Killing Time (video game)

Last updated
Killing Time
Killing Time cover.png
Developer(s) Studio 3DO (3DO) [a] [b]
Publisher(s) The 3DO Company [c]
Director(s) Larry Reed
Al Tofanelli
Producer(s) JuliAnn Juras Appler
Programmer(s) Larry Reed, Rebecca Heineman
Artist(s) Al Tofanelli
Composer(s) Robert Vieira
Engine ZX (3DO version), Jaguar Doom (PC version), KEX Engine (remaster)
Platform(s)
Release
November 1995
  • 3DO
    • EU: November 10, 1995 [1]
    • NA: November 1995
  • Windows
    • NA: December 9, 1996 [2]
  • Macintosh
    • NA: December 5, 1997 [3]
  • Resurrected
  • Windows, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
  • October 17, 2024
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single player

Killing Time is a horror-themed first-person shooter video game developed by Studio 3DO. Originally an exclusive for their 3DO platform in 1995, it was later remade for the Windows and Macintosh platforms in 1996 by Logicware after the 3DO system was discontinued. On July 23, 2015, ZOOM Platform announced the release of an updated version of Killing Time exclusively for their store. The update work was done by Jordan Freeman Group and published by ZOOM Platform and Prism Entertainment. [4]

Contents

The player takes on the role of a former Egyptology student, trapped within the estate of a wealthy heiress on Matinicus Isle, Maine. In 1932, during the night of the Summer Solstice, heiress Tess Conway, while attempting to use a mystical Ancient Egyptian Water-Clock which purportedly grants eternal life, vanished, along with many of her society friends. The player's objective is to find, and destroy, the Water-Clock, and discover the secrets of the estate, all while beating back the many horrors that now occupy the island from beyond the grave.

Throughout the game the plot is slowly revealed to the player through numerous vignettes performed by live actors. An unusual aspect of the game is that live action full-motion video characters overlap with the real time gameplay, without breaking to cutscenes. [5] The only exceptions are the opening and closing sequences.

A remastered version of the game titled Killing Time: Resurrected was released on October 17, 2024, featuring assets from both the PC and 3DO versions. [6]

Gameplay

The gameplay follows the standard set by most first-person shooters with the player using an assortment of weapons. These include a crowbar, dual-pistols, a shotgun, a Thompson submachine gun (Tommy-gun), Molotov cocktails, a flamethrower, and a magical Ankh which can be used to wipe out many enemies at a time. The game does not come with any form of multiplay. To beat the game one must collect a number of vases spread throughout Matinicus Isle, each containing a symbolic part of Tess Conway's spirit. These vases also grant one-time per playthrough power ups. Some sections require the player to strafe, crouch, or jump. The game takes place on a rather large, nonlinear island, with no load times in between sections. Enemies defeated and items taken are permanent for the duration of a playthrough, with guarded weapon caches scattered throughout the island.

Plot

The player character is a college student (voiced by Bruce Robertson) out to discover the mystery behind a missing Egyptian artifact. The ancient "Water-Clock of Thoth" had been discovered by his Egyptology professor, Dr. Hargrove, but the artifact went missing soon after a visit by the expedition's patron, Tess Conway. Tess is the heiress of her family's estate on Matinicus Isle, where she keeps her friends, and pawns close by so that she might gain the true power of the Water-Clock. As the game progresses, the player finds out that Tess has used a number of people to gain what she desires, but at a price. Something went horribly wrong, transforming everyone on the entire isle (including the wildlife) into either restless ghosts, demons or the undead. In the opening cinematic on all versions of the game, Boldt Castle located on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands region of the Saint Lawrence River is used as the visual representation of the Conway Estate.

Characters

Development and release

The 3DO version was started under the working title of "Zombie Xanadu", a first person maze game inspired by Agatha Christie, [7] utilizing its own custom ZX engine that allowed seamless streaming of map data. The campaign was created using the Doom Editing Utility and then converted to the game's map format. [8]

The game's original release came as a red CD. Players found a glitch in the game that happens in the clown stage.[ citation needed ] The screen becomes pixelated and obscures the view of the entire area. The publisher allowed purchasers to mail them their red copy for a fixed version of the game, which appears on a black disk. Since so few purchasers sent in copies, the red version remains fairly common, but the black version is rare.[ citation needed ] The 3DO Game Guru includes a save file patch which fixes the bug.

In 1996 Acclaim Entertainment acquired the rights to release three Studio 3DO games for the PlayStation, Saturn, and PC, including Killing Time. [9] [10] However, while Acclaim did publish the other two games for those platforms, they did not do so with Killing Time, even though a release date was announced [11] and it was advertised in magazines [12] and on the back of some manuals on games published by the company.

