If there’s one thing that gamers have learned to avoid over the years, it’s the dreaded movie tie-in game. Usually, though not exclusively, releasing alongside the major motion picture, the movie tie-in game suffers not only from contractual obedience to the existing script and lofty expectations from excited movie-goers, but a traditionally truncated development cycle that emphasizes the punctuality of a title over its performance. The powers-that-be generally don’t care whether the game is completed, only that it make a presence in stores to capture the fan spillover from the movie. It’s an easy way to make a few bucks if the development costs are capped, but it generally does very little for the brand.

Every now and then however, somebody involved with a major motion picture actually takes the time and effort to shop their property around to a publisher and a development team that actually has a real respect for the medium. Peter Jackson, as it turns out, is one of these people. Entrusting his latest blockbuster to the Ubisoft team that handled development of the critically lauded Beyond Good & Evil, Jackson was virtually assured that the results of their labor would be of a quality befitting his vision for the film and franchise. We can tell you unequivocally that he made the right decision.

Kong is presented in such a way that nothing comes between the player and the action on-screen. From the moment you walk on the beach to investigate the horrific beastly shrieks emanating from the interior of the island, there is no narrator, no heads-up display, no ammo bars, no written mission objectives, and no life bar. It’s a completely engrossing and surprisingly intuitive approach to the first-person aspect of the gameplay. To call the segments of the game where you take control of Jack a first-person shooter would be somewhat misleading. While everything, including the dialog are presented in the first-person, and while there is a lot of shooting going on, it’s still a bit of a misnomer to lump it in with more traditional FPS offerings. You’re only allowed one weapon at a time in Kong, and new weapons and ammunition appear extremely infrequently. Instead, you have to make prodigious use of the throwing spears littered about the terrain, as well as using your smarts to outwit and elude your enemies, making the combat in this game feel almost like survival horror.

But while it feels like an adventure game in its scope, Kong is actually an extremely linear affair, with literally no chances for deviation. There’s usually only one solution to the puzzles that block your path, and if that was all there was to it, the game might very well seem like a bore. What makes the game so exciting and so tense is that there is nearly always some kind of imminent danger that makes otherwise mundane tasks like finding a stick or wading through a swamp feel like a battle for your life. Just like the film, the game is a constant battle for your life and reprieves from the insanity are few and far between.

You also get to take control of the game’s namesake at times, commanding the giant ape against Skull Island’s most formidable enemies. When you get to the Kong segments, the camera shifts back to a fixed third person, giving you full view of the action. Kong is pretty easy to control with melee strikes, grabs, and throws very reminiscent of old beat-em-ups like Rampage. There’s also quite a bit of jumping, as Kong often needs to swing about his jungle home to keep Ann, his damsel in distress, out of harm’s way. While fairly simplistic, the segments where you get to play the King himself are extremely fun and are very satisfying upon their completion. Like the segments with Jack, there is usually a palpable urgency to affairs, and you usually have both a physical and emotional incentive to dispatch your enemies as quick as possible. And really, what’s more fun than smash some dinosaurs, then swinging across the jungle with your favorite lady in your hand?

As was said earlier, the game is fairly linear, so it’s not terribly plausible that you’ll play more than seven or eight hours on one play-through. The game ends before its core gameplay mechanics lose their luster, and any additional gameplay would probably feel tacked on and unnecessary. Still, while the Skull Island segments exceeded our expectations for what a game of this sort could accomplish, the final level is a little bit disappointing. If you have yet to see the movie, don’t fret, because the specifics of the plot are considerably different in the game – though they still share several of the same set pieces. Even if you beat the game several times over, it’s still recommended that you go out and see the movie as well to get more of the motivation behind the characters, and to enjoy the emotional climax of the film that is lacking somewhat in the game.

The graphics in Kong are a sight to behold, and the other platforms simply don’t hold a candle to the high-definition brilliance of the 360 version. It appears as though Ubisoft genuinely put effort into optimizing the game for the platform, because everything from the lighting to the textures to the framerate are improved dramatically. There are still some things that could have used some work, like some plants that are a little under-realized, but it’s rare to even have an opportunity to focus on minute details like those when you’re about to be trampled by a stampede of brontosauruses. The sound is also fantastic, making excellent use of the 5.1 sound. The jungle seems to be teeming with life, both threatening and benign, and there’s never a silent moment that doesn’t carry with it a sense of foreboding. Naomi Watts, Jack Black, and Adrien Brody all show up in good form, as does Kong himself, whose ear-splitting roar will likely terrify the neighbors. The orchestral score is also fantastic.

As a retail package, King Kong is a difficult sell. It’s retailing for $60, with less than ten hours of gameplay and somewhat limited replayability. Gamers on a budget may take exception to this kind of information and avoid the game altogether. In terms of judging its viability as a gameplay package however, it’s hard to deny the game’s appeal. It’s a blockbuster movie, shooter, survival horror game, and amusement park ride all wrapped into one. On its own merits it’s a fantastic cinematic achievement and exceptional precedent for license-based games. Don’t let the price tag scare you – do what you have to do to at least give the game a shot.

Score: 85%