Killer Is Dead Critic Reviews

Killer is Dead is yet another Suda masterpiece! Or is it just a childish misogynist slayfest?

Your ultimate goal is to slay your enemies with your katana in the most stylish way as possible. Just like in No More Heroes. Killer is Dead is actually surprising similar to No More Heroes. It is all about dodging and countering at the right time.

A unique experience embedded in a disc format. A must-play action oriented game for veteran/experienced players.

Those who enjoyed Grasshopper’s previous work or are tired of repeatedly being spoon-fed the same game should check out Killer is Dead before it’s rightfully put on “most underrated game” lists in several years by the same people who criticize it now.

Killer is Dead is a hymn to the multifaceted creativity of a game designer still capable of enhancing the vision of the Japanese video game industry.

Bizarre moments and a great combat system, mixed with a psychological thriller that raises more questions than it gives answers; Killer is Dead is a typical Suda51 game. The game is therefore only suitable if you’re open to an anime-style of storytelling or if you have an unquenchable thirst towards hack and slash action games out of Japan.

This is what Suda51 fans want. It's fresh, unique and very, very fun, even though we think it could have used some extra weeks of development to erase that feeling of being a little bit rushed, and become a better game.

This is definitely one hell of a weird experience. The art style is magnificent, the combat exhilarating and the soundtrack interesting. Interesting is also an apt word to describe the humor in the game. However, the level design is rather repetitive and the much advertised 'gigolo' missions are rather limited in options. If you liked similar titles like No More Heroes and Lollipop Chainsaw, you might just like Killer is Dead, if you're willing to overlook its flaws.

Killer is Dead has an excellent technical department, but it's short duration, alongside certain graphic issues, prevent it from sticking out of the crowd. Fans of Suda 51 will love it, while the rest may very well hate it or just be overwhelmed by it's particular gameplay.

Just don't play it around any significant others if you value the future of your relationship at all.

Killer Is Dead successfully separates itself from the pack, but it doesn’t live up to all its potential. It ends too soon, is padded with reused areas, and suffers from tech problems that should be defunct.

Taking cues from its contemporaries, particularly Metal Gear Rising Revengeance, Grasshopper’s hack and slash tale of moon power and misogyny is an entertaining diversion, particularly narratively and artistically, but its gameplay unfortunately lacks the inventiveness or ingenuity to see it mature into a truly timeless action game.

Its combat is neat if still a bit limited, and its dark direction and weird narrative a bit tainted by self-indulgence, but this is still a Grasshopper grindhouse romp worth most of its issues. The danger, I guess, will always be one drink too many.

Killer Is Dead is a competent, and oftentimes superb, action title that is held back by an overly obtuse plot and a dating minigame that did more to turn me off from the game entirely.

An unusual adventure with better-than-average fighting mechanics and a mostly likable cast. But it falls short nearly everywhere else.

Killer Is Dead is some great concepts marred by flawed executions. If Suda51 and company do a sequel, hopefully they can spend a bit more time working on story exposition.

While the narrative is bonkers, Killer Is Dead iterates on tired gameplay to make a gorgeous game playable.

Overall this is a middle of the road experience out of Grasshopper Manufacturer, and I hope to see something bolder and better for their next effort.

Killer is Dead is probably the weakest Suda51 game that I have played, but it has a very enjoyable combat system that might draw in some players like it did with me.

Intriguing – despite a mounting pile of evidence showing that it should be terrible. The characters and story are so outlandish and bizarre that they are fascinating – but the nonsense and clunky mechanics never coalesce into a satisfying experience. It lures you in with the promise of something unique, then botches the execution.