On July 23, 2015, ZOOM Platform announced the release of an updated version of Killing Time exclusively for their store. The update work was done by Jordan Freeman Group and published by ZOOM Platform and Prism Entertainment. [13] The game was also re-released onto GOG.com by Ziggurat Interactive on November 10, 2016. [14]

It was announced on June 6, 2024 that a remaster of the game was being developed by Nightdive Studios under the name Killing Time: Resurrected. [15] It was released on October 17, 2024. [16] [6] James "Quasar" Haley, one of the developers of the remastered version, confirmed the PC version was based on the Atari Jaguar version of Doom that had previously been worked on by developer Rebecca Heineman. [17] However, the actual level creation was completed using the Build editor from Duke Nukem 3D and then converted to game's map format. [18]

Reception

The original 3DO release received mostly positive reviews. Critics for both Next Generation and GamePro praised the fast game engine and combination of intense first-person shooting with brain-stimulating adventure elements. [22] [23] GamePro also approved of the stylish visuals and music and especially the use of real-life weapons for the player's arsenal, though they criticized the need to use button combinations to change weapons or look up and down. [23] Next Generation complimented the humor and concluded, "In short, Killing Time is the bastard child of Doom and 7th Guest , and it works." [22] GameSpot concluded that the PC version was a "breath of very fresh air", due "largely to a thoughtful design interweaving setting and story with healthy doses of gunplay and gore." [24]

The game was awarded the 3DO Adventure Game of the Year. [25] In 1996, GamesMaster ranked the 3DO version 2nd on their "The GamesMaster 3DO Top 10." [26]

Killing Time: Resurrected Reception

The remaster developed by Nightdive Studios received "mixed or average" reviews according to Metacritic. [27]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ported to Windows and Mac OS by Logicware.
  2. ↑ Remastered version developed by Nightdive Studios.
  3. ↑ Remastered version co-published by Nightdive Studios and Ziggurat Interactive.

Related Research Articles

<i>Quake</i> (video game) 1996 video game

Quake is a first-person shooter game developed by id Software and published by GT Interactive. The first game in the Quake series, it was originally released for MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, and Linux in 1996, followed by Mac OS and Sega Saturn in 1997 and Nintendo 64 in 1998.

<i>System Shock</i> 1994 video game

System Shock is a 1994 first-person action-adventure video game developed by LookingGlass Technologies and published by Origin Systems. It was directed by Doug Church with Warren Spector serving as producer. The game is set aboard a space station in a cyberpunk vision of the year 2072. Assuming the role of a nameless security hacker, the player attempts to hinder the plans of a malevolent artificial intelligence called SHODAN.

<i>Sin</i> (video game) 1998 video game

Sin is a first-person shooter video game developed by Ritual Entertainment and published by Activision in 1998. It uses a modified version of the Quake II engine. Sin is set in the dystopian future of 2037, where John Blade, a commander in a security force named HardCorps in the megacity of Freeport, is tasked to rid the city of a recreational drug that may be tied to the rival biotechnology megacorporation, SinTek.

<i>Doom II</i> 1994 video game

Doom II, also known as Doom II: Hell on Earth, is a first-person shooter game in the Doom franchise developed by id Software. It was released for MS-DOS in 1994 and Mac OS in 1995. Unlike the original Doom, which was initially only available through shareware and mail order, Doom II was sold in stores.

<i>Turok: Dinosaur Hunter</i> 1997 video game

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is a first-person shooter video game developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Acclaim for the Nintendo 64 console and Microsoft Windows. It was released in 1997 in North America and Europe. Turok is an adaptation of the Valiant Comics comic book series of the same name. The player controls Turok, a Native American warrior, who must stop the evil Campaigner from conquering the universe with an ancient and powerful weapon.

<i>Star Wars: Dark Forces</i> 1995 video game

Star Wars: Dark Forces is a first-person shooter video game developed and published by LucasArts. It was released in 1995 for MS-DOS and Macintosh, and in 1996 for the PlayStation. The story is set in the Star Wars expanded universe and begins shortly before the original Star Wars film, before flashing forward to a year after the film's events. The game's protagonist and playable character is Kyle Katarn, a mercenary working on behalf of the Rebel Alliance who discovers the Galactic Empire's secret Dark Trooper Project, which involves the development of a series of powerful new battle droids and power-armored stormtroopers.

