Killzone 3 Review
Console exclusives are what separate most gaming platforms today and it?s one of the main driving factors for people when deciding which console they want to buy. With this in mind, Sony step up to the plate this month brandishing their latest instalment in the Killzone franchise, Killzone 3. For those of you unfamiliar with the game, it is a first person shooter set in the future where an intergalactic war is being waged between the Helghast (the overly stereotypical villains) and the ISA (the space USA if you will).
Overview
The story picks up directly after the events of the last game, with a small group of ISA soldiers struggling to survive after being cut off and left on the hostile Helghan home world. You play as the main character Sev, the hero from the second game, who is out fighting for survival until he and his comrades are rescued. Sadly the story that Killzone has been trying to tell over the course of the trilogy has been severely lacking on-screen. The developer Guerilla posted a detailed account of the world they created which actually shows that the red goggled, mask-wearing pantomime villains are more the victims and heroes of the piece; sadly this is never shown or explored. Instead, we jump through different times seeing the story from the viewpoint of both factions as the ISA try to stop the Helghan Empire from invading Earth; this is uninspired and the story feels more slapped together at the last minute in an attempt to assemble the set-pieces together.
Presentation
Developer Guerilla have always been rightly praised for the stunning visuals on display in the Killzone games and the third instalment is no exception. Textures and environments are incredible with so many variations and attentions to detail in each level. Contributing to this are the smooth animations of the characters themselves and the weapons they hold. The sense of weight to the guns makes Killzone stand out from most shooters. They feel more realistic and you can feel the difference when picking up different weapons. From small pistols to full-on detachable turrets that fire artillery strikes at the enemy, they all feel varied and different from one another. The enemies themselves have intelligent and quick thinking AI which really help engage the player into the experience. They duck for cover and make well thought-out decisions based on your actions, making it feel like you?re really fighting against something more than just the computer. On one occasion I wanted to see what would happen if I did nothing and lo and behold, the enemy flanked me from my position and took me down quick smart instead, like most other shooters, of waiting for me to attack them.
Gameplay
The levels are your standard corridor-like set-ups filled with enemies but they are made varied by including the much talked-about jetpacks, a jungle level where you rely solely on stealthy kills, to turret based vehicle sections and even a snow speeder chase ala Modern Warfare 2. These stunning set pieces are great although they do suffer from only being playable for a very short period of time. It is, however, the smaller touches that make a game truly special. Climbing ladders is made realistic during gameplay by having the camera move in accordance to your movements, and while reloading your character looks at his gun.
If you?re one of the five lucky people in the UK to own a 3D television then you can play Killzone 3 in all its 3D glory. It is said to suffer from a lighting decrease; however this is made up for by the amazing depth of field between you and the enemy.
The combat in Killzone 3 is truly immersive and enjoyable. As I mentioned before, the weight of your guns really adds to the experience and makes it feel more realistic. Shooting the Helghast never gets tiresome with so many different levels from secluded snow bases to lush jungles with thriving plant life to massive destroyed cities featuring powerful vehicle sections that will leave you breathless. You can also play through the game with a friend in split screen co-op mode, but this does drop the frame rate of the game leading to a stutter-filled experience and it cries out for an online version of this mode. The multiplayer mode online is much improved from the last game from your standard team deathmatch to more objective-based modes. A welcome change is the improvement to the levelling up system whereby the points you earn can be spent on whichever class you want, instead of the limited version in the last game which didn?t make a whole lot of sense.
Gimmics?
Furthermore, if you want a truly original experience you can try playing through the game with the Playstation Move controller for some motion-based gaming. I tried both the single player mode and multiplayer with the Move and I found it to be a bit bizarre to begin with, but soon found my way around it. Precision is increased greatly with the Move controller and is similar to the mouse gameplay you find on the PC, but the animation of the gun moving one to one with your Move controller is a little intrusive and looks silly on screen. So if you want the true experience, stick to your Dualshock.
Summary
Overall, Killzone 3 is an example of a game that doesn?t quite raise the bar set by its predecessor but doesn?t drop behind it either. The visuals are as fantastic as ever and the gameplay is just as engaging. The story is, however, disappointing and lacking in scope but is made up for by striking set pieces and engaging gameplay. Weapons and vehicles are fun to play with and are all varied and different in their own right. Playstation Move?s use is a welcomed feature that adds to the replay value. The multiplayer mode itself could be the single reason you should pick this game up with such varied modes. With all its flaws Killzone 3 is definitely another title that fans should pick up and non-PlayStation owners should be envious of.
