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'Killer 7' scores with multiple personalities

By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service

In "Killer 7" players take on the role of an assassin who must stop bloodthirsty creatures.

Capcom: Killer 7

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Sony PlayStation 2 or Nintendo GameCube fans looking for a new game that combines fun and fast action with artistic ingenuity will want to check out Capcom's "Killer 7."

In this thriller for mature audiences, you take on the role of Harman Smith, an assassin, who must stop bloodthirsty creatures called Heaven Smiles.

Harman is wheelchair-bound, but he can use his mind to release seven alter egos who fight the evil Smiles. Each alternate personality has special abilities that can prevent the deadly Smiles from blowing themselves up, sparking panic and fear on city streets.

The game's presentation is as weird as its premise. "Killer 7" uses cel-shaded graphics so it looks and plays like an interactive comic book. The view toggles between first- and third-person perspectives, many of which are seen from unexpected camera angles.

The game also has its share of violent and gory imagery.

The game takes longer than most to complete, but it builds to a memorable climax that helps sort out the complicated and often illogical storyline.

Getting to know and master each of Harman's alter egos is where "Killer 7" really scores. Here's a quick peek at each one.

Dan Smith, who wears a suit with loosened tie, is one of the more personable of the assassins. His weapon of choice is a revolver that can also shoot Demon Shells, which are capable of tearing apart Heaven Smiles.

The sexy Kaede Smith, the only playable female character, is armed with an automatic pistol and scope that targets enemies from afar. She is pokey when reloading, forcing players to re-arm her judiciously.

Kevin Smith wields a knife and has the power to become invisible - a deadly combination, when used at the correct time.

Con Smith may be blind but he is the youngest and fastest out of the troupe. His exceptional hearing also enables him to listen for nearby threats and eliminate them with his twin automatic pistols.

Lugging a grenade launcher, Mask De Smith is the most powerful of the seven personas. He resembles a masked wrestler who can also use special grappling moves to tear down obstacles in his way.

The agile Coyote Smith, a James Dean look-a-like, can jump higher than the other personalities. He is armed with a modified revolver and is a skilled lock-picker.

Garcian Smith is the only alter ego who can communicate directly with Harman. He also can find, retrieve and revive fallen personalities who might have died during the game. No one can revive Garcian, though, so if he dies, the game ends.

"Killer 7" isn't without some hiccups despite its intriguing cast of characters and bizarre plot.

Regardless of what persona you're in control of, you can only walk down a preset path, so you don't have as much freedom to explore the game world as you might in titles such as "Grand Theft Auto" or "Half-Life."

Also, the subtitles are littered with typos and odd Japanese-to-English translations that might confuse some players.

But if you're willing to forgive this unique game for its few shortcomings and you're in the mood for a very stylized and unique shooter, "Killer 7" is a killer pick.

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