<i>Flashback</i> (1992 video game) 1992 video game

Flashback, released as Flashback: The Quest for Identity in the United States, is a 1992 science fiction cinematic platform game. It was developed by Delphine Software of France and published by U.S. Gold in the United States and Europe, and by Sunsoft in Japan.

<i>Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil</i> 2005 video game

Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil is a survival horror first-person shooter video game developed by Nerve Software and published by Activision. It was released for Microsoft Windows worldwide on April 4, 2005, as an expansion pack and sequel to Doom 3 and on October 5, 2005, for the Xbox video game console. The Xbox version does not require the original Doom 3 in order to play, and includes The Ultimate Doom, Doom II: Hell on Earth and Master Levels for Doom II. A remastered version of Resurrection of Evil was included with Doom 3: BFG Edition.

<i>Syndicate</i> (1993 video game) 1993 video game

Syndicate is an isometric real-time tactical and strategic game from Bullfrog Productions created in 1993, and released for a variety of platforms beginning with the PC and Commodore Amiga. It is the first title in the Syndicate series. Set in a dystopian future in which corporations have replaced governments, Syndicate puts the player in control of a corporation vying for global dominance.

<i>Doom 64</i> 1997 video game

Doom 64 is a 1997 first-person shooter video game developed and published by Midway Games for the Nintendo 64. It is the second spin-off in id Software's Doom series after Final Doom (1996), and the fourth game in the series overall. A remaster was developed by Nightdive Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in March 2020, and for Stadia in May 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebecca Heineman</span> American video game programmer

Rebecca Ann Heineman is an American video game designer and programmer. Heineman was a founding member of video game companies Interplay Productions, Logicware, Contraband Entertainment, and Olde Sküül. She has been chief executive officer for Olde Sküül since 2013.

<i>D</i> (video game) 1995 horror adventure video game

D is a horror-themed interactive movie and adventure game developed by Warp and directed by Kenji Eno. It was first published by Panasonic for 3DO in 1995, later being ported to the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and MS-DOS. The story follows Laura Harris as she goes to investigate a hospital after learning her father went on a mass murdering spree and barricaded himself inside. The hospital morphs into a castle upon her arrival, which she must explore to find her father. The player controls Laura through computer generated full-motion video (FMV) sequences, and must complete the game within two hours without a save or pause function.

<i>POed</i> 1995 video game

PO'ed is a 1995 first-person shooter video game developed and published by Any Channel for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. It follows a chef attempting to escape a hostile, alien world. A PlayStation port was published in May 1996 by Accolade. A remastered version of the game developed by Nightdive Studios, titled PO'ed: Definitive Edition, was released on May 16, 2024 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

Turok is a series of first-person shooter video games based on the comic book character of the same name. It is set in a primitive world inhabited by dinosaurs and other creatures. The series was originally developed by Acclaim Studios Austin as Iguana Entertainment and published by Acclaim Entertainment from 1997 until Acclaim's bankruptcy in September 2004. A series reboot was then developed by Propaganda Games and published by Disney Interactive Studios. The series generated more than $250 million in revenue by 2002.

<i>Gex</i> (video game) 1995 platform video game

Gex is a 1995 platform game developed by Crystal Dynamics. It was originally released for the 3DO; ports of the game for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn were later developed by Beam Software, and a Windows version was released by Microsoft. It was a pack-in game for Panasonic models of the 3DO later in the console's life. It is the first in the Gex series of video games, and introduces players to the title character, a wisecracking, television-obsessed gecko voiced by comedian Dana Gould, who must venture through the "Media Dimension" and defeat Rez, the overlord of the dimension who wants to make Gex into his new network mascot.

<i>Samurai Shodown</i> (1993 video game) 1993 video game

Samurai Shodown, known in Japan as Samurai Spirits, is a fighting game developed and published by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home platform. Released in 1993, it is the first installment in the Samurai Shodown series. In contrast to other fighting games at the time, which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan and was SNK's first arcade fighting game to focus primarily on weapon-based combat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightdive Studios</span> American video game developer

Night Dive Studios, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Vancouver, Washington and a subsidiary of Atari SA. The company is known for obtaining rights to abandonware video games, updating them for compatibility with modern platforms, and re-releasing them via digital distribution services, supporting preservation of older games. Many of the company's releases use the internally developed KEX Engine.

<i>System Shock</i> (2023 video game) 2023 video game

System Shock is a 2023 action-adventure game developed by Nightdive Studios and published by Prime Matter. It is a remake of the 1994 game System Shock by Looking Glass Studios. The game is set aboard a space station in a cyberpunk vision of the year 2072. Assuming the role of a nameless security hacker, the player attempts to hinder the plans of a malevolent artificial intelligence called SHODAN.

