameboyz
A highly entertaining action/adventure that gets better as you progress.
Read Full Review >DailyGame
Let's say this again: Tedious gameplay kills the coolness of the "wow" moments and brings it all down to an average level.
Read Full Review >BonusStage
When compared to other movie inspired video games, King Kong comes out on top. However, when comparing it to other first person shooter titles (which the majority of the gameplay falls under), it’s merely average at best.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
The gameplay is solid enough, the audio is fantastic, and the visuals occasionally show off a bit of the next gen, but anyone even remotely interested in the movie needs to give the game a rental at the very least.
Read Full Review >Detroit Free Press
A decent effort. And if you're a gamer who likes movies, this one's got all the cinematic feel and production value of a big-budget film.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
A riveting if flawed run through Skull Island, one that immerses you smack in the middle of a horrific world teeming with life and, of course, love.
Read Full Review >Planet Xbox 360
There isn’t much replay value in King Kong. With the lack of any sort of Live/Co-Op play, you won’t find yourself going back to the game once you have beaten it.
Read Full Review >NTSC-uk
Being story-driven, the game was also broken up into short chapters, sometimes exceedingly short. With a load required between each one it could mean playing for possibly a few minutes before needing to load the next level.
Read Full Review >360 Gamer Magazine UK
While not a flat-out classic, there's so much to admire. [Issue #2]
GameSpy
During its best moments, it's certainly one of the most exciting and engrossing games I've played in a long time. It's just unfortunate that the apparent cut corners take the wind out of its sails sometimes.
Read Full Review >GamerFeed
The biggest knock against this game is it'll cost you $59.99 and it only offers up seven to nine hours of play.
Read Full Review >Computer and Video Games
Fifty quid is a lot of money to ask for a title that any competent gamer can pound through in six or so hours. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]
Read Full Review >Cincinnati Enquirer
Beautiful but muddy environments, frustrating puzzles, repetitious opponents and clunky Kong controls.
Read Full Review >G4 TV
King Kong is short... really short. The average player will finish the game in about six hours, and for $60, that’s not exactly a great value.
Read Full Review >games(TM)
King Kong is perhaps a redefinition of the cinematic videogame – entirely based on peaks and troughs of excitement, and devoid of any sense of choice. Just like a movie, but interactive. [Christmas 2005, p.98]
Thunderbolt
Imagine a free-roaming King Kong game, with a main plot line that you can ignore as you run through the jungle, beating the piss out of dinosaurs with tree trunks and rocks. That would have been awesome. Instead, we were given this six to eight hour snooze fest.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 7.3 (out of 10) based on 32 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Wyatt G. gave it a5:
I had no intention of buying this game until I saw it in the shops one day for a fraction of the price of a normal 360 game. So was it worth buying ? If I had paid more I would have been disappointed. To me the real value of a game is either the replay value or the multiplayer. This game has neither. Once I had finished it I have not given it a minute of thought of playing it again. In fact if the game was stolen I would not even bother filling out an insurance claim ! Playing the game for the first time is quite good, the graphics is good, the voice acting is excellent the gameplay is enjoyable and it does a good job of following the movie and making you feel part of it. The fact that you switch between playing as Jack and Kong is a nice touch even if Kong is a little difficult to control....oh...and if you like collecting achievement points, you can get the full 1000 for doing nothing more than playing the game from start to finish...easy. My advice...buy it cheap or rent it.
Fred L. gave it a3:
It’s rather a repetitive game, several boring missions, hopeless game control, and the graphics does not stand out in any way (since Xbox 360 is the next generation game console). I highly recommend playing Tomb Raider Legend in stead of King “boring” Kong, if you like adventures like this!
Kyle L. gave it an8:
I never have liked adeventure games much, but this reallly got my attention and i liked it a lot. The graphics are extremely impressive and the game-play is unlike anything i have ever seen. Very cool game. Very realistic...
G J gave it a9:
You have to raelize that the game eperience is hands down awsome. On the 360 the graphics, gamplay, and sound are amazing. Some people might think it wasn't worth the $60, but you get easy gamerpoints and one great adventure.
Jack D. gave it an8:
Its a really great game that gives you a great experience the first time you play it. But once you beat it in 5 hours you gonna think it wasn't worth $60.
J. Aronovitch gave it a10:
This game is an epic adventure. There is no HUD to distract from the cenematic beauty of Peter Jackson's King Kong. Your screen flashes red when your health is in danger and your character cleverly calls out how much ammo he has left. This may be a multi-platform game but it is also the best looking Xbox 360 game. The game is considered short by some but it's one wild ride. Definately one of the best first person adventures on any console. As a bonus you get to play as Kong which only adds to this already thrilling game.
Steve R gave it a9:
Great video game. The graphics are incredible. The game play keeps you on the edge of your seat.
