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Kane & Lynch didn't receive the best response from gamers or critics on its release back in 2007, despite sounding like it was going to be something worth paying attention to; the third person co-op shooter is back for another outing and this time the focus is upon Lynch as opposed to Kane, could this be the shift that will make the difference?
The story begins in Shanghai, Lynch has found peace and has his psychopathic tendencies under control, however, he's still looking out for that one big day that is going to set him up for life. Things inevitably go wrong for Lynch and he calls upon his old pal Kane for some support; soon the pair are fleeing for their lives across the rooftops of Shanghai, with cracks appearing in Lynch's sanity and Kane looking less and less composed, it's only a matter of time before there's going to be copious amounts of violence. What started off as a simple thing soon turns into 48 hours of hell for the protagonists of this tale.
IO Interactive have gone back to the drawing board for this new title and brought a certain amount of realism to the table, taking details from the real world that are often taken for granted but bringing them to the video game world in a more natural way. Often when action games are presented the developers show the action in pretty much the same way a slick Hollywood film would, but, in Kane & Lynch 2 this isn't so and you get a much more documentary feel to the proceedings, as if someone just happens to be mixed up in the action with a camcorder.
As a result of the new approach IO Interactive have been able to give the whole experience a much less scripted feeling which is set to delight fans looking for something a little different; as IO themselves say, they are actually un-polishing the game to make it a more gritty and real experience. As you move through Shanghai the camera is given a myriad of effects to convey its life like appeal; dust speckles and lens flare from objects even when it might not be convenient just as in real life; it's a low-tech experience that has been generated by using hi-tech equipment, it's certainly an interesting approach and one that looks to be working out quite well.
The developers have also employed the talents of Mona Mur, a successful German vocalist whose had experience with a wide variety of projects in the past to help bring the sounds of Dog Days to life, the team actually went to Shanghai and recorded some of the noises you would expect to hear which were used in her creative process, as well as the background sounds in the game. The soundtrack has been born from using a mixture of old school instruments and analogue tools to the very latest cutting edge musical effects; the result is a bleak and industrial like experience.
It isn't all about making a new gaming experience however, IO Interactive are promising some neat innovations as well. One of the features of the gameplay the developers are keen to point out is the 'Down not Dead' action; if a player finds themselves shot while in certain situations then they'll be given the chance to rethink what's just happened and act upon it. For instance, if a player finds themselves in a bit of an ambush situation where you've multiple targets to take down then you might make the wrong decision and take out the enemy with a pistol rather than the one with the shotgun aimed at your head. Should that shotgun take you out then you'll get the chance to rewind time and take the guy out first, thus bringing you back into the fight, however, if you get this chance wrong then you'll die.
As well as the main story you can also expect the Fragile Alliance game mode to make a comeback. As with the original game you take on the role of a bank robber involved with several of your cohorts in a heist, you get in to the bank and get as much money as you can and hope that none of your fellow bank robbers decide to betray and take what you've stolen for themselves. The gameplay for this mode has been refined in Dog Days and now it's going to be a lot more difficult for you to turn on your friends; players will now have the chance to set explosive traps for each other and the Down not Dead feature from the main campaign is also used in this mode as well. On top of that that you'll also be able to use other players as human shields, doing so will set off it's own particular minigame. The best bit about this mode? The action takes place over a period of four minutes so you're really going to have to have your wits about you to make it out of the bank with the most money.
Kane and Lynch games are obviously designed to be multiplayer experiences, but for those of you who might fancy some solo action then you'll now be able to play on your own with the help of the AI. The Fragile Alliance mode can now be played solo as well, letting your practice your bank robbing skills without the having to find a group of other players online. This not only gives you targets to beat but also records your progress, both offline against yourself, and online against your friends. Should you beat a specific target then you'll also be given the chance to brag about it to your friends who might not have fared so well.
Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days is certainly turning into an anticipated title; it's promising to be so much more than its predecessor and will hopefully live up to expectations. Watch out for further coverage and our review when the game releases later this year.
