Killzone
- September 16, 2004 13:24 PM PST
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If Halo 2 is the returning heavyweight and Metroid Prime 2 is the svelte, sexy super-agent, Killzone is the unknown contender ready to surprise the masses.
If Halo 2 is the returning heavyweight and Metroid Prime 2 is the svelte, sexy super-agent, Killzone is the unknown contender ready to surprise the masses. An engaging combination of solid gameplay and intriguing character design, Killzone may just be the FPS that PlayStation 2 gamers have been waiting for.Set in a reality that is best described as ?gritty sci-fi? the world of Killzone feels much more real than the cartoon environments found in either Microsoft or Nintendo?s offerings. From the urban landscape of a bombed out city to open jungle warfare, combat is as much about your surroundings as it is about your skills. Tactics that work in close quarters will fail when you are fighting outside.
Contrary to early rumors, Killzone does not use ?nurbs? technology, but it seemingly doesn?t need it. The game engine shines, with solid framerates and beautiful architecture both indoors and out. All of the urban locations look as-if they could be pulled straight from a CNN broadcast warzone while the jungle environments evoke memories of ?Predator.? It is this familiarity that is perhaps the most eerie thing about the game because while it is set on an alien planet in the far future, it is not too far removed from the earth of today.
While you will play though some of the game alone, much of Killzone is played with a squad. For practical reasons your squad members are invincible though this does not mean they are unstoppable. If one takes too much damage he or she will retreat. According to the developers this was done in order to ensure that a key member did not die in the middle of a mission, thus making it impossible to complete.
Initially you will only have access to one character, but as the game progresses the others will become available for play. Each squad member has individual attributes which gives plenty of incentive to go back and replay a mission with another character.
Story is a huge part of Killzone, with a heavy WWII influence visible throughout. While not a mirror image of, the invading Helghast force is most certainly inspired by the Third Reich. If you have ever seen a historical propaganda movie or images of troops massed for battle, the scenes shown throughout the game will feel quite familiar. Even the Helghast symbol which is black on white on red is obviously inspired by the Nazi swastika. For all its source imagery though, Killzone does not glorify the ancient Axis powers in any way, rather the game uses history to provide an allegorical setting.
Just as imagery is put to good use, so is the sound. A full symphony was contracted to record the soundtrack and it sounds superb. We had a chance to view a rough cut of the opening cinema and the music carried emotion much more than the film itself. In-game Killzone has support for full surround sound as well as environmental effects.
The multi-player mode supports up to 12 players via LAN or broadband across multiple game types. Free-for-all deathmatches as well as team games are supported and full voice chat is included -- invaluable for setting up ambushes and coordinating recon. You can chat with teammates ?walkie-talkie? style, where chat is only activated when you press a button on the controller. It may seem like a bit of a fluff feature, however when one team is talking and the other is not, the talking team has a huge advantage.
Aiming is a bit less precise than in single player, but otherwise the control felt spot on. Strafing around a corner and taking out a mark felt perfectly natural as did sneaking up on an unsuspecting opponent from behind.
Weapon selection is of two distinct styles, further demonstrating the difference between the invading Helghast forces and your defending special-ops commandos. The Helghast are somewhat crude and rely on sheer power while your weapons tend more towards high tech precision. That said, both styles of weapon work just as well when killing an opponent.
From a name recognition standpoint, Killzone may not have the cred of Halo or Metroid, but it certainly has the potential to be just as engaging. A good FPS has been a long time coming on the PS2 and if Killzone lives up to the hype our Network Adapter may just get a real workout this fall.
