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9.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KILLZONE 2 Posted by Joe Anderson on Feb 8, 2009 09:57 (Feb 8, 2009 09:57) |
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The game we have been waiting for is finally here, but after waiting a few years to get our hands on the final product has Killzone 2 been worth the wait and more importantly all of the hype which surrounds it?
Let’s get one thing straight from the start, in terms of story this game doesn’t innovate, has nothing original and in general won’t really hold any surprises in store that you haven’t seen before, however in terms of graphics, presentation and general gameplay, well if all the other devs currently making first person shooters want to give up and go home, then I for one will understand. Killzone 2 comes in separate parts, with both a single and multiplayer game included on the disc, as seems to be standard these days. The single player campaign of Killzone 2 throws you into the action straight away, and what action it is, turn the sound up for this one, but be careful not to close your eyes as you may find your trousers soiled due to the ear drum popping sounds of gun fire, which really do make it feel as if you are in the middle of a war zone.
Straight from the off you will realise that this game is something special in the looks department as you walk through some of the most realistic clouds of smoke you will ever have seen, in fact I think they may be more realistic than the real thing. This first level really helps you to get to grips with the control of your character Sev, by teaching you the basics such as how to fire, throw grenades and most importantly, duck. Speaking of controls, this is another area which has also impressed me, by holding the relevant button you can make use of the new cover system, this will enable you to duck behind the nearest piece of cover, then with a press of the fire button you will be able to pop up and fire at the enemy and then get into cover again before too many of their bullets hit you. It is also worth mentioning that not all cover is foolproof, in fact some areas that you will hide behind will only provide some resistance from bullets, meaning that you will not be staying in the same place for very long, well not unless you want to be picking the lead out of your bleeding characters body.
One of the great things about the single player campaign is its relentless action, straight from the first level you will hardly have a chance to catch a breath, and this continues throughout the entire game, if you want action then you certainly won’t be lacking it here. Each of the levels included in the game are pretty stunning in their own way, one of my personal favourites involved trying to take control of a bridge while faced with what can only be described as an endless army of Helghast, this was certainly a tough level, but with a bit of persistence I eventually triumphed. The fighting itself is very intense, bullets, grenades and rockets seem to fly in every direction, making things very tough, thankfully the stunning effect of the enemies glowing eyes at least gives you a clue that you are firing in the right direction. To give an example of some classic action, at one point during the game my character and his squad where walking along a bridge when all of a sudden the enemy appeared in a war torn building opposite us, with little option and not much cover we opened fire, throwing a few grenades in their direction, next thing I knew all three levels of the building had collapsed, taking the enemy with it, talk about finishing the enemy off with style. It’s the little touches like this though that really makes the game.
A lot has been made about the AI in the original Killzone, however there are no such problems in the sequel, enemies are smart, they will try to drag you out of your cover using all means necessary, sneaking up behind you, surrounding you or just rushing at you in the hope that you will panic. The fact that the enemies are so devious only adds to the fun challenge that the single player campaign provides. Although I briefly mentioned how good the graphics looks, it has to be said that they really need to be seen to be believed, the environments, effects and characters look stunning, however it’s the little touches that I have noticed that have really impressed me. To give an example of this, I was firing a shotgun at the enemy but I was a little too close to the railing, therefore my bullet hit that instead, and not only did it leave a huge bullet mark but the heat also lit up the metal causing it to temporally glow red with the heat. Its touches like this that really show you how much thought has gone into this game, it really is very impressive stuff and sets the bar high for anyone currently developing a game for the PS3.  It has to be said that the single player campaign is well worth the money alone, it’s challenging and great fun to play through, however it’s in the multiplayer action that Killzone 2 really shines.
The multiplayer games are great fun to be part of which is helped by the fact that the same quality from the single player campaign is carried over. Everything looks and plays just as well and with the inclusion of clans and a ranking system which is not dissimilar to Call of Duty’s effort, there is certainly plenty to keep you coming back. The more you play online the higher rank you will become, allowing you to unlock new character classes and (if your good enough) have a constant place on the online leaderboards. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t put the time online in though because even the basic characters are still great fun to use.
Killzone 2 is without a doubt one of the most impressive games I have played on the Playstation 3 to date, it seeps action from every angle and makes you question whether you are actually in the middle of a war zone thanks to it’s stunning effects and sound. If you want eye popping, pant wetting action then this is most certainly the game for you. The Helghast are waiting, are you up to the challenge?
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