Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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53 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Full Campaign Review, 28 Feb 2009
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
Exclusive titles come under the most intense scrutiny. If this were a multi-format release, the majority of players would admire what Guerilla has achieved here. Similarly, if PS3's immediate future didnt rest soley with Killzone 2, expectations would be more realistic. Admittedly the developers havent helped their situation.
The now infamous 2005 video lodged Killzone 2 high on wish lists. Whilst the visuals don't match that remarkable CGI film, it comes respectably close. It is the most attractive game on PS3, and aside from shelling out thousands on a PC capable of running Crysis, it's the prettiest shooter ever made.
The biggest surprise is the fact there's some real substance behind those stunning good looks. Killzone 2 takes the full bodied realism approach to the next level; it feels slow at first, but everything moves deliberately, with weight and purpose. Throwing a grenade, reloading and even movement takes longer than usual. It lends Killzone 2 an element of tension usually absent from shooters, and is much better for it.
The cover system works like a dream; differentiating itself from similar set ups, but remaining intuitive and relaible. Although controls can't be specifically mapped, theres a wide selction of schemes available. Alt 2 moves the gun sight to L1, which is far more instinctive, as Call of Duty addicts will agree.
Movie clips are done with the in-game engine, and are spectacularly directed. Its also impressive that Guerilla has managed to squeeze some new ideas out of the exhausted space marines concept. Somehow, Alpha squads story feels involving and (in places) unpredictable.
Variations in combat are brilliantly done. Controlling an exo-skeleton is a real highlight. Manning a battle cannon to defend the ISA fleet is also superbly handled, both visually and mechanically. Subtle touches, like rotating the loading screen picture, make presentation top notch. Six-axis controls for planting C4, and turning cranks, are also brilliant innovations.
But Killzone 2 isnt perfect. Headshots rarely count, and when overwhelmed, proves frustrating. The game also jerks violently when loading the next section. The optimum HD display is only 720p, which was surprising to find no 1080 options. Not that the visuals need improving. Only being able to carry one weapon (as well as a pistol), can also lead to unintentionally difficult moments. Yet makes combat brutally realistic.
Minor flaws however. This feels like the most exciting, genre defining shooter since Call of Duty 4. It really is that good.
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153 of 210 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surpassed expectations, 4 Jan 2009
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
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INTRODUCTION
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Having spent a lot of time playing Killzone on PS2, and being a big fan i was surprised when i got an e-mail from PSN saying i was invited to Beta Test Killzone 2. Well actually i got damn well excited - and it turned out i had good reason as well.
If your familiar with the original Killzone, your probably aware of the average reviews it got (6-7/10) with arguments over its anti-climatic ending, boring single player gameplay and its weapons not 'feeling right'. We all wanted it to be Playstation's answer to Halo, and despite it being a solid game it didnt have that unique factor Halo had, and was plagued by a lot of glitches on the PS2 system. Regardless, Killzone was a good game, it got a fanbase and left the door open for a sequel...
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THE GAME
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The destroyed and crumbling metropolis has been done before in sci-fi games, but never has it felt so damn oppressive or unnervingly realistic. Moving about in this world keeps you assuredly grounded in it, as your character feels weighty, and runs and guns with every inch of his bulk and heft. He feels human, and therefore vulnerable.
K2 offers unique game modes you havent seen before in games like Call of Duty - so dont think its just another FPS - It will definitley give something different to COD fans who are't familiar with the Killzone series.
The maps are very varied, with the beta ones demonstrating small and claustraphobic places, as well as large and sprawling maps, spreading players out across the area through a series of empty buildings and winding alleyways.
The missions on offer in the beta were generously all the ones that have made the final blu-ray cut.There's the more traditional `Body Count', essentially a straight up team deathmatch, `Search and Retrieve' of the capture the flag variety, `Capture and Hold', seize two hotspots, `Search and Destroy', let's bomb the bastards, and `Assasination', where one poor helpless fella is the target of the entire oppositions army, and it's your job to protect him.
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MULTIPLAYER
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Killzone 2's multiplayer caters to 2-32 players, and each match is separated into a game size of small (2-8), medium (9-16) or large, (17-32). You can then choose your faction, at this point either one of the Helghst (the baddies) or the ISA(the goodies), your weapons, and then step right in, ladies and gentlemen.
There are seven multiplayer weapon classes altogether, and each class can be combined with another to provide unique mishmashes, depending on your preferred style of play. You can choose from Rifleman, the weapon-heavy option, the Scout, who can cloak himself with invisibility, the Engineer, who can program and repair turrets, the Medic, the Tactician, who can toss grenades that act as spawning points, the Assault, who has extra armour, and finally the Saboteur, who can mimic the enemy and use this ability to infiltrate the opposing base. Combine any two together and voila, you've got an invisible medic.
