King Kong (2005 video game)

Plot

In 1933, film director Carl Denham acquires a map revealing the secret location of Skull Island. He hires playwright Jack Driscoll to write his script and plucks out-of-work actress Ann Darrow to star, taking a tramp steamer called the Venture to the island. The ship, captained by Captain Englehorn, arrives on October 12. Three lifeboats are dispatched; Jack, Carl, Ann, and Hayes survive a crash that kills sailor Briggs.

Hayes shoots a distress signal, prompting Englehorn to drop ammo supplies. After fighting giant crabs, the group reaches a rocky outcrop where Carl asks Ann to scream for his film; her wail is answered by a roar. They meet the second lifeboat with Preston, Jimmy, and Lumpy, but it cannot land due to strong currents. The team battles giant megapedes, scorpio-pedes, and Terapusmordax, eventually splitting up near a massive wall. Navigating an abandoned village, Jack and Ann are captured by island natives.

Release

The Xbox 360 version of the game boasts better graphics and sound than its sixth-generation counterparts. A PC release called the Gamer's Edition, initially bundled with certain graphics cards and later sold on download platforms, also includes these upgrades. The Signature Edition offers a Topps trading card, a ringtone code, and a cover autographed by Peter Jackson. In 2019, Microsoft made the Xbox 360 version playable on Xbox One through backward compatibility.

The digital Xbox 360 version was removed from the Xbox Marketplace around June 14-15, 2015. This version is designed for HDTVs, causing standard-definition screens to appear extremely dark and nearly unplayable; Ubisoft advised buying the original Xbox version until a fix arrived, and a patch was eventually released. The original Xbox game does not work on the Xbox 360. The PC Signature Edition uses StarForce copy protection, which can cause problems on Windows XP, with no patch provided.

The Gamer's Edition is DRM-free and runs smoothly on Windows Vista and Windows 7. The Xbox 360 version's poorly written shaders allowed homebrew and unsigned code to execute via modified game discs.

Reception

Peter Jackson's King Kong was a commercial success, selling over 4.5 million copies by March 2006. The PlayStation 2 version received a Platinum sales award from ELSPA, indicating at least 300,000 sales in the UK. PC and console versions received positive reviews, with critics praising immersive environments, action sequences, and the ability to play as two protagonists. The Nintendo DS version was widely panned for bugs, glitches, poor level design, and enemy AI, and was listed in GameSpot's Flat-Out Worst Game of 2005.

The PSP version received mixed reception for its shorter length and cut-down features. Non-video game publications gave generally positive reviews: The New York Times praised the immersion from first-person perspective and lack of on-screen clutter; The A.V. Club called it an instant classic; The Sydney Morning Herald gave three-and-a-half stars, noting an abrupt final sequence but an unforgettable trip; Detroit Free Press gave the Xbox 360 version three stars, citing cinematic feel and production values; Maxim gave the PSP version four out of ten, commending a two-player co-op mode but criticizing controls.