"Simply Amazing!!!!!"

For this review, I will go into detail about what I believe the game really deserves.
(NOTE: This is an opinionated review. All of what I have experienced during play.)

Graphics: 9.5/10
Now, the graphics are were the game really shows gives it the edge over many games on the market now. Firstly, the game uses a new sort of texture re-mapping that gives the game a nice little edge in how the game is presented. There is a grain filter in effect during play, it's a very nice filter that adds tension and helps build the point of you being in a war. Next is the detail, which is beyond what I have seen so far. But the level of detail in this game very very nice, it very intricate where ever you look. Such as when I went up to melee attack a Helghast, I could see little details in his helmet. Now I won't lie to you here, the game has small, non-noticeable pop in, so rare don't even worry about it. It doesn't have an effect on the gameplay or anything, one of things you can easily pass by without complaining. The only real time it happens is when you enter an area that needs to be loaded before continuing. Next is the particle effects, WOW, simply wonderful, when a grenade or explosion of some sort goes off, you see little pieces of dust and sand litter the ground and fade off as time passes. Overall, some of the best and most richest, detailed graphics I've seen on any system.

Animations: 9/10
WOW! The animations are where the game shines, both in presentation and fluidity. I'll start of with some of the best reloading animations I have ever seen.
While reloading you may occasionally see 2 to 3 different reloading animations. One of them with the ISA rifle you get, you can clearly see his fingers move in a very lifelike manor, moving his fingers away from the clip as it is being placed into the rifle, etc. The animations are so fluid they look like they have actual real life military personnel reload the gun. Very very well done. Next is the melee attacks, these attacks are triggered by an icon at the bottom of your screen, bright enough to see the icon, but not get distracted by it. The melee attacks are animated to look like they hurt and will kill you, when you run up to a Helghan, you throw your gun up smacking him in the head, causing the Helghan's head to beautifully swing back, then your gun thrusts down on his head with force that looks very great and smooth. And lastly, the recoil on every gun you use is different, and each gun has some sort of kickback or recoil. Especially your heavy machine gun, you start firing, your character shakes, and the gun goes crazy. Another very neat and nice touch to the game is if an explosion happens, your character will stumble, simulating that an explosion has gone off and you have been disoriented by it. You will recover but will lose control over yourself for a few seconds, very nice touch. And now the death animations, something people complain about a lot. I don't find these very bad at all. Sometimes they will fall over in an awkward motion, but when you pump a couple bullets into him, he won't stumble, he will fall over on the spot. The death animations are funny at times, laughable, but not distracting. Overall the animations are top notch, second to none beautifully done.

Sound: 10/10
Well, the sound blows me away, literally. Each weapon you use has a unique sound that matches the environment your in. Just hook this game up to surround sound and good speakers, turn it up, and you'll see what I mean. Sounds will echo if your in a corridor, or will fade off into the distance if you're outside. Each sound of the weapons is different to the style of the weapon, or which faction it is used by. For example, the ISA rifle has an almost muffled loud, vibrating sound, but the Helghast rifle has a light tone, yet packs a punch. Each pistol is like that also, different in presentation and sound. And a very nice little add-in is when your running around, it's silent other than hearing gunfire and explosions in the background going off, you hear a bullet literally whiz by your head, and all war breaks loose, bullets flying everywhere making a sickening whizzing sound as the almost graze you, something very unique and scary. Next is the music, the music is phenomenal. It is orchestral music, enriched with a war vibe. The music will blow you away with the quality of it and the lasting impression it makes. And hearing the clip of your rifle or any weapon that reloads, hearing the sound of the clip or shells slide into the weapon is great, almost tingling cause of the realism. Overall the sound is astonishing, with it's rich tone to the deafening explosions to the bullets whizzing by your head, the sound is some of the best i have every heard in a video game.

Gameplay: 9/10
Ok, here is the core part of the game. The gameplay is mind blowing, ranging from all out assaults to more covert missions. The feel of the game is set in a war, with intensity that is unparalleled. The feeling of war in Killzone is great. Next up is the content involved with the game, such as when you climb a ladder, now this is something that I have dreamed about in a First Person Shooter...you actually put your gun away! You do have a button to run, which is a fast sprint best used to get out of a losing battle in hurry. I like it, it's nice to have, also makes a nice motion blur effect. Now this part is where the game is debatable, the Artificial Intelligence. Ok, I was experimenting with the different play modes, and I landed on easy. I got into a fight were it lasted about 10 minutes, me against 4 Helghast (no joke), they kept hidden behind a generator, they wouldn't move, I moved up, next thing I noticed...they flanked me, I died. These enemies are smart even on easy mode! Trust me, they're also insanely intelligent on hard and normal mode. If you're up for a challenge. Go with normal mode to start of, you're in for one hell of a fight. Now the diverse levels in this game add a nice touch to the feel of war and how it affects everywhere. From parks to war-torn cities that immerse you into the war itself. You have the ability to carry up to a maximum of 3 weapons at all times, no more. The game is fairly easy on easy, it does provide you with challenges, and a fair amount of enemies, and a lot of ammunition and some decent AI. Normal mode is well, normal, it has good AI and decent supply of ammunition, and a fair amount of Helghast to deal with, very fun difficulty. Now hard mode is hard, you don't have much ammo so you need to be careful, there are many enemies with some superb AI and they work in pairs and group to take you down, and you can only take so many shots, maybe 3 to 4. Difficulty is good. The range is good, from if you are a beginner or a hardcore First Person Shooter. Now you don't get to ride vehicles in Killzone, but that's ok, as the action is intense and really has only maybe 2 areas where vehicles could be accepted to fit in to the game. Overall very good gameplay, not lacking in areas, fun, yet challenging at times which can get frustrating.

Multiplayer: 8/10
OK, multiplayer is very fun, and very addicting. It's a great feeling when you hear people yelling grenade and look out cause a rocket is going to fly by and explode beside. The headset chat is a nice touch to a FPS, and especially Killzone, where the game emphasises on war, and the suspense of war. The multiplayer really catches that well. The game cold use some more modes, but the fun factor of the modes is great, and lasting. My personal favourite is Assault, where you assault the opposing forces base and try and take out a generator type thing, very fun and intense mode. The game has a nice offline multiplayer, with up to 16 bots!!!! Which is a load of fun. Now the game doesn't have Co-op mode in the North American version, which is very disappointing, because Killzone just seems perfect for Co-op play. But it's no biggie, we can live without. Overall, Multiplayer is good, and very fun. But it does lack in areas, such as Co-op mode, but that's ok.

Fun Factor: 10/10
I won't get into detail about this one, but all I can say is EXTREMELY FUN!!! Killzone is very addicting and fun. It gets you hooked very quickly. Overall a very, very fun game with a wonderful story and quite lengthy single player campaign.

Story: 9/10
Killzone has a wonderful story about interplanetary colonization. A war has broken out between two factions, one the Helghast, the slightly mutated humans due to the planet they have colonized, and the ISA who are the faction loyal to earth and defending the planet known as Vekta. Off to regain control, the Helghast invade Vekta, causing an all out war. Now that's all I will get into because the rest of the story is better explained if you play the game. Killzone's story has its twists and turns, which are surprising and exciting. Overall, Killzone has a wonderful story that is also told in the great presentation of the game, and it's gritty war feel.

Killzone is a wonderfully made game from Guerrilla, I love Killzone and I am sure you will too, just give a shot, let it be as it is. Play the game and don't be fooled by the reviews from the Internet communities. Killzone is a great game that is very addicting and fun! Buy Killzone if you are a fan of First Person Shooters. And rent it for a good time. Great game.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/15/04