Kane & Lynch would make a great television show, what with its kooky duo, who you could just see having an amazing theme song explaining about how different and yet the same they are. However, the show would most certainly have to air on HBO, because the game is far removed from the buddy sitcoms, as the two titular characters actually despise each other, and besides, what would a song about an estranged mercenary and psycho really sound like anyways? Kane & Lynch is dark and violent, and it sure looks fun.

The story of Kane & Lynch has you controlling Kane, a mercenary who finds himself being busted free, all so that he can be held prisoner to an ex-organization he once worked for, as he must work to get the money he owes them back. To ensure that Kane doesn't go under the radar and nig on his deal, Lynch, a deranged, psycho hopped up on pills, accompanies him as a guardian to watch over him and make sure everything goes as planned. The story and imagery style is most reminiscent of the film Collateral, featuring all the cool you could imagine.

The preview started out with the characters working on a plan, which included making their way into a busy nightclub to meet up with someone. Of course you can't go in packing and brandishing weapons, so you've got to leave them behind and go in unarmed. Standing in line to get checked by door security while Lynch cursed and complained was strangely satisfying, as it felt like we were living the game rather than just playing a level. Once inside, if you played Hitman: Blood Money, the graphical engine on display was easy to determine, as the club was packed from one side to the next with hundreds and hundreds of partygoers moving around, dancing, and interacting, which would be familiar to those Hitman fans who played through the New Orleans Mardi Gras level of that game. The level had a great atmosphere to it, as you had to work your way through the throng of people, all the while you and Lynch continue to have discussions with each other, making your way to your target. However, you need a weapon, so a quick do-away with a security guard and suddenly you are armed.

The standoff with the target, a woman in question, was a bit dark, because though Kane tries to talk things out, Lynch just walks up, slugs her, knocking her out, and then he puts her on his shoulder so they can make their escape. As the bullets start flying, partygoers run for cover, as security guards brandishing flashlights come heading towards you. The flashlight is a solid way to show who exactly the enemies are, though if you wanted to be truly sadistic, you could just shoot everyone in your way, innocent or not.

The next level shown off was a bank robbery, as Kane, Lynch, and their new posse in crime landed on the top of a building, where it was soon time to descend and take the cash. Squad elements come into play here, as your goons can take commands, helping you fight any forces that may be in your way, and so that you don’t waste your own bullets or life doing what the grunts could handle themselves.

The best section of the game shown was the aftermath of the previous rooftop landing battle, as Kane and the gang try to leave the building, not by using the helicopter again, but by trying to simply breeze pass through the security of the front door, as employees from the building scamper to safety because of the fire alarm. The one funny thing about the situation is the dialogue on display, as Kane tells everyone to keep cool, despite the fact that it's clearly evident they've got weapons strapped to their back, doing a bad job at properly concealing them. It isn't long until the guards get wise, and soon the fight is on, as you and your cronies hide behind pillars inside the building as cops fire from outside. Meanwhile, innocent bystanders are running and panicking, trying to find cover and safety somewhere, as you and the cops mow them down as they get caught in the crossfire of your shots.

Like a great R-rated film, Kane & Lynch was graphically violent and with lots of cursing, and part of the reason the game really impressed us was because it doesn't feel like you are playing levels in a game, but instead controlling the action of a constant, free-flowing movie narrative. If we could assign any faults to the preview, it would be that we wish it was longer, because we wanted to get more into the world of these two killers. Hopefully it won't take much longer before the game is finished and released, and then we can kill with reckless abandon as much as we want.