The Slicing, Dicing, and Debauchery Continues
Should you exterminate the latest horde of zeds or leave this new entry to be an unpleasant splatter on the pavement of game history?
Introduction
The Killing Floor franchise is a cult favourite, known for its frenetic, gory, and unapologetically brutal cooperative first-person shooter action. The latest entry, Killing Floor III, has arrived on the scene, promising to escalate the chaos to new heights. The game is set in a dystopian future where the sinister megacorporation Horzine has unleashed its bioengineered monstrosities upon the world, and you are a Nightfall specialist, the last hope for humanity. The question on everyone’s mind is whether this latest instalment can live up to the legacy of its predecessors or if it is an underwhelming follow-up. Read on to find out!
Zed Extermination and Survival
At its core, Killing Floor III is a wave-based survival game. You and up to five teammates battle through relentless waves of Zeds, with each wave introducing more and deadlier foes. The core loop of gunning down creatures, earning dosh from kills, and spending it between waves at the trader to purchase new weapons and armour is a familiar and satisfying one. Killing Floor III allows for six-player co-op, which can lead to some truly chaotic and exciting moments. The action is intense, and the flow of combat is often punctuated by the return of Zed Time, the series’ signature slow-motion effect that amplifies the visceral carnage! You can also brave the battlefield alone in tense single-player mode if you prefer to go it alone (for some insane reason).
An Arsenal of Slaughter
The mechanics of Killing Floor III are centred on fast-paced, gory combat. The M.E.A.T. (Massive Evisceration And Trauma) System returns, offering even more realistic carnage with additional points of dismemberment and persistent blood effects. The game responds to your attacks with gruesome authenticity, offering an expansive arsenal of firearms, from flamethrowers to shotguns, and melee weapons like katanas.
Customisation is key, and you can tailor your approach with hundreds of mods, gadgets, and skills. The Zeds themselves have been redesigned and retuned with smarter AI, making them faster, deadlier, and more strategic in their attacks. There were several occasions where I thought I’d managed to outrun and/or outthink them, only to find that they had managed to sneak up on me, much to my fury! There are also things like turrets and environmental traps to use to your advantage.
Joining the Resistance
Killing Floor III supports cross-platform multiplayer, allowing you to team up with friends on different platforms. However, player stats and progression do not transfer between platforms, so you should bear that in mind to avoid frustration later on. The action with others is always fun, and it’s easy to become engrossed in the action early on. Finding a match, however, was often a frustrating experience as I’d had to wait several minutes on more than one occasion just to find a lobby!
The Aesthetics of Anarchy
Visually, Killing Floor III is a beautiful step up from previous titles, with the game being built on the Unreal Engine. Environments are detailed and varied, offering a variety of treacherous hot zones to contain the outbreak. The graphical violence is frequent, with depictions of dismemberment, decapitations, and exploding body parts. Realistic blood effects and the slow-motion Zed Time sequences amplify the gore. Killing Floor III’s sound design is solid, with a variety of strong profanity used in dialogue and voice lines.
A Finite Fight?
The replay value of Killing Floor III is decent, with several maps and difficulty modes to choose from, as well as boss encounters, plus 30 upgradable levels for each specialist. Each time you play Killing Floor III, you are almost guaranteed to have a different experience, and that’s always a good thing as it keeps things fresh and interesting.
Conclusion
Killing Floor III has a solid foundation and retains the core loop that made the series a success. There is plenty to see and do, and it’s all wrapped up in beautiful visuals throughout. However, the gameplay can sometimes feel tedious, but Killing Floor III does just enough to keep it interesting for the most part.
Pros
- Intense and visceral combat.
- M.E.A.T. System.
- A wide array of weapons and customisation options.
- The inclusion of cross-platform multiplayer.
Cons
- Gameplay can feel tedious.
- There could be more to do.