Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child

Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child is a first-person shooter video game developed by American studio Third Law Interactive and published by Gathering of Developers for Microsoft Windows in July 2000. It was also released later that year for Dreamcast (using Windows CE) following a port by Tremor Entertainment.

Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child
Developer(s)Third Law Interactive (PC)
Tremor Entertainment (DC conversion)
Publisher(s)Gathering of Developers (PC)
Take-Two Interactive (DC)
EngineLithtech 1.5
Platform(s)Windows
Dreamcast
ReleaseWindows
Collector's Edition
Dreamcast
  • NA: November 1, 2000[4]
  • PAL: January 19, 2001
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer (PC version only)

Gameplay

The game is based on Todd McFarlane's Kiss: Psycho Circus series of comic books, themselves inspired by the rock band Kiss.

The game's story revolves around a Kiss tribute band, who suddenly receive superhuman powers.

Publication history

Kiss: Psycho Circus was the first game to be developed by Third Law Interactive, themselves having recently formed in December 1998 after a widely publicized mass walkout from Ion Storm.[5] Versions for PlayStation[6] and Game Boy Color[7] were planned, but were later canceled. The PC version of the game was done on an enhanced version of the Lithtech engine, licensed from Monolith Productions. The PC version was also distributed with the November edition of Computer Buyer in 2000.

The game was exhibited during E3 1999 at Gathering of Developers' booth across the street from the event; alongside booth babes and live music, dwarves dressed as members of Kiss promoted the game.[8]

Reception

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[9][10] However, Jeff Lundrigan of NextGen said of the PC version, "To be fair, this title accomplishes what it set its sights to do. Trouble is, those sights weren't set very high. This will seem interesting only if the last game you ever played was Doom."[27]

Kevin "BIFF Giacobbi of GameZone gave the PC version nine out of ten, saying, "THIS GAME ROCKS! What I am most pleased with is the support that the web site offers. Not only is there a forum where gamers can post games and ask questions that the KPC staff can answer as well as fellow gamers. But let's go one step further. There is a live chat session between certain hours where you can ask questions via chat with some of the KPC staff…WAY IMPRESSED! Other games should follow this idea!"[29] However, Edge gave it three out of ten, saying, "A lot like Kiss themselves, The Nightmare Child is comically frightening and utterly over the top. Just as aptly, underneath all the irony, make-up and gothic ramblings, it isn't really worth the effort."[30]

The PC version and its Collector's Edition sold 42,000 units in the U.S. by October 2001.[31] The Dreamcast version in the U.S. sold 34,453 units.[32]

References
  1. "GodGames". 2001-04-17. Archived from the original on 2001-04-17. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  2. "Today's UK releases". Eurogamer.net. 2000-07-28. Archived from the original on 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  3. Fudge, James (2000-07-20). "KISS: Psycho Circus Collector's Edition Ships". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 2003-06-27. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  4. Justice, Brandon (2000-11-01). "Take 2 Sneaks Out KISS: Psycho Circus". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  5. IGN staff (1998-11-19). "Eight Quit Ion Storm". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2017-09-10. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  6. "KISS Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child - PlayStation". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  7. "KISS Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child - Game Boy Color". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  8. Brenda Brathwaite (2013). Sex in video games. CreateSpace. p. 28. ISBN 9781491079263.
  9. "KISS: Psycho Circus Critic Reviews for Dreamcast". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  10. "KISS: Psycho Circus - The Nightmare Child Critic Reviews for PC". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  11. Thompson, Jon. "Kiss Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child (DC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  12. House, Matthew. "Kiss Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  13. Mahood, Andy (2001-01-16). "KISS: Psycho Circus--The Nightmare Child - Dreamcast Review". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 2001-01-23. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  14. Rubenstein, Glenn (2000-07-27). "KISS: Psycho Circus--The Nightmare Child (PC)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 2000-08-15. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  15. Cross, Jason (2000-08-02). "KISS Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 2003-03-04. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  16. Babler, Jason (October 2000). "It's Not Part of My Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy (KISS Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 195. Ziff Davis. pp. 130–31. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  17. "KISS: Psycho Circus (DC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis. February 2001.
  18. Bye, John "Gestalt" (2000-07-22). "KISS: Psycho Circus - The Nightmare Child Review (PC)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2001-03-30. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  19. "KISS: Psycho Circus (DC)". Game Informer. No. 94. FuncoLand. February 2001.
  20. Wight, Brian (2000-07-29). "KISS Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2005-02-19. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  21. Archer, Erik (August 2000). "KISS: Psycho Circus Review (PC)". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  22. Wolpaw, Erik (2000-11-16). "KISS: Psycho Circus Review (DC)". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  23. Wolpaw, Erik (2000-07-28). "KISS: Psycho Circus Review (PC)". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  24. Law, Caryn "Hellchick" (2000-07-25). "Kiss: Psycho Circus (PC)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2002-04-02. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  25. Nix, Marc (2000-11-03). "KISS Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child (DC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  26. Lopez, Vincent (2000-07-27). "KISS Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2014-11-02. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  27. Lundrigan, Jeff (October 2000). "KISS Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child (PC)". Imagine Media. No. 70. p. 125. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  28. "KISS: Psycho Circus - The Nightmare Child". PC Gamer. Vol. 7, no. 10. Imagine Media. October 2000. p. 114.
  29. Giacobbi, Kevin "BIFF" (2000-07-25). "KISS Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child (PC)". GameZone. Archived from the original on 2001-04-18. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  30. Edge staff (September 2000). "Kiss Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child (PC)" (PDF). Edge. No. 88. Future Publishing. p. 109. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  31. "GOD's Games" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 207. Ziff Davis. October 2001. p. 31. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  32. "Gaming Age Forums - Sega Dreamcast sales (Console and Software)". Archived from the original on 2004-09-03.
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