Killzone 2 Review
By Stephen Heller
"But if those who deny us peace, refuse us our rightful place in the universe, then we will unleash such terrible vengeance, that generations yet unborn will cry out in anguish. They will know that Helghan belongs to the Helghast"
Scolar Visari's haunting words of oppression resonate not only with the player, but for the entire single player experience in Guerrilla's latest title Killzone 2 for the Playstation 3. Players are thrust into the shoes of Tomas "Sev" Sevchenko, a member of the special forces unit Alpha, on a mission of epic proportions. The ISA are storming the homeworld of the Helghast in an attempt to end a lengthy - and brutal - war, once and for all. What Killzone 2 manages to do is create a sense of urgency, a sense of belonging to the player, a reason why you are fighting through this desolate landscape. The game is set years in the future on a foreign planet, but it manages to feel very real. This is what makes Killzone truly unique.
You'll find yourself fighting your way through 9-10 hours of chaotic battles during the single-player campaign, that will take you from beachheads, to town centers and to the desert. The environments are all fleshed out with a unique art style and subtle effects that make them feel as if they have been there for years. The war-torn landscape littered with devastated buildings are all brought to life by Killzone 2's outstanding visuals. There is no doubt that this is the best looking game we've seen this generation thus far, with utterly jaw dropping textures, lighting effects and some of the most impressive smoke effects we have ever seen. This is all complemented by a physics system, so much so that wind will actually push smoke and fire across the battlefield. There are times where battles are so chaotic - grenades going off, explosions and gunfire fill the streets - you'll be left standing there surrounded by smoke, and while you'll want to sit there and breathe in the glorious visuals, you will need to snap out of it quick smart if you don't want to be served a can of whoop-ass by the games impressive AI.
Killzone 2 throws some of the toughest, smartest enemies at you that you'll want to shake their hands before you unload a clip of bullets into their face. They seem to "know" the battlefield; they talk to each other, the gun, they flank, they use cover, they blind fire, but it never feels like it is scripted or co-ordinated. It feels fluent and at times, down right scary. Difficulty ramps up significantly when on harder difficulties, so the challenge will be present no matter what your skill level. Many people have complained that there is a lack of different enemies, but I find it be refreshing. Guerrilla didn't feel the need to cram in some random aliens or units to expand the enemy base. You are fighting different classes of soldiers, who all work together brutally well to simple kick your ass.
One of Killzone 2's strongest features is the catalogue of realistic weapons at the users disposal. Unlike a number of FPS games where you will get attached to two or three weapons and cast the rest off, each and every weapon in Killzone 2 feels perfectly weighted, as each has its advantages and uses in the battlefield. Each one is also a pleasure to fire. Smoke and flash are all present, capped off with amazing reload animations and realistic weapon modeling. Furthermore, each weapon sounds just like it should; the shotgun produces a commanding boom of thunder, the SMG lets of small, controlled bursts like a snare drum, and the Assault Rifle features just a hint of futuristic flavour to the burst of loud gunfire.
Once you have blasted your way through the campaign, it doesn't end. Killzone 2 is the first true game to rival Call of Duty's dominance in online gaming with an immersive and diverse multiplayer component. Much in the style of Call of Duty's online gameplay, rewards are gained based on points from kills and completing challenges. Unlockables range from new guns, to more grenades upon respawn, to entirely new player classes. The constant validation the player receives as they blast their way online will keep them entertained for months, but on top of that, Killzone 2 features some of the best online team-based gameplay we have seen since Team Fortress 2 on the PC.
There are the staple modes that are no surprise; Team Deathmatch, Conquest and Capture the Flag, as well as other variations. Killzone 2 will have you moving through all the game modes so seamlessly that there will be hardly a second to catch a breath. It keeps the gameplay fresh and innovative. Constantly updating the objectives will change the pace and feel of the battle entirely, and offers a chance to bite your teeth into a truly deep and immersive online experience. With eight maps to explore and a promise of DLC, Killzone 2 is easily right up there as the best online game on the PS3 at the moment.
If you want to get some practice (or don't have internet access) you can easily enjoy these features against bots in the offline skirmish mode. Online play fits up to 32 players which is a great number for such a visually demanding game. Killzone 2 doesn't do anything to shatter the online world, as it takes the reward system and introduces it with different rewards rather than classes. Furthermore, it takes the squad mechanics (ala. Battlefield Bad Company), and takes objective based gameplay (ala. Enemy Territory: Quake Wars) and twists them into a tasty piece of online shooter heaven.
Audio presentation is smack damn near on perfect. The orchestral music fits in well when it is applied, the weapons and gunfire make you duck for cover at times and the rumble of the explosions throughout the game will have your neighbours thinking something terrible is happening in your house. Voice acting is spot on, as each member of Alpha Unit has a memorable voice and something to say, often little witty comments that keep things interesting. Visari is the standout here, as his speeches are commanding and dominate and at times he will have you sitting there pondering exactly what both sides of the war are going through.
If you have seen trailers, videos and screenshots then chances are you have an idea of just how impressive this game is visually, but it cannot be truly appreciated until you see it in action with your very own eyes. Buildings will be falling as you are surrounded by Helghast troopers, all stunningly modeled and full of intricate details, explosions will be thundering in the distance, the wind will be blowing the billowing smoke across your eyes, all happening with no lag. Regardless of the amazing attention to detail that is on display in each and every inch of the environments, weapons and character models, the game manages to keep a steady and impressive frame rate. Killzone 2 has set the bar high not just for first person shooters that will follow it, but sets it high for just about any game that will follow on the Playstation 3. We have seen what the system is capable of, and what we have seen is simply gorgeous.
Having sung it's praises from the high heavens Killzone 2 doesn't do anything to re-invent the wheel, the great thing is it simply doesn't have to. It takes existing gameplay mechanic staples in the FPS genre, and does them so extraordinarily well that it feels fresh and exciting. It's refreshing to not have a game introduce some out of left field Alien or Mutant enemies half way through a game, from start to finish you will be fighting the same Helghast troopers, and not to say it's boring at all, it adds to the realism that this is a war. There are some really slick Gun Turrent situations which will have you blasting everything you can see, and the vehicle sections don't feel cheap and tacked on like some other titles.
The Final Word
Killzone 2 offers more than just outstanding visuals and audio so real that it sounds like World War III is in your living room. It offers a top notch, cut above the rest first person experience, complimented with an impressive multiplayer component. The catalogue of weapons is impressive and a pleasure to do battle with, the AI is smart, effective and will cause you some pain and even though it's set in the future, Killzone 2 paints a picture that is very real. It's a good enough reason to invest into a PS3
Gameplay
9/10
It doesn't re-invent the wheel, but Killzone 2 pulls off exceptional gameplay in just about every field it delves into
Graphics
10/10
Simply stunning. A new benchmark of what we can expect out of the Playstation 3 and console gaming in general
Audio
9.5/10
In full 7.1 surround sound, Killzone 2 offers sounds that are so realistic, it sounds like World War III is unfolding in your living room
Value
9.8/10
Single Player will keep you busy for 9-10 hours but you'll want to play it over again to get the intelligence and trophies. Once that's over with, Killzone has the most impressive multiplayer packages since Call of Duty 4: Modern Combat
Overall
9.8/10