Here is the first of my semi-regular feature called Forgotten Games, trying to remember those games that have been lost to most players and critics over the years, but deserve remembering. I’m not talking about games like Beyond Good And Evil or ICO who have reached cult status over the lack of recognition they received during their time, but those games that for some reason or another no one cares to remember anymore, never making any top 10 lists and never being heralded as a game that “should” have made it. Indeed, such games may have received just reviews in its time, may have even been popular, but as the sands of time fall, as does the game from the public’s memories.
Today, we are focusing on a game very close to my heart: Kingpin: Life of Crime.
This game isn’t special because it contained music by Cypress Hill, nor because it received and 18 rating in the UK or it’s proficient use of swearing. No, it is a great game despite all that. Let me break it down for you first. Kingpin is a first person shooter set in the underbelly of some city. You play a gangster who has crossed the boss somehow and has been left for dead because of it. Time to take revenge of course.
Sounds pretty samey for sure, but lets remember that this was running on a modified Quake 2 engine. For its time it wasn’t doing so bad. With obvious references to Pulp Fiction, this game had some early workings of friendly teamworking AI, consequences to your actions and multiple ways (albiet limited) to solve a problem. The game featured very well done cut scenes and some amazing voice work.
But I’m not here to try and convince you the game was a trend setter, that it did everything before everyone else. No, I’m here to convince you that the game was about as solid a first person shooter as it gets. The level design was intricately detailed with smatterings of smoke and dirt in every creepy corner. The world, while sparsely populated, still felt alive. The art direction was spot on, crossing modern day with the 1930s art deco gangster one might expect from The Godfather.
The weapon selection was limited, but every gun felt extremely solid, with customisations being possible to some. I also have to mention that the tommy gun is underappreciated in todays first person gaming.
While a strong single player experience was paramount way back when, multiplayer was really the proving ground of a lasting game. Kingpin had one of the most fun deathmatch modes I have ever played. The game did feature other modes in future patches, but it was for me, pure deathmatch set to real that was the definition of this game’s multiplayer experience. Long before other games were one shot killing each other, Kingpin had it all and made for some of the most satisfying kills you will ever experience. The feeling could best be described as “meaty”.
Going back and experiencing Kingpin now if you have not played it may be a bitter sweet experience. There’s no question it will still look wonderful, albeit slightly blocky, by today’s standards, but the single player may not keep the attention long enough to see it through. Since multiplayer has been dead in the game for years and Xatrix Entertainment throwing in the towel soon after the game launched meaning very few patches, there is little to keep people still playing.
It did receive critical acclaim upon it’s release, but forgotten by most it seems to be.
Kingpin: Life of Crime, deserves to be remembered and deserves to be experienced, even if it is just for the Jesus!
Hi,
Good article.
Of course not everyone has forgotten KP
Check out kingpinforever.com for latest news on new maps, mods etc. We host 1000’s of KP files, have forums, potd, lots of hosted sites, walkthrus, game servers etc etc.
Hope you re-install KP and come for a few games on our KP4Ever server
Nice article.
Think about offer of Mr.D to come for a few maps on our servers.
Every Wednesday and Saturday i and Mr.Damage start a game on Detropolis Custom Maps server
And every Friday there is a Hitmen mod game on KP4EVER’s Da PlayGroundZ! server
Hooray for KP !
Still alive and well all around the world : specific servers are running in Europe, USA, Aussie, Japan…
A very rare continuity through the years for a FPS game, without any addons, neither suites. (RIP KP 2 :$ )
Sure its particular surroundings makes it a cult game forever.
Join the KP Army now !
And frag for fun
did u say the multiplayer is dead? Yeah not as populated as it used to be or flocking with people but its still going maybe u should check it otu sometime before sayign its dead unless im dead because im still playing multi? ur the reason no one would play it with a review lkike that lol!!! jpooking
Forgotten?
Kingpin still rules the streets!
Moker will eat you for breakfast and shit you the next day!
Long Live Kingpin
Thanks for reading guys. Glad you liked it and you’re right, I should have done a bit more research before saying KPDM is dead.
I did indeed reinstall before writing the article and had a blast with Kraze, but its just not the same. I will try and find these elusive servers you are talking about and give you guys a run for your (bag)money. Yeah right.
hey man i was just messing with u anyway i was stoned lol!!!!
I haven’t mapped for a while for KP, but one thing’s for sure. Kingpin is far from dead. It’s one of the best games I’ve ever played online and the frag action is truly something to experience. While Kingpins wide public acceptance has most certainly faded away, there are surprisingly a vast number of people around the world who remain faithful to the Kingpin cause and do their part to keep the game alive and full of action on the game servers. Without these people, Kingpin would have been truly forgotten. As a result, I wish to extend my thanks to Xatrix for creating such a great game, and also to the many Kingpin devotees who spend countless hours of their free time to keeping the spirit that is Kingpin alive.
