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Writer's pictureMcScratchey

Skull Island: Rise of Kong Review - Why This Game Flopped Big Time

Updated: Jun 29

Skull Island: Rise of Kong - A Giant Ape-Sized Letdown

Ah, Skull Island: Rise of Kong—the game that had everyone hyped up only to crash and burn harder than a banana peel gone rogue. As a seasoned gamer, I've seen my share of promising games that just didn't hit the mark, but this one was a real doozy. I don't know what the developers were thinking, but it sure feels like they spent more time daydreaming about their own ape fantasies than actually making a decent game.

A child ape with his hand up, frightened. From the game Skull Island Rise of Kong
NO! Please, don't release the game yet!

The Big Idea: Ambition Meets Real-World Limitations

Let’s give credit where it’s due—bringing Kong to life in a video game is a monumental task. Kudos to GameMill Entertainment for taking that on. But like many ambitious projects, they might've bitten off more than they could chew.


The Developer's Newbie Mistake

Here’s the thing: the game’s main issue was the lack of experienced hands on deck. It's like putting a brand-new driver's ed student behind the wheel of a racecar. IguanaBee, the development team, hadn’t clocked in enough hours making high-stakes games. The result? A disaster reminiscent of a pilot with zero flight hours trying to land a jumbo jet.


The Tight Schedule: Recipe for Disaster

To add insult to injury, GameMill gave the devs at IguanaBee just a year to whip this game into shape. Yep, you heard it right – twelve months to take a colossal concept like Kong and turn it into a polished game. Imagine building an entire island from scratch in a few months. Spoiler alert: it’s near impossible. This led to, you guessed it, a giant-sized flop.


Graphics: The Heart of the Disappointment

Visual Blunders Galore

Alright, let’s talk about the elephant—err, giant ape—in the room: the graphics. We all want to be blown away by stunning visuals in our games, right? Unfortunately, Skull Island served up visuals that looked like they belonged in the last decade. We were hoping for King Kong, but even Donkey Kong would have been offended by this comparison.


Lagging Behind Modern Standards

Modern games set the bar pretty high, visually speaking. Sadly, Skull Island failed to rise to the occasion. It’s almost like the game forgot it was a 2023 release and decided to rock the vibe of early 2000s graphics. Sorry, GameMill, you really dropped the ball on this one.


Gameplay: The Definition of Repetitive

Variety is the Spice of Life... Or Lack Thereof

As if the graphics weren’t bad enough, the gameplay was equally frustrating. It was repetitive AF. Smashing the same buttons over and over again isn't what I’d call a thrilling experience. We needed some variety here—different combat moves, unique abilities, something to keep us engaged.

A screenshot of Skull Island Rise of Kong, ape battling Gaw the raptor
Poor graphics, clunky gameplay

Ideas for Improvement

Now, I’m not here to roast without reason. How could they have made it better? First off, better graphics were a must. We’re talking about a colossal ape here; it needs to look epic. Also, sprinkling in some originality in the gameplay would've gone a long way. A fresh storyline or new mechanics could’ve taken this game from 'meh' to 'wow'.


Why Did It Fail?

Lack of Originality

The game didn't bring anything new to the table. The gameplay and storyline were generic at best. Seen it all before, man.


Technical Issues

Technical glitches and poor graphics made it harder for players to immerse themselves. Frustrations with these basic elements pulled us right out of the experience.


Missed Opportunities

Lastly, it didn’t capitalize on the massive potential of the Kong franchise. The fanbase was there, hungry for a good game, but this? Nope. Just a giant-sized disappointment.


Final Thoughts

In the end, Skull Island: Rise of Kong is probably going down as one of the worst games of 2023, if not ever. From inexperienced developers and rushed timetables to horrible graphics and lackluster gameplay, it was a perfect storm of failure. But hey, maybe future Kong games can learn from this mess.


We shouldn't lose hope entirely. With the right moves—better graphics, engaging gameplay, and a solid storyline—there's still a chance for a Kong game that’ll have us beating our chests in excitement for all the right reasons.

Ape prepares to jump to a rock, an on screen idicator appears to guide the player. Skull Island Rise of Kong.
The physics feel dense


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