an absolute masterclass in oppressive, violent and unrelenting dread.

i don't think any other game has ever come close to the atmosphere that killing floor 1 so perfectly crafted. even in the seasonal events, it still managed to keep the atmosphere that makes the game so timeless and unique. the focus on an established art style over graphics at the time makes for an incredibly unique and oppressive atmosphere that i don't think has ever been matched to this day.

you really feel outnumbered, surrounded, and desperate every single wave, barely clinging to the few bullets you could afford in the short reprise you get with the trader.

other than that, you get absolutely no breaks during a wave, everything comes at you and you have to deal with it right then and there, even more so if you're with a team.

the design of the zeds really enforces just how brutal the apocalypse is, everything is genetically and mechanically engineered only to kill, leaving every gory detail on show just to enforce how unfeeling and emotionless they are.

the soundtrack is absolutely relentless, making you feel claustrophobic and hopeless every wave. zYnthetic's use of industrial sound and absolutely brutal guitars makes for one of the most unique soundtracks ever made, that absolutely enforces the themes of violence, dread and hopelessness that the game enforces.

the sound design is brutal and powerful, with even the basic starter pistol sounding like a thunderstrike. grenades actually
sounding like explosions that shake the whole map, but only make the bigger zeds angrier.

every aspect of the game has been intentionally crafted to make you value every second and every move, should you reload now or empty your mag into that hallway of smaller zeds? what if a fleshpound comes round the corner while you’re reloading? does your demo have enough ammo for it? if not, do you run with your knife out to go faster or keep your gun out incase something grabs you?

every single decision you make could kill you and your team instantly, and it requires near perfect co-ordination between a well balanced team to survive well.

yet through all of this, humanity stays strong.

you feel accomplished for beating every single wave, whether you're breezing through a few clots or taking on the full arsenal of fleshpounds, scrakes and every other kind of unimaginable abomination the patriarch could create, you always feel accomplished and hopeful that you'll make it through another round, yet the dread is still there, that you need to do your absolute best in order to keep you and your team alive.

and that's what makes killing floor a masterpiece.

the dirty, ruined, desolate atmosphere that you're fighting for is already destroyed, there's no hope of anything ever being the same again, but, against all the odds, you still feel the burning desire inside you to survive, in the hopes that you might some day be able to make a difference.

and that feeling has never been matched.

something i think KF2 was missing was the life (or lack thereof) in the maps and world, everything looked too clean and pristine, nights too bright, survivors too happy and wacky to the horrific apocalypse that destroyed europe. a lot of the environments of the second game start to blend together, while they do look pretty in some cases, it seriously missed the devoted art direction and atmosphere of the first game.

in the words of the series composer, zYnthetic:
"Probably the best game ever. Totally not biased."
and honestly he could be right.