Killzone2, The game that became famous in 2005 for all the wrong reasons. The target render was too good to be even that – a target render. Especially from a set of developers whose track record wasn't exactly great. Guerilla’s previous game, the original Killzone, had received mediocre responses. Without a solid reputation, when Guerilla showed their phenomenal trailer, they quickly became a target of much criticism and cynicism. With total silence for nearly two years, it came to be believed that Killzone2 was just vaporware. Then finally, in 2007 at E3, Killzone2 surfaced for the first time in its real-time glory. A beautiful mockup of the 2005 trailer, it looked like Killzone2 will indeed be very close to Guerilla’s promise.
What followed after that was an immense hype builder. Despite of being a sequel to a mediocre game, Killzone2 started drawing the attention that one normally associates with mega hitters like Halo or MGS. With such a ridiculous amount of hype and expectation to live up to and a huge promise to withhold, it is quite likely for a game to fall short. But Killzone2 is not that game. It lives up to all those insane expectations, even surpasses them. A giant is born. Killzone2 is the new benchmark of shooters.
Gold and blood. Only one of'em real.
Killzone2 is quite a polished game. It is not revolutionary - It just tries to perfect the best of all the great shooters and pretty much succeeds in doing so. The presentation is one of the key selling points for Killzone2; boasting graphics that eclipses any realtime visuals in any game we’ve seen on consoles or PC to date. Where Killzone2 doesn’t render the beautiful foliage and intense volumetric HDR lightning of Crysis; it outclasses it in particle effects, character models, animation and post collision response systems. The art direction and atmosphere is superbly projected. Everything feels believable with a tremendous attention to detail that has to be experienced to be completely admired. The environments are war torn out mostly. But the lightning and ambience gives every place its own individual characteristic. There are some extremely beautiful moments in the game that’ll make you stop and absorb in the scenery. The environments do have a fair bit of vareity in them, nothing feels repetetive as settings change with progression. In fact, the last act's visuals will impulsively make you believe that you're in hell. Reddish tinge with ashes falling all around you and a battle so intense and fierce, COD4 feels like a graphics adventure game.
Time to choose a new cover buddy.
Presentation is only helped by the sublime aural sensation that Killzone2 stirs up. The sound effects of the guns, the noise of the war machines, the clinking of shells against concrete, the explosions, the battle cries of the ISA and the taunts of the Helghast – everything feels rich and immersive enough to suck you into the virtual war that Killzone2 manages to impel. The soundtrack is quite good as well, helps to create the pressure and captivation of the battle. When the music goes into hard beat, you know there’s a tougher boss roaming around – a note of deep bass that you can feel in your neck as you gulp down the anxiety. I seriously recommend playing this game on a decent bunch of speakers. Killzone2 supports uncompressed 7.1 audio. I wasn’t fortunate to experience it in its full prowess but even the DTS 5.1 is enough to blow your roof off.
Killzone2’s attention to detail in presentation is interwoven with its contemplation to core gameplay mechanics. The weight, movement, kicks (recoil) and punches (hit factor) of each gun are carefully crafted. You can really feel the weapon you’re holding and the power it delivers. Then the environments with outstanding level design. The placement of objects intended to be used as covers Is quite natural and blends in with the setting. The real challenge of the game comes from the tremendous AI of the Helghast. They always appear to be one step ahead of you and would never easily give away their position; hiding from you pretty well. What's deadlier than an attacking enemy is a hiding enemy that plans ambush in real-time. There was a moment in KZ2 where I was along with a squad-mate clearing out a room. There was a lone Helghast that we had missed and he knew that he was alone. With my back turned to him, he jumped onto me from behind. These guys KNOW when to charge, when to cover and when to sit out a round of ammo.
Ready or not, here I come
Their attitude is dynamic depending on how many of them are attacking. So when they are in numbers, they’ll totally decimate you. When they’re fewer, they’ll regroup and reorganize their strategy. When they’re near you, they’ll charge for brutal melee. Never reload your weapon in front of a Helghast without cover, or that’s the last thing you’ll ever do. Killzone2 offers a decent and straightforward arsenal of guns although my favorite is the sniper rifle and that’s probably because of how it uses the Sixaxis feature. Sixaxis, in my opinion, is the best thing that can happen to a sniper rifle. You'd want every game from this point on to use it. I mean, when you're 5x zoomed in and just need that little adjustment for the headshot, the analog stick feels too sensitive. A subtle movement of the pad feels very intuitive. Best use of SIXAXIS I've seen on PS3 so far.
