System: PC, Next Gen
Dev: Namco
Pub: Namco
Release: Cancelled
Players: 1
Preview by Vaughn

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

Take one lone hitman. Place him in a futuristic Asian city. Allow him to run around and do whatever he wants including setting up the "perfect hit" and what do you get? Frame City Killer. And you thought I was going to say "Grand Theft Auto: Frame City". Nah, but it sure sounds like the gameplay might be more than a little familiar.

In a business where everyone wants to either create the next big thing or capitalize on the last big thing, you can't fault publishers and developers for trying to make a buck. Who knows? One day, a developer might actually improve upon the benchmark set by Rockstar North. Maybe Frame City Killer might be the one. I'm not saying it is the one, I'm just saying, it could be. Anything's possible.

The official press wants to make a big deal out of the fact that the Japanese developers are utlizing the Unreal engine 3 to power Frame City. This is significant because it's the first time Japanese developers have used the North American created game engine. What does that mean to you? It could mean more realistic graphics and physics especially when mixed together with the horsepower of the Xbox 360, but I guess we won't know that until we play it. I could make a game with the Unreal Engine 3 and lord knows, that game would suck so bad because I really have no idea how to use it or do anything remotely related to game coding. But it sure sounds impressive. Let me state for the record that I am in no way insinuating that Namco doesn't know what they're doing when it comes to game development. That's ridiculous. Namco creates kick ass games. I'm just saying that Unreal Engine 3 or not, it's the game that counts.

Gamers love sand box type games (GTA series etc) where you can pretty much do whatever you want without being hogtied to a particular level or action. We dig them too. There are certainly many ways to improve upon this new action genre as it's in its infancy and we're hoping that Frame City Killer helps raise the benchmark.

Press:

Featuring astoundingly detailed graphics powered by the Unreal Engine 3 and immersive, non-linear gameplay, "Frame City Killer" is set to deliver an intense gaming experience this holiday season in North America and Europe.

Set in a futuristic metropolis in East Asia, "Frame City Killer" casts players as Crow, an assassin sent to Frame City to identify and eliminate Khan - a mysterious terrorist and head of a deadly new-age drug cartel. As a hit man, players track and profile targets, while utilizing numerous methods to execute the perfect hit. "Frame City Killer" offers players a dark and gritty storyline, thrilling car chases and a variety of ways for players to achieve their goals.

"Frame City Killer" is the first game by a Japanese developer to use the Unreal Engine 3. This technology allows players to experience the most realistic visuals and physics in an interactive environment including bombs shattering windows and bullets destroying cars.