Killzone
2 is the first must-have PS3 game of 2009
Killzone
2 has some of the best graphics
ever seen on the PS3 and challenges
Halo 3 in terms of gratifying gameplay
Killzone 2 - it's a zone where lots of killing happens
Did
someone say vehicles? Killzone 2 has got it all!
Rockets
being fired at vehicles - now we're talking!
Sony and Guerrilla
Games have combined to produce the first must-have PS3 game for 2009.
Killzone 2 is a
non-stop thrill ride that is easily the best
first-person shooter developed for the Playstation 3 console. The game
follows up the events of the first game as well as the popular
Killzone: Liberation for the PSP.
Killzone 2 takes place
on the Helghast home planet of the fascist, militaristic Helghan.
In
response to an attack on a colony of the Interplanetary Strategic
Alliance or ISA (the humans), a large group of soldiers has been
dispatched in an effort to capture the Helghast Emperor and bring an
end to the conflict.
Players are put in the
role of Sergeant Tomas Sevchenko or “Sev”.
His
unit is dispatched behind enemy lines in an effort to pave the way for
the main attack force but no sooner do you land do you realize
that the hostile enemy is not the only thing you're facing.
Indeed, the
planet has a very harsh and severe ecosystem that will hamper their war
efforts. But with a name like Killzone, what did you expect?
Players
work with other A.I. controlled soldiers to achieve strategic
objections such as opening flood gates, knocking out rocket batteries
and incoming armor divisions all the while running and gunning against
the battle hardened enemy soldiers who, clad in their dark armor and
Nazi Stormtrooper-like helmets and glowing red eyes, make for an
intimidating foe.
Thankfully
players have access to a wide assortment of weapons to aid in
their battle ranging from assault rifles, pistols, rocket launchers,
grenades and even fixed weapons, a la Halo 3.
I
was very grateful to liberate an enemy machine gun nest as being able
to turn their own weapons on an advancing legion as well as cut a
building to shreds around entrenched snipers really gave me a sense of
satisfaction.
Like its main rival on
the
Xbox 360, players can only carry two weapons at a time, but are able to
pick up and exchange their weapons at several points during the game by
finding a weapons supply area or taking the weapon from a fallen
enemy.
Players do have a
default
pistol that they are unable to swap for and do have the ability to
engage in melees with enemies should they become low on
ammunition.
There are also some
well-placed strategic opportunities for players such as the one time I
found myself facing a horde of enemy units with only my pistol. What do
I do?
Well, thanks to an
accurate shot
at an abandoned fuel canister, I was able to dispatch my enemies in a
giant explosion and then reload from the weapons they dropped. Suckers.
The
levels of the game are combined with animated sequences that advance
the storyline and setup future missions and attempt to draw you into
the fictional war between the evil Helghan
and your team, the noble ISA.
There is also a
ranking system that provides in-mission challenges and awards ribbons
at the completion of levels.
Another
great feature of the game is the ability to operate vehicles and I
really enjoyed the first time I was able to command a tank and turn the
big guns loose on enemy infantry and armor.
The
outdoor missions worked better for me than the indoor ones as even in
high definition I found that some of the interiors were a bit to dark
for my taste.
I did most of my
review on a
Test Sample of the game that was sent to me by Sony and I did
find
some lag and jumpiness in the controls which I attributed to the build
I was playing, but I did remember that the original Killzone had such
issues so I hope this will be resolved in the final build.
The
gameplay was solid and I enjoyed the way that I had to use my Dualshock
3 control at times to manipulate objects, set charges and that sort of
thing by holding down buttons and tilting and turning the control.
The
enemy A.I. was solid but not as good as I had hoped for as some of my
opponents did seek cover and attempt to use the lean and peek cover
system that I was able to deploy, but many simply charged at me and
made themselves easy targets.
As the game
went along I found myself enjoying the action, but I was never fully
drawn into the story as I have been with some first-person shooters
such as F.E.A.R. and the Half Life series.
This is not to say
that the game has a bad story, but rather that there was nothing really
fresh or compelling.
It
was the standard storyline of a player taking on an army of bad guys
with few twists and turns to flesh out the experience.
That
being said, for action lovers, Killzone 2 delivered the goods as I was
never at a loss for action and the designers focused on giving players
the most carnage and mayhem possible.
The
game does feature a checkpoint save system which has never been a
favorite of mine, as I hate having to repeat portions of a level should
I die.
I tend to prefer to go
in with
guns blazing and so had to adjust my style to use more stealth than I
used to, and use the sniper scopes to take down enemies from afar
rather than up close.
The graphics in the
game are solid, aside from the dark interiors I mentioned earlier, and
the ability to shoot off the helmet of your enemy was a real
thrill.
The voice-acting in
the game is solid and many players will also enjoy the intense
boss battles that arise in the game.
The
game also offers 'Warzone' which is a class-based multiplay
system that offers six classes for players to select from as
well
as a squad-based function.
Currently
there are no plans to offer co-op play in the game which I hope will
change, as being able to play the game with friends and connect
wireless would truly make this game standout.
In the end, despite a
couple of blemishes and shortcomings, Killzone 2 is destined to become a classic. It is an action-lovers dream and is a must-have for
any Playstation 3 owner.
