It's the "help me make sense of Killer 7 thread!" lol

[Siren2011]

Sup, niggas? I would like to share the following with those who have played this game to completion. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT YET PLAYED THE GAME. THIS ANALYSIS CONTAINS A BUTTLOAD OF SPOILERS.

Ahem.


Killer 7 Plot Interpretation by me.

THEORY SUBJECT TO CHANGE WHEN I PLAY THE GAME AGAIN. I AM GOING OFF OF MEMORY ALONE FROM WHEN I DID PLAY IT, SO THAT CAN BE MISLEADING. /caps lock

Let's just get this out of the way, though it should go without saying: this story is not based in reality in the sense that, say, Goldeneye 007 is. (Minus Alec's absurd ressurection from the dead.) Supernatural, nonsensical arthouse bullshit happens, and I've learned that you just gotta ignore it and focus instead on what is important and sensible, because it will not help you in any way understand the story better. For example, the mystery behind Iwazaru's wife is as insignificant as it is stupid to wonder about. She's a fucking minor character. That's all you need to know.

The Union Hotel incident was a brutal murdering of the anti-terrorist organization known as the Killer 7. Emir Parkreiner was the assailant. This event troubled him deeply, and he couldn't believe what the Japanese government had brainwashed him to do. The scene at the end, when Emir shoots himself in the head is meant to be symbolic from what I understand of it. He didn't actually blow his brains out, but he ceased to be Emir and Garcian was born in his wake. Memories of his real name and what happened that night would not resurface until the end of the game.

The third eye crap remains complete nonsense to me.

And as everyone knows, multiple personality disorder can manifest itself in the subject's mind after they have traumatic experiences. How fitting, then, that the seven personalities Garcian (Grown up Emir) incorperates into the whole of his identity are his own victims from that fateful night. From then onward, that is what I believe happened. The Killer 7 actually did exist at one time, but after the incident it became a one man show. One possible interpretation is that Harman never existed, either and was a figment of Garcian's imagination. Someone had to call the shots, give mission orders, etc. But Garcian was not strong enough to do this on his own. Hence the need for a dominant, alternate personality.

But there is a serious, twofold problem with this theory.

1. When Dan Smith conversed with Curtis Blackburn, that should have been a dead giveaway that the Killer 7 members co-exist as physical entities. Obviously Garcian can't make a convincing Dan, so Curtis would have called his bluff immediately.

2. The case of Harman Smith. Him and Kun Lan are apparently immortal enemies and representations of good and evil. I really don't want to say that their apperances are symbolic, because that's sooo fucking cheesy. For now, they remain a mystery and a contradiction. (Since Garcian couldn't have fought Kun Lan. I just can't believe that Garcian hallucinated both of them.)

So if problem #1 is to be taken into consideration, we still cannot rule out multiple personality disorder!! Because guess what? The rooftop scene at the end of the game? Yeah...Garcian opened his briefcase for the first time in the whole game, and he was stunned to find that every syndicate member's weapon was with him all along.

So we are left with a confusing paradox, and we can't help but question if this plot is ultimately tangible at all.

Please feel free to point out any errors whatsoever. Remember, the purpose of this thread is to understand what the fuck goes on in this awesome game. That means any other interpretations are strongly encouraged to be posted here. Or do you think the plot is stupid and this game sucks? Then tell us that and explain why!

[Estebang]

http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/919768-killer7/faqs/38193

[Siren2011]

Holy shit. That's awesome! He really goes in depth. *Starts reading*

[Estebang]

I've read that entire FAQ. Most of his analyses are very well-argued and believable, though he's disowned the entire thing since.

By the way, which version of the game did you play? While the GC version is on two discs, it has much shorter loading times and some graphical effects missing from the PS2 port. And the game was obviously designed for the GC controller.

Something many don't know about: the distorted voices were intelligible in the Japanese version. They were ridiculously bad Engrish--they literally ran the Japanese script through Babelfish and got a TTS program to read it. The effect was intentional.

Here's a neat, very early beta trailer. Garcian looks completely different. The music made it into the final game unchanged.

