Killzone 2

"Possibly the best FPS available for the Playstation 3"

After 4 years of waiting, Killzone 2 is finally here. The team at Guerrilla Games has really done a great job. The game features visuals that will blow you away, outstanding online multiplayer that will keep you hooked for hours at a time, and an intense and challenging single player campaign. All of this in one package - You can't ask for much more than that. Killzone 2 is an outstanding PS3 exclusive FPS, with some minor flaws, but all of them are overshadowed by all of the great things in the game.

The Good - Outstanding visuals - Single Player campaign is intense and exciting - Addicting, fun online multiplayer - Brilliant sound design - Powerful weapons that are fun to shoot - Smart enemy AI

The Bad - Controls can take quite a bit of time to get used to - Framerate at times can be bad - Sixaxis motion controls are annoying and unnecessary - Terrible voice acting - No party system online


Story - 6/10 The game's story is nothing to write home about. It's decent - Not great, but not bad either. To avoid any possible plot spoilers, the game's plot won't be mentioned with any detail. Overall, the story is good enough just to keep you interested as you continue to progress, which is really all that matters.


Single Player - 9/10 During the single player campaign, you will be faced with quite a challenge. Intense, almost non-stop action will keep you immersed in the game. Long, epic gun battles with the Helghast which force you to make tactical decisions in order to survive. No "run 'n gun" tactics in Killzone 2 - That will get you killed every time.

Taking cover is one key to success. Latch on to the nearest cover by pressing and holding L2 (default controls), then pop up over your cover, or peek around the side of it in order to shoot your adversary. Well placed grenades work well too. They're by far the most effective way to force an enemy out of cover. You can melee with your weapon, or slash at your foes with a knife if you're ever in a tight spot, but you'll definitely want to avoid situations like these, as it usually leads to your death.

The weapons available to you in the campaign all feel powerful. Everything from the standard-issue M82 Assault Rifle, all the way up to the ridiculously overpowered Electricity Gun, everything you shoot gives you a powerful feeling whilst gunning down the Helghast. An assortment of weapons give you a variety of ways to complete your missions. Sometimes there may be a sniper rifle available to use, but also a shotgun, or other weapon there as well. This leaves you with a tactical choice that must be made, since you are only able to carry one primary weapon at a time.

Your enemy, the Helghast, are incredibly smart. Intelligently taking cover, blind-firing when pinned down, and moving to another piece of cover if their current position is in danger of being compromised. Helghast soldiers also react intelligently to tossed grenades. If one lands nearby, they immediately move away from it, and on to the closest available cover. During battle, the Helghast work well as a team. They will attempt to flank you if the opportunity arises, and will even charge at you to knife or melee you when you least expect it.

Overall, the campaign is definitely worth the time to play. Featuring intense, epic fire-fights, smart enemies, and powerful weapons. It offers up a good overall challenge, decent boss fights, and non-stop, edge-of-your-seat action that will keep you hooked until the end.


Multiplayer - 9.5/10 The main reason to play Killzone 2, is without a doubt for the online multiplayer. Featuring 6 unlockable classes that all also feature 1 unlockable secondary feature per class. In order to unlock the secondary feature of a class, the player must complete a specific objective in-game a certain number of times in order to be awarded a ribbon. Once the player has acquired 8 of the same ribbon, they wil then be awarded with the secondary badge/ability for a particular class. This feature gives you incentive to keep playing online, as some of the unlockables can be difficult to obtain. Maybe the coolest thing about all this though, is the fact that you can combine different classes' primary and secondary badges once you unlock the custom class. For example, you can combine the healing ability of a Medic with the ability to repair turrets and ammo dispensers of an Engineer. This means that you can basically play as 2 classes all in one.

At first, you will only be able to choose from 2 weapons. The standard-issue ISA M82, and the standard-issue Helghast StA-52. Both are formidable weapons, and are by no means bad weapons to start out with online. You won't be able to choose from any classes when you start out, since you must first unlock them one by one as you gain XP and rank up.

Online play, for the most part is lag-free. In matches with more players, lag seems to be more prevalent. It seems to last only for a short time, and is barely noticeable for the most part.

Another unique and interesting component to the online play of Killzone 2, is the way that each match can be set up. A match can consist of all 5 different game modes, or just one, and even only 2, 3, or 4 of the different game types. What's really cool about this, is that instead of a match ending after a certain game type is completed, it will automatically be shifted to a new mission in-game after a brief lull in the action. For example, if you have just finished a Body Count (Team Deathmatch) match, you will be told via an in-game voice whether or not you won or lost. A few seconds later, that same voice will give out new orders, and announce the next mission. This seamless transition from one mission to the next makes you feel like there is never a dull moment while playing online, since you don't have to leave a match until all game types have been completed.

Overall, Killzone 2's online multiplayer is outstanding, and well worth your time. Unlockable, customizable classes and badges will keep you playing for a long time. It's a very rewarding system that keeps you hooked and constantly shooting for something else to obtain.


Gameplay - 9/10 The gameplay in Killzone 2 is excellent. It has a heavy, more realistic feel to it. When moving, it feels as though you really are weighted down by the gear you carry, and your weapon. The movements aren't sluggish, but you can definitely tell that your character moves around more slowly than in other games you've probably played. It's a welcome change, but at the same time, it may take a while to get used to.


Graphics - 10/10 It could be considered an understatement when saying that Killzone 2's visuals are nothing short of amazing. The textures, the lighting, the character models, the environments, the weapons - All of it is simply a sight to behold. You will be awestruck once you see this game in its native 1080i resolution for the first time. Killzone 2's visuals are arguably the best of any console game ever created. Guerrilla Games has really created a graphical masterpiece in Killzone 2. The cutscenes are equally as impressive as the in-game action itself, and the opening cinematic will leave you in awe. It can't be stated enough that this game looks absolutely brilliant.


Overall - 9/10 With an intense single player campaign, outstanding online multiplayer, and beautiful visuals, Killzone 2 is more than just a pretty face. It's a first person shooter with outstanding gameplay, and it's arguably the best exclusive first person shooter to date on the Playstation 3. Killzone 2 is worth your money. Buy the game, and enjoy it. You will not be disappointed.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/09/09

Game Release: Killzone 2 (US, 02/27/09)