Killzone
Is Sony's opus likely to snipe Halo? We find out...
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Killzone takes place in a gritty, brutal world and in this world urban combat is fierce and life is tough. You're taking an age to reload your shotgun whilst five Helghast are reining in on you. Deal with it. The decision to prolong loading times was taken for the same reason as many other things in the game - to create gritty warzone realism. You're almost reminded of Full Spectrum Warrior when you see the way that your vision rocks back and forth as you run or tiredly flings from side to side as you climb a ladder whilst taking fire from two sides. Even when standing from a crouch the subtly conveyed swaying of your characters body capably serves to remind you that things are tough. It is hard to run about for hours on end carrying heavy weaponry and wearing full combat gear, especially when you're being shot. You're knackered.
However, whilst the worlds are a real joy to populate, which certainly can't be said of a lot of Halo's environments, there are certainly some other unwelcome elements. Take the Helghast, the otherworldly enemy whom you are sworn to kill. In many ways they're wonderfully constructed. Their two piercing red eyes are ominous to look at and their demonic cries genuinely feel intimidating - for the first few times at least. The problem is that there simply isn't enough variety in them. Whilst character models do differ a little, the variation is quite subtle - and it grows tiresome. Still, they have a lot of things going for them. It's just a shame that AI isn't really one of them. Nor is their vocabulary, for that matter. Not only is their small stock of often repeated catchphrases disappointing, but the fact that they're often used as a warning that some baddies are ready and waiting around the corner does feel somewhat cheap.
Whilst the game is certainly an improvement over the distinctly average Shellshock 'Nam 67 (developer Guerrilla's maiden outing) they do have things in common. For instance, the way in which enemies often tend to respawn in identical areas and charge at you along exactly the same path as those you have just slain before them is very similar indeed. As is the way that you're channelled down what are really quite narrow paths that line the environments. It's a real shame - Killzone's worlds are so solid, so wholesome, yet at the same time they offer nearly zero interactivity and there's no scope for exploring them - your path within the world is severely restricted. The same too can be said of your enemies. They won't attempt to outwit you; they won't amaze you with their life-like responses. What they will do is follow their preset patrol routes and cover patters religiously, sometimes even if you're taking pot shots at them over some nearby railings. This, combined with their often quite lethal accuracy, results in lots of time spent staying motionless, waiting for the next time the one remaining guard in the area decides to wander back into your line of fire.
There are other frustrating elements too. Your health gauge, for instance, will partly recharge though you can never be sure by how much so you still need to keep an eye out for health packs. The lack of jump (again, like Shellshock) means that even the most minor of obstacles is apparently too much for your hardened marines to navigate, aside of course from some predetermined spots where an on screen prompt notifies you that the small rail in front of you is, in this instance at least, vaultable. This inconsistency surfaces in the game logic too. Some of the few interactive objects you'll come across are the water fountains found in some of the office environments. Shoot them whilst they're intact and they pleasingly blast apart, the near photo-realistic bottle rolling to a halt in front of you. Shoot it once it has stopped though and it becomes lifeless, just another immovable decoration that serves to belittle the other accomplishments made in the visual department.
Even though a posse of fellow slaughterers sometimes accompanies you on your exploits, at times they seem quite unwilling to help. "You go on while I secure the area!" is one you'll hear a lot, and it seems quite unfair, especially when everyone in the area is already dead and ten murderous and well-armed Helghast await you around the corner; you'll know that of course because the sometimes dreadful checkpoint structure will have you replaying some sections over and over. It's a tough game too. Okay, the Helghast might be the intellectual equivalent of the illicit offspring born of Victoria Beckham's sordid one-nighter with George Bush, but, probably like Bush, they know how to shoot a gun. The need for accuracy only further emphasises the poor quality of the Dualshock's analogue sticks. Despite the many virtues of Sony's pad, there's no escaping that it simply can't offer anywhere near the analogue precision of the S Pad and FPS's suffer as a result. It's certainly not helped either by the awful sniping system that renders quick aiming a near impossibility. Just to round it off the game is strewn with minor technical glitches. On more than one occasion I found myself apparently aimless with no obvious route to follow merely because the end of level event that either opened a previously sealed door or loaded up the next level didn't trigger when it should, leaving me in limbo for a few minutes.
But when gaming one should not always search for perfection, merely for entertainment. Killzone is flawed; it has failed in its quest to be a Halo beater. But it has succeeded in other ways. As sprawling as Halo's environments are they certainly never portrayed as gritty an urban landscape as Killzone. Nor have its shiny alien blasters ever been as satisfying as a huge, chunky, filthy assault rifle. Of course, given a choice between the two I'd pick Halo nearly every time, but I'd still be happy with a night in with Killzone. And one thing's for sure, there's no FPS on the PS2 that I'd rather have a quiet night alone with.
80%
Comments
killzone lluks ace! as does call of duty. go on gameplay (.co.uk) and go on movie clips on call of duty. d 1st one luks ace! betta dan medal of honour by far, n i luvd MOH
the best game i have ever played infact i just this second completed it the only bad point i would say is that you cant drive the tanks or jump on those flying bikes also people say the levels are colourless but if you were in for example that snowy mountine level what other colours would you expect to see i think it is really realistick
I was unsure about Killzone until I played the demo which got me hooked. Then I bought the full game and the extra layer of polish just added to the whole experience. There aren't many games where I look up and 3 hours of passed (especially on the PS2). This isn't the best looking FPS in the world, you need a PC for that, but gameplay wise it has all the hooks, big weapons, realistic environments and well thought out level design. Put the XBox pad down for a bit and try this little gem. It's tough but every time you die you find yourself pressing the Retry button again.
