Title: Killzone 2
Genre: FPS (first-person shooter)
Developer : Guerrilla Games
Platform: Playstation 3
Rating: M (Mature)
Product Link: http://www.amazon.com/Killzone-2-Playstation3/dp/B000FQBF1M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1236220913&sr=1-1
Website: http://www.killzone.com/
Source Link:
Ever since the debut of the infamous Killzone 2 tech demo at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2005, one question has been on the minds of Playstation aficionados; can a video game look this fantastic? The answer has finally arrived after years of refinement and release date obliteration.
Let’s get one thing straight. Killzone 2 is a symphony for the eyes. Textures and lighting effects are rendered shockingly lifelike. Most people will have to play the game several times before they notice every nuance and graphical feat accomplished by Guerrilla Games. The art direction favors the realistic approach to science fiction forgoing the beefed-up Gears of War soldier aesthetic. The characters look human while the evil Helghast possess a cold, mechanical visage that significantly bolsters their ferocity. The color scheme has moved beyond the old monochrome landscapes of the original Killzone and embraces a greater variety of hues and pigments. The impressive set of animation for each character adds even more depth of realism as the Helghast react to being shot and ISA troops stealthily take point in a quiet room. There are technical issues with being able to look through some walls but these occurrences are few. Simply put, Killzone 2 is the best example of what the Playstation 3 can accomplish graphically.
The sound design is a mixed bag. The music is exponentially better than the forgettable composition of the original Killzone. Gun battles capture the essence found in epic scale war films as bullets screech past your face, explosions growl in the distance and enemies and allies alike burst into flames. The voice acting is mediocre which is strange considering that the voice talent from the original game was expertly delivered. Instead we are subjected to macho-meathead dialogue that borders on childish—usually a mish-mash of gay jokes and crude references to mothers. Rico in particular sounds like he is holding his breath while he is talking. Most of the Helghast troops sound like Cobra Commander from G.I. Joe although the voice suits them well.
The greatest detractor found in Killzone 2 will no question be the controls. Movement tends to be much faster than aiming making it difficult to run and shoot at the same time. Often there will be moments when attempting to aim, at a stationary target, the crosshair will slide everywhere except the target. Keep in mind that there is a way to adjust the sensitivity of both the X and Y aiming axis and you have the option of selecting several preprogrammed control setups but all of these tweaks will only make handling the game slightly better. You will not be able to play confidently until you have had enough time to acclimate yourself to Killzone 2. A custom button layout option could have eased players into combat much easier. The cover mechanic is also perplexing. Some terrain is easier to use as cover than others. It is hard to differentiate between effectively using cover and simply crouching. Overall, the cover mechanic is a great idea that doesn’t quite feel perfected yet.
The story feels like a missed opportunity to dig deeper into the Helghan world. Are there any Helghast women or children? How do they interact with each other? What motivates them to fight? Certain dimensions about the Helghast that had the potential to be fascinating are simply ignored. Once again, the original Killzone did a wonderful job of adding depth to the characters with intersecting story arcs. Killzone 2 settles for much less.
Multiplayer is a triumph. Many aspects of other current shooters are lifted and refined to create Killzone 2’s masterful online war. Team Fortress 2’s class system and Call of Duty 4’s experience points obviously inspired the multiplayer of Killzone 2. But what makes the multiplayer so enjoyable is how dynamic team objectives are altered and changed in real time. The match may start off as a capture the flag scenario then morph into a defend-the-base mode or a protect-the- leader situation. The dynamic objectives give the online shooter genre a much needed shot in the arm and makes Killzone 2 feel refreshingly unique.
At the end of the day, Killzone 2 provides a quality yet average single player experience while the real star of the show is the vastly improved multiplayer. Both modes are presented in one of the most gorgeous graphical packages on a console today. If you are expecting a game that will change the shooting genre forever you will undoubtedly be disappointed. The writing and dialogue are hollow while the controls leave much to be desired. Add another star to the overall rating if you love first-person shooters and only own a Playstation 3 because Killzone 2 is easily the best shooter for the console.
Overall Rating: * * * * / 5
M. Michael Chwedyk "The Gamekok"-MuzikReviews.com Video Game Reviewer
February 27, 2009
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