Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days Critic Reviews

A lovingly crafted, full-bodied shooter.

In short: Kane and Lynch 2 is a vast improvement over the original and a multiplayer must.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days provides what the original could not - fantastically gory action over a stunning backdrop of mob warfare and careless violence. There are still a few issues carried over that mar the overall package, but both Mr Kane and Mr Lynch now most definitely have our full attention.

Ultimately, IO Interactive deserves a big pat on the pack for recognising the shortcomings of the first Kane & Lynch, going back to the drawing board to create something that's not only infinitely better, but also hugely entertaining and enjoyable in spite of its flaws.

If you are looking for action, difficulty and a good story with lots of politically incorrect humour, this is your game.

The gunplay is tighter and the online features are better, but even as a measurable improvement over the original, Kane & Lynch 2 feels like it's still catching up with what others in the genre have been doing right all along. It isn't quite the blockbuster it intends to be, but it is a competent if unexceptional shooter with unmistakable flavor and interesting online modes.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is dirty and ruthless. Thanks to the compelling staging the more usual story isn't such a big failure. The developers did well to keep the gun fighting diversified so that every fight is new.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is a great action game, with some original ideas that make up for one of the greatest action games thus far this year. We get the complete package: Great coop and competitive game modes, compelling gameplay and story, good visuals and a couple of charming characters.

Despite its linearity, Kane & Lynch 2 offers memorable action sequences. There's a true visual identity, very efficient for conveying a brutal, ugly, reality that really captures our attention. Io Interactive was able to correct its original game, in order to deliver a visceral, life-like follow-up.

In conclusion, if you're a fan of the criminal underworld gaming genre, than you're in for a treat as you are taken on a wild journey with your two hosts, Kane and Lynch.

This explosive follow-up builds on all the things we enjoyed about the first game while enhancing--or completely replacing--most of the elements that dragged Dead Men into the doldrums.

Kane and Lynch 2 is a definite improvement over its predecessor, but it still has some flaws. The cover system is still clunky and the singleplayer campaign is definitely too short. Still, the game has a great style. It's movie-like, with a charismatic leading pair of characters, original online modes and the added treat of the co-op campaign. It could've been more, but as it is, it's just a pretty good shooter.

Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days is not without its problems, and as a modern third-person shooter it appallingly lacks some gameplay elements that are considered standard in games of this type. Despite these shortcomings it still deserves to be played, largely due to its great visual style and atmosphere, easy to pick up and enjoy multiplayer modes and co-op offerings.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is a superior sequel; a game that I enjoyed much more than the original, both in story and presentation style, and thankfully they worked in the online co-op.

I have to admit, Dog Days was a much better showing for the duo but not quite what I had hoped for in terms of gameplay.

The Story may end a bit disappointingly and the level design is far from flawless, but nice gameplay-ideas and (above all) a great multiplayer-experience help to keep this game from being completely unworthy of your time. In fact: as soon as you go for the multiplayer-features (coop!), this game definitely has its moments.

You´ll either love it or hate it but there are things about Kane & Lynch 2 that won´t make you forget it. The graphics are refreshingly unique, the characters shine like dark diamonds out of the mass of your-average-videogame-hero and the story will shock you. But please, do not talk about the gunplay, ever.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is a good game for those that are tired of the classical shooter games. It's not the best game out there but it will guarantee you a lot of entertainment filled hours.

Like its protagonists, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is flawed. The single-player game is quite short, the story ends rather abruptly, and the difficulty of Arcade mode ramps up a bit too slowly.

A unique experience that improves upon the original in almost every way, but the excitement of the story is washed down by limited content.