Killzone

"So much expectation... So little enjoyment"

If I had to pick one genre of gaming as my favorite, Shooters would probably be number one. Now, if you don't already know this, the X-Box and PC are kings of the shooting world. Gamecube may have maybe a good one or two, and ps2, has a few. Killzone, is not one of the greater FPS's out there. In fact, it has to be probably the biggest disappointing one out there. I love my X-Box more than any system, but I really wanted to see a great FPS on the PS2. So maybe my expectations were too high for this game, but it most certainly did not impress me.

I think the biggest problem Killzone had, was its game play. It was so sloppy and junky; it just felt really annoying while playing. The guns didn't respond as fast as in Halo 2 or Far Cry even, and that left me dyeing a lot. The button layout felt very spaced around and just throw on. There is no jumping button which made me very upset. I like to jump occasionally while running for my life while dodging bullets, but in Killzone they would have none of it.

But hey, if you can't jump like a sissy, then why not stay and fight? Well, maybe because the armor of your foes must have been made of two ton bullet proof metal. It takes so much to kill these dudes, while you will die instantly. Sure you regenerate health, but what good is it if you're constantly dieing?

Alright, well then why not go up behind them and take them down stealth like? Hey that's a great idea, if there was a melee button. Killing enemies from behind is more dangerous than trying to when a firefight with one. Because you have to wait until the game feels like letting you press the X Button to melee the guy, and if you don't do it soon, the guy will more than likely turn while your waiting for the X icon to appear, and fill you with bullets.

Probably one of the only good things game play wise was the fact you could play as 4 different people. At first you're only allowed one, but after you barely make it out of some levels, you get more character options. You can play as Rico, the heavy guns specialist, Luger WTF at name the stealthy women of the squad, or Hakha the ex-Helegast member.

The story for Killzone is… um, unique. Alright, there is a group of people named Helegast. Long ago, they used to live on Vekta, the world where they are attacking. Vekta is run by a group called the ISA, which has pretty much ended all war and maintained peace everywhere. Well the ISA banished the Helegast a long time ago to a poisonious planet, Heleghan, not the nicest thing to do, but whatever. So after 10 years, the Helegast have gotten used to the poison, and wouldn't you know it, now have mastered the poison to become super strong and make a super army.

Okay let me try to explain that better. ISA sent the crazy's, aka “Helegast”, to a poisonous planet, aka “Heleghan”. The Helegast are mad that they were sent here, so their leader, who is just as nuts in the head, has lead them back to Vekta, where they are planning to attack and conquer. Got it? Yeah me neither when I first heard it, which is why the game just gives you a head ache. The opening cut scene is spectacular though, and is just like in a movie; unfortunately the game really starts to drag on and on, and gets boring after a while, and you will lose interest.

Sound was confusing and aggravating for the most part. The guns sounded okay, but would glitch up a lot and keep making noise, or just start sounding horrible. I was impressed by how you could hear the bullets whiz past your head, and how war-like the game felt, but the voice acting really killed all that. The actors defiantly not Oscar worthy, Instead more like foreign film from the middle ages… if the actors were rabid chimps from the planet No Lessons.

Music seemed to immediately stop right in the middle of game play, and was very awkward and left me angry. It could be giving me the biggest rush to go out and try and fight my bulletproof foes, and then stop, leaving me charging down the middle of a street, humming The Wheels on the Bus in my head, while five guys are now firing at me with perfect aim.

Probably the only good thing about Killzone, you know besides the simple story and the wonderful voice acting *cough cough*, is that the graphics are wonderful. Finally a good shooter for the PS2 with above average graphics. While the actors may sound like a cheap dollar store toy, the guns they are holding sure look impressive. Environments are amazing and eye popping, and the character models are richly detailed. If only the rest of the game could have taken from the graphics, it would have been good.

Killzone is a great idea, but just does not give the great overall feel that other FPS's have. Probably the biggest disappointment for me in a while, and something that could have been good, but poor execution. Maybe it's sequel well give me a better taste in my mouth, lets hope, but so far, Killzone is better left as a rent for now. Even though the 20 dollar price tag isn't bad, for an average shooter, I would defiantly rent it first. But please, leave your short tempers and ears at home with this one.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 12/24/05