 Killer7 , released on June 9 , 2005 , is an action @-@ adventure game with first @-@ person shooter elements and an unconventional " on rails " control scheme . Unlike other members of the five , Killer7 was developed at Grasshopper Manufacture under the direction of Suda51 . Players control the members of an elite group of assassins who are actually physical manifestations of a god @-@ like being named Harman Smith . The game restricts the player 's movement to specific branching paths through the environment and combat is only available while stationary in first @-@ person view . This stripped @-@ down control scheme was implemented as a deconstruction of conventional control mechanics . Gameplay was not finalized until late in development as Suda51 concentrated most resources on story and visual work . This back @-@ loading of development resulted in several delays , the last of which was due to an artistic desire to release the game on July 7 ( 7 / 7 ) in North America . Killer7 debuted as a multi @-@ console release , the only one of the five to do so , to polarized reviews . Some reviewers praised the game for its complex noir plot involving a political conflict between Japan and the US , while others panned it as confusing and incomprehensible . Similarly , the control scheme had both critics and proponents , the latter comparing it to Myst , Snatcher , and other " old @-@ school " adventure games . Although it received a lukewarm 74 Metacritic score , Killer7 was honored by many video game publications in their year @-@ end awards . Common nominations included " Best Story " , " Best Artistic Design " , and " Most Innovative Design " . However , the central theme was a recognition of Killer7 's status as a cult game with limited appeal . IGN named it " Best Game No One Played " and Kristan Reed of Eurogamer called it " a concept game , an arthouse game , a simple game , an often beautiful game , but most certainly never an everyman 's game " . 
