For today's review on the Never Ending Backlog, I am checking out Killer is Dead. I feel like I am experiencing the Mandela Effect and remembering seeing the box art for this game. However, after an embarrassingly long amount of research, I have come up empty-handed. I am not thinking of Red Steel, but I feel like there is a game out there with a similar-looking design. Am I going crazy? Possibly.

Here's the Steam Store description of Killer is Dead - Nightmare Edition:

Killer is Dead is an action, hack and slash, single-player game that was released in 2014 by developer Kadokawa Games/Grasshopper Manufacture, published by Deep Silver, and currently retails for $19.99 USD. Let's break it down.

The designer, Goichi Suda (SUDA51), is the mastermind behind the unique art style, and honestly, I think it looks awesome.

I enjoy games that mix animation with visual effects. Games like XIII, Borderlands, etc., were always some of my favorites, largely due to the fact that once you add that animation overlay, it just seems to run smoother and removes a lot of the jaggedness of 3D graphics.

Overall, Killer is Dead flows well. It shows its age, being nearly a decade old and maxing out at 1920 x 1080; however, when 1080 was king, this game would be a sight to see, and fortunately, with the graphic style it uses, it hides its age better than others from that era.

The game is third-person, with random zoomed-in moments for dramatic effect, and I would say it juggles that well. The heavy black/white with red all over, mixed with random colors that pop out here and there, is a nice visual and pulls it away from looking like just another Sin City carbon copy.

The menus for the game are weird. It uses a keyboard and mouse; however, there is no cursor. You use the mouse to select, but the keyboard controls where you are on the menu. It’s not my favorite experience, but you spend little to no time in the menus, so it’s not that big of a deal.

Once you are in the game, the navigation is very well done. WSAD moves your character, and the mouse controls the camera. Actions are a mix of mouse button clicks and keyboard commands, and honestly, it doesn’t seem too complicated. The camera doesn’t get stuck too many times, and your character has a fluidity about him that is enjoyable while playing the game. You do feel like a badass, and with the intro to the game (no spoilers), you’ll quickly see why.

This game does feel as though it was made for a console, though. The screens progressing from episode to episode feel like completing runs in Crazy Taxi with a letter rating and point calculation, and progressing throughout the game just feels as though I should be wielding a controller. After checking out Steam, I do see it has full controller support, so that would make sense. It certainly feels like a port from a console (which it was released on the Xbox 360 and PS3); however, I will note that it doesn’t feel like a bad port. Especially when it was released on the 360. It seemed like a lot of the games that came out for Windows PC and 360 tend to have a terrible PC port where it would use the onscreen control assistance as an Xbox 360 controller, even if you were using a keyboard and mouse. Killer is Dead does a good job migrating to the keyboard and mouse and having the tutorials match it.

Beyond graphics, the audio in this game is exceptional. To be more precise, the soundtrack is exceptional. The voice acting could certainly use some improvement, and it seems rather weak for a game that is 9 years old. For reference, games like Alien: Isolation, Far Cry 4, and Shadow of Mordor were all released in 2014. However, the songs in this game are amazing. They are a combination of high-energy and smooth jazz, reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop. If you haven't heard of it, check it out 👇

In Killer is Dead, you play as Mondo Zappa (what a cool name). It's a series of episodes that provide a ranking at the end of each episode. The transitions are smooth, and there is an overarching story that drives the game with cutscenes throughout. It has strong Kill Bill vibes, which is fair considering I read online that SUDA51 has been referred to as the Quentin Tarantino of game design.

Gameplay is similar to Devil May Cry and relies on combos, dodging, and insane slicing and dicing. There is quite a bit of gore, so if you're squeamish, you might want to pass on this one. I didn't get far into the game; however, I hear there is a dating/sexual simulator built into this game, which I never got the chance to experience (for better or worse). Whenever I see a Japanese game with a dating theme, I always think of the JRPG, Thousand Arms on the PlayStation. My buddy had a copy of it when I was in middle/high school, and I remember one of the dialogs was choosing your best feature, and he had chosen his hairy legs, and his date's voice dialog was, "I don't like you," and the date was over. To this day, we say that quote while playing games like Dark Souls, Elden Ring, Overwatch, etc. and just start chuckling.

Back to the topic at hand, Killer is Dead is a suave, slicer-upper that sticks to a story and allows the player to develop a relationship with the characters.

In the end, if you are drawn to the game after seeing some screenshots, then you will probably enjoy it. This game is suitable for those who enjoy high-octane jazz or are fans of anime. I’m not sure if I'll return to Killer is Dead since it’s not my usual type of game. I think I would enjoy it more if it were remastered for the Nintendo Switch or something similar (I have no idea why it would ever be released on a Nintendo product). However, I feel like I would enjoy it more on a console, especially a handheld console. Overall, though, I recommend this game. It is well-designed, functions well, is not overly expensive, and is unique enough to justify the price for a nearly 10-year-old game. In the end, it made me load up the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack again, so that’s a win.