Redemption
The original Killzone suffered from an overabundance of hype. Billed by Sony as a Halo-killer, the game inevitably fell short of expectations when it turned out pretty average. In 2005, a trailer for Killzone 2 was unveiled at E3 showcasing incredible graphics and chaotic setpieces. Many doubted Guerrilla's ability to deliver on the promises of that trailer, and it seemed as if the second Killzone might go the way of the first. Luckily, the truth is far more inspiring; Guerrilla and Sony have perservered and crafted one of the finest console first person shooters yet, one that easily lives up to the hype that surrounded the original trailer so many years ago.
The first thing anyone will notice when playing Killzone 2 is the graphical presentation. From a technical perspective, this game is astounding. Everything from the models to the textures is intricately detailed, and the environments are bustling with activity. This is one of the first games to unlock the true power of the PS3, and as such it will have players stopping to admire the view even after hours of gameplay. From an artistic perspective, the folks at Guerilla have made some interesting decisions. The early levels of Killzone 2 are drenched in shades of grey. Arguably the only color in these beginning stages are the red eyes of Helghast soldiers, the blue glow of ISA troops, and the bright flashes of gunfire. The grey wastelands are occasionally lit up by beautiful explosions or billowing red Helghast flags. It works well enough as an art style, but serves deeper purposes as well. When the world is so bleak, the bright glow of Helghast's eyes are easier to spot in the distance, making the chaos of the early levels easier to cope with for new players. Also, once the game really branches out to other areas of the planet and becomes more colorful, it becomes clear that the heavy usage of grey in the Helghan capital was a intentional decision made in order to enforce the feelings of despair and conformity present in these foreign cities. Killzone 2's artwork may appear bland at first, but it is a part of an intelligent decision in art direction.
In terms of gameplay, Killzone 2 is sort of a grab bag of genre staples. While there is a cover system in place that works pretty well, the game does not constantly force players into cover like Gears of War or Rainbow Six. Rather, it is possible to run and gun in certain sections of the game, although the majority of the time the intelligent AI will have players running for cover. It's a nice balance, as Killzone 2 feels more arcadey than Rainbow Six but more tactical than Halo. All of the basic weapons feel nice and powerful thanks to the advanced ragdoll physics that the enemies sport, and occasionally the game will throw a few "candy" weapons out for players to enjoy. These weapons, like the Lightning Gun for example, are only around for a bit of the game, but are satisfyingly powerful. One quirk that presented itself early on in Killzone 2 is the lack of a grenade indicator. Unlike, say, Call of Duty, Killzone 2 does not warn players with an onscreen symbol when a grenade lands near them. Instead, it is necessary to watch for a flashing yellow light and a high pitched beeping sound, which replace the traditional indicator. It's a little off-putting at first, but eventually it feels just fine.
Killzone 2's story isn't particularly intense, and it takes a while to get off the ground. By the time players are storming the Helghan capital in the last few levels it becomes engaging enough, but in general it's a fairly typical war story. None of the characters really stand out either, with most of them falling back on the old stereotype of f-bomb dropping grunts. One character in particular becomes more of an annoyance than an asset by the end of the game. The lack of a compelling plot might dissapoint some, but in the end, people will play Killzone 2 for its gameplay, not its story.
This excellent gameplay carries over into multiplayer as well. The ability to take cover is removed from this mode in order to make it a more fast paced experience. The vast, 32-player battles are always chaotic, sometimes so much so that it's difficult to tell what's happening. However chaotic Killzone 2's multiplayer may be, there is always the sense that the player retains at least some control over what happens onscreen. The chaos never becomes overwhelming, just intense. All of the weapons and classes are balanced nicely except for the shotgun, which began life too powerful and has been neutered thanks to a recent patch. The different modes advance from one to the other without ever receding to a menu, making the entire experience feel very streamlined and unique. It takes a long time to advance through Killzone 2's branching class system, but thanks to the game's straddling of the line between arcade and tactical gameplay, this is time well spent.
Music plays a pretty big part in Killzone 2, and it complements the onscreen action very well. The majority of the score is spearheaded by menacing brass instrumentals, giving the game a "war movie" feel in many sections. While the soundtrack is great, it may fade into the background as gunshots and explosions echo across the battlefield. Both visually and aurally, Killzone 2 is a very chaotic game. Voiceovers are done as expected, sounding good enough to propel the action forward, but as mentioned before most of the dialouge is somewhat meat-headed. A nifty beeping sound accompanies each kill in multiplayer, replacing the dialouge that flashes across the screen in many other games. This sound is a very nice touch, and one that many people will probably take for granted. It allows players to remain immersed in the gameplay, and it is an intelligent and unobtrusive way to notify players of their progress. Overall, the audio package is very well done.
Killzone 2 is not a Halo-killer, because it does not try to be Halo. By buckling down and really getting to know their area of expertise, Guerilla has created a first person shooter reminiscent of many triple-A releases, but at the same time one that moves forward to create an identity of its own. The smooth gameplay, explosive graphics, and deep multiplayer make Killzone 2 a necessity for Playstation 3 owners.