[Siren2011]

it has much shorter loading times

Oh, man. Tell me about it. I had originally played through the game in 2008 or 2009 (I don't remember which) on the Gamecube and it was heavenly.

Only recently have I tried playing the PS2 version (because I no longer had the GC version at the time, but I do now.) and it's an absolutely despicable excuse for a port. Waiting thirty seconds every time you enter a new room is enough to make the most mild mannered gamer want to throw his PS2 out the window. What on earth made them think that they were done with the game with this huge issue plaguing it?

...and some graphical effects missing from the PS2 port.

Interesting... I had no idea. I could tell that something was... off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

[Estebang]

It's no mistake that Grasshopper intended K7 to be a Gamecube exclusive, and the shoddy PS2 port was entirely Capcom's fault.

The JPN GC box art is awesome. Looks like a printing error.

[Siren2011]

That does look great. Simple and stylish. Gets the job done.

Regarding stylish box designs, I also quite like the Japanese GC box art for Viewtiful Joe, as well as the Japanese Bayonetta front.

But if I was to pick another Grasshopper Manufacture game? I think both Blood+ One Night Kiss and The Silver Case have Killer 7 beat in that department. TSC more so, though.

[njiska]

I've read that entire FAQ. Most of his analyses are very well-argued and believable, though he's disowned the entire thing since.

By the way, which version of the game did you play? While the GC version is on two discs, it has much shorter loading times and some graphical effects missing from the PS2 port. And the game was obviously designed for the GC controller.

Something many don't know about: the distorted voices were intelligible in the Japanese version. They were ridiculously bad Engrish--they literally ran the Japanese script through Babelfish and got a TTS program to read it. The effect was intentional.

Here's a neat, very early beta trailer. Garcian looks completely different. The music made it into the final game unchanged.

Christ, i remember reading that entire thing during a midnight shift and it did my head in. The plot of K7 is just ridiculously complex and layered.

What effects were missing from the PS2 port? I own both copies, but I've only ever played the GC version. It was clearly built for that controller anyways. I did know about the voices thing and i always thought that was kind of a neat effect. Now I'm kind of tempted to play it again.

[mesh control]

How accessible is this game? Like, how's the pacing? Is it pretty slow or does it pick up later on? I fell asleep watching a let's play...-_-

[Estebang]

I believe the "room full of color-shifting flower petals" effect near the end is really toned down on the PS2, and the game is less crisp overall. There's other graphical downgrades I'm not sure of.

The first chapter of K7 is very breezy and accessible. But it gets progressively more obtuse and sluggish later on, especially during Cloudman. There's a few bosses and puzzles where 90% of players will probably end up looking at a FAQ, and not because they're legitimately difficult. It takes a certain kind of person to fully enjoy the experience it offers, and it's most certainly not a game for "everyone," which of course isn't a bad thing. Basically, if you can't stand the cutscenes in Metal Gear Solid games and thought The Sorrow scene in MGS3 was bullshit, then K7 will likely not be your cuppa. Even for me, it may ultimately be more fun to think about than play.

[Strider77]

How id Blood One Night Kiss? I enjoy his games in general... Killer 7 was really enjoyable to me.

[Estebang]

I think it's pretty similar to Grasshopper's Samurai Champloo game. That had the advantage of being translated and released outside Japan, so you might want to check it out first.

[Siren2011]

How id Blood One Night Kiss? I enjoy his games in general... Killer 7 was really enjoyable to me.

ONK Pros and cons:

Pros:
The presentation is superb. The only other game to use the Killer 7 graphics engine. Boss and character designs are intriguing and at times surreal. Music is incredibly badass and underrated.

Cons:
Prepare to get fucked by endless, necessary, and unskippable dialogue. Fighting is absurdly simplistic (all fights can be won by pressing one button) and skull-numbingly boring, masked by a variety of finishing move QTEs to make it seem more involved than it actually is. Grasshopper can get the above right. They just can't get pacing and combat decently done without the help of other developers holding their hand.

Worth checking out if you're at the very least intrigued by GM's games in general.