The Killzone series has become known for its promises before launch almost as much as its
known for the games themselves.
The first game was hyped to the nth degree, saying that it would be the PS2s Halo killer.
And while it was not all that it was said to be, it was one of the best shooters on
the system.
Well, another entry in the series came, and the hype came with it.
This was lead on by the now famous E3 trailer.
The build up was tense, waiting to see if Gorilla Games could deliver.
And when it released it turns out they could deliver, and then some.
The story continues where the first game left off.
The Helgast invasion was held off, but all is not good yet.
Now it is time to take the fight to them and make them pay for the invasion.
The ISA are now pulling a reversal and invading the Helgast homeworld.
This changes the feel of the game considerably.
Instead of being the innocent victims of the Helgast war machine, now you are the aggressors.
Disappointingly though, they eliminated the ability to change characters.
I was sad to see this go because that was one of the things that made the original unique.
Instead you are a new single character, with some of the characters returning from the
first game but now in support roles.
Also changed is the gameplay.
Continuing the trend of modern games, Killzone has now become a cover based shooter with
regenerating health.
This is fine and doesn’t hold the game back, but I would have liked Killzone to stay itself
and not try to be like all the other games.
But the gameplay works well because it doesn’t completely rely on finding cover.
You can and in some points it helps, but you can play the game like you did the first.
But one thing Killzone does better than many shooters out there is bring you into the world.
The game grabs you from the opening scene which has you descending down to the planet
all the while being shot at by the defences.
It feels like a intergalactic version of Omaha Beach and gets you ready for the game.
You land and instantly you are being yelled at by your commanding officer and given orders,
and your only response is emphatic, “Sir, Yes Sir.
But instead of just stringing you from epic set piece to epic set piece, the game has
a great sense of pacing.
Some levels have your moving stealthy while other have the fast adrenaline fueled action
you expect.
And it is the little things that bring you in.
Like how it takes you a second before you use a ladder and the you see your hands as
you ascend.
But somethings are not perfect.
Some things are great and cool the first time but grow a little old the more you have to
do them, like placing a mine.
You plant it then turn the controller left and right, using the sixaxis.
It is a little gimmicky but it is really my only complaint with the game.
The gameplay is intense and responsive, the story is engaging and interesting, the graphics
are amazing and blow the trailer out of the water, and to make things even better the
multiplayer is incredible.
All these elements come together to make one of the best shooters of this console generation.
It is hard to believe, but the hype was justified.