Thoughts of a Random Gamer

Ever since Killzone 2 debuted via a CG trailer at E3 2006, the project has been burdened by the expectations of PlayStation 3 owners everywhere.  Not only has the game garnered talk of “Halo killer,” but it has been tagged as one of the first to truly make use of the PS3’s cell processors.  Along with harnessing the extra processing power comes Sony’s personal guarantee that everything will look stunning and realistic.  Fortunately, the very capable team over at Guerrilla Games has been hard at work, hoping to deliver an experience unparalleled on the console.  It has truly proven to be one of the few glimmers of life in an otherwise abysmal PlayStation 3 lineup.

In a Galaxy Far, Far, Away…

Set after the original and PlayStation Portable installments, the story sends Sev across the galaxy, this time taking the fight to Helghan, the home planet of the Helghast.  Hoping to strike quickly to the heart of the capitol city, Earth’s forces launch an all out assault, leaving nothing but destruction and bloodshed in their wake.

Only after stepping foot on the planet do Earth’s forces realize what they have gotten themselves into.  Soldiers are not only battling the enemy, but the forces of nature, both natural and human initiated.  Perpetual sandstorms ravage the planet, leaving the air thin and inhospitable for the invading forces, thus explaining the Helghast’s use of the heavy breathing apparatuses.  The lack of properly filtered air creates an environment that would be intolerable, even to the most battle hardened veterans.

Using their knowledge of the planet to their advantage, the Helghast fight back, dwindling Earth’s troops down to an elite few.  This limited collection of Earth’s finest regroup in one last effort to bring the tyrannical empire to its knees.  As you control Sev, it becomes obvious that you represent the last hope for mankind’s survival.

Sadly, this is where the compelling plotline ends and the derivative first person shooter storyline comes to rear its ugly head.  Though there is a rich cast of personalities introduced in the beginning of the game, no effort is made to try to build an emotional or even meaningful connection between Sev and the rest of the team.  By the time that the conflict actually starts, they revert back to nothing more than exhausted stereotypes that have been present in every war-themed game for the last decade.

As disenchanting as the story can be, it still provides a very competent excuse to justify the ten to twelve hours of gameplay.  Killzone 2’s plot brings nothing new to the table that would justify the extended development time and increased hype.  It is, at its most distilled core, a functional plotline that provides nothing more memorable than a few gigantic showpieces that are failed attempts at kick-starting something that was dead upon arrival.

A Night in the Museum

For every issue that Killzone 2 demonstrates, there is an equally convincing feature in its favor.  In this case, the counterargument for a bland story is the fact that the environments, backdrops, and character models are so polished that they look nothing short of brilliant.  Running at an extremely smooth frame rate, the appearance alone will leave onlookers breathless.  Every single texture in the game is hyper-detailed and the particle effects are top notch.  If you were to frame a single screenshot at any point throughout the game, it could easily be mistaken for something removed from the wall of an art exhibit.

Most notably, all environmental elements are very realistic in how they interact with weapons.  For example, if you are taking cover behind a piece of reinforced plaster or stone, bullets deflecting off of it will break off in large chunks, depending upon where they hit.  Metal, on the other hand, will take divot holes and dimple under the pressure of repetitive gunfire, much like you would expect in real life.  Conversely, if you are returning fire, any area that is unobstructed is a free bath for your bullet.  Squeezing off shots it between railings on a stairwell can be performed with ease, without the need to be concerned about invisible walls found in so many other current generation shooters.

Another area where Killzone 2 is leading the charge is artificial intelligence.  Computer controlled adversaries are fairly effective at emulating human behaviors, even on low difficulty settings.  Whichever enemy is closest to you will seem to take point, while issuing orders to the others like flanking and attack coordination.  The quality of the AI shines through in skirmish matches against bots.  Once the action kicks into high gear, you would be hard pressed to tell the differences between bots and real people.

With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?

Further expanding on the amusing skirmish mode is the stellar multiplayer component.  Finally, there is something to replace the likes of Resistance and Warhawk on the top of the PlayStation 3’s multiplayer heap.  Combining features like the leveling system found in the Call of Duty franchise with the ability to exchange fire between up to thirty two different combatants is compelling enough to place the game in the top echelon of those available, both PS3 and otherwise.

While the leveling structure may seem very similar to what has been present in current and past Call of Duty games, there is one key difference: you can create your own hybrid class by combining two different sets of characteristics together.  It is nice to think that every player has the ability to create a class that suits their play style.  Along with that comes the obligatorily addictive and satisfying process of leveling up to earn different perks and weapons.  Though leveling-up seems to happen at a slightly slower pace than its multiplayer predecessors, it can be just as gratifying.

Complimenting the perk system is Killzone 2’s intense attention to variety.  As could be assumed, there are currently five different multiplayer modes including the likes of Assassination, Search & Destroy, and Bodycount.  Augmenting the numerous game types further is the inclusion of eight unique multiplayer maps on the disk.  Best of all, Guerrilla has guaranteed that there will be several additional maps that will be released as downloadable content.

The Grand Finale

First of all, let it be known that Killzone 2, while technically impressive, is far from a perfect game.  While the game has its faults, the sheer scope and quality of the multiplayer mode makes up for the campaign’s shortcomings.

Thankfully, the development team at Guerrilla Games has been up to the challenge of overcoming the crippling expectations that Sony established back in the summer of 2006.  Killzone 2 succeeds in delivering one of the most comprehensive and well rounded experiences available on the PlayStation platform.

Score: 9.0

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