Killzone Unveiled
- August 01, 2003 11:39 AM PST
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Some hope for PS2 shooter fans?
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe released the first official information today on Killzone, a PlayStation 2 first-person shooter that's recently been the subject of all sorts of speculation across Internet message boards and rumor sites. Developed by Dutch studio Guerrilla Games, Killzone is due out next year in Europe; no U.S. date was announced.Set in the near future, Killzone chronicles the interplanetary battle between the ISA and the Helghast, two warring factions of humanity pitted against each other in an outer-space conflict. As head of a four-man ISA trooper squad, you'll go through 26 levels in the single-player story mode, fending off Helghast fighters and trying to survive what's turning into a very prolonged war.
As SCEE's first screenshots reveal, Killzone borrows much of its inspiration from Halo and other console FPSes--like Bungie's classic Xbox debut, the visual emphasis is on being "in the middle of things". At the start of the game, you can choose which member of your team (from the master of stealth to the heavy-weapons guy) you want to control. The character you choose will be yours for the entire game, but the rest of the team will still follow you, providing cover fire and other useful services. While they can't be killed, they automatically retreat if they take enough damage; you, on the other hand, have a Halo-like shield that recharges if you rest for a few moments.
Although Killzone's set in the near future, this is still very much a man-to-man war you're fighting here. 21 weapons will be at your disposal, ranging from mini-guns to rocket launchers, and every one of these weapons can also be used for melee attacks if you meander too close to an enemy. The game also has full multiplayer support, with split-screen co-op, deathmatch, and online modes in the works.
"All of us here at Guerrilla have been overwhelmed by the initial response to the first screenshots of Killzone that were released today, and the positive comments flooding the forums have delighted the team," said Guerrilla director Martin de Ronde in a statement. "Development for the game is now well underway, and both SCEE and ourselves are excited about the way the game is shaping up. Everything you have seen so far is real-time and not taken from a pre-rendered sequence, and you can expect to see regular updates from SCEE over the coming months."
While Sony Computer Entertainment America has said nothing about Killzone yet?not even mentioning it at the E3 show in May?it would seem a no-brainer to release this in the U.S., especially considering how many gamers are already calling it the PS2's answer to Halo. Stay tuned for more information shortly.
