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Those who love the Hitman games feel kind of like they’re privy to one of gaming’s best-kept secrets. While the Hitman titles are…well, a hit, they don’t seem to be as ubiquitous as other big-name franchises. Now Hitman developers IO are tackling an equally as morally bankrupt premise – two escaped death-row inmates on a killing rampage. It’s a stretch, but IO’s managed to pull it off very well.

Virgin Eyes

For those of you thinking this is all the same sort of senseless violence found in games like Manhunt, well, you’re only half right. Yes, Kane is a death-row inmate and career criminal, but this latest killing spree is done in the name of protecting his family. Meanwhile, homicidal maniac Lynch finds himself caught up in Kane’s predicament when he makes a deal with some very bad men.

All that being said, the violence and behavior of the protagonists in this game are simply shocking. The game is constantly putting you into incredible situations – Lynch blacking out and killing a handful of bank hostages; Kane witnessing the murder of the mother of his child and proceeding to beat the murderer to death with a shovel; the list goes on.

The game features enough F-bombs to make Quentin Tarantino wince. But the story carries all of this swearing and violence very well with a sort of gangster movie grit that gives the main characters the proper motivation for what they’re doing. Is it over-the-top? Absolutely. But it doesn’t ever feel pointless.

Unlikely Team

Kane & Lynch is all about teamwork. It’s a straight-forward action game that sees you – as Kane moving from level to level, shooting people who shoot at you. Rob a bank, take part in a getaway, kidnap a hostage from a busy Tokyo nightclub (a fantastic-looking scene, by the way), you do almost all of it with Lynch by your side.

While Lynch is a hired gun in most cases, he’s also there to revive you should you take one too many bullets. Your partner will pump you full of adrenaline (we assume) when you “die,” giving you the opportunity to keep going. Get pumped up too many times in the course of a level, though, and Kane will die of an overdose. Likewise, it’s up to you, as Kane, to watch Lynch’s back as well.

The action here feels pretty similar to the fare found in Hitman, though without the stealthy bits. The camera is good, for the most part, but can be a pain in the ass at times. Kane & Lynch also suffers from a fair bit of trial-and-error game play. Often the game wants you to do something very specific to move forward, and only by doing the wrong thing a few times will you finally figure out what you’re supposed to be doing.

Want to see what Lynch is actually doing when he’s off on his own? That’s what co-op multiplayer is all about. In this mode, a second player fills Lynch’s shoes and controls the psycho when he goes on his murderous rampages. The co-op setup works really well, as does the odd time when the two anti-heroes part company for a short while.

Betrayal

Kane & Lynch comes complete with an online mode, too, but its not just another way to play co-op. Online play is based around a group of criminals pulling off a heist. Here, players must work together to garner the biggest score, but can betray each other when the time is right in order to make off with all the loot themselves. It’s a really creative play mode that adds a whole new dimension to the game. Overall Kane & Lynch is an interesting -- if overly violent -- take on the “buddy” game. The tag-team setup adds something to what would already be a solid action game and makes it that much better.

Review by: Greg Stewart
Video Produced by: Joel Rubin