Gameplay:
Killzone 2 is a sci-fi game set on the planet of Helghan, where the humans 300 years in the future (the ISA) have invaded the distant home of the Helghast people due to a shortage of resources on Earth. This is probably the very first Sci-Fi first-person shooter to go with a realistic combat approach. To accompany that is a somewhat heavy feel of the character and some uncanny physics that help immerse the player into the overall experience. The single-player campaign puts you into the shoes of Sergeant Sev, who was drafted into the Alpha Squad to help colonize the planet. The campaign mode for the most part is wave after wave of resistance swarming toward you, but the production value and presentation are absolutely unmatched to date on any console. The missions throughout the campaign spawn a fair amount of variety with vehicles and other events to help keep it fresh.
However, the same great things cannot be said about the story. Unfortunately, the character development is a total miss, and the story development is also very poor. The crazy thing is that the ending to the game shows you how great the story could have actually been, and it’s a shame that such an amazing plot was not taken advantage of. Thankfully, the multi-player is really where the bulk of the game is at, and in that regard Killzone 2 is among the best ever. Multi-player features 8 maps and several different classes including the scout, tactician and medic among others. The experience is very fun and feels like nothing else on the market. The multi-player portion also features ranks and badges which both have rewards including the classes themselves as well as special abilities for the classes. To top that off, Killzone 2 features a great clan system as well as a built-in tournament system which has some flaws but has great potential.
Controls:
The controls for Killzone 2 have the feeling of weight, and all movements and motions have a slight delay to them to make the game feel realistic and original. Unfortunately, this approach made Killzone 2 not only original, but very annoying to play to many people. Some have argued that they have gotten used to it over time, but controls just shouldn’t have to take getting used to. The delayed feel really makes multi-player frustrating and at times it feels like the controller is trying to prevent you from doing what you want. Thankfully, Guerilla Games has listened and has patched the game to make the controls more like what shooter fiends are used to seeing, but they are still unacceptable.
Graphics:
Killzone 2 is without a doubt the best looking console game made to date. It is easy to tell that Guerilla Games took every precaution to prove that they have an art team that takes attention to detail. The effects of the game are absolutely unheard of and there are times in multi-player where grenade explosions, machine gun gunfire and ricochets are all on the screen at once with no slowdown and create an unprecedented level of chaos. To sum it up, Killzone 2 is absolutely gorgeous.
Sound:
The sounds that Killzone 2 has are very basic but don’t overdo it. Many of the common sounds such as rifle gunfire and grenade explosions are great, while some other sounds like the air sentries flying overhead are very annoying. However, Killzone 2 does support 7.1 surround sound and does a great job of that. The main theme for the game is epic and fitting but the soundtrack is short and limited.
Replay Value:
The single-player campaign takes roughly 7 hours to complete and the game also supports a multitude of trophies. The multi-player has 12 ranks and dozens of badges to unlock and earn. To top that off, multi-player also has 4 special ranks for those who place top 1%, 3%, 6% and 10% every week. A lack of co-op is probably the only thing missing from the game. Overall, the game will last a long time and is one of the most well-rounded first-person shooters to date.
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Rating:
Story: 6.5
Gameplay: 9.0
Graphics: 10.0
Controls: 8.0
Sound: 9.0
Replay Value: 9.5
Overall: 9.2
Own, Rent, Avoid:
Own: This game has a very good chance of winning shooter of the year 2009 and joins the ranks of about a dozen first-person shooters that you must play in your lifetime.
Last Thoughts:
Killzone 2 has unprecedented presentation and atmosphere. The multi-player is deep and very satisfying and there is enough included to keep any shooter fan occupied for the months to come.
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Written By
Jonathan Leack
4/1//2009
