Almost ten years have passed since Tripwire Interactive released the now cult classic Killing Floor 2. Now, finally Killing Floor is back with a third entry in this beloved series. Does it stand tall next to previous titles? Or should it have been executed out of its misery?
Zed’s Dead, Baby
My experience with Killing Floor 2 almost ten years ago was a truly rocky road for a while. My friends had wanted me to try this co-op shooter and finally I relented and gave it a shot, only to be disappointed at first. Then finally it clicked. Fighting wave after wave of Zeds (zombies) and the unique enemies became an absolute blast, so naturally when the third game was announced, my excitement was palpable. After spending a hefty chunk of time now with Killing Floor 3, I’m left with a wave of different emotions, good and bad.
If you have played either of the previous two entries in the Killing Floor series, you’ll know that story takes a major backseat in comparison to gameplay, and Killing Floor 3 is no different. If you are looking for a story rich in detail and lore then this isn’t the game for you, at all. Essentially, the “story” of Killing Floor 3 tasks you with completing ten story-focused missions across the eight maps available at launch. These missions more often than not boil down to simply collecting something on each specific map and then completing the match you are in. That’s quite literally it. These missions are narrated by Cordelia Clamely, the director of Nightfall, the company for which the six playable characters work. Cordelia narrates the series of outbreaks and events that have occurred across these eight maps. It’s mundane and highly forgettable and I challenge the majority of players to recall each mission and see how much they remember. I doubt it’ll be much. In truth, most players or veterans of the Killing Floor franchise aren’t here for the story, they are here for the gameplay and co-op action and thankfully, they pack a real punch.
Wave After Wave, But Bigger And Bolder
Let’s get straight to it. Fundamentally, Killing Floor 3 is an absolute blast to play. If you have played a previous entry in the series, this is a refined and more polished gameplay loop. Playing from a first person perspective, you run, gun and slash your way through waves of enemies which culminates in one of three bosses spawning in the final round. Whilst this survival mode is the only mode available on launch, it’s just so addictive mowing down hordes of Zeds! Movement in particular feels more fluid and rapid; dodging and sliding has never felt so good. In addition, the shooting mechanics remain as satisfying as ever – few games capture the visceral power of shooting like Killing Floor. Also, the new and improved physics system makes for more realistic animations and movements from the enemies. Speaking of enemies, the game sports 13 different types of monsters at launch, with more sure to be added, thus creating good variety for each match, especially with the modifiers which can randomly activate during a round. Happily, for fans of the series, the Scrakes make their return, along with refined enemy types that do more damage this time around, such as the Bloater or Siren.
The game launches with six distinct classes for players to use, known as perks. You have the Commando, Firebug, Ninja, Engineer, Sharpshooter and Medic. Commando acts as a bog standard assault class for newcomers of the series to get accustomed to, whilst Firebug focuses on pyro weapons and equipment. Ninja forms the game’s pure melee class; Engineer acts as your heavy weapon class along with Sharpshooter whose goal is to disperse large groups of enemies. Of course, let’s not forget the Medic, who does the dirty work of keeping the squad (of up to six online players) alive. These classes all come with their own special ability such as the healing field from the medic or the attack drone from the commando. Each class feels varied and unique alongside their own individual perk trees, helping the player customise their class to tailor their gameplay style. This is complemented by the updated progression system which unlocks at level two and then increases in detail as you level each perk up. Class customisation is the strongest it has ever been in the Killing Floor series.
Polished But At What Cost?
Weapons have also had a significant face lift with the customisation systems. The thirty or so weapons at launch can be upgraded by collecting crafting resources throughout each survival match. This creates great replay ability for players wanting to craft and use the ultimate weapon. Every weapon feels solid enough to use and makes mowing down Zeds a damn good time. Of course, like the previous entries, this game is designed to be played in co-op and this is when the game is at its best, as you fight alongside five other players desperately seeking survival. The three difficulties return from previous games: Normal, Hard and Hell On Earth which adds great difficulty spikes for players wanting that challenge. Coupled with the weekly mutation events that add random modifiers, players have great challenges on offer.
It’s not all positive though when it comes to my thoughts on the content available in Killing Floor 3. Yes, I have mentioned quite a few elements to the game but this is all encompassed into one game mode. The game feels polished and streamlined but somewhat hollow. This is at its core a live service game and that rears its ugly head. There is your bog standard battle pass, cosmetics (at launch, extremely disappointing) and deluxe upgrades. A central hub has also been made for the players to party up, craft and yes, be offered the chance to spend real world money. Ugh! Everything you expect, yet not enough modes, maps or enemies. Tripwire have promised, as in the previous game, that there will be a hefty amount of post launch content, but some players may become bored or tired by the time said content makes it appearance.
Blood And Guts Everywhere
Killing Floor has been known for its vast amount of enemies on screen and visceral art style and this third entry succeeds in continuing that style, although with some hiccups. Each of the eight maps are dripping with blood and guts smattering the walls and floors which is bloody disgusting! The maps are varied and vast in design with multiple floors and routes on offer for the player to explore. The problem with the maps I feel is that they all adopt a similar colour pallet and therefore fail to stand out, graphically speaking. Unfortunately during my time playing, I suffered from significant screen tearing, texture pop ins and even missing assets at times. Hopefully, this can be rectified in future updates. Thankfully, the lighting remains superb as in previous entries, making some really tense moments for players wondering where enemies are coming from. Speaking of enemies, they are wonderfully designed and animated to look superbly horrific and monstrous. To sum up, a mixed bag in visual presentation.
In terms of its sound design and soundtrack, Killing Floor 3 absolutely knocks it out of the park. Every bullet piercing a Zed’s skin, every slash of melee weapon against flesh sounds positively sickening, which is brilliant! Enemies sound monstrous and terrifying as they chase you around the map. The slow motion event that occurs in games when the team earns enough points, sounds so cool with distorted sounds and screams and I longed for it to happen more often. This is a superb effort in sound design and let’s not forget about the soundtrack. This collection made by Tripwire, zYnthetic and Rocky Gray is a rip roaring metal rock beat, spliced in with electronic beats to make a potent concoction. It’s like Doom met Cyberpunk; you really won’t want the songs to end, as you blast and slash your way around maps.
Verdict
To sum up Killing Floor 3 is difficult because there is so much to love and yet a decent amount of frustration. Great gameplay, online co-op and superb sound design and score should have seen the game launch to more fanfare. Sadly, a non-existent story, middling visual presentation due to bugs, and a lack of content will sour the experience for some players. There is a great game to be had here, even with the usual live service shenanigans! It’s a case of whether you can see the wood for the trees. I hope the post launch content comes thick and fast like the gameplay!
