The premise is jarringly political: Following the announcement of the 1997 handover of Hong Kong from British to Chinese sovereignty, the game casts the player as a British agent tasked with killing Chinese officials, exploding members of the Chinese parliament, and battling a giant "Gweilo" (a derogatory term for a white ghost). The final boss? A grotesque, floating head of a Chinese premier.
Hong Kong 97 was initially conceived as a unique theme park and entertainment complex, with a focus on showcasing the city's vibrant culture and cutting-edge technology. The brainchild of a local businessman, the project was ambitious, with plans to create an immersive experience featuring interactive exhibits, thrill rides, and a range of attractions. In the early 1990s, the site was touted as a must-visit destination, with a projected opening date that would coincide with the handover of Hong Kong to China.
: The game gained massive popularity in the late 2000s through "Let's Play" videos and reviewers like the Angry Video Game Nerd, who highlighted its bizarre "Game Over" screen featuring a real-life photograph of a corpse.
"Hong Kong 97," often cited as the worst video game ever made, was a 1995 Super Famicom title developed in two days by journalist Kowloon Kurosawa to mock the gaming industry. Sold via mail-order through underground magazines, the game features absurd content and a, now identified, real-life photo of a, now identified, real-life photo of a body in its game-over screen. Explore the origins of this cult classic in the Encyclopedia Gamia Archive Wiki . Hong Kong 97 - VGFacts
While details about the link remain scarce, rumors suggest that it refers to a mysterious publication or brochure that was allegedly distributed to promote the theme park. Some claim that the magazine link contains cryptic messages, diagrams, or photographs that hint at the site's true intentions and the reasons behind its abandonment.