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Skull Island: Rise of Kong Rated ‘Worst Game of 2023’ Hours After Launch
Skull Island: Rise of Kong has quickly become the subject of harsh criticism and memes, earning the unfortunate title of “the worst game of 2023” just hours after release. The game launched today, October 17, 2023, but early glimpses of the game have left many fans and critics underwhelmed.
In this new adventure, players step into the massive shoes of the iconic Kong as they seek vengeance for the deaths of Kong's parents at the hands of the alpha predator, Gaw. The game promises epic battles with terrifying creatures on the fabled Skull Island.
However, the reality of Skull Island: Rise of Kong falls far short of these lofty expectations. The game's graphics and overall presentation have been criticized on social media as outdated and lacking the visual appeal that modern gamers expect. Some even likened it to the original 1933 King Kong movie.
A brief cutscene from the game shared on Twitter has generated a flurry of negative comments and memes, with many gamers expressing disappointment over its quality.
Actual cutscene
DO NOT BUY THE NEW KING KONG GAME. IT IS A COMPLETE SCAM pic.twitter.com/6hiCWOSnNc
— Rick (@RickDaSquirrel) October 16, 2023
Some have humorously suggested that it may be a contender for “Game of the Year” for all the wrong reasons.
New King Kong game looks like game of the year material pic.twitter.com/TXuZYQ53EL
— Rick (@RickDaSquirrel) October 16, 2023
Critics have pointed out subpar graphics and poor sound design as gameplay videos flood social media.
Another tweet has compared the game to “Godzilla” on the PS4. Godzilla is one of the most poorly received video game adaptations on PS4.
I take back every bad thing I said about Godzilla PS4.@GameMillEnt King Kong deserves better than whatever this is supposed to be. pic.twitter.com/bDoHfEnH0g
— Rick (@RickDaSquirrel) October 16, 2023
The game, available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, is priced at $39.99/£44.99 on the PSN store. Another tweet highlights the game's price and the developers, who have previously developed poor-quality games.
“Gameplay” of Skull Island: Rise of Kong.
This costs 40 dollars and is made by people that make low effort shovelware with big IP franchises.
The modern LJN pic.twitter.com/YjHqOeoosr
— King Kong Perfect Shots (@KongShots) October 16, 2023
The game was developed by IguanaBee and published by GameMill Entertainment under a license from DeVito ArtWorks. It promised players an exhilarating experience as they assumed the role of King Kong on a quest for vengeance.
Its insane that king kong ps2 looks better than this. pic.twitter.com/jwVI8R1hAz
— Dreamer (@DimensionDreamr) October 17, 2023
First King Kong Game in 18 Years
Given the underwhelming early reactions, gamers are left with low expectations for Skull Island Rise of Kong. Many players and critics express their frustration and disappointment, considering the long wait for a new King Kong gaming experience. This is particularly disappointing for fans of King Kong, who have been waiting for a quality video game adaptation since 2005, when Peter Jackson's King Kong, the Official Game of the Movie, launched.
We can only wait to see whether the developers will respond to the overwhelmingly negative feedback and work on improving the game through updates or patches.