Kingpin: Life of Crime

Starts out GREAT! Wicked atmosphere. Run-down slummy backstreets riddled with gangs, gun shops, pubs and, of course, crime. Hire gangsters, buy weapons and weapon upgrades to survive through the levels. But, a few hours into the game (once all your weapons are upgraded) it turns into a typical, shoot everything that moves, FPS with nothing very special to keep you playing... Just target pratice and health packs really.

KINGPIN is all about a gang-banger getting revenge. You're a thug - beating, shooting, and cursing your way through the ghettos. It's not quite Shakespeare, but it's relatable - had a bad day? Fire up the game, pick up a pipe and start beating the living crap out of someone you think deserves it. When they are nice and dead - steal their last $2 off their bloodied corpse. There, doesn't that feel better? KINGPIN was originally going to have more of a roleplaying aspect to it, and remnants of that are still in the game. There is an etiquette system (approaching people with a weapon out draws immediate violence your way), you acquire tips and quests by talking to people, there are shops, you can modify weapons, bars where help can be bought, etc.. Money, weapons, and muscle are the three primary commodities in the game. You need money to buy weapons, weapon-mods, armor, and medkits. You also need money to hire muscle. KINGPIN is a tough game, and it's nigh impossible to beat it without hiring goons to be in your gang as you take on the other denizens of the underworld. While other shooters of the time were throwing aliens, monsters, and undead nazis at you; KINGPIN came along with a more grounded, gritty realism that was refreshing. It was in-your-face violence with no sugar-coating. The story is serviceable. The graphics stand up very well even today. The action is excellent. The AI is pretty good (though elevators are real hazards). It can have a Dark Souls-like difficulty curve in some situations. This is not a run-in-guns blazing game. In most instances you are going to want to deal with as few enemies at one time as possible, and the greater the distance you can deal with them at - the better. Be sure and download the latest version of Monkey Harris' KINGPIN patch (version 7, as of this writing).

This is another one of those games i just dont forget. Amazingly fun multiplayer, at that time stunning graphics and high paced action. Can it get any better?

I see that almost no one here seems to remember that a Linux client was originally released for this game. I was a beta tester for the Linux version. There is also a Linux server for the game as well. You can grab an installer here: http://icculus.org/~ravage/kingpin/ http://liflg.org/?catid=6&gameid=2 Both have Linux installer that read the cd/files and install it under Linux automatically. It is a great game with some features that games never repeated, the location damage.

Just a quick note, but this game is a must buy for anyone that hasn't played it. I still remember beating it when it first came out, and look forward to again... I dug the install disc's out a few months ago, and reinstalled and played through on a new tablet I'd purchased. Was still impressed, and then I found it on here. I'm sure I'll eventually pick it up here as well just to have a digital copy, it's that good. I don't remember it being that hard, so not positive where that knock is coming from, but a great game regardless! Just be aware of the profanity, as this isn't one I'd play at work with the volume cranked up....