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Killzone 2: Reviewed
That's right. It's time for another major review. I've taken a bit of a break (skipping out on Gears of War 2, Fable 2 and Resistance 2) because of the mixed emotions concerning my last review of Grand Theft Auto 4. After updating that review with the second review build, fans were both delighted and disappointed to read about one of the most hyped games in history.
But now it's time to move on...Enter Killzone 2:
Let me save those of you that hate to read a little time. What's the big deal about Killzone 2? Nothing.
Need an explanation? Read on.
OVERVIEW
My hands were shaking as I tried to remove the review disc from its packaging. I was excited, but I was also dreading the inevitable install. And what an install it was. I waited nearly 25 minutes to start playing this game. There was no progress bar or other device to ease my suffering...just a single flashing word: INSTALLING... (I can only hope that this is fixed in the final build.
When the game finally booted, I was met with typical company logos and then the "Start" screen, which was boring, unimaginative and weak. Killzone 2 was off to a very negative start. I pushed the start button, as instructed and was then taken to another menu screen. This one would allow me to start a single player campaign, a multiplayer match (this option disabled), or adjust game options.
My first step was to see what game options were available. I was disappointed to find that there was no gamma adjustment. I was able to select between TrueHD, Dolby 5.1 or Stereo sound. I chose Dolby 5.1, as this seems to be what most gamers have.
Then, I hit the triangle button (seriously...) to go back to the main menu and start a new campaign. I selected normal difficulty. The game spent about 5-10 seconds on a load screen and then gave me a pretty frick'n sweet opening cinematic. It was pre-rendered, but impressive, none-the-less. My hope for this game was immediately restored...briefly...because then the gameplay began.
GAMEPLAY
The initial in-game cinematic was intense. You've seen this on many previews, so I won't get into it too much. But when your feet hit the ground, you're hardly running. I'll get to controls in depth a little later, but what I noticed first about the game was the unrealistic player movement. I've played a number of FPS genre shooters, but I must say that Killzone 2 gives Haze a run for its money as hardest to maneuver.
The enemy AI is not what it's hyped up to be. Their frantic and unpredictable behavior may seem realistic, but it really doesn't lend itself well to a videogame. Sure, real enemy soldiers won't pop out from behind cover at regular intervals until you line your shot up and take them out, but this has to occur to a certain degree because aiming with the PS3 controller is hardly intuitive. There's no auto-aim. Instead, the hit perimeter on your target is large. You'll actually watch the bullet hit the wall near the enemy as the enemy falls to the ground, lifeless. It just feels wrong. When enemies try to flank you, the situation can ALWAYS be solved by simply moving to another piece of cover. When you do this, the enemies will retreat to cover, as well. Hardly impressive.
Bosses are a tedious kill. Once you find their weakness, you simply exploit it over and over and over and over and over and over again until it's dead. Boss fights are, regrettably, the most disappointing aspect of this game. Many misgivings could have been forgiven if these poor game makers could have given us some epic fights.
CONTROLS
I love my PS3. I love the PS3 controller. For those of you that hate it...here's some ammunition: The PS3 controls for Killzone 2 stink. Turning and walking are wonky because the analog sticks seem to have issues with sensitivity fading in and out. This makes trying to aim at enemies a chore. I'm certain that this is why accuracy is so forgiving. The problem is that these controls actually hinder a positive gameplay experience. So why is there an issue with controller sensitivity? Apparently the game engine detects nearby obstacles (pillars, half walls, boulders, etc) and will slow movement in that direction. It's designed to allow for more precise aiming, but when running and gunning, it makes popping a cap difficult at best.
While many may call this a failure on Sixaxis or DualShock 3 design, the truth is that the problem is within the game engine itself. Sad...
GRAPHICS
If there's one thing Killzone 2 does right, it's graphics...sort of. See, Killzone 2 looks good when you're running through an area, with lens flares flashing, dust particles flying, trash blowing and smoke billowing, but all of these effects are simply in place to hide low resolution textures and poor model quality. This is most noticeable when crouching behind cover. You'll find that the cover's texture is flat and lifeless. It really ruins the immersion.
Model quality is boxy and inconsistent. It seems like the devs made models with few enough polys that they would be able to use the actual model for hit detection. This alleviates most clipping issues, but you'll find yourself missing the tremendous character quality in games like Gears of War and Uncharted. Throw in some of the worst lip-syncing and facial expressions in the industry and you'll quickly find yourself disappointed.
The good thing is that these flaws become less noticeable as you play. I encountered only a couple slow downs and framerate dips. By the fourth act, I was enjoying the graphical immersion, and I'm sure you will, too.
STORY
Killzone 2 has, simply, the best story in all of gaming history. It's not necessarily the plot twists and turns that make it great, but it's the delivery. No game in my 22 years of gaming has sucked me into the story this much. You actually care about your teammates and their whacky facial expressions, you care about your next objective, you care about coming out on top. With Killzone 2, it's not a fight to beat the game...it's a fight to beat the Helghan. And the ending leaves you craving more.
OVERALL
While Killzone 2 disappoints on most fronts, I still recommend renting it for a few days. The story will help you forget about some of its shortcomings. But Killzone 2 still falls flat overall. If you're waiting for a shooter to dominate the PS3, you'll have to continue waiting. Killzone 2 is not a system seller. It's not an end-all for the FPS genre. It's simply a so-so game with a great story.
7.6/10
--EDIT.
(Do poniższych "komentarzy") bez spinki panowie, ktoś sobie z was jaja robi w tej inspirowanej na SDF recenzji.
