I'm at the part where the girl working at the bar is concerned about her brother working at the factory. I think the game is pretty crummy so far (like a really boring, but admittedly long, Half-Life mod). The storyline is pretty much throwaway material, so I don't expect the story to get anymore interesting or such. So.. honestly, does the gameplay ever.. EVER get any better?

I'll just be honest here and say no, it really doesn't. I mean, it doesn't get worse, but I played through it I really can't remember anything at all compelling beyond that point. If it hasn't grabbed you yet, just dump it and play something else.

Due to the lack of replies I didn't really think so. xP
So I went ahead and uninstalled it days ago. I later watched the last boss fight on youtube, just to see if there was any interesting bosses later on. It's so sad and boring that the last boss is just like the first guys in the game.

The game had really good atmosphere, amazing music and good graphics for its age, but yes, it´s kinda "plain" and boring :/ it has some moments, but not many.

And also, what means "interesting" for a FPS ?

Kingpin is not a RPG with a complex story and an elaborated system of characteristics for the player.
It's not a point'n click adventure game with a rich an mysterious story

No, it's an action game.
And compared with most of the others FPS, it still has a lot of qualities.
-A real scenario, not just a simple pretext for shooting everyone.
-A strong and unique atmosphere
-A quite elaborated sytem of relationships with NPC and opponents : orders, territories, money...
-A very original level design
-Some very funny dialogs...
-A good IA for the opponents

If someone knows any "definitely more interesting" FPS than Kingpin, I'd like to know :)

I quite enjoyed it. Never played it first time round, but I thought it got pretty good once you get into it. I found the first level a bit annoying - felt a bit difficult - but once you get used to the game mechanics, it's a solid shooter.

I enjoyed the atmosphere, the use of NPCs and such, but I definitely prefer Unreal and Half-Life when comparing it with contemporary shooters. Different strokes.

--pds41 It's true, it's a bit difficult in the beginning . It's looks more like a RPG. The world seems to have its own life, most of the characters don't really pay attention to us. We are not immediately under attack and then forced to respond. We must find our way in an hostile place, get informations, find a mission. Honestly, I didn't understand it immediately. After having been killed 20 times by the guards in the warehouse yard, I realized that this game couldn't be played like Quake2.
As you say, once we get used to the game mechanics, the fun is there.

--Primate Half-Life, of course. The reference for scenarized FPS. A movie-like story, a charismatic hero. A solid mix of action, military warfare, sci-fi high tech environment, horror movie aliens, conspiracy... Perfect for a wide range of players. I would add more easy to handle than Kingpin and less controversial.
I missed Unreal when it came out. I tried to play it recently. But it xas too late :(

I agree that Kingpin had something of its own back then. I like the way it demands a little thinking and planning here and there. Even though the plot works for the game I'm generally no big fan of themes dealing with gangs, crime, being a bad guy/criminal etc. These days I've also had more or less enough of the chubby Quake 2 engine, the darkness etc. The first Unreal game is a real gem in PC-based FPS history, if you ask me. One of my all time favourites. It might be a bit more straight-forward than Kingpin, but I really enjoy the atmosphere and the maps in the SP campaign. Why do you feel it's too late?

I'm not really a fan of too. But I think it was more about marketing. As the story goes on, I felt more the style of a movie from the 50's. The style of the sceneries, the buildings, the clothes, no up to date technology,...The episode in the harbor has something of the movie "On the waterfront"
Where about 99% of the FPS deal with Sci-fi or Fantasy or Military activity; Kingpin has made the choice of an original story in a realistic adult word. Not that easy, in fact.

Whar do you mean with "chubby" Q2 engine? Why too late? Because I didn't believe in. I think immersion is very important in a FPS, just like when watching a movie. If you spend your time thinking about the people around the scene, holding the camera, the microphones, the lights...it doesn't work.
In the end of the 90's, FPS were really at the edge for graphics in computer games. Many of them, in their times, were the very best of the moment. It's probably the reason why we so easily accept these rough polygons with big pixels as convincing and immersive. It used to be the best game available and ten times better than the previous one...So I think that games like Doom Q1 Q2 Unreal were really fully enjoyable when they came out. But in 2010, it no longer works for me. I think I missed the right time for Unreal...

Rough polygons and big pixels, as you say.

OK. So I take it you haven't bought too many 3D games from GOG, then? :)

I already played many old games in their time. And I still have some boxes just opened one time. Games I didn't find the time to play at, such Thief for example or Grim Fandango...
About old games, I think Half-Life, compared to the previous ones, remains playable and enjoyable because of the story and the richer gameplay. Dialogs, interactions, puzzles and humor too...See you with a good beer with Barney. So cool!!!
Did you play "They hunger", the famous mod for Half-Life?

I remember the title, but I don't think I've ever played it.

It was a sort of "Night of the living dead" for Half-Life. A very good mod.

Amongst dozen, Poke646 was impressive too. Did you play this one?

No. Looks good, though.

I was mostly into custom-made maps for Unreal and Quake 2, if I remember correctly. Today I'm more or less sick and tired of Quake 2. I might get back to Unreal now and again, though. It used to be the sh|t. :)