SOME OF US WONT LET GO OF A GOOD THING
KP 444 LIFE
and yes do please reinstall
and bring some frinds
still about 24 or so srevers running
still has that oldschool respect
and the kills feel so good
Thanks for the article!
As you can see there are still good soldiers giving buckshot facials, and silencing two bit Ho’s in there spare time. Of Course BM is the funnest mod around with cursing and togglecam available.The Hitmen DM mod is also a blast. There are to many people to thank for keeping this game running. My Friends cant believe I still Play this , but its really about the community sharing info to make the game that much better.
Cya’s In Hogies!
Rollem BIg n CHuBBY
It’s definitely great to see so many vocal and passionate players in the game. I’ll be sure to hit some of the servers soon to see how far behind I am.
I wonder if my future articles on forgotten games will also find some active communities hidden away under rocks.
Make sure you get the KP starter pack which includes the v1.21 patch and the monkey mod client (monkey mod is KP’s cheat protection mod which most servers now run).
http://downloads.kingpinforever.com/kp_starter_pack.zip
It also includes instructions on how to install them
Would love to see you come for a game on Sat night at the Detropolis Custom Maps Server
KP aint dead just half dead and were are all those 1000s of players? i remember watin in line to join the server and once i was in i stayed in, well that was years ago, still the best game made so far and once i get better connection i will be back to whip chubbs ass as usually.
TPA, WE FRG YOU WITH A SMILE .
hi guys …. i want to play kp… on multiplayer game….. i try to play in detropolis but the game put me out… i hope you can give me another game server …. i see you on hell —–
dooooooooooooooooooooooooo
I don’t call myself moker for any other reason.
This game absolutely RULED RULED RULED.
Hey Titan hit me up sometime haha – i dont even have this game installed but it was def. the best game ever made. Tell your bro i said hey too.
OH my god i cant belive it!
I played this game about 5yrs ago and i just had a random fort about it and typed is google.
I cant belive it still runnin
IT IS THE BEST EVER MUTI player for sure…
I play Sof2 at mo but i need 2 find Kp and play well done guys for keepin it alive
YES!!!!!!
I Love the game !!!
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! bshmfnwhysbb
electro u need to download gs lite if u got the kp torrent……….i beleive you can download it from http://www.kingpinforever.com
I havent played in years but I am reordering the game from Amazon and will be fragging soon..I’ve tried half life, Counter strike, RTCW, DOD etc. & nothing compares to KP…God I miss Da Plygroundz…Frag yea later!!!
Howdy! KP444life…..DM444life…..You can reach some of the old @M crew off of tamguild.com(glok,sof,evil)
lo doods
..wotta game!! 
well going to reinstall then
I hope a few more ppl will re-install Kingpin and come for a game soon
Still alive and kickin’…. Get in touch bro’s.
- Jim
i want an online match
how can i get online it says i need a sever
kingpin forever!
If peeps are wanting online play you need to go to kingpinforever.com and get patches and gamespy lite so you can scan all the servers running…Frag yea soon peeps
Kingpin Is The Best game Ever, And i am extremely proud of the fact that i am literally the best player in the world at this game, that makes it even more fun!
If only more people shared and promoted kingpin
Kingpin dead?
never . it will always be in our hearts. sup chubby.
[F^] forever along with KP
Kingpin will never die! I still play very often and enjoy it the same way as years went by…
Greetings from Czech Republic!
I loveed playing this, but now (JAN 2009) there are no servers I can find running this game
I played Barcode and Hogies towards the end of the games life on the Net, but started playing this 10 years ago now! OMG! 10 YEARS!!! 1999 saw the birth of my Clan, Rogue Warriors, who are still going strong now playing the again old game Quake3
My god… where did the time go
Greetz to all fellow KP players everywhere
[RW]Lara
The game will always live on…. in me… and fellow KingPin players everwhere
Hi !
How can I play it with 100 Herz
on my CRC – Monitor ?
May some game CFG editing ?
Ciao Adel.
Ok, I got it with the refreshrate tool…
Ciao.
i also started playing this great game back in the day (1999) and had many many hours of fun / years of fun playin this game ,the laughs and jesus the arguments we used to have was something else!!!!i miss em but hey ho just reinstalled 2009 maybe see you in there kp rules!!! long live
whats up my little pImPsTaS?
you damn right Kp is one of if not the best first person shooter multiplayer game to ever come out.
sup big CHUBBY?
Kingpin will never die. it will live on forever.
Great info on website, I will add to favorites be checking for updates.
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