Killzone 2: Napalm & Cordite Interview

[daniyal7]

INTERVIEW

Last week, the news broke that a third major release of Killzone 2 downloadable content would be upon us soon. Entitled the Napalm & Cordite pack, it will include two new maps (Seljeva Cliffside and Arctower Landing), two new weapons (the flamethrower and boltgun), new options including increased body count and, last but not least, new Trophies.

To find out what it's all about, we fired off a number of questions to the senior multiplayer game designer over at Guerrilla Games, Eric Boltjes. Take a look at what he had to tell us, and make sure you click through to check out the slick boltgun trailer.

IGN: Will the two new weapons make their way into existing maps?

Eric Boltjes: No, the Flamethrower and Boltgun will be playable in the new maps as pickups. We wanted to make the weapons quite 'special' for player and not making them player-selectable at spawn helps to emphasize this. Also, players of every rank can pick them up and cause immediate chaos.

IGN: Are there any moving parts to these levels? The last pack had a lot more of this than we saw in the base game, and it would be cool to see this trend continue.

Eric Boltjes: Yes, the levels have lots of moving parts. Amongst others this includes Arc-towers that fire, bugs that crawl around and can be shot, and banners waving in the wind!

IGN: Does this pack add any new badges, Trophies or alter the level cap? If not, are these things in the work for a future release?

Eric Boltjes: This pack will feature 8 new Trophies, with a total 180 points to be earned. The trophies are specific for these maps and these weapons. There is no new level cap, as we just raised the cap recently and a lot of players are still working towards that goal. There are no new badges in this pack.

IGN: The Suljeva Cliffside map description that we have hints at ambush possibilities. Can you expand on this? Are you attempting to introduce new tactics through level design?

Eric Boltjes: We are always trying to introduce new tactics through level design and in that particular map you will see more 'tighter' routes and 'bottlenecks' to create a very close-quarter combat feel that we haven't done in a level before. There is always someone around the corner, sometimes wielding a flamethrower. It is a very intense level.

IGN: We have the basic details on the maps, but you can describe them in comparison to other existing maps so that fans have an idea of what's in store?

Eric Boltjes: When starting the designs for new maps, we always look at the feedback from the community. What makes the old maps fun? What can be improved? The focus of these maps was to create relatively smaller and tighter, more close-combat orientated maps than before, in order to both support 12-24 player games as well as satisfy our shotgun/assault-rifle audience. In addition to this, we wanted to add new specialty weapons, which tie into these new environments and create a new tactical advantage to fight over.

IGN: What has the reaction been so for to bringing back Killzone 1 maps, and are you planning on adding any more?

Eric Boltjes: The reactions were overwhelming; we knew people would like it but it has received the most kudos by far. It is fun for us as designers to go back and revisit an important part of the Killzone Universe. Apparently the fans also really liked it, so everybody is happy!

IGN: What is the release date for Killzone 3? Is it going to be a PlayStation 4 launch title? =)

Eric Boltjes: We can not talk about future projects. For now we are happy to be playing Killzone 2 with the community, and making great downloadable content in response to the many requests we get for it. Hopefully somewhere down the line is a holiday

Source: IGN

Seems like we would not be able to use the new weapons on other maps
8 new trophies sounds good....

Check out the Boltgun trailer : http://ps3.ign.com/dor/objects/748475/killzone-next-gen/videos/killzone2_trl_boltgun_71309.html

Isn't this gun like too powerful for online i mean the one who grabs it can run about killing everyone in his path....

 

[CerebralTiger]

Eric Boltjes: No, the Flamethrower and Boltgun will be playable in the new maps as pickups. We wanted to make the weapons quite 'special' for player and not making them player-selectable at spawn helps to emphasize this. Also, players of every rank can pick them up and cause immediate chaos.

Good to see that the new weapons won't be selectable by any of the classes at spawn/load-out....would've just made a complete mess of things

I guess this means we'll be seeing the Lightning gun as a pick up weapon in some future DLC map....makes sense, though....place a single Lightning gun in the center of a map and let everyone battle it out in order to acquire it and pwn the opposing team into oblivion....kinda like the Drop ship from Warhawk

 

[GoldenHawk]

Bro giving the lightning gun to a player is as good as lettin him win...but ofcourse if they wud release it in a DLC they wud have to make it a lot less effective

 

[SolitarySoldier]

^ It's electricity gun actually and it was my fav. weapon in Kz2.

Boltgun is too awesome as well. It will be fun to play with it.

 

[fareedusmani]

lol electricity gun would be total chaos

 

[Shyber]

Yeah, one would feel infamous all over again

 

[zeeshansyed]

hmmm... so 32 players playing the same match and there is going to be only two guns, one for each team? Basically, 16 people will be fighting to get their hands on the gun and since anyone can pick any gun, this means that if the opposite team kills the "gun bearer", they'd have two powerful guns to blow the hell out of the other team? No, nopes, I don't like the sound of that or perhaps, I'M missing something here? Perhaps there are multiple guns scattered all over the place for everyone to pick up? Err... no, does not sound likely. WHAT THE HELL AM I MISSING HERE?

 

[daniyal7]

hmmm... so 32 players playing the same match and there is going to be only two guns, one for each team? Basically, 16 people will be fighting to get their hands on the gun and since anyone can pick any gun, this means that if the opposite team kills the "gun bearer", they'd have two powerful guns to blow the hell out of the other team? No, nopes, I don't like the sound of that or perhaps, I'M missing something here? Perhaps there are multiple guns scattered all over the place for everyone to pick up? Err... no, does not sound likely. WHAT THE HELL AM I MISSING HERE?

NAh i guess there would be more than two of the new weapons to pick up, so relax dude

 

[fareedusmani]

even if there is only one gun, if the friendly fire is on , flamethrower here i come..

 

[SolitarySoldier]

Boltgun is much better than flamethrower. It has the after effect.

 

[grimr3aper]

Good stuff man,damn man I really need to get me these DLCs!!!!!!