Killzone 2 – PS3 – Review

The past
several months have certainly see its share of high-profile first-person
shooters for the next-gen console platforms, but one of the titles that high
expectations surrounded was the SCEA/Guerrilla release Killzone 2.

Well, the game
has released and while Killzone 2 does follow some familiar trends in terms of
multiplayer (which is robust settings), this is one of the more visceral titles
to release.

For those who
have not indulged in the franchise (which includes the original PlayStation 2
title and the PSP release of Liberation), Killzone follows the war between two
factions – the ISA and the Helghast. Up until Killzone 2, most of the action has
taken place on the ISA world of Vekta. But in a Quake-like move, with Killzone
2, the ISA has decided that enough is enough and have taken the fight to the
industrialized world of Emperor Visari and Helghan.

It is into this
setting that players are plunked and right from the get-go, you will feel the
intensity, be drawn in by the harshness of the environments – which are
destructible to some degree – and feel totally immersed in the action of the
game.

You start the
game as a member of a four-man team, dropped into a hot zone and working along a
linear path, from point to point.

There are eight
maps, a robust multiplayer element, and customization features that will enable
players to define not only the role they play in the conflict, but how that role
plays out. There are seven different classes: rifleman, scout (can stealth),
medic, engineer (can set up automated turrets), tactician (can set up spawn
points in multiplayer), saboteur and assault (ready to get up close with the
enemy).

In many
regards, Killzone 2 trots the well-tread path of other shooters. You start out
with a weapon, are thrust into the heart of the conflict – the opening level
takes place in what appears to be a water-side factory complex – with your
shooting skill and wits to sustain you. There are objectives, and – in the
single-player campaign – NPC teammates that will help ease you along the path
you need to take. The NPCs in this game are not dumb. The enemy will use cover,
will lean out to shoot, and seem to coordinate attacks.

You start out
with a weapon that will run out of ammo. You need to scrounge up new weaponry
from the enemies you take out. Yep, pretty standard there, but weapons, and how
they are used depend largely on the class of the character you are.

The game begins
with the landing on Helghan, and the game sets the tempo right from the cut
scene onset. Riding a lander to the planet, you see another lander blown out of
the sky. That pops the intensity level and will have you landing and finding
cover in a hurry. Helghast troops are on platforms with crossing fire on the
invading forces. Particle effects are amazing, and the explosions are very well
done. Snipe an enemy from a platform and you will be treated to a rag-doll
physics that is not as silly as some games, but treads more toward reality. The
body will fall, hit protrusions on the structure, be redirected and land with a
sickening thud. As visceral as the graphics are, the audio supplements that with
a great sense of urgency. Orders are barked, and the sound pouring out of the
system borders on chaos, but really reflects the battle scene well.

The campaign is
strictly single player, but you work as part of a team, with an AI that is
rather well done. The team you are part of will take cover, give support and
generally take up positions that are smart. The enemy will also use cover and
not charge at you as though they are bulletproof. Different tactics are used
depending on the type of soldier you are facing.

The control
scheme for the game is well done. The SIXAXIS motion controls come into play for
certain in-game actions and these feel natural rather than a forced usage of the
scheme. You can carry a primary weapon, and a secondary weapon. You can snipe,
and even melee with your rifle. There are also grenades available. However, your
grenades and primary weapon ammunition are finite and you have to replace them
or restock.

In addition to
the single-player game, there is a Skirmish mode that allows players to enter
the multiplayer settings offline against bots. There is a great selection of
maps to play on (eight total), though the formats for the multiplayer follow
familiar themes – there is a team deathmatch called Body Count, a Search and
Retrieve (Capture the Flag) and a game where you grab control points and try to
hold them. As you progress through the multiplayer, you can achieve ranks and
move up from private status. This is all based on kills and multipliers that
come into play if you are on the winning side at the end of the multiplayer
session. There are also rewards that can be unlocked and trophies.

Back to the
sound for a moment – the top characters are voiced decently, but this does not
extend down the road to the lesser characters. Though not a detraction, a better
job could have been done. And the menu graphics use a technique that is very
irritating in that the lettering (on the review code received) jumps and
separates out into staggered red and black letters overlaid with a bit of a blur
– almost like 3D but not as well done. This can play havoc with eyesight,
especially if your vision is not where it once was.

That aside,
though, Killzone 2 is an incredible romp into a franchise that is intense and
graphically pleasing. This is a challenging and entertaining game that plays off
a decent storyline and presents several degrees of difficulty that will enthrall
and challenge players.

Review Scoring Details for Killzone 2

Gameplay: 9.5
The game plays off
the disk (unlike some PS3 titles that load a lot of data to the hard drive), and
so rather than out-and-out load times, you may encounter a few slow-downs. Still
this is nothing to fret about. The controls are tight and well realized.

Graphics: 9.4
The particle effects
are excellent and the animations are well done. This is a game that assaults the
eyes with as much enthusiasm as the ISA attacks on the Helghast.

Sound: 8.9
Some of the voice
work could have been better, but the game uses 7.1 surround sound and if you
crank the volume, you will find this as much an aural treat as a visual one.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard

Concept: 9.0
The first foray into
the PS3 uses a solid storyline, some familiar themes, but inserts an intensity
that makes for a solid gaming experience.

Multiplayer: 9.5
SCEA set up
multiplayer sessions and these were a lot of fun. Challenging? Yes, but not only
is this a reflexive exercise in some regards, but the dev team took care to make
certain the environment was a factor.

Overall: 9.4
This is quite a ride
on several fronts – visually, aurally and in intensity. You will be challenged,
but more importantly, you should have a lot of fun. Killzone 2 was one of those
games that have been highly anticipated and the product that is heading for
release lives up to expectations.