With all of the hype and buzz surrounding the forthcoming Killzone 3 release, I’ve decided to get a bit nostalgic and write a review for Killzone 2.
From it’s very inception, Killzone 2 was going to be big news. The reveal of Killzone 2 created one of the largest buzzes and controversies of any game launch in recent memory. The trailer that was revealed at E3 2007 looked so absolutely amazing, everyone was sure it was pre-rendered and fake. When the game finally released in February of 2009 it put this arguement to rest. The graphics in the actual game looked just as good as the ones displayed at E3! Suffice to say Killzone 2 is still one of the most visually amazing games on any console. The level of realism and oppression each meticulously detailed environment brings is unmatched.
The Helghast’s planet of Helghan is a stormy, restless, and beautifully crafted planet. Lightning rips through the sky, fire burns as smoke plumes upward in the distance. Thunder, loud explosions and screams further add to this amazing atmosphere, creating full immersion for the gamer.
Even the character designs are amazing. Killzone’s resident baddies; the Helghast look like a cross between Darth Vader & Nazi solders from World War II. They are a unique and terrifying foe and have become the face of the Killzone franchise and one of the most iconic characters ever created. Everyone that’s played this game knows how it looks. There is no disputing the beautiful visuals Guerrilla Games have crafted.
A common point of contention within ranks of gamers arguing over Killzone’s merits and mis-steps are the controls. Some gamers gripe about Killzone’s controls claiming that they are slow, sluggish and unresponsive compared to other first person shooters. I enjoyed the controls and didn’t find them to hamper my experience in any way. The characters motions and range of movement remind me a lot of Gears of War.
Everything has weight and momentum, and you feel like a big bulky soldier hulking around heavy weapons and gear. You are able to run and jump but aren’t extremely nimbly bimbly. Sighting targets in was easy and precise, I found it a lot easier to hit targets from afar in this game than other twitch shooters like Call of Duty.
As far as the actual story goes, the campaign was long enough for a shooter, it took me around 8 hours or so to complete it on normal difficulty. The bulk of my time was spent getting slaughtered by the ATAC and assaulting Visari’s Palace. The campaign itself has intel and Helghast propaganda pieces that can be collected and destroyed, but doesn’t offer a whole lot or replay incentive for me.
The multiplayer aspect of this game however is a whole different breed. A completely unique and customized competitive multiplayer game has been made for Killzone. Combining classes and squads (like Battlefield Bad Company 2) with constant on the fly objective based game types, large maps, and massive teams make it a great and addictive mode. There are unlockables too, for all the xp grinders out there. Different classes unlock different pieces of equipment and guns to further enhance their roles and contributions to their teams. Yes, I said teams. Unlike Call of Duty, Killzone 2 focuses heavily on team play, lone wolves will get slaughtered out there.
All in all Killzone 2 is one of my favourite shooters I’ve ever played and one of the best games available for the PS3. I feel sorry for Xbox 360 & PC users not being able to play this gem.
It would have got 5 heads, but the lack of a co-op campaign keeps it from being a perfect shooter.
