Killzone 2

Killzone 2

Scorching visuals and relentless action define this showcase first-person shooter for PlayStation 3. But just like war it can really be hell.

At least it’s all over fairly quickly. With roughly seven hours of gameplay from start to end, Killzone 2 is a short sharp shock to the system. It feels over almost as soon as you’ve really begun to appreciate its unique approach to first-person shooting. And the weird part is that you’re never quite sure if time is flying because you’re having so much fun, or if you’re praying the enemy will be merciful and make it quick.

If Killzone 2 feels unpleasant, that’s only because you’re being constantly bombarded and often surrounded by angry Helghast who refuse en masse to become an easy target. The AI in Killzone 2 is to be admired. But the real star of the show is the PlayStation 3 pyrotechnics, a never-ending display of explosions and flying debris, dust clouds obscuring your vision as swarms of Helghan troopers descend on your position. Every step of the way is a set-piece, almost a puzzle that you’ll need figure out the hard way – usually by dying over and over again before accepting that strategy is your best option in every scenario.

We have our quibbles however, and the main one is that the Helghast forces are almost indistinguishable from the good guys on the battlefield – even up close. On one occasion, shell-shocked and desperate for assistance, I joined a firefight shoulder to shoulder with two comrades on a balcony. Just as I was about to open up on what might’ve been Helghast scum scurrying below, the guys next to me gunned me down. This problem is magnified in large-scale online matches. Amid the chaos you’ll need eyes like a hawk to tell the difference.

The cover system sucks too, compared to the best of them in the Gears of War series, Ghost Recon and Sony’s own Resistance games for PlayStation 3. When firing from cover it isn’t possible to aim before shooting, and you’ll never be crouching low enough behind a barrier to completely avoid enemy fire. Moving between cover is clumsy too as you exit quite slowly and then lumber off, occasionally getting your feet trapped on some insignificant piece of detritus. Hard to feel like a hero when you behave like a shopping trolley being pushed through gravel.

A special mention must go to the Helghast voice-acting. It’s uncanny how humans from Helghan sound like Ray Winstone after an especially rough night. But, okay, the Orcs in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings were cockneys too. We’d also like to join the queue for complaints against your companion Rico and his incessantly foul mouth and cringe-worthy ranting throughout the campaign. To be honest we didn’t care for any of the characters, friend or foe. The action is all.

But for all its annoyances Killzone 2 really does keep you gripped, despite not ever quite knowing what the hell is going on. You feel at the centre of a vicious war where nobody gives the order to stand down. You’re constantly on the move, always checking behind you, and must take care while taking aim. Instinctively you look for routes to flank the Helghast instead of charging head on, which never works. The game feels alive even if you’re the one who is constantly ending up dead. When entire buildings fall, bridges explode, and an ATAC drone rains down rockets while you tremble behind a crumbling pillar, these are moments you’ll relive in your head before deciding you’d like a second shot.

We have to say that Resistance 2 is better structured and more enjoyable than Killzone 2. But this latest flagship title for PlayStation 3 really raises the bar for special effects, and these advances are reflected in the audio too. It’s a pity that for all its huff and puff the one-player experience is forgettable. However the stage is set for some real next-generation multiplayer heroics with huge scope for character customisation and intrigue experimenting with class combinations. In this area, we suspect over time, Killzone 2 will prove itself the worthy PS3 hero.

4 out of 5