History VideoGame / Killer7

''[=killer7=]'' is a 2005 action-adventure game for [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] and [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 Playstation 2]], written and directed by Creator/{{Suda 51}}, that combines unusual gameplay mechanics and conspiratorial themes in a techno-thriller setting. In an alternate timeline TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, worldwide peace has finally been achieved after a total ban on nuclear weapons and research.[[note]]and [[NewMediaAreEvil the Internet]]. And airplanes[[/note]] The remaining warheads are fired into space, where they collide and destroy each other.

However, this peace was not to last, for a group of mysterious creatures known as "Heaven Smiles" soon appear. Led by the enigmatic Kun Lan, they began to carry out a number of terrorist attacks across the world with no discernible purpose other than to create [[TerroristWithoutACause terror for the]] [[ForTheEvulz sake of terror]].

To combat this supernatural threat, the American government call on the services of the Smith Syndicate, aka the ''killer7''. Led by the elderly and wheelchair-bound Harman Smith, a man who carries a history with Kun Lan, the killer7 are a group of specialized assassins trained to deal with high-level threats to the stability of the United States of America. And with each mission completed, they slowly draw closer to the truth behind the Heaven Smiles and Kun Lan.

With that, we depart from the realm of sensibility. ''[=killer7=]'' can become an exceedingly confusing game, thanks to its multiple layers of metaphor and symbolism, its vignettes and non-sequiturs, and its tacked-on plot threads that don't come together until the ending--and even ''then'' you're likely to have more questions than answers. Themes of war, religion, personal conflict, and politics all weave into one gigantic MindScrew, wrapping around each other like the bondage straps around [[ExpositionFairy Iwazaru]].

** ''Hand In [=killer7=]'', which actually makes the story even '''more''' complicated, thanks in part to being based on an earlier version of the game's story; for an informational book, it ends up being a JigsawPuzzlePlot of its own, relying on you to cross-reference different sections of the book (and the game) to put together what it's trying to tell you. Some of the information in the book completely contradicts the game, and the book is not even completely consistent ''with itself''.

* MilitariesAreUseless: The only case you see of the military being mobilized in the game is the worst case possible. [[spoiler:They storm Andrei Ulmeyda's outpost, not because he's a dangerous criminal, but because he produces miracle cures by overcoming deadly diseases and are hoping he can do the same with Heaven Smile. Nevermind that Andrei has been taking [[ProperlyParanoid absurd measures]] to ''avoid'' Heaven Smile, including "hiring" the killer7, because even ''he'' thinks he can't handle it. He ends up being right, and his transformation is so extreme that the ''entire military unit'' is wiped out, forcing the killer7 to clean up their mess.]]

** The end credits in Alter Ego show Con Smith as a [[VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins Red Arremer]].

* OffscreenTeleportation: Garcian can travel around the country with unexplained ease. In "Sunset" he goes from Seattle to Washington D.C., back to Seattle and then again to D.C., all within less than eighteen hours. In a world without air travel.

''[=killer7=]'' is a 2005 action-adventure game for Gamecube and Playstation 2, written and directed by Creator/{{Suda 51}}, that combines unusual gameplay mechanics and conspiratorial themes in a techno-thriller setting. In an alternate timeline TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, worldwide peace has finally been achieved after a total ban on nuclear weapons and research.[[note]]and [[NewMediaAreEvil the Internet]]. And airplanes[[/note]] The remaining warheads are fired into space, where they collide and destroy each other.

''[=killer7=]'' is a 2005 action-adventure game for Gamecube and Playstation 2, directed and written by Creator/{{Suda 51}}. In an alternate timeline TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, worldwide peace has finally been achieved after a total ban on nuclear weapons and research.[[note]]and [[NewMediaAreEvil the Internet]]. And airplanes[[/note]] The remaining warheads are fired into space, where they collide and destroy each other.

In an alternate timeline TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, worldwide peace has finally been achieved after a total ban on nuclear weapons and research.[[note]]and [[NewMediaAreEvil the Internet]]. And airplanes[[/note]] The remaining warheads are fired into space, where they collide and destroy each other.

The game was developed by Creator/GrasshopperManufacture, directed and written by Creator/{{Suda 51}}. Capcom published it on the Gamecube and Playstation 2. See also earlier Suda games ''VideoGame/TheSilverCase'' and ''VideoGame/FlowerSunAndRain'', games in the "Kill the Past" universe that contain thematic links, as well as ''VideoGame/KillerIsDead'' for a later Grasshopper game with a similar visual style and premise.

In contrast to the MindScrew storyline, the developers uniquely streamlined the gameplay of ''[=Killer7=]'': a character moves along a set of predetermined paths, so all a player can do is choose forks and turn around. When attacked, players hold down a button to switch into first-person view and aim crosshairs manually (similar to ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4''). The Heaven Smiles remain invisible until players use another button to scan for them; as they approach, players can see an obvious glowing spot upon them, and while shooting this spot results in their instant death, players will find it difficult to do so. Any enemy who gets in too close to the player will laugh at the player before exploding and causing damage. DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist most of the time -- as Garcian can retrieve the severed heads of the other Smiths and revive them -- but if Garcian himself dies, the game ends. The [=Killer7=] themselves are as follows:

In an alternate timeline TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, worldwide peace has finally been achieved after a total ban on nuclear weapons and research[[note]]and [[NewMediaAreEvil the Internet]]. And airplanes[[/note]]. The remaining warheads are fired into space, where they collide and destroy each other.