What Killzone2 offers different from other popular shooters is its pacing. If you hold back, you'll die or you don’t progress. You rush in you’re downed in no time. You stop and attack and return for cover and then you re-attack and advance and hold back, it gets intense and it pays off well. This game offers a real sense of reward when you retake a territory from Helghast control. The progression really makes you feel that you’re advancing in battle. At first I thought Killzone2’s gameplay isn't doing anything new but this was it. The pacing is fantastic. You can't hold back and pick them out, they’re too smart for that. You can't rush in and kill them all, they’re too organized for that. You dwell it out with them. The Helghast are some of the most decorated enemies that you'll see on screen and you can't help but admire their ferocious
discipline in brutality and aggression. They're one of the most memorable enemies I've encountered in a game so far. Their voice, their battle cries, their taunts, and their brevity - these guys are true products of war and turmoil. Honestly, I would rather fight WITH them than against them if their morals were kept in check. They're simply better as soldiers. At least now I know which soldier type I'd be picking up in its multiplayer mode.
Helghan: My armor protects me, what protects you from me?
Speaking of which, one of the other strong points of Killzone2 is its multiplayer. Killzone2 borrows multiplayer elements from two of my (former) favorite online shooters, Call of Duty 4 and Team Fortress 2. The COD4 style reward system in KZ2 will help in giving you a feeling of accomplishment and leveling up. The rewards being unlockable badges (classes) and their secondary abilities that are varied enough to exercise considerable strategy during games. You also get to unlock some weapons along the way and every here and there you're awarded ribbons and medals for certain feats in the game. This allow for further enhanced abilities or combination of abilities or simply more points per action like a headshot. The classes are as unique as they were in Team Fortress 2, yet as customizable as they were in Call of Duty 4. Imagine a sniper that can call in aerial support. A demolition man with C4s with cloaking ability. The system is rich, flexible and deep enough to last for a very long time. Besides, you have the option to practice against bots and add them to a semi-empty server to keep up the intensity of battle even when there aren’t enough human players around. Considering all these elements, if there’s any department in which Killzone2 can conquer all other shooters, it’s the multiplayer. All it needs now is the online Co-Op mode which I'm sure Guerilla will be working on as a future downloadable content. Even without that, the multiplayer is so addictive that it's nothing short of
digital crack. I've given some 40 plus hours into Killzone2 already, my most played game on the PS3, and am hardly done with it. The maps are fantastic, their balance is striking and the core gameplay itself is so satisfying. Plus, the servers are great, the lags are unnoticeable and the little chirp sound that you hear when you kill someone - BLOODY SATISFYING.
Killzone2 has certain elements that prevent it from being the ultimate game on the PS3. Where the presentation of the game is so good, it feels odd when the lip synching doesn’t keep up with it. The script isn’t exactly strong either with a lot of profanity that feels forced, so much so that you never get to like your own squad mates. It is far easier to be impressed by the Helghans, their dictator ruler Visari and his right hand man, Colonel Radec. The best made character is Visari in my opinion and it’s a pity that he gets so little screen time. On the gameplay side, more weapon variety would’ve been nice along with secondary fire options. With such an awesome back story and an extremely detailed universe, Guerilla games have the potential to blow us apart with a well crafted story. They’ve got the talent as evident from their depiction of Helghast. It just needs to be put together. There’s definitely going to be a Killzone3. All Guerilla needs now is to make it bigger and better, and not necessarily more badass.
What lies beyond hell? Helghast.
I had really high expectations from Killzone2 but I was ready to be disappointed as well. I had a feeling that this game won't be able to deliver and satisfy me. I couldn't be more wrong. The moment I got the controller in my hand and the moment I killed the first Helghast, I realized that this might be the definitive action shooter of 2009. Single player campaign wasn't long enough but that's the feeling you get after finishing every great game. But Killzone2's ace is the simple on surface yet deep multiplayer mode. Add to that the fact that Killzone2 has a solid game engine and wonderful visuals, even in MP mode. Then the trophies and collectibles. Considering all this, this game has an insane amount of replay value. I really don't see any valid reason for a PS3 owner to miss out on this game. And I don't recall any other game on any other platform being played online with so many PG members at the same time. Time to make a clan!
Value/Worth: 9.8
Graphics: 9.8
Sound and Music: 9.5
Gameplay: 9.8
Multiplayer: 9.8
Overall : 9.5