<i>Bubsy 3D: Bubsy Visits the James Turrell Retrospective</i> 2013 video game

Bubsy 3D: Bubsy Visits the James Turrell Retrospective is a downloadable 3D platform video game developed by indie game developer Arcane Kids. Touted as an educational experience, it is a facetious spiritual successor to Bubsy 3D, an entry from the Bubsy series of video games, and was created as a tribute to the game for its 20th anniversary. The game follows Bubsy Bobcat as he travels through a nightmarish scenario upon visiting the real-life retrospective tribute of postmodern artist James Turrell. It was released in autumn 2013 – shortly after the domain name for Bubsy 3D's official website had expired. In 2017, in addition to making a downloadable version of the game available due to the fading support of the browser version of Unity, a remastered version of the game was made available with high-definition graphics and a new epilogue following Bubsy reminiscing over the events of the game and meeting his older self.

References

  1. ↑ "Arcade smash unleashed" . Heartland Evening News: the Voice of Nuneaton, Hinckley, Bedworth and Atherstone . November 11, 1995. p. 8. Retrieved July 25, 2023. There's a new first person perspective shoot 'em up out on the 3DO machine this week entitled Killing Time.
  2. ↑ "Online Gaming Review". February 27, 1997. Archived from the original on February 10, 1998. Retrieved April 22, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ↑ "What's New". June 1998. Archived from the original on June 10, 1998. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Zoom Releases Killing Time Game and Announces Strategic Partnership with Prism Entertainment". Lightning Releases (Press release). Zoom / Prism Entertainment. July 23, 2015. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Killing Time". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 76. Ziff Davis. November 1995. pp. 142–143.
  6. 1 2 "Killing Time: Resurrected Released". Blue's News. 2024-10-17. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  7. ↑ McCaig, Iain (7 December 2022). "Killing Time Video Game Box Cover Art (3DO)". Comic Art Fans. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  8. ↑ Nightdive Studios (5 December 2024). "Conv2ZX.txt" . Retrieved 15 December 2024. The contents of the Conv2ZX folder are the original source levels for the 3DO version of the game, which were created using the DOS Doom editor, DEU.
  9. ↑ "In the Studio". Next Generation . No. 19. Imagine Media. July 1996. p. 20.
  10. ↑ "Acclaim to Bring 3DO Titles to PSX, Saturn". GamePro . No. 85. IDG. August 1996. p. 17.
  11. ↑ "Coming Soon". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 94. Ziff Davis. May 1997. p. 29.
  12. ↑ "Advertisement". GamePro . No. 105. IDG. June 1997. p. 95.
  13. ↑ "Exclusive Release: Killing Time". Zoom Platform. July 23, 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  14. ↑ "Release: Killing Time". GOG.com . November 10, 2016. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  15. ↑ Scullion, Chris (2024-06-06). "3DO horror comedy FPS Killing Time is being remastered by Nightdive Studios". VGC. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  16. ↑ Romano, Sal (October 17, 2024). "Killing Time: Resurrected launches October 17". Gematsu. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  17. ↑ Haley, James (11 October 2024). "Killing Time: Resurrected". Doomworld . Retrieved 27 November 2024. The original PC version of Killing Time uses a heavily modified version of the Jaguar Doom codebase. All asset loading, 2D drawing, and system code were replaced with BurgerLib components.
  18. ↑ MacDee, Mike (16 May 2013). "MY INTERVIEW with MIKE LUTYNSKI". The Conway Estate. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  19. ↑ Sackenheim, Shawn. "Killing Time (3DO) Review". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  20. ↑ Lisa Karen Savignano. "Killing Time (Macintosh) Review". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  21. ↑ Michael L. House. "Killing Time (PC) Review". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  22. 1 2 3 "Killing Time - Rating 3DO". Next Generation . No. 12. Imagine Media. December 1995. p. 185.
  23. 1 2 Atomic Dawg (January 1996). "ProReview: Killing Time". GamePro . No. 88. IDG. p. 104.
  24. ↑ Poole, Stephen (1 May 2000). "Killing Time Review". GameSpot . Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  25. ↑ "And The Winner Is... 3DO Awards Honor Best of the Best for 1995; Electronic Arts' Road-Ripping Need for Speed Named 'Game of the Year'". Business Wire (Press release). 3DO Company. December 19, 1995. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2021– via The Free Dictionary.
  26. ↑ "The GameMasters 3DO Top 10" (PDF). GamesMaster. No. 44. July 1996. p. 75.
  27. ↑ "Killing Time: Resurrected". Metacritic. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.