However, this peace was not to last, for a group of mysterious creatures known as "Heaven Smiles" soon appear. Led by the enigmatic Kun Lan, they began to carry out a number of terrorist attacks across the world with no discernible purpose other than to create terror for the sake of terror.

* GainaxBounce: Handsome Pink and Handsome Light Brown display it with their [[FanService chests]]. Handsome Purple, with his [[FanDisservice belly]].

** Dan Smith is another example. He has decent power and accuracy with his revolver and a relatively quick reload, moreso with his [[ChargedAttack Collateral Shot]] and upgrades to his inherent abilities to let him reload faster and finding a double-barreled revolver. This makes him one of the best at overall combat, in return for not being good for much else - he doesn't get any special abilities for puzzles like Coyote's high jumps or KAEDE's ability to break barriers, and he doesn't get any ''really'' flashy and powerful combat abilities either like MASK's MacrossMissileMassacre or Con's ability to lock onto an enemy's weak point.

* DevelopersForesight: [[spoiler:If you somehow manage to go to the final floor of Union Hotel at the end of Smile's second half as any other persona than Gracian (most definitely through hack or glitch), there is a camera at the entrance to force you to transform back to Gracian]].

* WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou: Gracian is the only character who can revive the others. If he dies, the game ends automatically. [[spoiler:{{Justified}}, because all of the alternate personalities of the Smith Syndicate stem from him, and his death means they all die as well.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:The Killer 7 (clockwise from top-left): Dan, Mask De, Garcian, Coyote, Kaede, Kevin, and Con, with Harman in the center. Last names are all Smith.]]

* Coyote Smith: The Thief. Uses a revolver called FREAK SCENE. His special ability is infiltration, with him being able to leap tall heights and pick locks. Coyote is aggressive and vicious, and this is reflected in gameplay, with him being about as strong as Dan but lacking in self control. He has a faster running speed, however, meaning he can back out of a sticky situation easier than Dan.
* Kevin Smith: Four-eyes. Uses a set of throwing knives and a larger knife for stabbing known as DEBASER. Cannot speak. Kevin can turn invisible at will, allowing him to evade enemies. Kevin is incredibly fast in gameplay, and his subtle knives are quite fast- while he is bad in a close quarters fight, his lack of a gun means he never needs to reload, and can be quite dangerous if you're skilled.

* MASK de Smith: The Mask. Armed with dual grenade launchers known as DREAM ALL DAY. A mexican wrestler, MASK can use his super strength and powerful weapons to open holes in places the other Smiths cannot get through. He can also charge his grenade launchers for powerful effect, and is quite slow. He's a MightyGlacier through and through, though he's a soft-spoken NiceGuy if you can get to know him.

** Kevin, who can run away from battles, represents Courage. Kevin is brave enough to have perfect aim and always pull out another knife; [[spoiler:he also manned the front desk of the hotel in the past]].

** ''Hand In [=killer7=]'', which actually makes the story even '''more''' complicated; for an informational book, it ends up being a JigsawPuzzlePlot of its own, relying on you to cross-reference different sections of the book (and the game) to put together what it's trying to tell you. Some of the information in the book completely contradicts the game, and the book is not even completely consistent ''with itself''.

* BoringButPractical: Kevin Smith's knives aren't the most exciting weapons to use, but using them draws more blood from your enemies. And they don't need to be reloaded, and their aiming doesn't waver.

* BadassGrandpa: Harman Smith.

** ''Hand In [=killer7=]'', which actually makes the story even '''more''' complicated; for an informational book, it ends up being a JigsawPuzzlePlot of its own, relying on you to cross-reference different sections of the book (and the game) to put together what it's trying to tell you.

* DevelopersForesight:[[spoiler: if you somehow managed to go to the final floor of union hotel at the end of smile:part 2 as any other persona than Gracian (most definiatly through hack or glitch) there are camera at the entrance to force you to transform back to Gracian]].

* DevelopmentForsight:[[spoiler: if you somehow managed to go to the final floor of union hotel at the end of smile:part 2 as any other persona than Gracian (most definiatly through hack or glitch) there are camera at the entrance to force you to transform back to Gracian]].

** Con, who is a teenage punk, represents Respect. He is shown to have an admiration for the Handsome Men, and [[AllThereInTheManual according to the manual]] he really looks up to Coyote and MASK.

** Coyote, who is a thief, represents Honesty. Coyote suddenly reveals some of his past on the TV without any prompting in Cloudman.

* AerithAndBob: On the same team, there's KAEDE, Garcian, MASK... and Kevin.
* AllLowercaseLetters: killer7 is usually written like this.

* ArtShift: The animated cutscenes in Cloudman and Alter Ego are different from the game's art style, and from each other. Alter Ego is straight-up anime, while Cloudman is done by a western animation studio. Earlier, Sunset also has a single extended cutscene by the same studio as Alter Ego's.
* AssholeVictim: Pedro Montana was, along with Curtis Blackburn, one of the heads of the organ smuggling operation in Encounter and the backstory before betraying Curtis, which leads to Curtis getting his revenge. Interestingly, Pedro's death isn't about bringing justice, but showing that Curtis is far, far worse than Pedro could have imagined.