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GAMEPLAY
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Killzone 2 feels like a classic FPS. Essentially, if you see your enemy before they see you THEY ARE DEAD, and vice versa. A few bullets to the torso is all it takes. When your down you are in last stand mode i guess, awaiting for someone to revive you. This lasts a few seconds before you respawn.
Health doesnt regenerate - it feels like the game wants you to die. Respawning is quick and easy. There are now 'powerups' or health packs, or ammo boxes in K2. Its just hardcore FPS, scavaging some ammo from a dead guy is all you get.
Bottom line is the game demands skill, and tactical thought. The maps are perfect for tactics.a mixture of large open spaces and small winding corridors, giving you the opportunity to approach the situation from a variety of ways. You won't find yourself stuck in a choke point either, as the maps aren't linear, and you'll often move back and forth through the same areas. There's also the option to remove that creepy feeling of isolation by joining a four-man squad within your larger team, where you can nut out a game plan for yourselves and communicate via headset. Once you introduce classes and different weaponry in amongst all this, the tactical possibilities go through the roof.
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FINAL WORDS
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Hopefully, Killzone 2's single player campaign will be as equally well crafted as its lean and deadly multiplayer. It will need, perhaps, a little sprinkling of charm in order to shake up Master Chief's championship, but there is certainly enough confidence on display to suggest a winning formula.
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31 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
the true grit of war!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 23 Feb 2009
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
Let me start of this review by clearly stating i am a gamer have been since the days of the bbc micro and speccy have no format bias and test games to destruction peeling away the superficial layers to find the gameplay and depth underneath and know when a game delivers because its the way it makes you feel that desire to keep playing even when your thumbs are soar and you havent sleeped eating or shaved for three days.
My expectations for this game werent to high to be honest after playing counter strike,halflife 2 on the pc for years and the excellent halo on the xbox,halo 3 on the xbox 360 plus gears of war 2 i thought the shooter genre had pretty much done its final lap although secretly part of me had a vision for a balls to the wall shooter that shared the same love of accurate ballistics and gunplay sidelining cheesy cheap sci-fi soap opera for a more emmersive take on war.
Well two weeks ago my prayers seemed in part to be answered i downloaded the killzone 2 demo and after a couple of days play testing felt satisfied but i knew i had to have the full game to see if the full campaign matched the quality of the demo.I managed to purchase a copy from a hong kong based games mail order company that had the game available on the 17th of feb and payed for express courier and had the game by the 19th and the rest is history.
Well three days later the campaign played through on VETERAN and a brief few hours in multi player i can assure you guerilla have delivered on there promise and created a monster of a game that thrills on every level and happily sidetracks a overly convaluted story instead giving the player a combat packed balls to the wall shooter with highly tuned and refined weaponary and sophisticated enemy ai as well as a campaign which is addictive,well paced and gets better and better with every mission.While some will nick pick at the fact that your squad mates cant die as they will only be downed crying out to be be revived by you much like gears of war supporting marines will die and in fairness put up a good fight certainly better the other examples in this genre(halo 3)but still at times act as cannon fodder purely to keep game balance.
I wont elaborate to much and spoil it for those that are waiting to play the game but i will mention there are plenty of last stands,epic battles,a fantastic section where you have to go under a half crossed bridge as the enemy has raised the other section to take down a AA gun and lower that section for your convoy to cross plus weaponary thats smart especially the sublime grenade launcher that fires squash ball like grenades that bounce off walls.There are also vehicle sections although breif there brilliantly executed and designed.The ps3 pad also does a stellar job and after a couple of hours play feels very natural and well suited to this games especially when using the sixaxis to plant and make explosives live.Those groomed using the xbox 360 pad give the ps3 pad time its loose at first but is more then adequate for shooters.
Graphics and sound are first rate looking very much like that of the halflife universe with lots of witty marine dialogue and swearing much like halo but this is no mass market friendly title its bloody and ultra violent with some of the scariest and accurate enemy ai ever in a game.
While this game is hardly original it does what it says on the tin its not trying to be a BIOSHOCK which is more story driven and not so linear and naturally can be repetitive after extended periods of play but for those who havent played call of duty to death you will still find it fresh enough to play the campaign through a few times.
The only real negatives much like any game in this genre are the setpeices that are triggered by you reaching a set part of the level and certain sections where the enemy respawn until you cross a save point but this is not bad game design just the coders creating the illusion of the enemy reinforcing and is only noticable to the trained eye or experienced gamer.
This game really does deliver and is worthy of five stars but if your looking for something less gunhoe and want a great story with twists buy yourself the excellent BIOSHOCK or orange box but if you just want whats gone before just better looking with great ai and atmosphere buy this........
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