The author reminisces about their early gaming experiences with the original Kingpin: Life of Crime, a game that left a lasting impression due to its unique blend of ultraviolence, profanity, and RPG elements. Released in 1999, this vaguely dieselpunk-themed first-person shooter was ahead of its time, captivating the author as a young gamer. The announcement of a remastered version, Kingpin: Reloaded, sparked a sense of excitement, with the author looking forward to revisiting the gritty world of Kingpin with modern enhancements.
Release and Reception
After a prolonged silence of three years, the highly anticipated remaster Kingpin: Reloaded was finally released. However, the reception on Steam was far from warm, with the game currently holding a 30% “Mostly Negative” score in the user review system. This disappointing outcome echoes a troubling trend in the gaming industry where remasters are released prematurely.
- Players reported technical issues such as mouse difficulties and pervasive stutters.
- The lack of mod support was a significant letdown for the community.
- Visual aspects like blood effects were criticized for lacking quality, described as resembling “watered strawberry jam.”
These specific grievances highlight a broader dissatisfaction among players, who expected a polished and enhanced version of the beloved original.
Community Feedback
The community’s feedback on Kingpin: Reloaded has been overwhelmingly negative, with players expressing their dissatisfaction with the remaster’s unfinished state and numerous technical issues. Comparisons have been drawn to the original game, suggesting that a better experience could be achieved by purchasing and modding the original rather than investing in the remaster.
| Steam User | Feedback |
|---|---|
| skeep | Complains of mouse difficulties and “stutters everywhere.” |
| Mayron Luctus | Describes the remaster as “clunky” and “buggy.” |
| Chadaclysm | Questions if it’s too late to hand over the project to another developer. |
These pieces of feedback underscore the community’s disappointment and the uphill battle the developers face in rectifying the game’s issues.
Developer Challenges
The development of Kingpin: Reloaded was fraught with challenges, particularly due to the loss of the original game’s source code. Slipgate Ironworks, the studio behind the remaster, had to undertake the arduous task of creating a new engine from scratch. This engine was designed to bridge the gap between Unity and the original game, effectively reverse-engineering the entire game to bring it to modern platforms.
After years of hard work, we’re finally releasing Kingpin: Reloaded today. It’s been quite a journey to get this thing done, and it’s been a passion project from the Lead Dev. Robert.The source code for KP had been lost, which meant that Robert, essentially wrote a new engine,… pic.twitter.com/F8vHv2LDuu
— Frederik Schreiber @3DRealms.{{DOMAIN}} (@Freschism)
December 5, 2023
Frederik Schreiber, CEO of both Slipgate and 3D Realms, acknowledged the difficulties faced during development in a tweet, emphasizing the passion and effort that went into the project despite the setbacks.
Despite the rocky start, the developers at Slipgate Ironworks have shown a commitment to improving Kingpin: Reloaded. They have already published a list of known issues that they intend to address, signaling their dedication to refining the game post-release. This approach reflects a growing trend in the gaming industry, where remakes and remasters are frequently released in an unfinished state, only to be patched and improved over time. The hope is that Kingpin: Reloaded will eventually join the ranks of games that have been redeemed through post-launch support, offering players the polished experience they initially anticipated.