8/10
Console exclusives are what separate most gaming platforms today and it?s one of the main driving factors for people when deciding which console they want to buy. With this in mind, Sony step up to the plate this month brandishing their latest instalment in the Killzone franchise, Killzone 3. For those of you unfamiliar with the game, it is a first person shooter set in the future where an intergalactic war is being waged between the Helghast (the overly stereotypical villains) and the ISA (the space USA if you will).
Overview
The story picks up directly after the events of the last game, with a small group of ISA soldiers struggling to survive after being cut off and left on the hostile Helghan home world. You play as the main character Sev, the hero from the second game, who is out fighting for survival until he and his comrades are rescued. Sadly the story that Killzone has been trying to tell over the course of the trilogy has been severely lacking on-screen. The developer Guerilla posted a detailed account of the world they created which actually shows that the red goggled, mask-wearing pantomime villains are more the victims and heroes of the piece; sadly this is never shown or explored. Instead, we jump through different times seeing the story from the viewpoint of both factions as the ISA try to stop the Helghan Empire from invading Earth; this is uninspired and the story feels more slapped together at the last minute in an attempt to assemble the set-pieces together.
Presentation
Developer Guerilla have always been rightly praised for the stunning visuals on display in the Killzone games and the third instalment is no exception. Textures and environments are incredible with so many variations and attentions to detail in each level. Contributing to this are the smooth animations of the characters themselves and the weapons they hold. The sense of weight to the guns makes Killzone stand out from most shooters. They feel more realistic and you can feel the difference when picking up different weapons. From small pistols to full-on detachable turrets that fire artillery strikes at the enemy, they all feel varied and different from one another. The enemies themselves have intelligent and quick thinking AI which really help engage the player into the experience. They duck for cover and make well thought-out decisions based on your actions, making it feel like you?re really fighting against something more than just the computer. On one occasion I wanted to see what would happen if I did nothing and lo and behold, the enemy flanked me from my position and took me down quick smart instead, like most other shooters, of waiting for me to attack them.
Gameplay
The levels are your standard corridor-like set-ups filled with enemies but they are made varied by including the much talked-about jetpacks, a jungle level where you rely solely on stealthy kills, to turret based vehicle sections and even a snow speeder chase ala Modern Warfare 2. These stunning set pieces are great although they do suffer from only being playable for a very short period of time. It is, however, the smaller touches that make a game truly special. Climbing ladders is made realistic during gameplay by having the camera move in accordance to your movements, and while reloading your character looks at his gun.
If you?re one of the five lucky people in the UK to own a 3D television then you can play Killzone 3 in all its 3D glory. It is said to suffer from a lighting decrease; however this is made up for by the amazing depth of field between you and the enemy.
The combat in Killzone 3 is truly immersive and enjoyable. As I mentioned before, the weight of your guns really adds to the experience and makes it feel more realistic. Shooting the Helghast never gets tiresome with so many different levels from secluded snow bases to lush jungles with thriving plant life to massive destroyed cities featuring powerful vehicle sections that will leave you breathless. You can also play through the game with a friend in split screen co-op mode, but this does drop the frame rate of the game leading to a stutter-filled experience and it cries out for an online version of this mode. The multiplayer mode online is much improved from the last game from your standard team deathmatch to more objective-based modes. A welcome change is the improvement to the levelling up system whereby the points you earn can be spent on whichever class you want, instead of the limited version in the last game which didn?t make a whole lot of sense.
Gimmics?
Furthermore, if you want a truly original experience you can try playing through the game with the Playstation Move controller for some motion-based gaming. I tried both the single player mode and multiplayer with the Move and I found it to be a bit bizarre to begin with, but soon found my way around it. Precision is increased greatly with the Move controller and is similar to the mouse gameplay you find on the PC, but the animation of the gun moving one to one with your Move controller is a little intrusive and looks silly on screen. So if you want the true experience, stick to your Dualshock.
Summary
Overall, Killzone 3 is an example of a game that doesn?t quite raise the bar set by its predecessor but doesn?t drop behind it either. The visuals are as fantastic as ever and the gameplay is just as engaging. The story is, however, disappointing and lacking in scope but is made up for by striking set pieces and engaging gameplay. Weapons and vehicles are fun to play with and are all varied and different in their own right. Playstation Move?s use is a welcomed feature that adds to the replay value. The multiplayer mode itself could be the single reason you should pick this game up with such varied modes. With all its flaws Killzone 3 is definitely another title that fans should pick up and non-PlayStation owners should be envious of.
8/10
