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Move over Resistance, the PS3 has a new AAA shooting franchise. Killzone 2 is a rare example of when a game can live up to the (sometimes unachievable) expectations set for it. The hype for Killzone 2 began when Sony showed “gameplay” footage (which was later revealed to be a target) and has kept up since. Killzone 2 may not look quite that good but it is definitely in the top handful of best looking games of this generation. Oh, and there’s an amazing game under the visuals, too.
Killzone 2 doesn’t hide that it’s an action game through and through. There’s a plot in there (something about the International Strategic Alliance i.e. your team attacking the Helghast) but the game doesn’t really attempt to answer why. Fans of the first Killzone have a better idea but the plot is merely just there in this game. It doesn’t detract from the experience (despite the forgettable characters, dialogue and plot) but it doesn’t move it forward either. It’s a bit of a shame that the brilliant cutscenes weren’t put to better use.
At its core, Killzone 2 has a terrific single-player campaign. Part of the reason is that the game keeps the action flowing thanks to amazing scripted events and great A.I. You are rarely at the same battle for long but they last just enough that you feel like you accomplished something. You’ll largely be fighting Helghast soldiers but you’ll quickly notice that they work extremely well together. They don’t wait more than a few seconds for a grenade to explode, wait behind cover, flank you, and generally try to outsmart you. The same can be said of the A.I. of your teammates and in a nice touch the enemies don’t focus singularly on you. Combined, Killzone 2 lets you experience what a large scale battle would be like quite well. Even the weapons are extremely well done and fun to use. They range from the standard (shotgun, assault rifle) to the more exotic (a bolt gun that lets you impale enemies and a lighting gun that overwhelms enemies with electricity).
Killzone 2 plays like a thoroughly polished standard shooter, with regenerative health and a highly suggested cover system. The cover system is quite intuitive and works well for the most part. The controls feel a bit sluggish initially because the game tries to convey the feeling of weight. The armor and weapons your character is character are not light and the game tries to convey this by requiring you to get momentum before you start running or turn around. This also means that you can’t jump quite as high as you’d expect but once you get used to the controls the immersion they provide is great. There are some motion control sequences that feel tacked-on but don’t largely detract from the game.
The eight-hour campaign is almost worth the cost of admission on its own. The game gives you the ability to play specific sequences of missions, which is a nice touch and improves the replayability. But the real value comes from the terrific online gameplay that was clearly inspired by Call of Duty. There is a leveling system that gives you general rewards (new weapons, grenades, classes) and a ribbon system that reward particular tasks. The modes themselves aren’t particularly innovative – Bodycount (Team Deathmatch), Capture and Hold (Conquest), Search and Retrieve (Capture the Flag) – but the gameplay is sufficiently strong that the modes themselves don’t matter. The online mode supports up to 32-players (including up to 15 AI bots). There are seven classes, each with their own unique advantages and disadvantages.
Visually, Killzone 2 is almost on a league of its own. The environments have tons of extremely detailed objects, complex architecture, and amazing textures all brought to life by a stellar lighting engine. The weapons have fantastic models and enemies respond to being shot with lifelike animations that show that they really felt pain. There are small touches, too, like the way your shield cracks or the way fire reacts to wind push Kilzone 2 into a league of its own.
Likewise, the audio design is just as good. The soundtrack is appropriately epic and powerful making the battles seem like the grandiose affairs that they are. The sound effects, especially the weapon effects, all sound fantastic. The voice acting isn’t stellar but given how unimportant the plot is you’re likely to zone this out anyway.
Killzone 2 is an exceptional first-person shooter. It’s not especially innovative but the presentation is unmatched and the gameplay is superbly polished. The online mode alone guarantees that is a game that PS3 owners are going to keep in for months to come. All we need now is a coop mode for Killzone 3 and maybe some sort of plot. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Mar 8, 2009
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