Killing Time

Killing Time is a horror-themed FPS video game with Full-Motion Video components developed by Studio 3DO. Though meant at first as an exclusive for their 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console, it was later ported (extremely different version) to the Windows 95 PC platform in 1996 by Intrepid Software and to the Macintosh when the 3DO system failed to meet sales expectations.

The player controls an Ex-Egyptology Student, trapped on a fictional 1930's version of Matinicus Isle, Maine, within the estate of wealthy heiress Tess Conway. In 1932, during the night of the Summer Solstice, Tess, while attempting to use a mystical Ancient Egyptian Water-Clock which purportedly grants eternal life, vanished, along with many of her society friends. The player's objective is to find, and destroy, the Water-Clock, and discover the secrets of the estate, all while beating back the many horrors that now occupy the island from beyond the grave.

Killing Time despite its general first-person shooter gameplay is unique, especially for its time. Throughout the game, the plot is slowly revealed to the player through numerous ghostly cut scenes, all of them performed by a cast of professional actors. Unlike other games that deal in the mythology of other cultures, the producers of Killing Time relayed accurate knowledge of Egyptian lore in the story. Also unique for its time, the game even includes several songs written exclusively for the game along with an impressive soundtrack.

The PC version of the game was only available via digital distribution on the obscure Zoom Platform website for a couple years, but as of November 2016, it is now available on GOG.com and Steam as well.


 * Absurdly Spacious Sewer: Subverted: the mansion does have a rather extensive network of sewers, yes, but the ceilings in it are low, you can't avoid Mucking in the Mud, the network is a veritable labyrinth, and hordes of mutated beetles and toads await to fling dung and spit toxic grime at you at every turn. As in much of the rest of the island, having a lot of space around you doesn't mean you'll have much room to maneuver; woe to you if you happen to be claustrophobic.
 * Badass Bookworm: The Player Character, a former Egyptology student who also knows a thing or two about blasting monsters with a shotgun.
 * The Bad Guy Wins: You get this a Game Over Man kind of way, if you get the Downer Ending; might count as Have a Nice Death, or as A Fate Worse Than Death depending on how you interpret it.
 * It's also worth noting that this ending is unavoidable in the 3DO version no matter what you do. The later PC and Macintosh versions of the game allows you to avoid it though.
 * Bottomless Magazines: Like most games from the early era of FPS, weapons don't need to be reloaded and can be fired continuously until you run out of ammo. Particularly noticeable on the revolver you start the game with, especially since most enemies require several bullets to kill.
 * Dem Bones: Skeletons are a common enemy you'll find in underground areas. They fling fireballs and are generally annoying.
 * Easy Logistics: For all the Resources Management Gameplay you'll be doing, there sure is an awful lot of ammunition lying around. The story justifies this somewhat as Duncan is shown to have been using the mansion and the island as a storage space for all the weapons caches his arms-smuggling associates were shipping to him he likewise ordered.
 * Giant Mook: The PC version has giant bruisers that appear alongside the regular tommygun-wielding undead gangsters. They're larger than normal and can take about 2-3 times as much damage as most standard enemies, but are armed only with their fists.
 * Kill It with Fire: A fairly good tactic if you can find the flamethrower and keep it fueled.
 * MacGuffin: The Water-Clock of Thoth is both a huge motivating force behind the events that led to the island being locked in a time limbo as well as an invaluable item you have locate in order to escape the island.
 * More Dakka: The Tommy gun tends to get good results if you can keep it trained on the enemy.
 * Multiple Endings: Only in the PC and Macintosh versions. As mentioned before, the 3DO version only has a Downer Ending.
 * Not Hyperbole: In one of the ghost flashbacks, Tess jokes about locking up the Women's Temperance League (anti-alcohol activists) in the wine cellar if they try to crash her party. When you go into the wine cellar, you'll find it full of angry old Temperance League spinsters trying to kill you. Their fate also doubles as an Ironic Hell for them.
 * Shotguns Are Just Better: The shotgun is arguably your best friend throughout this game. Ammo for it is plentiful, and it kills most enemies with just a solid hit or two provided you can get close enough.
 * Shown Their Work: This game shows very accurate knowledge of Egyptian lore.
 * Universal Ammunition: The Colt Peacemaker revolver and the Tommy Gun both share the same ammo; the devs were apparently unaware that the .45 Colt used by the Peacemaker and the .45 ACP used by the Tommy Gun are not at all the same type of bullet.
 * Though to be fair, this game was made way before Wikipedia became a thing.