A lot of reviews for the game have been reasonably negative, so I'm glad you guys agree with me.
Great review.
Read so much negative press about this game and was quite certain it was hypebacklash. You convinved me it's true and that I should follow my gutreaction and get this game :)
Good man. I hope you're not disappointed.
killzone rocks its so realistic and better than halo 2 . halo 2 is almot just like the first 1
im lookin to but the game and reviews are tellin me it aint soo good should i give it a try ?
Killzone is the best game ever. Killzone is well better than Halo 2. does that even have a story?
i luv killzone
everyone buy killzone because it is so awesome everyone get it and make it platinum!
Killzone online is the best ever
Killzone dilemma:
i can't kill that tank on the beach (first beach where Helgast attack)
any hints?????
you complain way to much on how bottles and sh!t dont move on the ground after you shoot them soo what i really dont care if somthing on the ground moves or not as long as the graphics are good and the game play is good, then the game is good! and as for halo its way to short and i was really dissapointed in the 2nd one.
As for ur question about the tank on the beach ^^^
if you look against the wall behind the gun turret on the right, you will find a rocket launcher and some ammo for it! pick it up as soon as you come onto the beach house patio and once u see the tank rolling up, switch to the launcher and wait for the tank to stop, then unload three shots on it! let ur comrades take the gun turrets whilst you use the machine gun of ur choice to help kill the soldiers, while you wait for the tank.
How can you guys keep saying this game got bad reviews??? dont any of you read PSM magazine? the game got a 9/10 and is a "Buy or Die" recommendation! my ONLY complaint about this game is the lack of a "peek" ability, which means you must constantly strafe back and forth behind stuff while attacking the Helghast. aside from that, the realism is amazing, the A.I. is astounding and the fact that you can play thru the game with different characters adds excellent replayability! Hell, i've had this game for a week now and am still playing solo player campaign! I'm waiting until my "Killzone skills" are unrivaled on Hard difficultly solo before i even attempt to play it online! Wise choice for Christmas this year... KILLZONE TAKES THE CAKE BOYS!
Wow, i should have read all of that BS of a review before i made my first comment. This pansy must be playing the game on easy or something, or playing an entirely different game all together!
1st - you say that the Helgast simply "respawn" ?? I've played thru the game once on Normal and am 3/4 the way thru on Hard and have NEVER seen the enemies simply "spawn".
2nd - Imagine if the Helgast was a REAL army, all of them identically bred to be a soldier, and they are told to patrol a certain area, they do that perfectly, and when they seem to "follow their preset patrol routes and cover patters religiously, sometimes even if you're taking pot shots at them over some nearby railings" what they are doing is trying to find cover, and they do that extremly well too, like when they are in hiding for 2 minutes, notice that they are still looking around for you, or are reloading their weapon.
3rd - The so called "Lack of Jump" that you complain about is meaningless anyhow, the game does a perfect job of allowing you to jump when need be! You would have been much better off complaing about a "Lack of Peek around corners", as i did in my previous comment
4th (and final) - You complained that the accuracy problem was a fault of the PS2's analog sticks when in reality, the game makes perfect use of weapon recoil and detriment of aim. I'll tell you what, you go and get urself a large machine gun such as those found in the game and then tell me how easy it is to fire that thing accuratly! Also, if you seem to be sitting there waiting for the end of level event, you probably missed the fact that one of your "posse of fellow slaughterers" as you called them was killing the last Helgast soldier to trigger it.
Wow, ok im done ranting... unfortunetly to say that I probably will never return to this website to read a game review ever again. They should warn people that these reviews are done by 12 year olds who only play when their homework is done...
FINAL ANALYSIS: KILLZONE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS GREATER THAN THAT OF THIS MINDLESS BOOB WHO WROTE THIS REVIEW...
THIS GAME DESERVED AT LEAST A 95%, SIMPLY FOR LACK OF A "PEEK AROUND CORNERS" ABILITY
thanks ; ) I'm done now
Killzone was a great game, and the graphicks were awsome. it makes halo look like sh!t in a tolet because i hate dumb @ss halo nurds
Loganys,
thanks for the help.
it seems there was a slight glitch in my game and the grenades weren't affecting th tank for some reason.
(i'm in China and for what i pay i can't complain)
I'm past it now.
my only complaint with the game compared to the Medal of Honor series is the repetition in the scenarios...i.e. coming around the same cornersor staircases again and again is something that never happened in Medal of Honour. the action and graphics make up for it though.
killzone is good but its no Halo 2
Although it is not a "Halo killer", it does add that gritty feel as stated in the review. Sure it does have the occasional glitch, but what game doesnt? I really loved the Helghast in the game, they help to add to that feeling of an imposing army that will not stop at anything in their Blitzkrieg of the ISA forces that have suppressed their kind. Yes, the reloading time does add tension in those close-quarters firefights, which im sure was on purpose. I think that overall, this game is great on the basis of being realistic in the subject of warfare, as it is not as "polished" and clean as portrayed in the Halo series.
No im not talkin about you anubis im talkin about the reviewer ben parfitt :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :): ) :_:(alien)
the game was awsome at first when i got it but then i got bored with it. i really like mx v.s. atv unleashed. c ya when is ps3 coming ou ti wan it so bad
Kilzone is the best game ever made in the world of gaming . Lets not make it platinum but game of the year visit play . com and get it for $13.00 Me out
killzone is fully sick. it is toatlybetter then halo2. halo2 is the same as number halo.they have made it well but i hope killzone2 is better.
How do I play online ? Must I do an account with it ? Please help.
How do I play online ? Must I do an account with it ? Please help ! I am a Killerzone fan. But it doesn´t work online ! So please help me with this and write an ANSWER to me as soon as possible !!! // Vicke :-D
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