Killzone 2 Review

Once upon a time, Guerilla Games released an E3 trailer, a trailer for a title called Killzone 2.  It was a glorious trailer, one of excitement and promise.  But the public did not know what to make of it.  Its realistic presentation seemed almost too good to be true.  It was later revealed that the footage was not entirely authentic, that what the public had seen was nothing more than the visual expectations of Guerilla Games.   It would be years before players would hear any news from this much-hyped title.  Now, with the skepticism still high and the wait over, Killzone 2 has finally made its way to the Playstation 3. Fortunately, Killzone 2 not only meets the expectations of Guerilla Games' original vision of the title, it shatters it in ways that you will not believe.


 
Right off the bat, players will notice how good Killzone 2 looks. It is a graphical wonderland and it will never cease to amaze you.  The terrifying Helghast are as much a splendor to behold as they are to kill, their gleaming eyes illuminated in ways that are both frightening and awe-inspiring. Bullets literally tear through your opponents and realistic splashes of blood dirty the well-detailed corridors and cover the corpse-ridden battlefield. Buildings can take damage and over time can be brought down in a sea of crumbling debris and dynamic particle effects.  Never before has a game captured the true insanity of war so masterfully, and gamers across the globe will marvel at how Killzone 2 has pushed the FPS genre to new heights.



Killzone 2 is hard to put down. This is largely due to the weapons that the player will come across. They are such a blast to fire off that every time the Helghast descend in inconceivable numbers, players will look forward to the action.  The M82 is a fantastic weapon and will easily become a favorite.  Sniper rifles and flamethrowers are also available, but nothing beats the unstoppable power of the LS13 shotgun.  But for all the firepower you are supplied and advanced weaponry you can get your hands on, the Helghast have an awful habit of actually being intelligent.  Luckily, Guerilla Games implanted a clever cover system to keep players protected as they plan their attacks against their relentless enemies.  It is very challenging and a great change from the usual run-and-gun gameplay that the genre is so prone to.

As addictive as the single-player mode can be, players looking to put their skills to the test should definitely look into Killzone 2's extensive online mode.  There are two modes to take part in: Skirmish and Warzone. 



Skirmish acts as a practice mode and plays as an offline multiplayer. Players are thrown into an arena and can improve their accuracy against as many as 15 computer-controlled opponents. You can set up the matches in any way you see fit and the bots will play according to the conditions and difficulty settings you have established.  You can select the mode of play ranging from Body Count, which is essentially Team Deathmatch; Search and Retrieve, or Capture the Flag as it normally goes by; and Capture and Hold which is a zone-based mode.  Search and Destroy involves players trying to blow up a particular location on the map while the rival team tries to defend the location by defusing the explosives. Assassination is just as it sounds.  One player will be marked for death and will have to stay alive in order to keep other players from scoring points.  Making these options available for Skirmish Mode was a brilliant move by Guerilla Games.  It allows players to become more comfortable with the environments and layouts before heading into Warzone where the real players await.



However, Warzone is a lot more than just Skirmish Mode with actual players behind the controllers.  Warzone will allow players to pick from six different classes. Starting with a very limited choice of weaponry, gamers will have to continue playing if they want to unlock the true potential of their class.  But that's not all. Players can earn ribbons for performing certain actions, and after receiving a certain amount of ribbons, eventually earn medals. These awards essentially act as experience for a player's class to grow and evolve.  Over time, players can move into other classes, combining their acquired skills with that of another class.  Exploring every possible path their skills can take them to will keep fans hooked into the online campaign.

The controls are similar to most FPS games but do take a bit of getting used to. Being a Playstation 3 exclusive, Guerilla Games managed to put the motion sensing technology of the Dual Shock 3 to good use.  Simple actions, such as turning a valve or lighting a fuse on a set of explosives, can be executed with a tilt of the controller. This keeps the gameplay tense without making it feel too gimmicky. Players will also have to keep their controllers steady when lining up a headshot through the lens of a sniper rifle.  It all feels very smooth and adds to the level of immersion that Guerilla Games wanted to achieve.



Killzone 2 lives up to the hype. It delivers on all fronts and belongs in every Playstation 3 owner's library. It is a non-stop thrill ride with intense action, an engaging story, and plenty of fun to be had along the way. 

Fun Factor: The most fun and realistic FPS on the market.

Difficulty: The enemy AI is impressive, enemies will use every trick in the book to escape death.

Length: The single player campaign is longer than most FPS games.

On the Negative Side: As engaging as the story is, it could have been more fleshed out. Controls take a bit of getting used to, practice recommended.

Bang for your Buck: With an outstanding multiplayer mode and classes to level up and master, Killzone 2 is guaranteed to keep you playing long after your finish the single-player mode.